Rick B. (bup) -
Helpful Score: 1
Quite naturally, I assumed I'd read this book, do a couple of fun exercises therein, and be able to remember everything I ever wanted to again.
Well, no. Foer tells you all you need to know (and it's really not much) to memorize the kinds of things memory gurus memorize (digits, playing cards, peoples' names), but it's still a lot of work.
The tricks boil down to conjuring ridiculous images, and placing them spatially in a place you know well (like, a tour of your house).
And, he rightly points out, these people that master it still forget their car keys as much as anyone else, forget to mail in that form as much as anyone else, forget the kind of stuff that really causes trouble as anyone else. Because the problem with that stuff is that you never set aside the time and effort to stick it in your brain, if necessary with a trigger to remind you later that it's time to retrieve it.
Ultimately, one is left with the impression that it's all a party trick. Impressive but not so useful.
I wonder, though. It seems like it could be great for learning a foreign language quickly.
Well, no. Foer tells you all you need to know (and it's really not much) to memorize the kinds of things memory gurus memorize (digits, playing cards, peoples' names), but it's still a lot of work.
The tricks boil down to conjuring ridiculous images, and placing them spatially in a place you know well (like, a tour of your house).
And, he rightly points out, these people that master it still forget their car keys as much as anyone else, forget to mail in that form as much as anyone else, forget the kind of stuff that really causes trouble as anyone else. Because the problem with that stuff is that you never set aside the time and effort to stick it in your brain, if necessary with a trigger to remind you later that it's time to retrieve it.
Ultimately, one is left with the impression that it's all a party trick. Impressive but not so useful.
I wonder, though. It seems like it could be great for learning a foreign language quickly.
