The Library of the Uncommons

Sasu reviewed A System for Writing by Bob Doto

Bob Doto: A System for Writing (EBook, New Old Traditions)

THIS BOOK IS FOR WRITERS who want to write more, who struggle to write, who …

A Practical Zettelkasten Primer with Writing Advice

5 stars

I've been trying to get started with a #Zettelkasten for the better part of two years, if not longer. I've read one or two other books on the subject, notably How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens, poked around in forums, did some trial and error, and had a clunky, barely functional system. I'm pretty sure that I heard about A System for Writing through someone posting about it on the Fediverse and I'm so glad. Building on the felicitous recommendation of whoever that was, I'd like to take this opportunity to heartily recommend this book by @bobdoto@pkm.social to anyone who, like me, is or has been floundering trying to figure out how to make a working Zettelkasten which they can actually use.

Here's what I found so helpful about the book:

It's organized really well and is easy to dip back into for reference …

Here's what I found so helpful about the book:

It's organized really well and is easy to dip back into for reference or reassurance.
There are eminently practical lists of what to do, what to remember, and what to watch out for at the end of each section.
His interpretation of the #ZK system is flexible and adaptable to the resources and knowhow one already has. Everything (including reference notes!) can be done on paper, or in one app, or in many, or in another way, depending on one's preferences and needs.
He explains himself and gives examples which are themselves instructive.
He clearly calls out his sources and provides detailed endnotes for anyone who wants to dig deeper.
He gives solid writing advice.

I could probably go on but let me stop here and summarize by stating that the book seems to have every building block I would have needed to get started and then some. My Zettelkasten is still a work in progress, but it's now in a much more usable state thanks to Bob's advice.

Thanks so much for writing the book!

#Zettelkästen #slipbox #slipboxes #notes #notetaking #writing #BobDoto #ASystemforWriting #SystemforWriting #sourcenote #sourcenotes #referencenote #referencenotes #references #pkm

Sasu reviewed When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi (duplicate)

John Scalzi (duplicate): When the Moon Hits Your Eye (AudiobookFormat, 2025, Audible Studios)

The moon has turned into cheese.

Now humanity has to deal with it.

…

Amusing, but doesn't live up to its potential

3 stars

Content warning Some discussion of plot structure and hints about the ending

I listened to John Scalzi's When the Moon Hits Your Eye because the combination of the premise and Scalzi's reputation for irreverence reminded me of the film Don't Look Up, which I remember as one of the best movies I've seen in recent years. Perhaps that was not the most ideal place to read from, but that's where I started anyway.

In short, I found the book amusing with a few good moments. However, having listened to the whole thing, I'm left with the sense that it was too #superficial to be satisfying. Some scenes did go a bit deeper, especially those that dealt to any significant degree with the emotional implications of the impending #apocalypse, but on the whole, I thought that the opportunities for #satire afforded by the #absurdity of a moon made of cheese were used mostly for simpler humor instead.

I think that the chapter involving #writing deserves special mention. I experienced it as the most moving part of the book by far and suspect that it might have been even stronger standing on its own as a short story, possibly with a bit added for context.

I was surprised and somewhat aggravated by the abrupt twist near the end, but what I thought was really clever about it despite my frustration was the amount of #doubt that was left open as the book ended.

From the afterword, I got the sense that this book probably would have been more satisfying if I had approached it from the perspective of a dyed-in-the-wool Scalzi fan (which I am not, even if I often enjoy his writing) who just wanted to read something amusing, be entertained, and enjoy some light satire. I can also imagine that the lightness of the satire might make it something of a "gateway" to considering things from a different perspective for anyone who would find something like Don't Look Up difficult to digest.

#Scalzi #JohnScalzi #DontLookUp #WhentheMoonHitsYourEye #Moon #Cheese #CheeseMoon #Luna #Caseus #ScalziFan