Become an Expert in (Almost) Any Subject By Using Compendiums

How to Create Your Own Compendium to Become an Expert

Key Concepts:

• Compendium: A collection of information and analysis about a particular topic, systematically presented and comprehensive in scope.
• Expert: Someone with broad and deep understanding and competence in knowledge, skill, and experience through practice and education. In this context, expertise refers primarily to knowledge.
• Encyclopedia: A massive, super compendium of all human knowledge, typically organized alphabetically.
• Anthology: A collection of writings, often essays or excerpts, on a particular topic.
• Omnibus: A complete collection of written material, such as a comic book series.
• Commonplace Book: A collection of quotations organized according to a particular scope and purpose, often by common places or categories.
• Quiz and Recall Method: A learning technique involving quizzing oneself and actively recalling information to improve retention.
• Transcendentals: Concepts like truth, goodness, beauty, and unity, prominent in medieval philosophy.
• Haecceity: The property of being a unique and individual thing; "thisness."
• Quiddity: The inherent nature or essence of something; "whatness."
• Ipsity: Selfhood or personal identity.
• Derivation: A series of statements with intermediate steps providing the transition from premises to conclusion in an argument.

What is a Compendium?

A compendium is a collection of information and analysis about a specific topic. It is systematically presented and comprehensive in scope. Examples include:

• Peterson field guides (e.g., Reptiles and Amphibians)
• Warhammer 40k Ultimate Guide
• Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook
• Religious confessions of faith (e.g., Westminster Confession of Faith)
• Dune Encyclopedia
• Bullet journal guides within Leuchtturm 1917 notebooks

While often used interchangeably with "encyclopedia," a compendium is more focused on a specific topic, whereas an encyclopedia aims to cover all human knowledge. All encyclopedias are compendiums, but not all compendiums are encyclopedias.

The Goal: Knowledge-Based Expertise

Creating a compendium can help you become an expert in a topic, specifically in terms of knowledge. This doesn't necessarily translate to authority or skill, but it can provide a deeper understanding than most people possess.

Distinguishing Compendiums from Other Collections

• Anthology: Unlike a compendium, an anthology (e.g., Philosophy of Mind Anthology) is simply a collection of writings on a topic, not necessarily systematically presented or comprehensive.
• Omnibus: An omnibus (e.g., Invincible Compendium) is a complete collection of a written work, not a presentation of information about the work.
• Commonplace Book: A commonplace book (The Quotable C.S. Lewis) is a collection of quotations organized by topic, not a comprehensive analysis of a subject.

Sponsored Example: The Book: The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding Civilization

The Book by Hungry Minds is presented as an excellent example of a compendium. It contains information needed to rebuild society after a catastrophic event, featuring handmade illustrations and covering 180 topics in 23 chapters. Topics range from pigeon mail and martial arts to reinforced concrete and power plants. The book is described as both informative and entertaining, with hidden references and Easter eggs.

Creating Your Own Compendium: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Dedicate a Notebook to a Topic: Choose a topic you want to master and dedicate a notebook to it (e.g., "Transcendentals and Transcendental Arguments Compendium," "Philosophy Compendium," "Personal Handbook," "Time Travel Compendium"). Leuchtturm 1917 notebooks are recommended.
2. Find an Overview of the Topic: Consult an encyclopedia entry or other comprehensive resource to understand the scope of the topic and identify key areas to cover.
3. Use the Quiz and Recall Method of Entry:
   • Read source material (e.g., encyclopedia entries, journal articles).
   • Take notes in your own words, avoiding verbatim copying.
   • After reading a section, look away and try to recall the information and write it down. This active recall process enhances memory and understanding.
4. Schedule Time for Research and Compendium Work:
   • Allocate time for researching the topic.
   • Schedule dedicated time to add entries to your compendium, quiz yourself, and actively recall information.
5. Review Your Notes Regularly: Review your compendium entries to reinforce learning and make connections between ideas.
6. Treat Your First Pass as a Working Compendium:
   • Don't aim for perfection in the first draft.
   • Focus on gathering information and analyzing it.
   • Refine the organization and presentation later.

Examples of Personal Compendiums

• Philosophy Compendium: Contains entries on philosophical concepts like ipsity, haecceity, quiddity, and derivation.
  • Haecceity: The property of being a unique and individual thing.
  • Quiddity: The inherent nature or essence of something.
  • Ipsity: Selfhood or personal identity.
  • Derivation: A series of statements with intermediate steps providing the transition from premises to conclusion.
• Personal Handbook: A compendium of personal goals, resolutions, reflections, and habits.
• Time Travel Compendium: Focuses on the philosophy of time, including fatalism, the topology of time, and different kinds of time (metaphysical, physical, cosmic, psychological).

Conclusion

Creating a personal compendium is a valuable method for mastering a topic and developing expertise. By dedicating a notebook, researching comprehensively, using the quiz and recall method, scheduling time for research and writing, and treating the first pass as a working draft, you can create a powerful tool for learning and knowledge retention. The process requires effort and dedication, but the rewards in terms of increased understanding and expertise are significant.