Notes on the Antinet System

Overview

• Many note-taking systems fail to engage critical thinking.
• The Antinet is a note-taking system developed by Scott Shepard that encourages deep thinking and organization.

Key Components of Antinet

• Acronym Breakdown:
  • A: Analog
  • N: Numeric
  • T: Tree
  • I: Index

Setting Up Your Antinet

Materials Needed

• 10 index cards
• A box for organizing cards
• Pen (optional: lined cards or a ruler to create lines)

Structuring Your Cards

1. Top-Level Branches: Create five main categories on your first five cards:

   • 1000: Arts and Humanities
   • 2000: Social Sciences
   • 3000: Natural Sciences
   • 4000: Formal Sciences
   • 5000: Applied Arts and Sciences

2. Card Structure: Each card has two parts:

   • Card Address: Coordinates for locating the card
   • Body of Text: Main content or note written on the card

Index Creation

• Use lined cards or draw lines to create an index.
• Write the letters of the alphabet in the top left corner of each card (A1, B1, etc.) to help locate content.
• For each main category, note the location in the index:
  • Example: Arts and Humanities is under "A" with the address 1000.

Adding Content

• To add new information:
  1. Create a new card for the information.
  2. File it under the appropriate category based on the index.
  3. If a new topic relates to an existing card, file it closely using an address that indicates its relationship (e.g., 315-1 for an expansion).

Bibliography Notes

• When reading a book, create a Bib Note:
  • Write the book title, author, publication info, and interesting ideas on the card.
  • Use bullet points to jot down page numbers and notes.
• After reading, decide which interesting ideas to turn into main notes in your Antinet.

Maintaining Your Antinet

• Index Fatigue: Be aware that writing many index entries can be overwhelming; persistence is key.
• As you accumulate notes, avoid cluttering the system by organizing related ideas closely.
• Aim for a balance between quantity and quality in your notes to prevent overwhelm.

Final Thoughts

• Building an Antinet is a gradual process; expect value to increase over time.
• Utilize connections made during card searches to discover new insights.
• Check Scott Shepard's resources for more advanced strategies and tips on building an Antinet.