By Mahira Ahmed
Have you ever wondered how to record your life or make it a little more intellectual? There may be a simple solution. A commonplace book is a collection of ideas, thoughts, quotes, and information compiled by one individual. Instead of a diary that specifically records day to day life, a commonplace book is like a personalized encyclopedia that can be a source for future reference.
The practice of keeping a “commonplace book” is rooted from the ancient times of Greece and Rome. Scholars such as Cicero collected their personal thoughts and inquiries of life through “loci communes”, which translates to “commonplaces” in Latin. In fact, our favorite president at GW, George Washington, even compiled his own commonplace book as a child.
As a young schoolboy in Virginia, Washington wrote a list of 110 “Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.” According to the historian Richard Brookhiser, these principles would shape Washington’s life as a leader in the years to come. Thomas Jefferson and Virginia Woolf are also influential figures who have carried commonplace books, reflecting the significance of having a record of one’s own knowledge.
The creation of a commonplace book is quite simple, in fact you may already have one. Having a personal blog on social media or bullet journaling have almost become the new “modern” commonplace book. To create a digital commonplace notebook, start in the Notes app on your smartphone or a specialized app! A small physical notebook can work just as well to record observations of day to day life. Content ideas for commonplace notebooks may include information from books, quotes, lists of locations you plan to visit, a review of a coffee shop you recently visited, or a movie recommendation that a friend gave you.
The benefits of a commonplace notebook range from reflecting on the memories and ideas of your past self, to creating ideas for your next research paper in class! Writing the key takeaways from a class or book can be a point of reference to create further inquiries for a future assignment or just a conversation with a friend!
It may sound daunting to start one, but commonplace books are more “common” than you think. People create social media accounts, or carry around a pocket sized notebook with the intention of recording information from their day to day life all the time. If you ever wanted a way to further appreciate the knowledge that the world has to offer, try making one yourself!