What is a mind map?

A mind map is a visual tool used to organize thoughts and ideas, which often begins with a central concept. From this central point, associative connections are made to related ideas, forming a network-like structure. Mind maps are not strictly hierarchical and can include drawings as well as words. This flexibility allows for a more free-form organization of thoughts, letting users reorganize their ideas in a way that makes the most sense to them.

François Chollet explained on the Lex Fridman Podcast, that mind maps help in getting control over one's thoughts by laying them out visually. It's akin to tracing connections as in a "subway map," rather than a tree, focusing on connections and relationships between ideas rather than strict categories 1 2.