The Commonplace Book

This is my Commonplace Book on history, leadership, and you. A commonplace book was most widely used in the nineteenth century. It differed from a personal diary in that a commonplace book contained random notions, ideas, and quotations without any framework of particular days or weeks. It was a place to collect the thoughts and ideas that captured one's attention and imagination, running more to personal philosophy than to experiences. As you read the Commonplace Book, try to recall the smell and feel of leather book covers, old and stiff paper, and dusty wooden shelves.