Which should be the next book project?

Sascha · August 25

Dear Zettlers,

What of the following book projects is your favorite, and you'd make me to attack next if you had the chance?

The Deep Knowledge Work Practice. It will cover all the elements of the practice that aims to produce knowledge. Topics covered: The psychology of knowledge work, a GOST-frame work for knowledge work (Goal, Objectives, Strategy, Tactics), how to treat one's brain like an athlete is treating his body, grounding knowledge to avoid the ivory tower, setting up a healthy information diet, the difference between information consumption and digestion, tools and workflows to process lectures and podcasts, reading tools, processing habits (of which Zettelkasten work is one possible element), using discussions and debates to foster learning and knowledge production, Co-thinking, Co-Thinking with AI.
Knowledge Work Craftsmenship. It will cover a wide range of specific tools and techniques to create knowledge. It is based on my (almost 1.5 decades long) work on the nature of knowledge and my coaching experience. Topics covered: In depth examination of the knowledge building blocks (difference between metaphors and models, simple meta-frameworks for arguments, types of models and their utilities like systems, maps, tables), building block APIs (from empirical observation to argument, from definition to model, etc.), using AI as well.
How to Work a Book. Pretty self-explanatory. Perhaps it is best explained by distinguishing from the most famous book by Adler and van Doren How to Read a Book. They put the book as the main object of interest at the center of their approach. To me, books are fuel. They can be clean fuel, dirty fuel, slow burning, fast burning, high energy density, low energy density etc. The best reader can burn any fuel. The metaphor breaks when it comes to direction and substance. A book is not only fuel but also the source of the material of which we build further knowledge and they in themselves are a direction of learning. Naturally, I cover this aspect as well.

Live long and prosper
Sascha

harr · August 25

I'd be interested in the craft of knowledge work. What is knowledge? What is knowledge work? Why is knowledge atomic? How to build an inventory of knowledge buidling blocks? etc.

c4lvorias · August 25

I believe the second option is the most original line of thought and the remaining can be covered in smaller batches

zettelsan · August 26

Ideally, I’d pick a topic closely related yet orthogonal to your upcoming book on the Zettelkasten. Since I haven’t read it yet, that’s not something I can do. That aside, like previous commenters, I think Knowledge Work Craftsmanship sounds the most interesting. It seems to expand the most on what’s been discussed around the Zettelkasten and related topics, and it also lays the foundation for the other projects on the list.

GeoEng51 · August 27

@Sascha I'm partial to the first topic on deep knowledge work practice, which is a skill many lack or haven't even thought about.

harr · August 27

More questions that I'd hope to get answered in a book about knowledge work:

What is the philosophical foundation of knowledge work? How is it related to logical empirism and analytical philosophy? (Philosophy is a recurring topic here in the forum.)

Do we need a Zettelkasten for knowledge work?

Sascha · August 28

Thanks for your feedback!

Perhaps, I can give you more background information. Not all books mean the same amount of effort for me:

How to work a book would be the least effort. It is basically putting together various practices and gives me a chance to highlight the benefit of actually reading books, but also providing a framework on how read books differently for different outcomes. I am for example reading a book on AI as part of the ever-encroaching social engineering and controlling apparatus. I read the book for multiple writing projects that are quite different (a societal critique, a positive societal vision, AI co-thinking manual). But I also read the book because a friend asked me and wants to discuss the book and I happily agreed because it gives me an incentive to structure my Sunday early mornings in a healthy way. I also prepare myself for creating something like a think tank that I dreamed about for a long time. All of these motivations go into reading a book and shape my approach to reading it. The reading process, the type of highlights, the produced artifacts, etc. I want to tell you that the book wouldn't be yet another book on reading with the same old rehashed tips, but a book about a framework to incorporate all kinds of reading techniques.
The deep knowledge work practice would be of medium effort. To me, this project is closest to my heart. Naturally, it will include methods and techniques. But is also a book on providing a vision, making peace with ambition and pressure and not shying away from it, creating a complete workflow instead of stitching things together. In a way, it is a special version of my general work on lifestyle design.
Knowledge Craftsmanship would be by far the highest effort. The value produced seems to be the highest, too. It would open a pipeline from the philosophy of knowledge to the actual practice of knowledge work. To give you an example: With these tools I could easily counsel a client of mine who imported specific and exotic flours to Germany. I could point out modelling flaws or when he made decisions that needed better empirical evidence to be justified. This project however would need some form of financial drip throughout the process (e.g. an option for monthly support for premium content) because this book would take a lot of time and effort.

A thought that I have is that an easier book would give me more book writing practice to prepare myself for the harder ones.

I am pretty confident that knowledge craftsmanship would be the natural extension of my work as @zettelsan pointed out. It would be the text book version of the atomic note-taking guide minus the note-taking aspect. I also agree with @c4lvorias that this would be the most original work.

On the other hand, I feel that deep knowledge work practice is a softer and accessible topic that is relevant to more people. I also agree with @GeoEng51 that this is a practice that is in dire need for today's world. I could also use a lot of my coaching background and provide sample plans and the like.

Any further thoughts?

harr · August 28

How much do you plan to charge for the books?

Personally I'd pay a single digit amount for an ebook about the craft, I'd invest some time in a free ebook about deep knowledge work, and I'd ignore the third book, even if it was for free, because of its nonsense title.

How much time and money would others spend on these books?

FernandoNobel · August 28

I think all three book proposals are very valuable. If I could, I would get all three without hesitation :-)

But since that’s not possible, I would prefer to prioritize The Deep Knowledge Work Practice. How to Work a Book is valuable, but I think the main limiting factor is processing the information rather than reading itself. And I think Knowledge Work Craftsmanship is a bit too risky, since it’s the one that requires the most effort.

Sascha · August 28

@harr a rough orientation is:

The upcoming book on the Zettelkasten Method: $18-20
How to work a book: $10-15
A deep knowledge work practice: $18-20
Knowledge Craftsmanship: $20-50

These are all for the physical books. When I sell the e-book via Amazon, the price for the e-book would be roughly 50-70%. Knowledge Craftsmanship wouldn't be sold as an e-book if I choose Amazon because e-books above $12.99 would earn half of the royalty percentage.

The range for Knowledge Craftsmanship is that high because I don't know how comprehensive this book would be. It could be a typical 250 page book. It could turn out to be a 500 page text book as well.

Zettelkasten Forum

Which should be the next book project?

Comments

Howdy, Stranger!

Quick Links

Categories

In this Discussion