Welcome to the first day of my 30-day series on Zettelkasten and academic research. Over the next 30 posts, we will talk about the fascinating world of Zettelkasten and how it can revolutionize the way you conduct research, organize information, and produce meaningful work. It’s the system that I use to write my articles and draft my manuscripts as well as my dissertation.

I have been deeply immersed in academic research throughout my undergraduate, graduate, and now post-graduate studies. My journey has been both challenging and rewarding, leading me to write numerous articles and draft manuscripts on artificial intelligence. Throughout this process, I’ve discovered that the way we organize and manage our knowledge is crucial to our success as students, researchers, and writers.

What is Zettelkasten?

The Zettelkasten method is a time-tested system developed by sociologist Niklas Luhmann, that has seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to several recent publications. One of my favorites is Scott Scheper’s “Antinet Zettelkasten.” While I don’t agree with everything in Scheper’s book, I appreciate the analog process he outlines. Interestingly, I prefer to implement this analog approach within a digital tool, Obsidian. So, yes, I use digital to go analog!

Over the years, I’ve received many questions about my research process and how I organize my notes and ideas. In an effort to answer these questions and share my insights, I’ve decided to dedicate the next 30 posts to exploring Zettelkasten and academic research. Each day, I’ll cover a different aspect of these topics, offering practical tips, detailed explanations, and personal anecdotes from my own experiences.

Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect from this series:

• An introduction to the history and principles of Zettelkasten.
• A comparison of analog and digital Zettelkasten methods.
• Information about how I set up and use Zettelkasten in Obsidian.
• Detailed insights into my research process and the cards I create when reading.
• Introduction to the various tools that I use to help me.
• Practical applications of Zettelkasten beyond academic research, including professional and personal uses.

I also have videos on my YouTube channel, where I’ll walk you through the setup of my Zettelkasten and demonstrate my approach to academic research. Whether you’re new to Zettelkasten or looking to refine your existing system, these playlists aim to provide valuable insights and actionable advice.

I invite you to join me on this journey and engage with the content by leaving comments, asking questions, and sharing your own experiences. Let’s learn and grow together as we explore the powerful potential of Zettelkasten in our academic and professional lives. Know someone that is going to college this fall? Share this information with them; I promise that it will help them with their term papers, masters’ thesis, or dissertations.