Martin Adams, author of Atomic Note-Taking, smiling at his desk

The author

Martin Adams

Author of Atomic Note-Taking · Founder, Meda

I hated reading in school. My mind would drift as my eyes read the words. Then, in 2014, I tried audiobooks and was hooked. I became happier and more knowledgeable about a wide range of topics. This is the gift that I want to pay forward.

In 2020 I was on the hunt for a way to remember what I read, and I stumbled upon the Zettelkasten note-taking method. Suddenly everything clicked into place. I had a way to capture thoughts, ideas, knowledge and references.

I felt the book that introduced me to it lacked examples, so I turned to YouTube and started to create my own. As I shared what I was learning, others started to praise the clarity of how I presented it. Through building a community of like-minded learners, I’ve explored the depths of the system through teaching it. The book, the course and this site are the result.

Personal writing

Personal writing on meda.io

meda.io is where I do my personal writing: essays on thinking, tools and building in public.

Read more on meda.io (opens in a new tab)

Work with Martin

Meda, the business.

Meda builds tools, products and experiences that help people think more deeply, learn more effectively and turn ideas into meaningful work.

Let’s work together · meda.co.uk (opens in a new tab)

Articles by Martin

Everything he has written for Learn.

The free series, in the order that makes sense, then the guides.

Why

  1. 01Why You Forget Almost Everything You Read (And the Simple Fix)3 min
  2. 02Knowledge Workers Never Practise Knowledge Work. Here's Your Edge.3 min
  3. 03The 5 Types of Note-Taking (And the Only One That Helps You Think)3 min

What

  1. 04How One Man Wrote 70 Books with a Box of Index Cards3 min
  2. 05Really? Only One Idea Per Note?3 min

How

  1. 06Stop Highlighting Everything: How to Take Notes That Talk Back4 min
  2. 07Harry Potter vs Lord of the Rings: The Note-Taking Trap That Biases Your Thinking4 min
  3. 083 Questions to Ask Before Any Note Becomes Permanent4 min
  4. 09Why Folders Fail for Notes (And What to Use Instead)4 min
  5. 10When Should You Link Notes? (And When You Definitely Shouldn't)4 min

Advanced

  1. 11How to Ask Your Notes Questions (Yes, Really)4 min
  2. 12How to Write a Blog Post (or Paper) Without Ever Facing a Blank Page4 min
  3. 13Why Your Note-Taking System Stalls (and How to Get It Moving Again)3 min
  4. 14AI Can Take Your Notes. It Can't Do Your Thinking.4 min

Guides

Martin Adams, author of Atomic Note-Taking | Atomic Workflows