Would recommend just getting the free notion database + tutorial https://free.johnmavrick.com/ai-pkm ## Intro %% After spending hundreds of hours researching and experimenting with AI, I realized how much undiscovered potential there is for using it in our learning and note taking. the content is so valuable you want everyone to have access to it. potential hook: %% After spending hundreds of hours researching and experimenting with AI, I realized how we've only been scratching the surface of it's potential. We can save hours of time and use it in ways that surpass our own thinking capabilities, all we need to do is learn how to use it effectively. So in this video, I'm sharing the best prompts and workflows I've been using for overcoming information overwhelm, extracting insights from my highlights, and making profound connections to other ideas and my existing notes. Using AI, we can get 80% of the results in 20% of the time. So in this video, I'm sharing the best prompts and workflows I've been using for choosing high-quality content to learn from, extracting insights from the content I consume, and making connections to other ideas in my existing notes. I was going to charge money for this since AI is skyrocketing in virality, but you can get all these ready-to-use prompts for free in the description below. As a bonus, you will get example use cases and extra prompts for applying the information you learn into creating content and starting projects. %% I've organized them into the three key components of the knowledge process: In the capture phase, you'll learn how to: - filter out clickbait or irrelevant content to save your time and attention - understand what you're reading as you're writing - turn your messy notes into your ideal format Then, in the note-taking phase, you'll be able to: - Quickly summarize the highlights and notes you took, - Turning the core ideas into conceptual notes And lastly, when making connections to existing notes, you can: - use AI for finding smart connections - Fill in the gaps between two notes for seamless linking - Use the idea compass to come up new and diverse connections %% %% And lastly, we need to make use of our notes by: - Exploring similar topics and resources to continue our learning - Transforming our ideas into refined content - Taking action through projects and plans %% - And lastly, This is the second video of a 3-part series on how I use AI in my second brain - If you haven't already, I recommend watching the first video on how to set up ChatGPT and personalized AI inside Obsidian so you can follow along with me - In the third video, I'll share a real-life, start to finish process of using these prompts when reading a book Without any further ado, let's look at how AI can help us at the start of the knowledge management process - capturing information. ## Consuming content ### Before - Screening the content Problem: - There's an infinite amount of content to consume, but a limited amount of time - We need to have a way of filtering out what is irrelevant or just shallow clickbait To do this, we can use AI to make a summary of the content to see if it's worth consuming in the first place. #### ChatGPT I use this the most when considering watching a YouTube video that's more story-based since it might be more entertainment and fluff than useful information. So, while watching a YouTube video on my computer, I can go click on the 3 dots, and show the transcript to copy the content. Then, using ChatGPT, we can use the following prompt: ``` Provide a very detailed and complete summary of the content below as a list of key takeaways. Format the list with dashes. Exclude sponsorships or advertisements. {content} ``` After pasting the content of the script, we'll get a list of the main ideas talked about. Now, Instead of going off of the vague video title on whether I should watch it or not, I have a more holistic view. Turns out, I am interested to see what he has to say about things like living a life that is difficult to explain, and the concept of the self. But at the same time, there's some irrelevant things like sponsorships and product placements. Because of this, it's important to recognize that for any of these prompts, feel free to customize it to your own needs. In this case, we could have added extra information to make it exclude sponsorships or advertisements. Example: https://chat.openai.com/share/61b205cd-954d-48ff-9601-874f3480acd7 This way of summarizing your notes is pretty handy for a generic understanding, but sometimes we may want to know how relevant it is for our specific goals or interests. ##### Example Question ``` Provide a very detailed and complete summary of the content below as a list of key takeaways. Format the list with dashes. four thousand weeks that's how much time we get here if we're lucky take a moment right now and calculate how much of that time has already gone by actually you know what let me just do that for you because math is hard if you're 20 you've already went through about a thousand if you're 15 750 or if you're 30 you've already used up 1500 weeks if you look back on how that time has been used so far are you proud of what you've done look I don't want to be that guy on the internet that tells you time is running out and your Prime will soon be gone so you've got to make as much money as you can and optimize every single second of your future but I would certainly like you to enjoy your time here and develop yourself to a standard that you can look back on with fondness at old age and I think my recent discovery can help you do just that it's not often that I come The Quote I Live By across one of those inspiring quotes on the internet that really hits considering I've seen just about every single one of them in my comments from people trying to deceptively promote their YouTube channel but this one this one was different and it's something that I've always tried to live by that quote was be impossible to explain and I love that The Boxes People Put You In so how does one do that well in order to be difficult to comprehend you first must understand the boxes that you're letting everyone put you in in every single person's head you interact with there exists an idea of a you based on what you guys have experienced together what they've heard or seen about you and how you've acted or reacted to situations they form some sort of conception of a you now the depth of this U depends on the amount of information they've been exposed to relating to you and that can be in the form of word of mouth or actual experiences and even when they are exposed to a lot of information or experiences with you it may not accurately depict who you actually are if it's the wrong information or experiences regardless you should be thinking about all of these different identities that exist inside the heads of others as boxes as sad as it is for the majority of people they let other people's versions of themselves dictate their behaviors and action if they're around those friends that see them as the shy person then they'll act in accordance with that box if they're around the people that see them as the sociable person then they will probably act sociable with those people it's kind of like that Meme going around of you accidentally using your friend group one personality with friend group two so when we think about this that begs the question who are you really and that's a little too complicated of a question that I've covered in more depth before what I really wanted you to get to think about from the explanation in this part of the video is to start to ponder how you're letting those boxes Define you how to break out of them completely and consciously choose how you're gonna act and what you're going to do I don't just want to be remembered I Haven't Been Living By This Quote as the guy who was nice to most people or the YouTuber I also want people to say this dude really didn't let anyone Define him and he did what he wanted but to tell you the truth I have not been living by that statement in fact I've been letting my life slowly slip by without having any new experiences for at least a month now every day has felt almost exactly the same lived by the exact same person so I decided to change that all right I've had enough okay so I'm about to go do something that I've never done before I decided to randomly sign up for improv if you don't know what improv is it kind of says what it is in the name itself you improvise Act out scenarios with different people so I went on meetup.com and found an improv group happening in person in just a couple days when I arrived at the building I had no idea what to expect but I certainly was not expecting the level of discomfort and cringe I would soon face but in order to even do stuff like this and actually have the time to make the most of your life and become impossible to explain you need to have money let's be real here and ideally we Masterworks would want our money to be working for us in the form of something like investing but in 2023 that's definitely easier said than done household debt in America just surged past an all-time high of 17 trillion dollars and last year retirement accounts and investment portfolios weren't even enough to keep up but even as traditional Investments struggled One Market saw its richest year ever and that was the Fine Art Market a study from Deloitte expects it to grow by a trillion dollars in the next two years and that is why I want to introduce the sponsor of today's video Masterworks Masterworks allows almost anyone to invest in artists like Banksy and Picasso for a fraction of the cost of an entire painting and in this Fine Art Market the results are kind of speaking for themselves each of their exits thus far have delivered positive returns to their investors and with over 750 000 members Masterworks have had painting sell out in just minutes so they're adding more and more to meet demand but since they are sponsoring today's video you can skip the wait list completely and get started today all you gotta do is click that first link in the description to start investing on Masterworks see important regulation A disclosures at masterworks.com CD now My First Ever Improv Class let's get back into my first ever improv class we started off with some warm-up exercises first we all acted in slow motion and went around the room pretending we were samurais with swords for arms yeah then we went around in a circle creating sentences that rhymed with the last word off the top of our heads lot of food now I feel bad I like dogs I don't like yes now usually by this point in doing something new I'm feeling comfortable I'm easing up and I'm getting into the flow of things but I was in so much painful cringe that I gotta be honest I was having a really tough time with this then the next exercise came and this was when two people would come forward and just make up a scenario completely on the spot [Applause] where am I yeah it's okay oh that's a pretty color yeah all right can you guys see why I was having trouble with this but possibly the most absurd scenario was when two people pretended to be aliens and two people next to them had to translate what they were saying about pizza so welcome we're gonna resolve this pizza issue so in my opinion though pepperoni is the best wouldn't you agree he's saying that you gotta have anchovies and you gotta have extra cheese it has to be vegan now up until this point I hadn't really gotten anything that I did on camera because I was just doing everything so poorly but then came a scene where we were supposed to act out a story of people sneaking through a train station gate I'm asking the questions here okay my friend he he didn't pay his ticket how are you gonna catch him he's gone you're gonna pay for it what you're going to pay for it dude yeah right over here oh okay now you gotta pay to get there but I'm not even in it finally after class was finished I made my way home dude that that was something What The Class Taught Me to say the least bro that is the most uncomfortable I've been in years genuinely the most uncomfortable but that's what you got to do with your life you got to experience all these different things experience these different people see their worlds and then see if their worlds match up with yours as for whether I'll do that again ah looking back on that experience I can admire just how much those people probably don't allow anyone they interact with to trap themselves in a box in fact I think improv is one of the best examples of not letting any preconceived beliefs or Notions about you dictate your actions and for me at least it served as a great reminder for how much of myself I'm still not fully comfortable with expressing because I don't see it as part of my identity so What I Want You To Do Moving Forward I've explained to you how you might unconsciously be in some boxes right now and how I've recently tried to expand my horizons to become more interesting what is it that I want you to do moving forward what I want you to do is become a one out of one yes of course to become truly great at anything you must dedicate years of work into it and consistently get one percent better at it with each new iteration and I encourage you to create that one thing but don't let the pursuit of obsession with one thing distract you from having an identity that is completely fluid and open to the possibility ability of something different it's so easy to let Society choose the path for your identity and let others direct the way for you but with each new experience you intentionally pursue you become a more well-rounded nuance new individual because you get to peek into a new set of identities and that can have you asking the question I wonder what these types of people have gone through to become who they are right now when you decide to go white water rafting you can see a whole new world of people who like living on the edge and battling with the elements when you decide to take on bouldering you can uncover just how vastly different the muscles you use are compared to weightlifting and you open yourself up to a new community and when you decide to go to that salsa dance lesson you experience the types of people trying to get lost in these sensations of sounds that follow a very particular set of rhythms and chords by being the one to decide to experience as much as life as you can while you're here without the need for approval from others you can take bits and pieces from each identity you receive from these experiences and craft a self completely unique and difficult to explain compared to anyone else so do me a favor click off this video and go start doing something now life itself is impossible to explain so be more like life thank you very much to all my patrons on patreon who are helping to support my channel here if you're unfamiliar with that platform it is where I put out exclusive content and you can also talk to me one-on-one over the phone on there if you want to check that out Link in the description and if you are trying to develop more of a personality and be more interesting check out this video where I go over some other stuff to help you with that that's all I'm heading out now love you guys peace ``` ##### Example Answer ``` - Time is limited, and it's important to reflect on how we've used our time so far. - Don't let others' perceptions of you define your actions and behaviors. - Break out of the boxes that others put you in and consciously choose how you want to act and what you want to do. - Live a life that is difficult to explain and be proud of who you are. - The speaker shares a personal quote they live by: "Be impossible to explain." - Improv classes taught the speaker the importance of not letting preconceived beliefs or notions about oneself dictate actions. - The speaker encourages viewers to have a fluid and open identity, seeking new experiences to become a more well-rounded individual. - By experiencing different things, you can gain insight into the lives of others and craft a unique self. - Life itself is impossible to explain, so embrace the uncertainty and be more like life. - The video includes a sponsorship message for Masterworks, an art investment platform. - The speaker shares a personal experience of attending their first improv class, feeling uncomfortable but recognizing the value of pushing boundaries. - The speaker encourages viewers to dedicate themselves to becoming great at something while also maintaining a fluid identity. - Clicking off the video, taking action, and experiencing life is encouraged. - The video ends with a thank you to patrons on Patreon and a reminder to check out other related content. ``` #### Readwise Reader %% do not include %% But anyways, this already works really well, but I personally don't use ChatGPT for this. Instead, I use Readwise Reader, an app I use to consume all written content. It has a better option for long-form content since if the total text exceeds the limit, it will only use the key parts instead. You can use this prompt to do so, which I found on the Readwise discord. [[Readwise Ghostreader Prompts#Readwise Reader]] If I choose a really long video and try to copy the transcript, my Chrome crashes, but if we save it to Reader, we can use the prompt since it cuts the transcript. #### Relatedness to our goals Whether it be the main question in your mind as you clicked the video, or something you're working towards in your life, you can include it in the prompt to filter out the key takeaways it gives you. In my case, I'm going to include the main reason why I clicked on the video, as well as get it to expand on the things I found interesting from the first summary. ``` MY OBJECTIVE: I am working on finding out how to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. This means living a life that is difficult to explain, and the concept of the self. Provide a very detailed and complete summary of the content below as a list of key takeaways related to MY OBJECTIVE. Format the list with dashes. {content} ``` ChatGPT will then narrow down the content based on your criteria, and from there, you can see if there is anything you want to further dive into. Conversation: https://chat.openai.com/share/2d479d22-e58d-4458-8c77-584ea18aa954 #### Based on 12 Favorite Problems But of course, not everything is done for the sake of action. Sometimes we just want to nurture our curiosity for certain topics or questions. And so, we can find it's relevance by filtering it through your interests, which in my case are my 12 favorite problems. These are open-ended questions that you're most curious about, and want to find relevant ideas or answers for. So in ChatGPT, we can say ``` I am going to give you my 12 favorite problems, the questions that I am interested in learning and answering from the content I consume. You are filtering whether this content is relevant to these 12 favorite problems. If there is absolutely no relevance for a problem, only mention "No direct relevance." under the problem. After giving you my 12 favorite problems, prompt me for the content to analyze. For each problem I give you, explain which ideas in the content are most relevant (in bullet point form) Example format: 1. Problem 1 - Idea in the content related Here are my 12 favorite problems: {problems} ``` I separated the content into the next message since the prompt and questions are already a lot of text, and there might not have been enough space for it. Thanks to the detailed prompt, this works surprisingly well. What I really like about this is how ChatGPT uses the presentation style and stories of the YouTuber to answer my content creation related questions. Now that's next level. The only complaint I have is the incompatibilty with my investments question since sponsorships will always be the answer. ##### Example 6 harsh truths: https://chat.openai.com/share/f28e1d03-5357-4ab5-ae5e-078703d1f171 Cole hastings video: https://chat.openai.com/share/a4772402-63d0-4171-aef9-ffe5e2ecd1c5 So, now that we've filtered out irrelevant content, it's time to start consuming 😎 ### During - Reframing things you don't understand Problem: - Part of the challenge of consuming content is making sense of new ideas. - Instead of trying to re-read the text, or googling the term just to find even more complicated descriptions, we can harness the personalization power of AI - When I don't understand something, I can just ask it to explain the paragraph or idea to me from a different perspective - I can choose a certain identity of mine - When I come across an explanation that makes sense, I can add it as an annotation to my highlight ##### Example Question A while ago, I was learning about mental models and systems thinking, but was still confused about how they were different. So, with over 15,000 hours in games, I asked it to explain as if I was a gamer. https://chat.openai.com/share/b5f94d40-56eb-4cfe-8e59-1c17fe8504ef They explained each term in gamer words, then went on to compare their differences. And I hate to say it, but the explanation made much more sense than the normal one 😅 Since I'm using ChatGPT, if I needed any further explanation I could have continued to ask it questions until I understood. Aside from an identity of yours, you can also just change the way it explains (to a 5 year old, to your specific use case, from first principles). And so, with the power of the internet as your personal tutor, you'll be able to finish with a set of highlights that personally relate with you. ### After - Formatting your notes Problem: But sometimes, you take notes in a certain format, but then want to change it to something easier to work with. - In my case, the highlights I make from video transcripts in readwise reader have weird spacing issues and no punctuation, so I want to fix that Thankfully, we can use AI as our formatting slave: ``` I am about to give you raw highlights from a transcript of a video. Can you please clean the formatting of these highlights by improving punctuation and grammar while keeping the (View Highlight) link for each highlight? Here are the highlights: {highlights} ``` And of course, you can change the prompt: - If you use voice to text note-taking you can ask it to add grammar - If you use bullet points you can ask it to turn it into complete sentences Now that we're done consuming content, it's time to process our highlights into more permanent and conceptual notes we can add into our notes. ## Permanent notes The next part of the note-taking process is to create new notes from our highlights on the different ideas and concepts. But there's just one problem. ### Summarizing text Problem: - If you've just finished a long book, or take too much highlights like I do, it might feel overwhelming to process everything all at once and turn them into conceptual notes - Sometimes it's helpful to start with less, and then add more as we need. And we can come up with where to start through the power of summarization. Example conversations: - Short article, a non-definitive guide to non-duality https://chat.openai.com/?model=text-davinci-002-render-sha - Four thousand weeks https://chat.openai.com/share/81108c47-c5af-4943-8170-3276fab646d6 #### Readwise Reader With Readwise Reader you can write code to extract your highlights into your prompt like so: ``` """ {% for highlight in highlights %} {{ highlight.content }} {{ "\n\n" }} {% endfor %} """ Provide a very detailed and complete summary of the document as a list of key takeaways. Format the list with dashes. The title of the list should be "Key Takeaways:": ``` #### Key takeaways from highlights When using ChatGPT, we first can get a general summary of the key takeaways as we have already been doing. In my case, I'm trying to summarize my highlights from an article I read on a type of meditation practice called non-dual mindfulness. ###### Prompt ``` Here are highlights I took. Please list out unique and creative concepts and ideas inside the highlights as a list of key takeaways. Format the list with dashes. The title of the list should be "Key Takeaways:" Please do n ot include generic, one-word topics, but specific ideas. {highlights} ``` #### Summarizing topics from highlights - Second, we can just ask for the general topics and themes. ###### Prompt ``` Here are highlights I took. Please list out the different topics or themes (in bullet points) and subtopics (in nested bullet points) that the highlights are comprised of so I can do further research into them. {highlights} ``` As you can see, this answer is a bit more broad. You can even use them in combination to have a super summary. You can ask it to use the higher-order themes in the second prompt, and get it to organize the key takeaways under them. ``` Can you organize the key takeaways you first found under their respective topics/ themes? ``` If you feel like the summary isn't doing the highlights justice, you can always be more specific on what you want to focus on. Alternatively, you can also do your own manual summarizing, then ask it to format for you. #### Summarizing bolded highlights We can follow Tiago Forte's progressive summarization technique and do another read through of our highlights, bolding no more than 20% of the existing text. Then, we can ask AI to only extract the bolded parts: ``` Please extract the bolded text (text surrounded by **) in the following highlights, and list them in bullet points: {highlights} ``` For this article I read on a 3 part daily routine for maximum productivity, it was able to extract my bolded headers and key terms. Here is an article I progressively summarized: [[The 3-Part Daily Routine For Maximum Productivity]] ##### Example Question ``` Please extract the bolded text (text surrounded by **) in the following highlights, and list them in bullet points: ## Notes I pick up gold nuggets here and there from what I am consuming, but the real magic happens when I hear the right word that triggers a waterfall of insight. I’m not sure what the phenomenon is, but **sometimes you just need that one word, letter, sound, example, anecdote, or story to ==bring up a thought== that leads you down ==a rabbit hole of questioning and exploration**==. Listening On A Walk ==II.I. Fill Your Mind== **Reading In The Sun** you **become less prone to familiar distractions** that will impact your study just by being in that environment **Reading** — as opposed to listening — allows me **focus my attention and study deeper**. I can highlight ideas that I want to contemplate over the coming weeks and months for the sake of understanding ==II.II. Empty Your Mind== A few ways you can practice immersing yourself in the present moment: **The Gym** Observe the voice in your head that tells you to quit. Observe how the muscle feels as it contracts. Observe the blood flowing quicker through your body. **Nature Bathing** You may have a water intake goal, distance goal, health goal, or just the goal to have a good time in nature. Intention. Other **Meditative Habits** You Can Adopt I **choose a topic that I know and fill in the blanks** in a way that I understand it according to my direct experience. **Stream of consciousness, then edit**. If you can’t tap into an infinite stream of consciousness, question why. Physical Mediums **brain dump journaling** **By taking your attention off work and placing it on life, the gap between the two dissipates** and The Unknown will deliver the insight you were looking for to the forefront of your conscious mind. ==II.III. Use Your Mind== There are 3 main things that come into play when **getting into deep, focused work**: **Leveraged familiarity Ordered consciousness Connection to The Unknown** Leveraged familiarity is a soft morning routine I **start my mornings with a long 45-minute walk without my phone. I focus on my breath, body, and other sensations** that I bring my attention to. My intention with this is to ground myself in ‘not knowing’ before it’s time to work. ``` ##### Example Answer ``` Sure! Here are the bolded texts extracted from the given highlights: - Sometimes you just need that one word, letter, sound, example, anecdote, or story to bring up a thought that leads you down a rabbit hole of questioning and exploration. - You become less prone to familiar distractions that will impact your study just by being in that environment. - Reading — as opposed to listening — allows me focus my attention and study deeper. - The Gym - Nature Bathing - Other Meditative Habits You Can Adopt - I choose a topic that I know and fill in the blanks in a way that I understand it according to my direct experience. Stream of consciousness, then edit. If you can’t tap into an infinite stream of consciousness, question why. - brain dump journaling - By taking your attention off work and placing it on life, the gap between the two dissipates and The Unknown will deliver the insight you were looking for to the forefront of your conscious mind. - There are 3 main things that come into play when getting into deep, focused work: Leveraged familiarity, Ordered consciousness, Connection to The Unknown. - Leveraged familiarity is a soft morning routine. - I start my mornings with a long 45-minute walk without my phone. I focus on my breath, body, and other sensations that I bring my attention to. My intention with this is to ground myself in ‘not knowing’ before it’s time to work. ``` ##### Closing Now that we have a foundation for the types of ideas we want to extract and add to our vault, it's time to start creating conceptual notes. You can already use these summarized topics and ideas as the notes themselves, but if you still need more help, here's some more suggestions for creating conceptual notes. ### Turning into conceptual notes Just a reminder to use ChatGPT answer's as suggestions - making these conceptual notes are a fundamental part of the learning process, and just blindly following the AI's responses can diminish the personality of your notes. %% AI is strongest in finding similarities between text, so if you like to use the highlights in the notes you make, we can group the highlights based on the main concepts. %% If you're unsure on what kind of notes we can make out of our highlights, we can ask ChatGPT to group our highlights based on potential note titles. #### Finding related highlights for a concept Problem: ``` Please list out the title of zettelkasten conceptual notes I can make based on these highlights. They should be atomic, creative, and be connectable to other conceptual notes. Under each conceptual note, list out the highlights related to it. Here is an example: [[Title of concept note]] > Highlight 1 > Highlight 2 Here are my highlights: {highlights} ``` If we use my article on non-duality, it ended up just doing one highlight per note title, but it unearthed some important note topics like - Duality of self and other - The purpose of non-dual meditation, which is transcending these dualities - and percieving time as an eternal moment Conversation example: - https://chat.openai.com/share/0f0dfbe6-e704-460f-baf9-95a78f32fcdb #### Finding related highlights for a note %% We can also use the suggestions from the summarizing we did earlier as the note titles, and just use AI to find the most relevant quotes %% https://chat.openai.com/share/baf366f1-2c4a-4183-b8d2-4720beab3362 But I just have one problem. I have an already existing note on self-actualization, and i want these highlights to be turned into notes that can be connected to this one idea. It's time to ask AI again for help: ##### Prompt ``` Interpet all instances of {CONCEPT NOTE} as [[Self-actualization]]. I am turning highlights I saved into zettelkasten conceptual notes, and want to creatively connect them to the following {CONCEPT NOTE}, here are the contents inside the note: **START OF NOTE** The goal of self-actualization is not only to become your best self, but to work towards your ultimate role in society. By being in the proper environment and right mindset, anyone can achieve their own version of self-actualization. ## Principles - Add value to an already stable life - examples include fighting for justice, mastering a craft, nurturing a generational family, escaping society and becoming a sheep herder - subjective - since self-actualization is subjective, you can just try to meet the bare minimum for the previous stages - the fact that people can have such varying lifestyles proves that it's ultimately up to you on what you want to set those standards to be. it's all a mental - [[Self-actualization helps us overcome selfishness, becoming altruistic]] - Self-actualization focuses on meaning rather than happiness; [[Happiness is not a priority]] ### Traits - [[self-awareness]] - [[Ambition]] - [[Altruism]] - [[Authenticity]] - [[Courage]] - [[Creativity]] **END OF NOTE** For {each / important} highlight(s), come up with a title for the new note related to {CONCEPT NOTE}, a copy of the highlight you are referencing, and specifically explain how it relates to the content inside {CONCEPT NOTE} Here is an example format: [[Title of the note]] Highlights: > Example highlight 1 > Example highlight 2 - (Why it is related) Here are the highlights: ## Highlights So, this boundary (this “duality” of self and other) is maybe not super solid. Also, “you” are hardly an unchanging thing. You are different from moment to moment. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3ndam8c4cv36p7fks59srrq)) think of yourself as a drop in the ocean. This can be a scary idea, in the sense that it forces you to confront the arbitrariness and flux of existence. But it can also be a relaxing alternate frame—it’s a way of looking that can bring a sense of letting go, as well as greater empathy for you and others: we are all just trying to ride this wave together and none of us is totally sure what’s going on, or totally in control. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3ndbekwmvhayanafk6m5zz0)) walking in nature—your sense of “you” diminishes, the volume of your thoughts is turned down, and it’s almost as if you’re melting into the forest. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3ndbz0cnb32zznrdqb2yrxf)) - 💭 amplified when on psychedelics These moments can be really nourishing. Your problems and fears and worries, which seem so big, can seem less imposing. Or, instead of seeming like “your” fears, they can seem simply like a variety of noise or weather passing through the universe. You might have that most precious intuition, the sense that it will All Be Okay. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3ndejn2qf7s9thwgmpgb69z)) Non-duality also refers to the process of transcending *other* dualities. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3ndf0a8gc315b0h5tz1nv49)) **Good feeling” and “bad feeling"** by embracing emotions we might refer to as negative, or even, potentially, seeing that they possess wisdom. (The book [Spectrum of Ecstasy](https://www.amazon.com/Spectrum-Ecstasy-Embracing-Emotions-Vajrayana/dp/1590300610) is a great primer on this from a Buddhist perspective, and my favorite woo new age book, [Existential Kink](https://www.amazon.com/Existential-Kink-Unmask-Embrace-getting-ebook/dp/B07XMG4BWN), is also sort of about this.) ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3ndgqv0bj4qkt5ts6sn3h10)) **"Sacred” and “profane”** by trying to see beauty or even dignity in what we might normally regard as ugly or undignified ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3ndn9gbfs4gez6v190tjfz4)) **"Past” and “present”** by noticing how, in meditative stillness, it appears that all time is just an oscillation in an eternal moment, which never really passes or arises ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3ndnncyffvg2xn605cxbxjp)) **Form” and “emptiness”** which is… hellaciously hard to explain and will be pretty arcane to most readers, but something *kind of like*: “Reality is a subjective fluctuating dance of ephemera which we never see the objective bottom of, like flashes on a screen. But this doesn’t mean it’s *unreal,* in fact, that ephemeral dance is, itself, the miraculous substance of existence.” Note that this is a weird Buddhist thing that weird Buddhists have been arguing about forever; if you want more on this, I like David Chapman’s writing, which relabels the duality “[pattern](https://meaningness.com/pattern) and [nebulosity](https://meaningness.com/nebulosity).” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3ndpkw7a2r41hyepph20qyf)) you might start by meditating on your breath to improve your ability to focus, then you might use that focusing ability to start getting a better sense of how physical sensations arise and pass away, and so on. And then, after turning yourself into this beautiful meditative microscope, you might begin turning the microscope on itself, by deconstructing the sensations that you usually call “yourself.” Thereby, you achieve non-dual experience. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3ndtv4zps31q6n5vfyecfmt)) many non-dual traditions say: “Instead of *trying* so hard, you could just sit down and notice that you’re already one with everything and that you’re already enlightened. Lol. Lmao.” And that actually… works? ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3ndv6xedc1vbjden7j8c81b)) ### New highlights added June 23, 2023 at 7:59 PM [only about 10%](https://www.clearerthinking.org/post/can-you-experience-enlightenment-through-sam-harris-waking-up-meditation-app) of those who took the course learned it successfully! ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3nmhcg2d8576q3m7rb3m5m0)) In Zen, they have you sit down and do nothing a lot until the non-dual state happens to you all by itself, and they also break your brain with interesting and beautiful riddles. This reportedly actually has a fairly high success rate for those who stick with it, although some people bounce off the deliberate vagueness of Zen pedagogy. ([Henry Shukman’s memoir](https://www.amazon.com/One-Blade-Grass-Finding-Memoir-ebook/dp/B07N8ZGFQB) is a really lucid introduction to Zen, in my opinion.) ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3nmva4b8z5artsp3353fnbd)) ### New highlights added June 23, 2023 at 8:59 PM Some teachers, such as [Ramana Maharshi](https://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/), recommend “self-inquiry” practice, an investigative meditation in which you ask yourself questions like: “Who am I?” or “Who is having this experience?” You then look for the answer—not the *factual* answer, but the *felt* answer. Like: allow yourself to notice that you exist right now. What was the feeling of noticing that you exist, the feeling of “I am”? Can you extend that moment of noticing? Can you feel what it consists of, as you would break down the component parts of a piece of music, or a taste in your mouth? ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3nnrzaykyyr4qtev8gray5w)) try to slow down a bit as you read this next part. If anything you read causes a change in awareness, try to linger there for a moment ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3nnvvdarxka7c7hqqw5s9j2)) conscious awareness makes itself happen. You don’t have to create your experience: sensation comes to you all on its own ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3nnw61zef2nvha6ce7ys5ab)) If everything you’re perceiving is a cinematic production optimized for utility, then when you look at this page, you’re not really seeing a raw report of the light hitting your eyes, you are *seeing what’s coming out of your mind.* Therefore, everything you perceive as “the world” is a perception of your model of the world, which is to say, you. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3nnxph96ebxkxbqtyzmadym)) also, of anything you associate with a “sense of self.” That is a production as well, composed of ephemeral sensations that come and go. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3nnyk8kh3vzxtp38wzj7zfx)) • Try to figure out where your “sense of self” is located. Like when you say “I’m here,” what is that referring to, specifically? • Like: if you have the intuition that you are looking out from inside your head, what sensations is that intuition constructed from? The feeling of something “back there,” in space, behind the lens of vision? Does this feeling have a texture, a shape, or a size? Or is it just a vague sense of *something?* • Can you examine that sense itself, by asking, “Where am I?” Then make the answer an object in consciousness. • If you pick up on anything: great. Hold it there for a second. • Then: play with the idea of allowing that object—that felt sense of self—to expand. See if you can let it stretch out into your awareness of the space around you. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3nnzt16yvhey9g6tpv9br06)) - 💭 step 6 reminds me of water filling in six phase meditation I don’t know that there’s any super hard scientific evidence saying that non-dual practice is good for anything beyond the way it feels really nice. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3np32av6pg82w5nah95fqqh)) people experienced in non-dual states tend to report: • Less emotional activation • A greater sense of sacredness • More absorption in surroundings • A heightened sense of interconnectedness • Less preoccupation with neurotic thoughts • More available feelings of meaning and purpose ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3np3jbyhzbvq5d2v2pqq49q)) ``` ##### After - Instead of having to add the name of the note every place I wanted it, I just made it refer to the variable at the start - Just replace `[[Self-actualizaiton]]` into your own note - By asking for it's explanation, we can understand it's thought process and see if it personally makes sense to us. Don't just blindly agree with it's suggestions, use it as a copilot for your own decisions. By now, we've extracted the important ideas, and pasted them into concpetual notes ready to be connected. ##### Example Question ``` I am turning highlights I saved into zettelkasten conceptual notes, and want to connect them to the following notes: - [[link one]] - [[link two]] For {each / important} highlight(s), come up with a title for the new note, the copy of the highlight you are referencing, and explain how it relates in one sentence. Here is an example format: [[Title of the note]] Highlights: > Example highlight 1 > Example highlight 2 - (Why it is related) Here are the highlights: {highlights} ``` ## Linking to notes and ideas ### Finding related notes Problem: - To let our knowledge grow into a web of strongly connected ideas, we need to relate our new notes to our already existing ones - Unfortunately, this is easier said than done - Sometimes you're trying to find notes related to a broad concept, but have not been using a consistent term or phrase to describe it, preventing you from basic keyword search - Or maybe you struggle to find any similarities with existing notes in yout vault, and don't know where to start It's okay - using AI, we can find the most relevant ideas and notes, no matter how long ago we took them, using the [[Smart Connections Plugin#Relatedness View]] to do so. We can find connections to notes at levels beyond human comprehension and understanding, in thousands of dimensions calculated by AI. So, once we open the note we want to make smart connections for, we can go to the sidebar and open the "Smart connections files" pane to see a list of most related notes and sections. ``` Use in old vault Turn one of the AI suggested notes into a note. Use smart connections pane to see what is relevant. Copy paste a quote into search, the more text the more data it has to work with think of yourself as a drop in the ocean. This can be a scary idea, in the sense that it forces you to confront the arbitrariness and flux of existence. But it can also be a relaxing alternate frame—it’s a way of looking that can bring a sense of letting go, as well as greater empathy for you and others: we are all just trying to ride this wave together and none of us is totally sure what’s going on, or totally in control. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3ndbekwmvhayanafk6m5zz0)) - Related to four thousand weeks idea, they both have the same idea but then it adds more to it If everything you’re perceiving is a cinematic production optimized for utility, then when you look at this page, you’re not really seeing a raw report of the light hitting your eyes, you are *seeing what’s coming out of your mind.* Therefore, everything you perceive as “the world” is a perception of your model of the world, which is to say, you. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h3nnxph96ebxkxbqtyzmadym)) - Discipline of perception ``` Unfortunately, these connections are limited to what's already inside our notes. What if we wanted to create a bridge between two existing notes, or come up with different types of connections to make? ### Coming up with new notes and links #### Bridging between two existing notes Problem: - If you want to make a connection between two notes, but aren't sure on how to, we can ask AI to think of potential bridge notes for us to connect them together. - If there's space, you can even add the content of the two notes in the prompt for more context Conversation example: https://chat.openai.com/c/e48ff5a3-8852-4b4c-bf8c-7689350e11da In my case, ``` I want to connect two notes, [[Non-dual Mindfulness]] and [[Meditation]] together, but the connection between them is too broad. What are some additional notes I can create in between them to better link? Content of [[Non-dual Mindfulness]] note: Content of [[Meditation]] note: ``` I like the Mindfulness Practices one since it provides hierarchical structure. I personally don't think it warrants a separate note for now, so I'm going to just make it a header in my meditation note. ##### Prompt ``` I want to connect two notes, [[Second Brain]] and [[Productivity]] together, but the connection between them is too broad. What are some additional notes I can create in between them to better link? Here are the contents of the notes: [[Second Brain]] [[Productivity]] ``` ##### Example Question ``` I want to connect two notes, [[Second Brain]] and [[Productivity]] together, but the connection between them is too broad. What are some additional notes I can create in between them to better link? ``` ##### Example Answer ``` To establish a more focused connection between [[Second Brain]] and [[Productivity]], you can consider adding the following intermediary notes: 1. [[Knowledge Management]]: This note can explore the principles and practices of effective knowledge management, which is at the core of the concept of a second brain. It can delve into techniques such as note-taking, organizing information, and creating a personal knowledge base to enhance productivity. 2. [[Information Overload]]: This note can address the challenges of information overload in the digital age and how a second brain approach can help in managing and processing large amounts of information more efficiently. It can cover strategies like filtering, prioritization, and creating systems for better information consumption. 3. [[Digital Tools for Productivity]]: This note can focus on the various digital tools and applications that support both second brain methodologies and productivity enhancement. It can cover note-taking apps, task management tools, mind mapping software, and other relevant technology that facilitates information organization and retrieval. 4. [[Workflow Optimization]]: This note can explore the concept of workflow optimization, emphasizing how a second brain can streamline and optimize personal workflows. It can delve into topics such as task automation, time management techniques, and creating effective routines to boost productivity. 5. [[Creativity and Productivity]]: This note can discuss the relationship between creativity and productivity and how a second brain approach can foster both. It can explore techniques like idea generation, creative problem-solving, and leveraging the capabilities of a second brain to support and enhance creative endeavors. By incorporating these intermediary notes, you can establish a more specific and practical link between [[Second Brain]] and [[Productivity]], covering the principles, tools, challenges, and benefits associated with managing knowledge effectively and improving productivity through a second brain framework. ``` #### Using the idea compass Conversation: https://chat.openai.com/share/448ad7b2-39dd-42cf-8481-5f20363b5d72 Credit: https://zettelkasten.de/posts/creative-thttps://zettelkasten.de/posts/creative-technique-within-zettelkasten-framework/echnique-within-zettelkasten-framework/ Problem: - In our prompts, we need to also consider the different types of links we can make. - I like Fei-Ling Tseng's idea compass framework, where each direction is a type of link you can make from a note - North links try to find the source or parent of the note - West links find similar notes - East links are for transformation, for finding constrasting ideas and challenging the note - South links are for what this causes - And so, we can feed this framework alongside the note we are making to brainstorm potential links. - For each direction, I include questions that to give the AI a better understanding on what we are looking for in each link. - These questions were initially answered by ourselves, but it's interesting to see how the AI thinks as well. By default it is more rational, but you can always ask it to be more creative or poetic. ##### Prompt ``` I am writing a note titled {note title}, and want to use the idea compass methodology to find new ideas to connect it to. the idea compass is as follows: imagine the four compass directions. each direction helps give definition to the idea in different ways. NORTH: “Where does X come from?” what are its origin? what group/category does X belong to? what exists an order of magnitude higher? zoom out. what gave birth to X? what causes X WEST: “What is similar to X?” what other disciplines could X already exist in? what other disciplines could benefit from X? what are other ways to say/do X? SOUTH: “Where can X lead to?” what does X contribute to? what group/category could X be the headline of? what exists an order of magnitude lower? zoom in. what does X nurture? EAST: “What competes with X?” what is the opposite of X? what is X missing? its disadvantage? what could supercharge X? Imagine you are linking to other similar wikipedia-style articles that focus on one main idea. These "articles" should be broad and brief in title. what are some possible NORTH links you could make? Explain your reason for choice for each link. ``` With these new potential links, you can continue on your learning and note making. ##### Example Question I am writing a note titled "Non-dual mindfulness", and want to use the idea compass methodology to find new ideas to connect it to. the idea compass is as follows: imagine the four compass directions. each direction helps give definition to the idea in different ways. NORTH: “Where does X come from?” what are its origin? what group/category does X belong to? what exists an order of magnitude higher? zoom out. what gave birth to X? what causes X WEST: “What is similar to X?” what other disciplines could X already exist in? what other disciplines could benefit from X? what are other ways to say/do X? SOUTH: “Where can X lead to?” what does X contribute to? what group/category could X be the headline of? what exists an order of magnitude lower? zoom in. what does X nurture? EAST: “What competes with X?” what is the opposite of X? what is X missing? its disadvantage? what could supercharge X? Imagine you are linking to other similar wikipedia-style articles that focus on one main idea. These "articles" should be broad and brief in title. what are some possible NORTH links you could make? Explain your reason for choice for each link. ##### Example Answer When exploring the concept of "Non-dual mindfulness" using the idea compass methodology, here are some possible NORTH links you could make along with the reasons for each choice: 1. Meditation: Non-dual mindfulness is deeply rooted in meditation practices, particularly those that emphasize present-moment awareness and the cultivation of non-dual awareness. Linking to the article on "Meditation" would provide a foundational understanding of the practice and its relevance to non-dual mindfulness. 2. Mindfulness: Non-dual mindfulness can be seen as an advanced or deepened form of mindfulness. By linking to the "Mindfulness" article, readers can explore the broader concept of mindfulness and understand how non-dual mindfulness builds upon and expands its principles. 3. Consciousness: Non-dual mindfulness involves a shift in perception and an experiential understanding of the nature of consciousness. Linking to the article on "Consciousness" would provide readers with insights into the different perspectives and theories surrounding consciousness, thereby creating a contextual understanding of non-dual mindfulness. 4. Eastern Philosophy: Non-dual mindfulness draws inspiration from various Eastern philosophical traditions, such as Advaita Vedanta, Zen Buddhism, and Taoism. Linking to an article on "Eastern Philosophy" would offer readers a broader perspective on the philosophical foundations and concepts that inform non-dual mindfulness. 5. Transcendence: Non-dual mindfulness often aims at transcending dualistic modes of thinking and experiencing reality. By linking to the article on "Transcendence," readers can explore the idea of going beyond conventional boundaries and limitations in the pursuit of non-dual awareness. Each of these NORTH links helps to provide a deeper understanding of the origins, related concepts, and broader context of non-dual mindfulness, allowing readers to explore the topic from different perspectives and gain a comprehensive view of its foundations. ### Transition Congratulations! By now, we've completed turning our content into notes - now it's time to actually do something with them. ## Action ### Learning more #### Exploring new topics based on highlights %% Probably not going to use %% ###### Prompt ``` Here are highlights I took. What are some new topics and subtopics related to the above that I can look into if I am trying to {your intentions}? Explain your reasoning. {highlights} ``` #### Getting extra resources based on highlights Problem: - If you find gaps in your knowledge or just want to continue learning more, we can use our highlights and objective as a reference for finding more resources. ``` Here are some highlights I have from a book. I am trying to learn more about {objective / topic}. Please give me extra {resources} related to my goal and highlights, and let me know why you recommended it. {highlights} ``` ###### Example Question Here are some highlights I have from a book. Please give me extra books I can look into for further learning that are related to their ideas, and let me know why you recommended it. Ten Questions for a Twitter Ghostwriter | Metadata - Author: Paul Millerd - Category: article - Document Note: 1. People proactively messaging to talk about creator economy. 2. Easiest way to build huge following is to take top content from other platforms and post it to Twitter. 3. Large financial meme accounts have huge following but worthless because no unique voice. 4. Some people get 100k followers but can only make a few hundred dollars a month with advertisers. 5. Ways to grow quickly that are genuine and not growth hacky. 6. Being genuinely funny and interesting works. 7. Best way to have accomplished something interesting and gain followers. 8. Growth hacks are fine if there's substance behind the brand. 9. People building followings based on trends will have worthless following in two years when the trend changes. Highlights Are there ways to grow quickly that aren’t totally growth hacky and can be genuine? It seems like being genuinely funny and interesting works (obvious but maybe not) Absolutely. The best way is to have accomplished something interesting. People will want to hear about how you did it. And people will actually care about your thought on things if you have credibility. The growth hacks are fine, but only if there's some substance behind your brand. But plenty of people are building followings solely based on a trend and In 2 years their following will be worthless when the trend changes. The easiest way to build a huge following is to take top content from Reddit or Instagram and post it to Twitter. Many large financial meme accounts basically do this, or they recycle the sane meme format a million times. They have huge followings but they're basically worthless because the creator has no unique voice. I know some people get to 100k followers this way who were surprised to learn they couldn't make more than a few hundred bucks a month advertising with sleazy advertisers. They've built followings that are 1,000 Miles wide and 1 inch deep It’s pretty interesting how many people proactively message me to talk about the craziness in the creator economy. I think this is because I more or less just share what I think, don’t try to hack algorithms and write all my own stuff. This has attracted what I call “good followers” or really, people I’d love to hang with in real life. ###### Example Answer Based on the ideas presented in the article "Ten Questions for a Twitter Ghostwriter" by Paul Millerd, here are some book recommendations for further learning: 1. "Contagious: How to Build Word of Mouth in the Digital Age" by Jonah Berger - This book explores the psychology behind why certain ideas and products become popular and offers insights into how to create contagious content and build a following without relying on growth hacks. It aligns with the idea of genuine content winning in the long term. 2. "Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator" by Ryan Holiday - This book delves into the world of media manipulation and exposes the tactics used by marketers and media professionals to create buzz and manipulate public perception. It provides a critical perspective on growth hacks and highlights the importance of credibility and substance in building a following. 3. "The Content Code: Six Essential Strategies to Ignite Your Content, Your Marketing, and Your Business" by Mark W. Schaefer - This book explores the concept of "igniting" content and creating a strategy for amplification and engagement. It emphasizes the need for unique voices, genuine content, and building a loyal audience. It provides practical advice for creating content that stands out in a crowded digital landscape. 4. "Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World" by Gary Vaynerchuk - In this book, Gary Vaynerchuk discusses the art of storytelling and creating engaging content on social media platforms. He emphasizes the importance of understanding each platform's unique dynamics and tailoring content accordingly. The book provides insights into building a genuine following by delivering value and meaningful interactions. 5. "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion" by Robert Cialdini - This classic book explores the principles of persuasion and how they can be applied to marketing and communication strategies. Understanding these principles can help in building a genuine following by tapping into psychological triggers and creating meaningful connections with the audience. These book recommendations cover topics such as content creation, audience engagement, credibility, and building a genuine following. They provide valuable insights and strategies that align with the ideas discussed in the article. ### Content creation Problem: - A way to make use of your notes is to make content for other people to learn from, which then also helps solidify your understanding! #### Creating Outline We can use [[Smart Connections Plugin#Relatedness View]] to find related notes. When we're on the note, we can open the `Smart Connections Files` pane, which will then find related notes based on the content inside. Alternatively, you can also use search to do so. #### Outline %% Might not use %% ``` I am writing a {paper/script} called {title}. Are there any gaps in my {argument / teaching}? What are some topics or questions the reader may still have? Here is the outline of my content: {outline} ``` ### Action-oriented #### Starting a new project We can do what we did previously - List out your requirements and use [[Smart Connections Plugin#Relatedness View]] to your advantage - It will look for notes with similar wording - ex) If you are saying you are "working on the script of my youtube video, a story on how I started building my second brain" - It will most likely resurface notes related to: - "Writing Youtube Scripts" - "YouTube Intros" - "Storytelling" - "Second Brain" - All you need to do is then organize the information - first based on keywords #### Learning the fundamentals of a skill %% might not use %% ###### Prompt Take one of the things you want to learn, and use the following prompt: ``` I am starting to learn {skill} so I can achieve {goal}. Please create a roadmap by breaking down the core topics I need to learn in this skill, providing a one sentence summary of each. Please make a hierarchical list. ``` ###### Example Question I am starting to learn UI design so I can make a web application. Please create a roadmap by breaking down the core topics I need to learn in this skill, providing a one sentence summary of each. Please make a hierarchical list. ###### Example Answer Certainly! Here is a hierarchical roadmap for learning UI design for web application development: 1. Fundamentals of Design: - Color Theory: Understanding the psychology of colors and how to use them effectively in web design. - Typography: Selecting and pairing fonts to create readable and visually appealing text on web pages. - Layout and Composition: Learning principles of layout design, grid systems, and visual hierarchy. 2. User Experience (UX) Design: - User Research: Conducting research to understand user needs, behaviors, and goals. - Information Architecture: Organizing and structuring content to ensure intuitive navigation and findability. - Wireframing and Prototyping: Creating low-fidelity sketches and interactive prototypes to test and iterate on design ideas. 3. Visual Design for the Web: - UI Elements and Styling: Designing buttons, forms, icons, and other interface elements with consistent styling. - Responsive Design: Designing interfaces that adapt and look good on various screen sizes and devices. - Web Accessibility: Ensuring the web application is accessible to users with disabilities, following accessibility guidelines. 4. Front-End Development: - HTML: Learning the markup language for structuring web content. - CSS: Styling web pages with CSS to control the visual appearance. - JavaScript: Enhancing interactivity and functionality of web applications with JavaScript. 5. Designing for Interactions: - Microinteractions: Creating small, subtle animations and feedback to improve the user experience. - Transitions and Animations: Applying motion and animations to improve usability and engagement. - User Feedback and Validation: Designing effective feedback mechanisms for user input and error handling. 6. Design Systems and Collaboration: - Design Systems: Creating a library of reusable components, guidelines, and styles to maintain consistency. - Collaboration and Version Control: Learning how to work effectively with developers and use version control systems like Git. 7. UI Testing and Iteration: - Usability Testing: Conducting usability tests to identify and address usability issues. - A/B Testing: Experimenting with different design variations to optimize user experience and conversion rates. 8. Continuous Learning and Growth: - Stay updated with current design trends, new technologies, and tools. - Seek inspiration from design communities, blogs, and industry resources. Remember, this roadmap provides a structured approach, but learning UI design for web application development is an ongoing process that requires practice, experimentation, and staying up-to-date with industry trends. #### Specifying more things to learn %% Might not use %% ``` I am trying to {main objective}, and am currently focusing on the following topic. What are some further subtopics and details related to the above that I can look into? {topic} ``` ###### Example Question I am trying to learn UI design to make a web application, and am currently focusing on the following topic. What are some further subtopics and details related to the above that I can look into? 1. Fundamentals of Design: - Color Theory: Understanding the psychology of colors and how to use them effectively in web design. - Typography: Selecting and pairing fonts to create readable and visually appealing text on web pages. - Layout and Composition: Learning principles of layout design, grid systems, and visual hierarchy. ###### Example Answer Certainly! Here are some further subtopics and details related to the fundamentals of design for UI design in the context of web applications: 1. Color Theory: - Color Schemes: Exploring different color schemes like monochromatic, complementary, analogous, and triadic to create harmonious designs. - Color Psychology: Understanding how different colors evoke specific emotions and perceptions in users. - Contrast and Accessibility: Considering color contrast ratios to ensure readability and accessibility for users with visual impairments. - Color Tools: Exploring color palette generators and tools to create and experiment with color schemes. 2. Typography: - Font Pairing: Learning techniques for selecting and combining fonts that complement each other and create visual harmony. - Readability and Legibility: Understanding the factors that impact readability, such as font size, line height, and letter spacing. - Web-safe Fonts and Web Fonts: Exploring the use of web-safe fonts and web font services like Google Fonts to ensure consistent and accessible typography across different devices. - Responsive Typography: Adapting typography for different screen sizes and optimizing readability across various devices. 3. Layout and Composition: - Grid Systems: Understanding grid-based layouts and their benefits for organizing content and creating consistent designs. - Visual Hierarchy: Using techniques like size, color, contrast, and placement to establish a clear visual hierarchy that guides users' attention. - White Space: Leveraging white space or negative space effectively to improve readability, create breathing room, and highlight key elements. - Responsive Layouts: Designing layouts that adapt and respond to different screen sizes and devices, considering concepts like fluid grids and flexible breakpoints. 4. Visual Balance and Proportion: - Symmetry and Asymmetry: Exploring the use of symmetrical and asymmetrical layouts to create visual balance and interest. - Golden Ratio and Rule of Thirds: Applying mathematical principles to achieve aesthetically pleasing proportions in design. - Focal Points: Understanding how to direct users' attention to specific elements using contrast, positioning, and visual weight. - Scale and Proportion: Maintaining consistency in the size and proportion of elements across the interface. By exploring these subtopics and details related to the fundamentals of design, you'll be able to deepen your understanding and skills in UI design for web applications. Remember to practice and apply these principles in your design projects to gain hands-on experience and improve your abilities. ##### Getting extra resources based on goal ###### Prompt ``` I am trying to achieve {objective}. Please give me extra {resources} related to the topics I am trying to learn, and let me know why you recommended it. {topics} ``` ###### Example Question I am starting to learn UI design so I can make a web application. Please give me courses and books related to the topics I am trying to learn, and let me know why you recommended it. 1. Color Theory: - Color Schemes: Exploring different color schemes like monochromatic, complementary, analogous, and triadic to create harmonious designs. - Color Psychology: Understanding how different colors evoke specific emotions and perceptions in users. - Contrast and Accessibility: Considering color contrast ratios to ensure readability and accessibility for users with visual impairments. - Color Tools: Exploring color palette generators and tools to create and experiment with color schemes. 2. Typography: - Font Pairing: Learning techniques for selecting and combining fonts that complement each other and create visual harmony. - Readability and Legibility: Understanding the factors that impact readability, such as font size, line height, and letter spacing. - Web-safe Fonts and Web Fonts: Exploring the use of web-safe fonts and web font services like Google Fonts to ensure consistent and accessible typography across different devices. - Responsive Typography: Adapting typography for different screen sizes and optimizing readability across various devices. 3. Layout and Composition: - Grid Systems: Understanding grid-based layouts and their benefits for organizing content and creating consistent designs. - Visual Hierarchy: Using techniques like size, color, contrast, and placement to establish a clear visual hierarchy that guides users' attention. - White Space: Leveraging white space or negative space effectively to improve readability, create breathing room, and highlight key elements. - Responsive Layouts: Designing layouts that adapt and respond to different screen sizes and devices, considering concepts like fluid grids and flexible breakpoints. 4. Visual Balance and Proportion: - Symmetry and Asymmetry: Exploring the use of symmetrical and asymmetrical layouts to create visual balance and interest. - Golden Ratio and Rule of Thirds: Applying mathematical principles to achieve aesthetically pleasing proportions in design. - Focal Points: Understanding how to direct users' attention to specific elements using contrast, positioning, and visual weight. - Scale and Proportion: Maintaining consistency in the size and proportion of elements across the interface. ###### Example Answer Certainly! Here are some recommended courses and books related to the topics you're trying to learn in UI design for web applications: 1. Color Theory: - Course: "The Complete Color Harmony: A Course in Color and Design" on Udemy. This course provides in-depth knowledge of color theory, color schemes, and their application in design. - Book: "Interaction of Color" by Josef Albers. This classic book explores the perception of color and provides insights into color relationships and harmonies. 2. Typography: - Course: "The Typography and Font Management Course" on Udemy. This course covers typography fundamentals, font pairing techniques, and best practices for optimizing typography in web design. - Book: "Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, and Students" by Ellen Lupton. This book offers a comprehensive understanding of typography principles and its application in various design contexts, including web design. 3. Layout and Composition: - Course: "Grids and Layout Principles for Web Design" on LinkedIn Learning. This course teaches the fundamentals of using grid systems and establishing visual hierarchy in web design. - Book: "Grid Systems in Graphic Design" by Josef Müller-Brockmann. This book explores grid systems and their application in graphic design, providing valuable insights for creating balanced and visually appealing layouts. 4. Visual Balance and Proportion: - Course: "Design Principles: Balance, Hierarchy, and Harmony" on Coursera. This course focuses on design principles, including visual balance, proportion, and creating focal points. - Book: "The Non-Designer's Design Book" by Robin Williams. This book explains design concepts in a beginner-friendly manner, covering topics such as visual hierarchy, balance, and proportion. Remember, these courses and books offer valuable resources to deepen your knowledge and skills in UI design. They provide practical guidance, examples, and exercises to apply the concepts in real-world scenarios. Additionally, consider exploring online design communities, blogs, and tutorials to stay up-to-date with current design trends and gain inspiration from other designers.