📖 Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer

Topic: Memory  |  Rating: 4.5/5

Summary

Joshua Foer first attended the U.S. Memory Championship as a journalist. After studying memory techniques for only a year, he won the competition! Proving anyone is capable of extraordinary memory. I was hoping it was more practical, nonetheless, I loved the storytelling and messages.

Why I read this book

This book was mentioned in the documentary ‘Memory Games’ on Netflix (my choice of movies is perhaps why no one wants to Netflix and chill with me 😢). In this competition mental athletes recall vast amounts of information including random digits, historical dates, names and faces. Imagine memorising over 200 names and faces in 15 minutes? Insane!

My 3 key take aways

1. The creative side of the brain controls memory 🎨

Children have great memories since their lives are about discovery, curiosity, and imagination. As we age, life seems to be less memorable. When studying nutrition I learnt that neuron loss only occurs with disease, making me believe that our consciousness could live forever. Is Alzheimer’s caused by a monotonous life and not necessarily old age? In conclusion, go live an exciting life.

“Creating new memories stretches out psychological time, and lengthens our perception of our lives.” (Foer, 2011, p.77)

2. Memory techniques are sensory 🔮

There are various memory techniques (including the memory palace and major system). To make things memorable, create associations, vivid imagery and play with the extremes of your emotions.

“The brain best remembers things that repeated, rhythmic, rhyming, structured, and above all easily visualized.” (Foer, 2011, p.128)

3. The capacity of our memory is unlimited 🕸️

The human potential is limitless. Like the memory athletes, all you need to do is train this skill.

“Memory is like a spiderweb that catches new information. The more it catches, the bigger it grows. And the bigger it grows, the more it catches.” (Foer, 2011, p.209)