What if middle school didn’t have to be so hard?
And what if everything you learned while studying as a younger person actually stuck?
If you’re anything like me, you spent hours in school consuming information that you can’t remember.
And that means you can’t use it.
As a memory expert, I’m always asked about books for kids.
People seek out my opinion because I’ve spent the past fifteen years teaching thousands of people of all ages how to build lasting knowledge.
Using real memory techniques that actually work.
Without rote memorization.
On this page, you’ll discover one of my favorite memory improvement books for young learners.
And here’s the best part:
Even if you’re well past middle school, the Brad Zupp book you’re about to discover could help you too.
Book Review: Unlock Your Amazing Memory by Brad Zupp
Brad Zupp’s excellent book is called in full Unlock Your Amazing Memory: The Fun Guide That Shows Grades 5 To 8 How To Remember Better And Make School Easier.
In it, you get what most schools fail to deliver:
A simple, proven set of memory techniques that make learning stick.
Although Unlock Your Amazing Memory was first released in 2013, the techniques it teaches remain as effective and relevant today as ever.
All the more so as digital amnesia makes focused learning harder than ever for young people.
Zupp breaks memory improvement into three foundational steps:
- Capture the information by paying attention and remaining present
- Store the information by using your imagination in ways that excite your brain
- Retrieve the information using your intention.
Who Is Brad Zupp (and Why Should You Trust Him)?
Brad Zupp is more than a memory enthusiast.
He’s a decorated memory champion who knows how to motivate young readers.
As a memory champion who has competed on the world stage and set impressive records in national events, he’s proven the concept of just how well the main memory techniques work.
What impresses me above all is the time he’s spent getting out into schools to teach younger learners.
Zupp wasn’t just guessing when he put this book together. The teaching is based on lived experience with the age group he’s addressing.
Highlight: Boosting Focus and Curiosity While In Class
Like the legendary memory teacher Harry Lorayne, Zupp highlights the importance of focus if you want to learn well over the long haul.
Zupp builds on Lorayne’s legacy by offering even more actionable ways to boost your focus.
Thinking Ahead of Your Teachers
For example, he’s aware of what some language learning teachers call “anticipatory reading.”
In other words, thinking ahead.
You might think that trying to outpace your teacher or the book you’re reading would lead you into the trap of multitasking.
But researchers have found otherwise. In this study, for example, students who thought ahead had better prediction abilities.
It’s also well-known that asking questions while taking notes helps with comprehension and memory.
As Zupp points out, these kinds of activities increase your attention as you listen and read. This form of intensified focus makes the material more memorable almost by default, even if your assumptions prove wrong, or some of the questions you ask are less than ideal.
In fact, the information becomes more memorable when you are wrong because your mind loops back to the part of the thread where you took your wayward turn.
Counting Uhms, Ahems And Other Human Hesitations
One of Zupp’s quirkier suggestions for focusing on demand involves counting the uhms made by your teacher.
It’s a clever trick and could work.
But when I’m in need of concentration, I prefer repeating what people are saying in my mind. This practice creates laser-like focus on the words themselves. That helps form memories based on the content without focusing on the teacher’s flaws.
That said, Zupp’s method is worth trying.
What I Loved About Unlock Your Amazing Memory
When it comes to learning how you’re going to remember different information types, Zupp offers you and your youngster some of the best memory improvement for students training around.
You’ll learn how to best practice the key mnemonic devices quickly.
All in a fun read that features:
- Clear and engaging style perfect for middle schoolers
- Pratice-focused tips on practicing your imagination for use with memory techniques and associative learning
- Clean, easy-to-navigate layout
- Useful reinforcement of the core ancient memory techniques everyone should know
Where This Book Could Go Further
When it comes to memory improvement for kids, I would have liked to see:
- More emphasis on spaced repetition using the Memory Palace technique
- Less focus on activities like memorizing the presidents and state capitals
- Encouragement to move past mnemonic examples faster so students make the mnemonic strategies their own
Who Should Read This Book?
If you’re a parent who wants to give your child the best memory tools for students, this book should be on your shelf.
Combined with my list of books on learning and Memory Palace books, Zupp’s guide is also wonderful for teachers and tutors looking for solid tips and techniques.
Because Zupp has demonstrated so much skill as a language learner and memory champion, it’s also a great book for skeptics who need proof that using memory techniques can be fun and effective.
Finally, it’s a great resource for lifelong learners who already know memory techniques, but would like a refresher on the fundamentals.
Whether you’re just starting with memory techniques or mentoring a student on the path to mastery, Brad Zupp’s Unlock Your Amazing Memory is a resource worth returning to again and again.
How Students Can Start Using Zupp’s Techniques Right Away
Over the years, I’ve seen many students benefit from using the exact set of tools Zupp teaches in this book.
To help your child get started applying the techniques, here are a few suggestions.
One: Read the Book in Full
We’ve all done it.
We start off strong, but then book a training guide aside and never come back to it.
Schedule the time to read this book with your child. At just 90 pages, you should be able to get through it in a week, if not faster.
Two: Start with a Simple Memory Palace
As I discovered when I interviewed Alicia Crosby and her father on my podcast, even at age 10, she had no problem choosing a familiar location.
She then assigned a short, mnemonic journey that helped her memorize a list of information very quickly.
Three: Practice Associations Together
Memory techniques involve a lot of mental combination.
Practice visualization exercises together, creating cartoon-like scenes along your Memory Palace journeys.
Four: Play “What’s Next?” Learning Games
Since one of Zupp’s best tips involves anticipatory thinking, ask your child often questions like:
“What do you think your teachers will talk about today?
This simple activity will help build this helpful form of anticipation and sharpen recall.
If you need more help and ideas, consider signing up for my free memory course:
It gives you a short number of video lessons and worksheets.
Above all, remember that you don’t need a perfect routine.
Just encourage frequent practice of the techniques.
Play with your memory together and experiment.
Zupp’s book provides incredibly useful structure.
But it’s your real-world application that builds the skill.
Your kids will thank you for it.
And you’ll be glad as a parent that you invested in improving your own memory too.
Further Resources and Information About Brad Zupp
Brad Zupp Interview on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast
Brad’s World Memory Championships Records
Alex Mullen interview with Brad
Nelson Dellis’ book for kids: Memory Superpowers
