Nonfiction Readers, Forget Fancy Tools: These 4 Essentials Are All You Need for Effective Note-Taking

Effective note-taking relies on having the right tools that match your style and needs.

Ahmed Gadaken
4 min readJul 16, 2024
Photo by mauRÍCIO SANTOS on Unsplash

The best way to read and take notes is the one that works for you.

When it comes to reading habits and note-taking, finding effective methods can be challenging. I’ve faced difficulties in building reading habits and taking effective notes for a long time. I tried many tools and methods, some of which looked appealing but were hard to maintain. I realized that the best tools are the ones that work for you and are enjoyable to use.

Your note-taking method should be adaptable to every situation and time.

Note-taking is simply the practice of recording information.

If you’re a non-fiction reader who takes notes from books, you might encounter different methods like using annotation stickers or various highlighters. If you enjoy this process and it works for you, that’s great. For two years, I tried different note-taking tools and methods, but these four tools for effective note-taking are sufficient. You don’t need fancy tools or complicated annotations to take effective notes.

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Ahmed Gadaken

Digital writer fueled by caffeine & curiosity. I spill the secrets of successful people's reading habits—because who doesn’t want to read like a billionaire?