# Mind Mapping  ## Metadata - Author: Kam Knight - Full Title: Mind Mapping - Category: #books ## Highlights - Mind mapping is a way of note-taking that organizes words, thoughts, ideas, tasks, activities, and more in the form of a diagram. The diagram launches with a key or main idea in the center of a page, with subtopics radially around the main idea. The subtopics group and cluster similar ideas, and they branch out to lower and even lower-level topics, guiding one to wherever their thoughts go. ([Location 57](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=57)) - This is the fundamental nature of mind maps. It begins with a thought, idea, or problem in the middle, and then branches outward. The design is similar to a tree in that one keyword or idea initiates the process, and from there, other interconnected and related branches stem. ([Location 64](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=64)) - When you learn a new piece of information, that fact doesn’t aimlessly float around in your head. Instead, it attaches itself to something else. This is the way the brain works—by connecting thoughts, ideas, and experiences to other thoughts, ideas, and experiences. Each thought or idea in your head has hundreds to thousands of links. ([Location 72](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=72)) - If you look at the above mind map again, more or less, it is an image processed by the same mechanisms that process sight. And the parts of the brain that process sight are much quicker and more powerful than the parts that process other types of information. ([Location 89](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=89)) - Because mind maps employ a part of the brain that is faster, more powerful, and more efficient, their visual nature makes them easier to process and even easier to remember. ([Location 106](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=106)) - color, shape, and branch size go a long way in organizing content. ([Location 130](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=130)) - Main Topic—The main topic is the subject you want to map. If taking notes of a book or article, the main topic will be its focus or title. If performing research, the main topic will be the matter you are researching. ([Location 165](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=165)) - Subtopic—Subtopics are like subheadings of a chapter in a book. They represent the noteworthy components or characteristics of the main thought. For note-taking, that might be the important points, or as stated, the subheadings and headers. In research, that may include the relevant facts. ([Location 168](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=168)) - Lower-Level Topics—The lower-level topics detail or describe the features and traits of the subtopic. ([Location 171](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=171)) - focus on keywords or keyword phrases. As explained in the previous chapter, the efficient use of mind maps requires using keywords and associating them to other keywords to summarize information. ([Location 187](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=187)) - The technique is unique to the person creating them, so although this book provides suggestions on what to do, take them as mere suggestions and nothing more. It’s more important to develop your own style and fit it to your needs. ([Location 221](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=221)) - To effectively mind map written material, follow these steps: 1. Preview 2. Read 3. Mind Map 4. Review ([Location 243](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=243)) - The first step is to preview, which means taking a few moments to familiarize yourself with the material. This includes skimming through the passage, looking at the table of contents, major headings, words in bold or italics, quotes, illustrations, graphs, summaries, and any other important element that catches the eye. The goal is to acquaint yourself with the broad purpose of the content and how it is organized. Previewing is an important step because it prepares you for what is about to be read. ([Location 245](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=245)) - Previewing is also important because it employs the power of incremental learning. The brain does not learn everything at once, but rather in steps. ([Location 254](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=254)) - Read the first and last paragraphs, examine words in bold or italics, read any quoted texts, and glance at illustrations if there are any. ([Location 260](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=260)) - Note: Articles - Read the front and back covers. Look at the table of contents to get a feel for the organization. See whether the book is divided into sections or parts (this can represent the first hierarchy). Look at the chapter headings to get a feel for the topics that will be covered. ([Location 261](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=261)) - After gathering the books and articles, it is time to assimilate the content using mind maps. This can be done in one of two ways. First is to create separate maps of each source and then consolidate them into one large map. Riding on the Alexander the Great example, you would create one mind map using the information in History.com, another mind map using his biography, and yet another from his documentary. Once you have these individual maps, merge the data to make one giant diagram that encompasses the entire research. ([Location 492](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=492)) - Since the purpose of this part of the exercise is to get as much material out of your head and onto paper, refrain from any form of censoring. Write down anything and everything that comes up. Don’t worry about spelling, punctuation, or grammar. Even include unrelated thoughts, for instance, if you find yourself thinking, I don’t want to do this task or I hate my boss for giving me this assignment, write it down. No matter how far-fetched or ridiculous the thinking, put it on paper. ([Location 587](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=587)) - After completing this for the first set of thoughts, do it for the second set. In the previous example, a term that came up in the first go around was Relationship, and this term triggered Family, Friends, Spouse, and Employee. ([Location 601](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=601)) - There is no denying this sheet is disorganized. It is full of scribbles and notes scrambled in every which way. This is okay. In fact, this is more than okay. This is the creative process! Thoughts must be extracted before they can be analyzed and evaluated. ([Location 613](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B0C7NDGFSK&location=613))