Sketchnote Workbook, The: Advanced techniques for taking visual notes you can use anywhere 1st Edition

Rohde’s two books--"The Sketchnote Handbook” and “The Sketchnote Workbook” are simple instruction manuals for a skill that’s been very useful for me in my job. The books themselves are excellent examples of the ideas contained within.This approach to information recording may not appeal to everyone but I’ve found that sketchnoting (or “personal infodoodling” if you’ve read Sunni Brown) can be used (1) for highly effective note-taking during meetings, and (2) organizing my own thoughts in a visual and engaging way. This has great appeal to me in my work as a technical leader. I’ve returned to these visual notes much more often than any that I previously took. One claim that the book makes—and one that I strongly support—is that this helps with information retention. The book also claims that it’s relaxing and fun…also true for me. I’ve found this approach to be particularly useful during dry (but important) meetings. Translating dry ideas into some simple visual representation can help draw you in (sorry…no pun intended) and make you more engaged in the topic.Where these techniques really seem to help me is in idea generation, a topic that Rohde covers in some detail in “The Sketchnote Workbook.” I’ve used this technique to create one-pagers of visual notes (for my own personal consumption and use) on tough issues that our organization faces, strategic planning, presentation creation, and even in preparation for performance evaluations. I now make a visual one-pager (at least a quick one) before drafting any lengthy work-related document. It really helps. There are few areas in my work where this is not useful.If this type of note-taking is new to you (as it certainly was to me), my advice is to commit to trying it out for some period of time. I committed to doing this for one month. In my job this meant (1) creating visual notes for one or more meetings and/or scientific seminars per day, (2) making about 20 idea generation visual one-pagers during that month, and (3) contending with some very odd looks (and even odder questions) from colleagues sitting near me during meetings. At the end of that first month (1) my visual notes got a lot better, (2) I’m referring back to those visual one-pagers more than once and using them for preparation for follow-on meetings, (3) and not getting as many looks from colleagues—but sharing the notes occasionally when asked.

I am pretty much in full-fledged awe of what Mike has accomplished with these books. Full disclosure - I was sent a review copy of the Handbook - but I purchased the Workbook myself because I wanted to see both in action together.These books have it all: Pragmatism; great, simple design that is really approachable; solid pacing; good writingAs far as the more technical aspects, Mike does a great job of breaking down the concepts of visual notetaking into more digestible chunks. It's not at all overwhelming, primarily due to the nature of sketchnoting and the nice balance between diagram and narrative, but also because Mike is just really damn good at explaining these concepts in laymen's terms.Look, if you're a visual learner at all and are at least a bit interested in organizing your thought process into something more compartmentalized and "on the go," this is for you.I'd suggest you nab them together, as The Workbook is definitely a more in-depth dive into advanced Sketchnoting techniques while The Handbook is a well-rounded introduction.

Challenged me to consider sketching better notes and stimulated my interest to pursue more of sketching notes.

I've always been intrigued by sketchnoting but was intimidated due to my lack of artistic ability. I'd seen the 'vistual alphabet' and 'it's all just shapes' reassurances but it wasn't until Mike Rohde's first book that it all clicked for me. His examples come from a variety of contributors -- not just from those with formal art training -- and that plus his many clear explanations helped me break through the things that held me back. This new book is a great extension of "The Sketchnote Handbook", offering more examples and opportunities for practice. (I especially liked his ideas for sketchnoting everyday things like recipes, grocery lists, letters, and travel.) I like the emphasis on building a visual library from which you can pull as needed, and I love the increased attention to finding simple ways of capturing complex ideas and concepts. The book comes with access to a site with printable worksheets and more than 2 hours of video tutorials. There's a Flickr group for readers to share their own creations, so by all means as you go through the book remember to #ShowYourWork."The Sketchnote Workbook" is a great resource and an excellent value.

I purchased the digital copy of this book because I was too impatient for 2 day shipping. :) Plus I wanted to read it on my iPad and sketch along while I go. LOVE it - it's a great follow up to the first book but if you don't have the first book you can dive right on in here as well!I'm going to purchase the paperback copy of it for myself for Christmas because, to be honest, I don't care for digital books AND my kids hoard my iPad so I never get to sketch on it anyway!I do, however, love that my KIDS have been flipping through the digital copy and adding to their digital sketchbooks. It's a wonderful tutorial - we even pulled the book up on our recent family vacation, did a quick review of some of the pointers/tips/tricks and all sketched our favorite vacation memory. My kids are ages 10-17 and all 4 had fun "drawing with Mom."