**Created**:: [[2021-11-17 Wednesday]] **Link**:: https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk **Duration**:: 3:09 ![Part 6: Flow Map - Thinking Maps with Excalidraw in Obsidian](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk) # Summary In this video, Zsolt introduces viewers to flow maps and demonstrates how to create a sketchnote summary of a book using Excalidraw in Obsidian. He explains the step-by-step process of gathering information from a Kindle, downloading notes, and structuring these notes into a cohesive flow map. The video emphasizes the importance of organizing thoughts visually for better understanding and recall. # Key Takeaways - Flow maps are useful for sequencing events or concepts visually. - The process involves reading a book, taking highlights and notes, and transferring this information into Obsidian. - A two-pass review method helps refine notes and sketches before creating a final summary. # Content This is part six of a series to introduce the eight thinking maps I'll be releasing one video each day. Subscribe to get notified. In this video, we will use the flow map to sequence events or things. Let's create a flow map explaining how to create a sketchnote summary of a book, one that is similar to this. Notice how I switched to grid mode; I'm doing this because with the grid enabled, it is easier to align objects, and my flow will look neater. I'll be switching between grid mode and normal mode as I develop the flow, then I need to fine-tune how text is positioned within the rectangles. [* ](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=0) You first need to get the book. I get mine from Amazon, as I do most of my reading on a Kindle. As you read, make highlights and add notes. Once you're finished reading, download your highlights and notes to Obsidian. This would require two sub-steps: first, downloading the "my clippings" file from the Kindle, and then converting this file into markdown literature notes. I place these details under the download highlights process step. [* ](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=44) With your notes in Obsidian, you can start the first pass review of your notes. This includes converting chapter titles to markdown headings, highlighting parts of your notes that stand out, and adding quick first rough sketches where you are inspired by the text. Then comes the second pass review; in the second round, focus only on the text you highlighted in the previous round. Mark important keywords by making their typeface bold and refine your sketches. Once you're finished with the second pass, you are ready to generate a first version of the book summary file. [* ](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=80) I use a templater script to extract highlights and sketches into a summary.md file. Edit, rearrange, and refine your mini summary, and then take your individual sketches and compile the book-on-a-page sketch. And that is it! Enjoy your book on a page drawing; you can print it and hang it on your wall or read it a couple of months or years later and be reminded of all the great stuff you learned from the book. [* ](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=114) If you're interested in the topic of creating a sketchnote summary of a book, I have a separate video on the subject that explains this in much more detail. Be sure to check it out on my channel. This concludes the introduction of flow maps. As you could see, flow maps are excellent when you need to understand or explain the sequence of events or things. In the next video, I will cover the multiflow map. Don't forget to subscribe so you're notified when part 7 is released. Thank you for watching. [* ](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=168) # YouTube Details ## YouTube Description The video is based on David Hyerle's book Visual Tools for Transforming Information into Knowledge. Thinking Maps is a visual language of 8 thinking-process maps developed by David. Each map addresses a specific thinking task. As a language, Thinking Maps are flexible and can be combined to fit your thining context. --- If you find the plugin and/or my videos helpful, please say thanks by buying me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/zsolt If you'd like to request a feature or report a bug, please raise it on GitHub: https://github.com/zsviczian/obsidian-excalidraw-plugin If you want to connect, you can reach me (@zsviczian) in the Obsidian Members Group (OMG) on Discord or on Twitter. Links --------- Obsidian: https://obsidian.md My Blog: https://zsolt.blog Visual Tools for Transforming Information into Knowledge: https://www.amazon.com/Visual-Tools-Transforming-Information-Knowledge-ebook-dp-B00K7AUHB0/dp/B00K7AUHB0/ ## YouTube Transcript [this is part six of a series to](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=0) [introduce the eight thinking maps i'll](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=2) [be releasing one video each day](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=4) [subscribe to get notified](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=7) [use the flow map to sequence events or](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=9) [things](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=12) [let's create a flow map explaining how](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=13) [to create a sketchnote summary of a book](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=17) [one that is similar to this](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=20) [notice how i switched to grid mode i'm](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=22) [doing this because with the grid enabled](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=25) [it is easier to align objects and my](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=27) [flow will look neater](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=30) [i'll be switching between grid mode and](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=32) [normal mode as i develop the flow then i](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=34) [need to fine tune how text is positioned](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=37) [within the rectangles](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=40) [you first need to get the book i get](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=42) [mines from amazon as i do most of my](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=44) [reading on a kindle](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=47) [as you read make highlights and add](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=50) [notes](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=52) [once you're finished reading download](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=53) [your highlights and notes to obsidian](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=56) [this would require two sub steps first](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=58) [downloading the my clippings file from](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=61) [the kindle and then converting this file](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=64) [into markdown literature notes](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=67) [i place these details under the download](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=70) [highlights process step](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=73) [with your notes in obsidian you can](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=76) [start the first pass review of your](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=78) [notes](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=80) [this includes converting chapter titles](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=81) [to markdown headings highlighting parts](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=84) [of your notes that stand out and adding](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=86) [quick first rough sketches where you are](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=89) [inspired by the text](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=92) [then comes the second pass review in the](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=94) [second round focus only on text you](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=98) [highlighted in the previous round](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=100) [mark important keywords by making their](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=103) [typeface bold and refine your sketches](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=105) [once you're finished with the second](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=109) [pass you are ready to generate a first](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=111) [version of the book summary file](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=114) [i use a templater script to extract](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=116) [highlights and sketches into a](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=119) [summary.md file](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=122) [edit rearrange refine your mini summary](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=125) [and then take your individual sketches](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=128) [and compile the book on a page sketch](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=132) [and that is it](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=136) [enjoy your book on a page drawing you](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=137) [can print it and hang it on your wall](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=139) [or read it a couple of months or years](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=142) [later and be reminded of all the great](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=145) [stuff you learned from the book](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=147) [if you're interested in the topic of](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=151) [creating a sketchnote summary of a book](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=153) [i have a separate video on the subject](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=155) [that explains this in much more detail](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=158) [be sure to check it out on my channel](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=161) [this concludes the introduction of flow](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=165) [maps](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=167) [as you could see flow maps are excellent](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=168) [when you need to understand or explain](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=171) [the sequence of events or things](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=174) [in the next video i will cover the](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=177) [multiflow map](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=180) [don't forget to subscribe so you're](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=181) [notified when part 7 is released](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=183) [thank you for watching](https://youtu.be/haF1BsB7szk?t=186)