Ultimate Self-Learning Project: Build Your Own Encyclopedia
Materializing my research as a hobby endeavors into my own archive of human life, as I've learned it.
TLDR; (but I hope you do):
I am creating a personal encyclopedia collection comprised of my own learnings, insights, lessons, and knowledge accumulated from deep research and study of the history of the world. I will organize the books into period-specific “volumes” that combine research notes, essays, visual references, art and fashion studies, analysis, timelines, maps, and bibliographies, and any creative project that manifests from the learning process.
My Grandma Norma had a beautiful Encyclopedia Britannica collection that I couldn’t keep my hands off as a kid. It was the backdrop for every session of “Teacher” we would cosplay growing up. Grandma Norma was always such a willing and enthusiastic student. She taught me how to use an encyclopedia and it became the centerpiece of the curriculum: pick a spine, thumb through the pages, and point to a random entry. Voilà! The subject matter for the day. The lesson plan: read the entry and have Grandma actually do the teaching.
Encyclopedia Britannica ended their print runs in 2012 for their general-reference collections. Boo! From my understanding, The World Book Encyclopedia still publishes annual sets, with the most recent 2026 available for $1,349. Woof.
And so, the idea struck me. What a satisfying way to materialize my learning practices in adulthood? Creating my own printed and bound collection of knowledge to reference, to enjoy, and maybe pass along to a loved one in the years to come.
The goal is not only to learn history, but to understand what it meant to be human in different times and places around the world. As a student of life, I have an unrelenting list of subject matter that I want to explore. I recognize the profound gaps in my knowledge and am in constant pursuit of effective ways to bridge those gaps. A (massive) cohesive creative project is calling my name.
The process will begin by outlining a structure for each volume (book):