The Notebook : A history of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️ An engaging read but with highs and lows, the book is divided into 30 chapters, each focusing on a western-centred story or historical account of notebook use throughout time. Some chapters feature well-known historical figures, while others highlight individuals unfamiliar to me. I particularly enjoyed certain chapters, though I found a few uninteresting and boring. 

My main takeaway was learning about the origins of notebook use in Italy, where bookkeeping was first invented. Over time, notebooks evolved to include copying quotes and passages from major texts as well as messages from friends and family. A major development came when notebooks began to serve as tools for thinking and creativity, this was evident in the practices of famous painters and thinkers, such as Leonardo da Vinci. In the final chapter, the book explores the idea of the notebook not just as a memory aid or thinking tool, but as an extension of the mind itself. 

My favorite chapters focused on Darwin’s use of notebooks during the Beagle voyage. Another chapter examines the diaries and note-taking habits of writers, including Henry James, Patricia Highsmith, and Agatha Christie.