Tiago Forte

Building a Second Brain

1. IDEA 1

   Build a second brain

   Forte argues that our minds are for having ideas, not storing them. He recommends a second brain: a trusted digital collection of notes that remembers useful information for you, so you can spend your mental energy on thinking and creating.

2. IDEA 2

   Follow the CODE method

   Forte's method has four steps: Capture what resonates, Organise it for action, Distil it to its essence and Express it in your own work. Together these steps turn scattered information into a steady source of creative output.

3. IDEA 3

   Capture what resonates with you

   Rather than saving everything, Forte suggests keeping only what strikes you as surprising, useful or personal. He also borrows the idea of keeping a list of twelve favourite problems, open questions that help you notice which information matters.

All 8 ideas from Building a Second Brain →