Grab a copy of issue 1 of my Proverb Peddling commonplace book zine:
I love commonplace books (CPBs)—that’s no secret if you know me at all. I’ve basically built the Parker Expanded Universe on the back of the CPB boom of 2023. I try to be chill about it and make content on other stuff too, but I know a lot of you are here especially for the notebooks and CPBs. So, I’ve got something extra special for you folks. I’m bringing back the printed commonplace book tradition—specifically, the gnomologia style of printed CPBS.
Definitely check out my latest ParkNotes video on this very topic!
A printed CPB is a CPB that a thinker has collated and had printed up for others to read. This tradition exploded with the printing press, but goes all the way back at least to King Solomon’s Book of Proverbs—which was apparently produced primarily for his sons to gain wisdom from, and secondarily for the nation of Israel to also utilize—both of which would have don’t well to study the Proverbs in more detail—oh, and Solomon would have done well to take his own advice too!
But nonetheless, King Solomon took great care to teach his people knowledge, both through his own speeches and sermons, as well as through his gnomological printed (scribed) commonplace book, the Book of Proverbs: “Besides being wise, the Preacher [Solomon] also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care.” Ecclesiastes 12:9
Gnomologia is a collection of gnomic sayings (from the Greek gnōmē)—that is, ‘wise sayings’ or sententiae in Latin. So the gnomologia tradition is the tradition of collecting all sorts of wise sayings, like proverbs, adages, aphorism, dictums, epigrams, riddles, apothegms, etc., and arranging them for others to read. What could be better?
I’ve admired this tradition—and have benefitted from hunting down CPBs in this tradition—for a while, but it has only recently hit me that I can join this great tradition myself, as a contributor rather than just a benefactor! I can make my own printed commonplace books.
So I did. Well, I started a gnomological commonplace book zine (personal magazine) called Proverb Peddling. It’s part commonplace book of wise sayings, part collection of my own attempts at aphorisms, part exposition of particular wise sayings, and part practical advice for wise living.
If you’re into zines, philosophy, wise sayings, commonplace books, or practical advice for wise living, then this is the zine for you!
In issue 1, I also include my article on how to create your own university style course to teach yourself almost anything:
So, if any of that sounds cool to you, definitely check out issue 1, and quick because I need to fill the preorders pretty soon here. Check the link below for issue 1 of Proverb Peddling, a gnomological printed commonplace book.
For more on commonplace books and notebook methodologies, check out my Notebook Philosophy subsection of my publication:
If you want instant access to the digital version of my printed commonplace book, upgrade to a paid subscription here and you can read all the entries to date on my Sayings of the Sages subsection:
This is such a fascinating return to tradition. In an age of fleeting digital content, a printed commonplace book invites deeper reflection and permanence—wisdom you can literally hold in your hands. Can’t wait to check out Proverb Peddling!
Have you considered putting your printed works on Goodreads? I'm reading your first print issue of Sages, Mages, and Wisdom Machines and feel that I deserve to add it to my Goodreads reading goals. 😁