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How to Journal on Great Literature (My Marginalia & Rereading Process) (Patreon)

Published:
2023-05-27 18:02:14
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Today I would love to walk you through my process for journalling on great literature. 

My approach is simple, but effective. It is comprised of three key interlocking parts: 1) marginalia 2) rereading 3) writing.

Topics of discussion include: forming positive new habits, getting started with marginalia, specific writing exercises, mindsets for self-growth, how to approach your rereading, steps for effective journalling, and much more.

Timestamps:

  • 0:00 how to journal on great literature
  • 0:45 journalling begins with marginalia
  • 1:40 marginalia is a compliment to the writer
  • 2:00 on show copies vs work copies
  • 3:30 Montaigne’s marginalia technique
  • 4:30 underlining resonant passages
  • 5:52 my rationale for underlining things
  • 6:10 how to bring unity to your reading
  • 6:30 the power of posing questions
  • 7:40 on etymological excavations
  • 8:20 my marginalia for Moby Dick
  • 9:00 what is the effect of this passage?
  • 9:20 talk to yourself in the margins
  • 10:00 insights arise from frivolity
  • 10:47 the power of cross-pollination
  • 12:00 how I approach my rereading
  • 13:00 one of my most rewarding readings
  • 14:42 reading quotas & one-page prescription
  • 15:20 using marginalia to direct rereading
  • 15:40 how to make your rereading a habit
  • 16:20 scheduling reading & athletic activity
  • 16:20 making writers your walking companions
  • 17:20 rereading as spaced repetition technique
  • 18:20 rereading reflects personal change
  • 19:00 collecting resources for your hero’s journey
  • 20:00 the pen and journal I use for my practice
  • 20:30 different journals for different purposes
  • 21:00 going through my journal for the sonnets
  • 22:00 be highly selective on what you focus on
  • 23:00 the logistics of my journalling practice
  • 23:40 riffing on key words & passages
  • 24:00 step one: alight upon resonance
  • 24:40 step two: write the quotation by hand
  • 25:30 step three: pose questions to yourself
  • 26:30 taking the scenic route through literature
  • 27:00 engaging with yourself through great books
  • 27:50 action steps & practical application
  • 28:10 you are what you repeatedly do
  • 29:00 a powerful mindset for creating habits
  • 29:20 designate your journalling as meaningful
  • 30:00 journalling as a self-care practice

Questions for You:

1) What does your journalling habit look like?

2) Do you fill your books with marginalia?

3) What other habits have you found to be powerful for personal growth?

Happy reading, everybody!

Files

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How to Journal on Great Literature (My Marginalia & Rereading Process)

0:00 how to journal on great literature 0:45 journalling begins with marginalia 1:40 marginalia is a compliment to the writer 2:00 on show copies vs work copies 3:30 Montaigne’s marginalia technique 4:30 underlining resonant passages 5:52 my rationale for underlining things 6:10 how to bring unity to your reading 6:30 the power of posing questions 7:40 on etymological excavations 8:20 my marginalia for Moby Dick 9:00 what is the effect of this passage? 9:20 talk to yourself in the margins 10:00 insights arise from frivolity 10:47 the power of cross-pollination 12:00 how I approach my rereading 13:00 one of my most rewarding readings 14:42 reading quotas & one-page prescription 15:20 using marginalia to direct rereading 15:40 how to make your rereading a habit 16:20 scheduling reading & athletic activity 16:20 making writers your walking companions 17:20 rereading as spaced repetition technique 18:20 rereading reflects personal change 19:00 collecting resources for your hero’s journey 20:00 the pen and journal I use for my practice 20:30 different journals for different purposes 21:00 going through my journal for the sonnets 22:00 be highly selective on what you focus on 23:00 the logistics of my journalling practice 23:40 riffing on key words & passages 24:00 step one: alight upon resonance 24:40 step two: write the quotation by hand 25:30 step three: pose questions to yourself 26:30 taking the scenic route through literature 27:00 engaging with yourself through great books 27:50 action steps & practical application 28:10 you are what you repeatedly do 29:00 a powerful mindset for creating habits 29:20 designate your journalling as meaningful 30:00 journalling as a self-care practice

Comments

Colin ellesmere

This for me was an important lecture as I do need to increase my analysis and review of things I have read. I just do not remember much detail even after a second review, but perhaps only after 3 or more active reviews. Unfortunately, as I cant get books where I live, mostly I have to read off a kindle and whilst I highlight in the kindle it just isn't as useful as marginalia in a physical book. So I plan to buy some note books and start journaling and marginalia. The latter will be best done in notebooks referencing the Kindle page. Going off topic 29.11 in the video I was intrigued by the Chinese book Ben placed next to his coffee. I found it hard to read as it was calligraphy writing and traditional characters. Not simplified which mainland China uses. Anyway the title 有机煎茶 You Ji Jian Cha ( simplified characters) shows it was a book on how to cook/roast/steam(there is no english word for this 煎) fresh tea leaves. Now I know Ben has an interest in Chinese tea, though that interest may of course have come from Japan. I live in a major tea producing area in China - Pu'er tea. Most expensive teas here are over 1000$ per kg. If you do not cook the leaves well you can ruin the tea, or greatly devalue it as the best tea flavour will not be carried forward in processing.

Denise Powers

I first took the leap into marginalia at Ben's encouragement a year and a half ago when I first joined HLBC. I have not looked back, nor have I purchased another e-book. So, while I feel quite comfortable now marking up my beloved books (it felt like sacrilege at first), what I have not done is take it that step further to rereading and journaling on the books themselves. I am an avid journaler, starting when I was about 8 years old, and then taking a big gap for a decade or two and then starting again a few years ago. I don't do well if I can't process my thoughts about what is happening in my life and the world around me if I can't do it on pen and paper. But I love Ben's habit of taking the learnings from literature and letting thoughts merge and converge, dance around on the topics that come up. My plan is to go upstairs right after I finish this post and grab one of the 3 blank journals I have sitting on the desk and make it one dedicated to HLBC. I am afraid of starting too many and not being able to figure out what I should write where, so I am going to use one for all the work we cover here (that is the majority of what I read anyway). Thanks Ben, for continuing to let us into the innermost parts of your life, your thoughts and now even your habits.