The Power of Unread Books and the Quest for Collective Sensemaking: Building an Antilibrary and Embracing Stigmergic Social Annotation

The Power of Unread Books and the Quest for Collective Sensemaking: Building an Antilibrary and Embracing Stigmergic Social Annotation

Introduction:

In a world filled with distractions and information overload, it is easy to overlook the value of unread books. The Japanese word "tsundoku" perfectly captures this habit of acquiring books and letting them accumulate without reading them. However, unread books can hold just as much power as the ones we have read, if we choose to view them in the right light. This concept gave birth to the idea of building an antilibrary, a personal collection of unread books, as mentioned by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his book "The Black Swan".

The Antilibrary as a Research Tool:

Contrary to popular belief, a private library is not merely an ego-boosting appendage, but rather a valuable research tool. When we read books, we gain knowledge and insights from them. Therefore, in comparison, the unread books in our collection hold even greater potential value. Building an antilibrary allows us to curate a highly personal collection of resources around themes that intrigue us. By embracing the unknown, we open ourselves up to new discoveries and perspectives.

Thoroughly Conscious Ignorance and the Quest for Knowledge:

Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell once stated that "thoroughly conscious ignorance is the prelude to every real advance in science." This notion highlights the importance of acknowledging what we do not know and the curiosity to explore further. An antilibrary serves as a reminder of the vast ocean of knowledge that lies beyond our current understanding. It encourages us to continuously seek new information, fostering a mindset of lifelong learning.

Actionable Advice:

• 1. Make Notes of Relevant References: When reading a book, take note of any references to other books or sources mentioned by the author. This practice ensures that you have a comprehensive list of relevant sources once you finish reading. It allows for a deeper exploration of interconnected ideas and expands your intellectual horizons.

• 2. Seek Recommendations from Fellow Readers: Knowledge is not a possession but a process. Engage in conversations with other readers and ask for their recommendations. By embracing the collective wisdom of a community, you broaden your perspective and gain access to a diverse range of ideas and insights.

• 3. Maintain a Humble Relationship with Knowledge: Building an antilibrary is an investment in yourself, but it should always stay within your means. Avoid the temptation of accumulating books for the sake of vanity. Instead, focus on collecting books that genuinely interest and challenge you. This humble approach cultivates a healthy relationship with knowledge and ensures that your antilibrary remains a valuable resource for personal growth.

Stigmergic Social Annotation and Collective Sensemaking:

Moving beyond the realm of books, the concept of stigmergic social annotation offers a powerful tool for collective sensemaking. Inspired by decentralization and open-source software movements, Open Source Attention (OSA) proposes a socio-technical framework to "free" human attention from control by platforms. It aims to create a decentralized ecosystem for creating, storing, and querying stigmergic markers - the digital traces of human attention.

In the current platform-centric ecology, user annotations are confined within data silos, serving to optimize platform growth. OSA empowers maker-centric ecologies by employing distributed content creation and storage technology. Stigmergic communication relies on the environment acting as a distributed memory, with modifications left by others providing feedback for emergence of novel system-level behavior.

Stigmergic markers, such as likes, annotations, and hyperlinking of text, serve as digital traces of human attention. Their significance lies in their ability to indicate epistemic value, making them precious resources for both extractive (e.g., ad-tech) and constructive (e.g., collective sensemaking) purposes. OSA aims to "free" these stigmergic markers, starting from basic hypertext primitives, and move towards healthier epistemic environments.

Actionable Advice:

• 1. Embrace Open Source Attention: Consider adopting the principles of Open Source Attention in your digital interactions. Explore platforms and tools that prioritize decentralization, interoperability, and user control over their attention data. By actively participating in the movement, you contribute to the creation of healthier epistemic environments.

• 2. Support "Protocols, Not Platforms": Instead of engaging in head-to-head competition with massive platforms, consider the adoption of interoperable protocols and storage for stigmergic primitives. This approach allows for sharing data from diverse Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) apps, contributing to collective sensemaking efforts. Collaboration and interoperability are key in creating a more inclusive and comprehensive knowledge landscape.

• 3. Harness the Power of Digital Annotation: Make use of the available digital tools to annotate and interact with online content. Highlight important passages, add personal notes, and engage in discussions with others. By leveraging the power of stigmergic markers, you contribute to the collective sensemaking process and expand the shared knowledge pool.

Conclusion:

Building an antilibrary and embracing stigmergic social annotation represent two distinct but interconnected approaches to knowledge acquisition and collective sensemaking. Both concepts emphasize the importance of curiosity, continuous learning, and open-mindedness. By curating a personal collection of unread books and actively participating in the creation and sharing of digital annotations, we can navigate the vast sea of information more effectively and contribute to the collective pursuit of knowledge.