Here’s an inspirational email from someone taking memory improvement seriously:
I used the Magnetic Memory Method to help me with memorizing the contents of a book. I helped our 8 yr old son memorize the contents of a 54 page book he had to read for school.
There were 10 Chapters. We ended up with 20 index cards.
I followed your instructions to a T, even finding a picture of the author on the internet.
Your system is outstanding, and the index card system, sequence – top left, and page number – bottom right, is perfect too! There were 2 times when we added and changed some information. So going to the exact page was a piece of cake.
Of course the magic came when we used the 2nd floor of our house for the memory palace:
Lundry – dryer, washing machine, tank for manual washing, table; bathroom – shower, toilet, sink, his bedroom – shelf, painting, bed post, his desk, brother’s desk, and off to our room.
Relating a little to the content of today’s email, as I’m almost finished with my 5th book on mnemonics, I was able to explain the journey and associations so a kid could understand!
It really was magic and our son, Maxwell, was so proud of himself for memorizing the book: characters’ names, cities, plot, moral, etc. You have forever changed our lives for the better.
Thank you!
The material being referred to is in Volume 1 of the Magnetic Memory newsletter. It’s in the chapter called “What if I wanted to memorize a chapter in a textbook so I could ace a test on that subject?”
The point about index cards was recently addressed in a 2019 post all about how to effectively complete a memory training course.
I love this topic. It allows me to reveal the inside secrets of how I went from a high-school dropout to a professor who earned a distinguished government-funded research grant. I didn’t know then I would eventually become a memory expert, but that’s how life goes sometimes.
But what I really like about this letter is not only that the system is being used, but that the writer is reading other books on mnemonics.
If you’re truly interested in developing your memorization knowledge and skills, this is a key strategy that will keep you moving forward.
Read all that you can. Here are some more suggestions:
And if you want more to read, be sure to check out the chapter on advanced reading and memorization skills chapter in Volume 1. There’s a lot more you can benefit from in this collection of my newsletters, including:
* How to use dice to improve your memory.
* How to lower any hurdles that may be hindering your progress.
* Why you should try to learn each new skill you find difficult at least twice.
* How to extend your Memory Palaces to include 3000 words and more.
* How to use “Big Box” stores as Memory Palaces.
* How to use video games and TV shows as Memory Palaces.
* Why perfectionism may be slowing you down.
* How to motivate yourself to memorize.
* The best time-management techniques for memorization using Memory Palaces.
* How to use free email services to memorize new vocabulary.
* What to do if you’re not a particularly visual person.
* The importance of paying attention in the first place.
* How to avoid the “Memorization Kryptonite” that may be holding you back.
* And much, much more …
It’s all available for your Kindle, anytime you want more memory training!
