This review is problematic.  I’m not really sure how to begin.  Ya’ see, the Spartan is one of my favorite notebooks (using that term loosely) that I’ve ever used.  Unfortunately, you can’t buy it.  Neither can I, but I made mine for free and so can you. I guess, I’ll start at the beginning.

The Spartan is eminently modular.  Pages can be added and removed at any time.  This means it can be whatever you want it to be, whenever you need it to be it.  Try that with your Moleskine!  Would you like something for your Jot Points since your chosen notebook is A5 or larger¹?  A Spartan has you covered.  Making a shopping list and don’t want to fill your notebook with such banality?  The Spartan will happily serve as a sort of notebook junk filter.  Maybe you’re beginning some projects and want to be able to file your notes later.  This is where the Spartan shines.  The Spartan notebook is so effective because it is so versatile.  It will do anything you want it to.  It can be a scratch pad, a Jot Points referee, a planner or even your main notebook!  The Spartan has you covered.

Here it is!  As you can see, the Spartan is just note cards held together by a binder clip. This may look simple, it is.  This may look stupid, it might be.  Luckily, the Spartan is possibly the most useful “notebook” I’ve ever come across.  I personally prefer a small binder clip and 3×5 inch note cards as I keep my Spartan in my back pocket.  I prefer lined cards as they help me keep my writing legible yet compact².  The clip I’m using is silver in color.  I bought a multi-color pack over 10 years ago and the first one I grabbed was this one.  It still works fine.

On the back I have a lined card turned over.  I use this for shopping lists in portrait orientation, hence using the non-lined side.  I’m not a madman³!

Here I’ve taken the guts of my Spartan and spread them out for you to see. (Oh the humanity!)  I like to use different color cards labeled with marker to make “folders.”  Sometimes I’ll use just 2 “folders” like “work” and “home.”  Other times I’ll use topic specific cards like “NotebookingNerds.”  Alternatively you could use colored cards to indicate different topics or projects.  Just don’t go changing them too often or it’ll get crazy.

I also like to keep a card with some Post-its on them.  You’d be surprised how often they come in handy when you have them on you.

Here are a few ways I use my Spartan:

• Shopping lists or To-do lists⁴
• Jot Points when I don’t have the opportunity to notebook
• Contact numbers or email addresses
• Project notes⁵
• Recipes ⁶

I, also, have a note-card holder that I use as a miniature filing cabinet so to speak.

What I don’t do is try to use a Spartan as a more permanent notebook.  A Spartan is ephemeral, temporary and a fantastic companion to your notebook.  In fact, when used in tandem with a notebook, a Spartan can help you get the most out of your notebook.

As long as you understand a Spartan’s limitations and strengths it won’t let you down.  Give it a try.

1. Or maybe there’s some other reason you don’t carry your notebook.  I’m not here to judge.
2. You could use any size and orientation you choose, I’m not your boss.
3. Then again, I AM writing an article about note cards and binder clips so maybe I am!
4. Lest I write these in my “actual” notebook.
5. This way, when I abandon half the projects I start I just throw those cards out and no one will be the wiser.
6. That way if I spill food on it, which I’m likely to do, I don’t end up trashing an entire notebook