Professor R. Maes of the Universiteit van Amsterdam Business School recently wrote an article entitled, "Moleskine or the Art of Taking Notice." Download moleskine.pdf
"..."to note” not only means “to write down” (from Latin notare) but equally well (and even first and foremost) “to get to know, to recognize” (from Latin gnoscere). Apart from the concrete act of writing, noting also refers to “taking notice of”, i.e. “becoming aware of” and “paying attention to”. Etymologically, the formation of a person through attentive observation and writing go hand in hand!
This etymological detour brings us back to the very essence of the use of a notebook: an aid annex a discipline to sharpen our observation, to show undivided attention for and to nourish inspiring memories of events, subjects, ideas and emotions of enduring personal and general interest. A notebook is not a passive collecting-point, yet an active invitation to live consciously. Nothing looks odd in a notebook, yet is the account of moments of value lived through."
Link: moleskinerie.