Improving your memory

by snare&racket 21 Replies latest jw friends

  • cofty
    cofty

    Great topic.

    I read a book by Tony Buzan when I was at high school, something like "Build a Superpower Memory". I have been using his techniques ever since.

    I have used number-shape and number-rhyme systems right through school and college to memorise all sorts of lists.

    I also used to use Buzan's "Mind-map" system to do notes for delivering talks and takng notes of other talks.

    I agree it should be part of basic education. We all have fantastic memories, we just need the instruction manual.

  • Band on the Run
    Band on the Run

    A tennis courts owner and pro would hold open house on Fridays to attract the singles crowd. He memorized the first name of everyone! I could see where the skill would be great for business. We knew he had some technique. It was nice to hear your name. I believe he made weird associations with people's names.

  • stuckinarut2
    stuckinarut2

    I was going to read it all...but then I failed to remember to do so....

  • tootired2care
    tootired2care

    This is an excellent thread.

    It is silly that good memory techniques are still not required school curriculum. In the last few years I've definitely noticed a bit of decline in my memory that I've always taken for granted. I've been wanting to read some more books on this subject, there are just so many out there though, that it's hard to decide which ones are the best ones to start with. In the past, I've read a couple from Kevin Trudeau which were mediocre books at best, and only marginally helped.

  • sparrowdown
    sparrowdown

    Do these techniques work for someone whose life resembles the movie " 50 First Dates".

  • snare&racket
    snare&racket

    Band, there was a consultant whom I kept forgetting his name, it was Dr Bukaltar, until I thought of s book on an altar. That was 4 years ago.

    But as I have developed a very visual memory, unless I commit things to it consciously I tend to be quite pants at remembering things like names.

    Swings and roundabouts I guess! (do you guys say that in USA?)

  • LisaRose
    LisaRose

    Sparrowdown, the writer of the book found that it did not help him remember where he put the keys, it just doesn't work that way. I have ADD, and as a friend who has this says "That train is always ready to jump the track". I attached my car keys to my purse, it was a pain to adjust to, but no more losing keys, that has saved me a lot of grief. You have to actively use the method, but it's pretty fast and does work. I have used it to remember important numbers, like my drivers licence, car licence, etc. I also use it with people's names.

  • Ding
    Ding

    I have really benefited from the memory system of Harry Lorayne.

    He's written a number of books including The Memory Book, How to Develop a Super Power Memory, and Remembering People.

    He has a website you can check out.

    Jerry Lucas has similar materials and uses Lorayne's system.

  • KiddingMe
    KiddingMe

    I was in training yesterday and the instructor spoke about "the 330 rule", which says if you repeat something 3 times within 30 seconds, helps you to retain it. For example, when meeting someone for the first time, you ask their name and they say Jane, you would say back, "Jane, oh, it's nice to meet you Jane, what do you do for a living Jane?" You could also, at that time, make note of Janes eye color, this would help in associating her face with her name.

    He also, recommended this program which he used for his daughter who was an "average student" but then bought her gpa to 4.75, and "it wasn't because she was very smart, it was because of her reading, comprehension and retention rate". She got all these college scholarship offers. Now his entire family uses it for their kids and grand kids. The program is called Evelyn Wood. Has anyone heard of it?

    Please note, the company he works for sells the program (and various other developmental programs), so I'm skeptical as it could've been a sales pitch.

  • Band on the Run
    Band on the Run

    There is a problem with Evelyn Wood. I believe Jack Kennedy took the course or so they claimed after the assassination. It was very popular in the late 1960s. Commercial ran on rock stations. They said you should not take the course unless you were free to make the transition. I called to sign up but it was very expensive. I thought the company went out of business.

    Classmates took it. They did not seem to do better than other students. Maybe I stopped listening to the stations they used to promote the company. I believe there were large ads in the New York Times.

    I found out through the bar review people that I had a lot of bad habits. If a commercial company can teach this stuff in add'n to legal topics, public schools can do it, too. Over the long run, I feel that I can think about a wide range of topics today. I do feel wiser. My younger brain was much better at trivia. I told a friend recently that employers should hire both young and old employees to balance different ways of thinking.

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