Build a Second Brain: Unlocking the Power of Organized Thinking
How Tiago Forte’s revolutionary system helps you manage information overload and turn ideas into action.
*This is Part 1 in a series on Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte*
Humans are natural information hoarders. We collect insights from news articles, podcasts, books, YouTube videos—all with the hope of applying them to improve our lives. Yet, despite our best intentions, we often struggle to retain and use this knowledge. Ever found yourself unable to recall a key idea from a book you just finished or a podcast you recently enjoyed?
This challenge often boils down to timing. We consume valuable information, but not always when we need it. That business book may be helpful once you're launching a startup or aiming for a promotion—but not right now. So, how can we store this knowledge in a way that makes it accessible exactly when we need it?
That’s the premise of the Second Brain—a system for organizing and storing information outside your head, so you can focus on the present, knowing your past insights are safely saved for the future.
“Those who learn how to leverage technology and master the flow of information through their lives will be empowered to accomplish anything they set their minds to. At the same time, those who continue to rely on their fragile biological brains will become ever more overwhelmed by the explosive growth in the complexity of our lives.”
Our ability to succeed—both personally and professionally—is increasingly tied to how effectively we manage information. Using technology to remember what matters frees up mental bandwidth for uniquely human tasks: creativity, pattern recognition, collaboration. The idea of capturing ideas in this way isn’t new. Leonardo da Vinci famously used a “commonplace book”—a notebook filled with his thoughts and observations. He recorded ideas regularly to revisit them later and make unexpected connections.
Today, technology gives us the tools to build a modern-day commonplace book. We can dictate notes via voice-to-text while driving or jot down ideas as they occur. There’s no need to rely on memory when we have tools to help manage and retrieve information. Yes, this might mean spending more time on your phone—but in this context, it’s a productive use of time. Technology has matured to the point where it can now enhance—not distract from—our thinking.
“We are surrounded by information, yet starving for wisdom.”
Think of your Second Brain as a personal assistant. And like any new hire, its role needs to be clearly defined. What should it remember? How can it support your work or personal growth? Clarifying its purpose is crucial to getting value from the system. Done right, your Second Brain will help you:
Make your ideas concrete
Reveal new connections between concepts
Incubate ideas over time
Sharpen your unique perspective
At the core of your Second Brain is a solid note-taking app—a single place to store all your ideas. Don’t get stuck searching for the perfect tool. Just pick one and start as you can always change it later. Perfection is the enemy of progress.
Unlike school, no one’s assigning you what to take notes on. Ideas can come at anytime, anywhere—so be ready. Tiago Forte outlines a simple, powerful framework for capturing and organizing knowledge called the CODE system, which we’ll explore more in Part 2. Here's a quick overview:
C – Capture what resonates with you
O – Organize for action and usefulness
D – Distill ideas into their essence (ideally 1–2 sentences)
E – Express your ideas—because knowledge without action is wasted
Chances are, you're already doing some form of this without realizing it. But having a consistent system is essential for managing the constant stream of information life throws at us. Building a Second Brain gives that system structure—and purpose. In this series of articles, we will discuss how to setup your own Second Brain and how best to manage it to achieve whatever goal you are hoping for.