How do I organize a reading list?

What matters here

• Cap the list so it stays honest
• Record why each item is there
• Separate read soon from maybe someday
• Delete items you no longer care about, guilt-free
• One weekly slot for reading beats good intentions

The size problem

Saving is free and reading is not, so lists grow without limit. A cap, even an arbitrary one like fifteen items, forces a decision each time you add something, and that decision is the useful part.

The why field

One line about why you saved it lets you triage a month later. Without it you are guessing from a headline whether the item is still relevant, and the safe answer is always maybe.

Making reading happen

Put a recurring slot in the week and read there, not in the gaps. Reading competes badly with everything else when it has no appointed time.

Frequently asked questions

Keep reading

• How do I organize a side project?A side project competes with rest, not with work. Planning it like a job is why most of them stall in week three.
• Should I use one app for notes and tasks?One app for notes and tasks removes the copying between them. Two apps keep each specialized and add a sync problem you will maintain forever.
• How to write a thesis outlineA thesis outline is an argument in headings: what you claim, what supports it, what you are answering against. Write it before the reading is finished and revise it often.