Grounded in the science of learning and tested over 10 years, Oxford Notes is a simple, powerful, and easy to adopt note-taking habit for accelerated learning.
6 Advantages of Oxford Notes
Turn what you read into knowledge you can recall, explain, and use — whether you’re studying for exams, learning a new skill for work, or feeding a lifelong curiosity.
Remember more
Retain the essentials from your reading
Understand faster
Turn complex ideas into simple, usable explanations
Think originally
Create notes designed to fertilise new ideas
Review knowledge efficiently
Develop instincts for curating the best ideas
Avoid overwhelm
Swap overbearing, complex systems for elegance
Build confidence
Have a lifelong workflow for mastering new subjects
And ultimately, feel in more control of your learning.
Used and loved by problem solvers worldwide
I’ve tried countless techniques and can honestly say nothing beats this.
Switching to Oxford Notes has actually made learning fun again. I’m reading and understanding so much more.
With so many techniques to choose from, it’s rare to find one that gives you both a solid grounding in how to learn and the habits to keep it going.
Like turning information into powerful bricks of learning. Buy this book and never regret it.
Knowledge That Disappears
What Other Methods Get Wrong
Forgettable
Most note-taking is just passive copying. Our hands move while our minds switch off. We look busy, but we’re not productive. No wonder our learning is shallow and forgettable.
All Noise, No Signal
We’re never taught what’s noteworthy and what’s not. So we capture everything. The result is a messy jumble that’s hard to review and harder to use.
Too Complex
Most methods are clever in theory, but clumsy in practice. They drown us in process and ignore our limited time. What we need are notes that are simple to take, easy to review, and built to teach us efficiently.
‘It’s crazy we don’t learn to take notes the right way. We’re always jotting things down, so why not make those notes work harder for you and boost your learning?’
Designed For Learning Under Pressure
What Oxford Notes Gets Right
The Science of Learning
Oxford Notes is rooted in the science of learning. It draws on over a century of research to uncover what works and cuts away what doesn’t. The result is a method that makes learning clearer, faster, and more reliable.
Practical and Habit-Forming
Oxford Notes is designed for the real world. Tried and tested with students and professionals, it works when pressure is high and time is short. Having just three steps, it’s easy to turn into a habit, so your default approach to learning becomes the most effective approach.
Joyful and Freeing
Oxford Notes adapts to you, not the other way around. Whether on paper, in a book, or in-app, it just works. By keeping learning simple and sustainable, it prevents burnout – turning learning into something freeing and energising.
‘Jamie’s technique rewires your brain to use the mindset and habits of the top 1% of learners.’
Works With Every Note-taking App
Flexible, Effective and Future-proof
Oxford Notes is ready to go, whether you take notes by hand or with a keyboard
3 Parts · 15 Chapters · 6 Essential Habits
How The Book Is Organised
Part I
The Fundamentals
Learn the core principles behind how the brain retains and recalls information. Oxford Notes is built on the science of learning, turning note-taking into an active process that strengthens understanding and memory. By integrating these techniques into your note-taking, learning becomes faster, more effective, habit-building and effortless to sustain.
Part II
Application & Examples
Real-world examples show how these principles transform ordinary notes into tools that truly teach. Each example demonstrates practical ways to engage with material, highlight what matters, and apply knowledge effectively. You’ll walk away with a clear path for making sense of and mastering complex ideas with confidence.
Part III
Principles & Pitfalls
Common learning mistakes are untangled and overcome with research-backed principles. Each principle acts as a practical guide for avoiding pitfalls, thinking more clearly, and retaining knowledge efficiently. By following these approaches, note-taking becomes a habit that accelerates learning and delivers results that last a lifetime.
The Story Behind The Method
From Oxford To Silicon Valley
Jamie developed Oxford Notes at the University of Oxford to handle the intense workload. He needed a way of learning faster that was practical, evidence-based, and easy to use under pressure. After consulting the science of learning, Jamie decided to upgrade something he was already doing: taking notes. The new approach worked. Not only did Jamie improve his learning, but he also freed up time to pursue new academic and career opportunities, from working at Google and in startups to speaking at TEDx, the British Parliament, and the United Nations.
The method’s success became even clearer when Jamie discovered he could replicate its impact by sharing it with others. The penny-dropping moment came when Jamie was tutoring a student new to essay writing who was unsure where to start. He introduced her to Oxford Notes to structure her research and thinking. Her essay went on to win an Oxford competition against competitors several years her senior. Moments like this became commonplace as Jamie continued to share the method with new students and professionals.
Over the past decade, Jamie has refined Oxford Notes in collaboration with learners from all walks of life. Those who once doubted themselves – paralysed by reading lists, career transitions, or steep learning curves – have gained confidence, learned more effectively, and tackled challenges with greater clarity. Many have gone on to achieve first-class degrees, excel in their careers, and rediscover their love of learning.
After extensive testing and tweaking, Oxford Notes is now captured in this book: a structured, practical approach to learning that works for anyone. Whether you’re tackling a massive reading list, climbing a career ladder, or just trying to learn more without burning out, this method gives you the tools to do it (and perhaps surprise yourself in the process).
Read a Free Sample
Introduction
How note-taking can change your life
Reading without taking notes ignores an inconvenient truth: our minds are sieves. We forget names within seconds of being introduced, think we’ve lost our glasses when they’re sitting on our heads, and walk into rooms only to forget why. If we can’t depend on our minds for the little things, it’s clear that taking notes when reading complex pieces of non-fiction is essential for understanding and making use of that information later.
The second inconvenient truth is that most people take easily forgotten notes – something this book will help you fix. Taking forgettable notes is not our fault, but a bad habit we picked up at school. In the classroom, we’re often instructed to copy the contents of textbooks or presentations into our workbooks. While this passive approach might work well enough during our schooling years, it leaves us unprepared for what’s to come.
When we enter university or the workplace, no-one is there to feed us the answers. We must fend for ourselves and take on the responsibility of researching and making sense of unfamiliar problems. We must move from being dependent learners to independent learners.
Taking effective notes is central to becoming an independent learner and joining the ranks of the top 1% of learners. With this skill, you’ll remember more, understand new material faster, and come up with more original ideas. Yet, too many people stunt their growth by clinging to passive learning habits.
A common symptom of passive learning is the frustration of…
About the Author
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FAQ
At 139 pages, the book takes about 2-3 hours to read. Knowing that readers are often pressed for time, I edited each chapter until it was crisp and concise. That way, you can start accelerating your learning faster than it would take to watch a feature-length film.
Yes, the eBook and online course come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. I’m convinced you’ll find the book and course valuable. If you feel that isn’t the case, you’re welcome to email me within 30-days of purchase to receive your money back. No questions asked. For the course, the 30-days starts from the day of release, which will be in early 2026.
The online course is on track for release early 2026. Think of it as the level beyond the book: practical demonstrations of Oxford Notes in action, across lectures, books, and both digital and handwritten notes. Plus, it’ll include exclusive bonus material on mastering the art of learning and boosting productivity.
Yes. If you’re buying more than three copies for your team, students, community, etc., reach out to me on hey@jamoe.org for a bulk pricing quote.
The book was read by dozens of test readers from all corners of the world before release. Together, we worked hard to make the text accessible to native and non-native speakers. If you’re still hesitant, I recommend reading the free sample to see if you’re comfortable with the level of complexity.
Contact me directly on email, hey@jamoe.org.