Org-mode is not just 'something', it's a powerful Emacs extension that transforms plain text documents into dynamic, interactive, and organized systems for notes, to-do lists, and project management, while seamlessly integrating code execution across multiple programming languages with data flow between embedded computational blocks.
Practical example? You can be annotating a PDF, while having executable code blocks in different languages, e.g., you can run http or sql query, then pass the results into a python, javascript or shell scripting block, and then output the final result into a diagram. So, you'd be reading the book, taking notes and mess around with practical code snippets at the same time.
I have tried so many different note-taking apps, philosophies and techniques over the years. Nothing even comes close to what I can do today in Org-mode. It totally shatters everything else and kicks the shit out of the ballpark.
I am absolutely sorry that I have failed to capture the fantastic essence and incredibly powerful qualities of Org-mode so carefully crafted in over twenty years of its existence. My poor writing style simply miserably failed to express it in a single paragraph. I'm sure your seasoned expertise on the matter could do a lot better.
As for the annotation workflow, well, I guess you just don't need it. When you decide to start writing notes while reading books, I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out. For now, just create a TODO item with a deadline, it will keep showing up in the Agenda, but I don't have to explain, that part you know already.
Practical example? You can be annotating a PDF, while having executable code blocks in different languages, e.g., you can run http or sql query, then pass the results into a python, javascript or shell scripting block, and then output the final result into a diagram. So, you'd be reading the book, taking notes and mess around with practical code snippets at the same time.
I have tried so many different note-taking apps, philosophies and techniques over the years. Nothing even comes close to what I can do today in Org-mode. It totally shatters everything else and kicks the shit out of the ballpark.