For a long time, I kept my physical books in pristine condition.

If you were to pick one of my books and flip through, you wouldn't find any trace they've been read. They would look brand new.

I took notes from books, but I usually used the Notes app on my phone for that. The thought of dirtying a book with a pen or a highlighter irked me.

The most I would do was dog ear a few pages or slap a page marker and write on it rather than on the page.

But I changed my mind after seeing a video where Ryan Holiday talked about his note-taking process.

Ryan said that writing on a book's page isn't a sign of disrespect to the author and their work; instead, it's a compliment. It means you spent time thinking and interacting with what's in the book instead of breezing through it.

I agree.

Since I've started writing margin notes on the physical books I read, I've been spending more time thinking about the ideas and arguments on those pages and coming up with my own ideas.

This is how I take notes now:

Whenever I find an interesting quote or an idea, I highlight it and write any observations running through my mind right then:

And then, stick a Post-it flag on the page to make it easy to return later.

The process is fun and reduces any distractions my phone would've caused while I took notes on it.

If you buy and read physical books, try this technique if you aren't already doing it.

It's likely that your reading and learning experience and your capacity to think deeply will improve in the process.

Speaking of taking notes, I've updated my comprehensive guide on Apple Notes with more helpful workflows, such as setting up a notes archiving system and a quotes compendium, a minimal Web clipper, transcribing notes from podcasts and lectures, and more.

If you use Apple devices and are looking for a robust notes app, the stock Notes app on your devices might be everything you need, for free.

Now, if you have a business or work at one looking to raise funds, check out PitchyDeck's services because, like Morgan Housel would say, "the best story wins."

Before you move on to the rest of this newsletter issue, here are a few words from: