Like many autistics, I am one who loves to collect things. Always have been. From stuffed animals, sea shells, and fantasy figurines; to witch dolls, trolls, pencil sharpeners, and books. I have been all over the place! I also have a collection of notebooks I've been wanting to put to good use. I've even googled uses for notebooks, because I needed more ideas. It was then when I came across the term 'commonplace book,' which I'd never heard of. Naturally (for me), I was intrigued. I should probably explain that: I love learning new things. So when I come across something unfamiliar, I just have to know what it means or what it is. I cannot just let it go. The same happened when I came across the term 'commonplace book,' as I was going through a list of uses for notebooks.
What I read next made me super enthusiastic, and absolutely certain that I had found the perfect use for my pile of notebooks. But first, I wanted to know all about it, so I went down the research-rabbit hole. I will do my best to explain the commonplace book and commonplacing without it turning into full-blown info-dumping.
Commonplace books can be traced back to Ancient Greece and Rome, though the term itself came into use during the Renaissance. They already recorded things like quotations, ideas, and observations. Over the centuries, commonplacing became widespread. First, predominantly in intellectual circles, and over the centuries becoming more widespread. Some well-known people who had commonplace books are Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Woolf, and Isaac Newton. Commonplace books can contain all different types of information, such as quotations, ideas, recipes, observations, facts, and excerpts from literature. I've seen it referred to as a 'treasure trove of knowledge' (but unfortunately I do not recall where, so, my apologies).
I know it's become a little bit of an info dump, but you can believe me when I say that I really did hold back. I find it truly interesting, especially because it is such an age-old practice. Therefore, I highly recommend googling it or watching YouTube video's if I have managed to spark your interest. I am aware it is not for everyone, which is why I tried to keep it brief.
But I digress. The reason I am sharing this is because commonplacing seems to me like a great way to keep track of one's special interests. Plus, it has become one of my own special interests. Also, I've learned that many people collect notebooks and don't know what to use them for, like me. I don't only collect tangible things, though, I also like to collect knowledge and just love to learn about new things whenever I can. However, I tend to lose that knowledge quite quickly, because, unfortunately, my memory is not that great. Commonplacing gives me a way to preserve that knowledge by enabling me to look back on it as often as I need and want.
I'm sure I am not the only neurodivergent with this problem. I've already started three commonplace books, and the beauty is there isn't one right way to keep them. One of mine is for information on literature and language, another for excerpts from self-help books, and the third is on how to write books, as it's my dream to become an author. So, they all have different uses. I have no doubt that more will follow, and might become a collection of their own. I love to collect, after all. I cannot help myself. I think it's an autism-thing and I really don't mind it. It makes me happy to add to my collections and watch them grow.
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