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Memorize the Faith! (and Most Anything Else): Using the Methods of the Great Catholic Medieval Memory Masters [Paperback]

Kevin Vost
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)

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Book Description

July 1, 2006
"They laughed when I said I could name all 27 books of the New Testament ...but after I named them all in order, plus the 46 books of the Old Testament, they begged me to show them how I did it." Yes, I know that memorizing the Faith is no substitute for living a holy life, but even devout people can't live by truths and precepts they don't remember. That's why, over 700 years ago, St. Thomas Aquinas perfected an easy method for his students to memorize most any information, but especially the truths taught by Christ and His Church. As the years passed, our need for this ancient art of memorization grew, yet somehow our culture largely forgot it . . . which is why today, when you and I try to remember a list of things, we have to repeat their names over and over. Or, to remember to call the dentist, we tie a string on our finger. And we clutch at any means whatsoever to recall our passwords for ATMs, credit cards, and voicemail, our login names for Yahoo, eBay, and Amazon, and the host of other names and numbers that clog our minds and clutter our days. Now, thanks to the delightful pages of Memorize the Faith!, you can easily keep all these in mind - and learn the Faith! - by tapping into the power of the classical memory system that helped St. Thomas become the Church's preeminent theologian, and made it easier for him to become one of its greatest saints. Here, Catholic scholar Kevin Vost makes available again Aquinas's easy-to-learn method - the method Dr. Vost himself has used for decades to recall names, dates, phone numbers, the first dozen digits of pi (3.141592653589) and even whether, when his wife called him at work today, she asked him to bring home ice cream and toffee . . . or was it truffles and coffee? Indeed, Dr. Vost will teach you to remember virtually anything, but he devotes most of his book to showing you how to improve your memory of Catholic truths so you can live the Faith better. By the time you finish this book, you will have memorized dozens of key teachings of the Church, along with hundreds of precepts, traditions, theological terms, Scripture verses, and other elements of the Faith that every good Catholic needs to know by heart. Memory is the foundation of wisdom. It makes holiness easier. To grow wiser in the Faith . . . and holier . . . turn to Memorize the Faith! today.

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Memorize the Faith! (and Most Anything Else): Using the Methods of the Great Catholic Medieval Memory Masters + Fit for Eternal Life + Unearthing Your Ten Talents
Price for all three: $39.04

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Product Details

  • Paperback: 250 pages
  • Publisher: Sophia Institute Press (July 1, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1933184175
  • ISBN-13: 978-1933184173
  • Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 8.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,156 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kevin Vost, Psy.D. (b. 1961) has taught psychology at the University of Illinois at Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College, and MacMurray College. A former powerlifter and Highland Games Heavy Events competitor, Dr. Vost has also served as a weightlifting instructor, fitness writer for the International Association of Resistance Trainers, Research Review Committee Member for American Mensa (the high IQ society), lector for St. Agnes Catholic Church, and fast food fries and drink man (a few decades back). His voice (and sometimes the rest of him) travel the globe sharing themes of faith, philosophy, and fitness on radio, television, and in live presentations.

Dr. Vost's latest book is Three Irish Saints: A Guide to Finding Your Spiritual Style (TAN, 2012). Other recent books are St. Albert the Great: Champion of Faith and Reason (TAN, 2011) and with the help of co-authors Shane Kapler, Peggy Bowes, and some special guests including author and Son Rise Morning Show producer Matt Swaim -- Tending the Temple: 365 Days of Spiritual and Physical Devotions (Bezalel Books). On the plate for Fall 2012 for Catholic Answers is Memorize the Reasons! The Catholic Art of Memory for Apologetics.

A self-styled Aristotelian/Stoic/Albertine/Thomist, this author lives with his wife, two sons, and their dog Mindy (who makes a cameo appearance in Chapter 1 of Unearthing Your Ten Talents).

Customer Reviews

I can recite the mysteries of the Rosary, forward and backward, the 10 Commandments forward and backward. bookscdsdvdsandcoolstuff  |  5 reviewers made a similar statement
I had never heard of the Method Loci and think it is great for memorizing lists. M. Campbell  |  4 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
84 of 87 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!! August 22, 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is quite possibly one of the MOST important I have ever read. The book has literally helped change my life in the two areas of intellectual endeavor most important to me: my faith and music.

I am a working jazz musician (no one important that you would know... just a local guy) and music teacher and have long struggled to memorize tunes (an ESSENTIAL skill if one wants to play jazz). For those of you who may not know, if one shows up on the bandstand with tons of "fake books" in tow, one immediately betrays oneself as a poorly informed and uneducated musician. Jazz musicians are expected to know hundreds of tunes, with chord changes and common substitutions, and be able to recall them in the heat of battle as it were: on a bandstand in front of an audience with other informed musicians on the stage with you judging your every move. Jazz musicians are expected to read perfectly as well, especially in the big-band setting. But don't show up at a small group jam session in New York with a fake book. Not if you want to be given respect or a chance to play.

I have also been a student of my faith since reverting/converting about five years ago. I have read voraciously: the Navarre Bible Commentary, The Theology of the Body, the ENTIRE Bible, popular theological works, academic works, and the writings of the saints and mystics. Several people I know consider me an informed Catholic.

People who knew me started coming to me with questions about the faith, because I seemed to know so much. I found myself patting myself on the back because I "knew my faith so well." Then someone asked me a basic question: what's the Fifth Commandment? I came up short. Of course I knew the commandments... didn't I? In order? Well... no. Could I get them all right out of order? Most of the time... maybe.

What about the Beatitudes? What about the Seven Deadly Sins? What about the Four Marks of the Church? What about the Seven Cardinal Virtues? What about the mysteries of the Rosary? What about naming all the books in the Bible? What about memorizing chapter and verse so I could debate my evangelical friends more easily rather than always relying on the standard: "The Bible says somewhere that....."

Well. A couple of weeks ago I happened across a review of this book in a publication. I received it last week and just finished it. It WORKS! I have memorized the faith that is for sure. (At least the portion of the faith covered in this book!) Everything covered by the book I know by HEART. I can recite the mysteries of the Rosary, forward and backward, the 10 Commandments forward and backward. All of it. Memorized!

Does it transfer to other areas? OH YEAH! I transcribed a Lester Young Solo called "Ad Lib Blues" and have been taking it through all twelve keys. I invented little mnemonic devices based on this book to help me remember some of the more complex intervallic relationships so I could get it through the keys more quickly. Yep... it worked.

AABA tunes? How about make them two rooms of the Mnemonic house? Place the II V I progressions in a single location (like the bench), and take the rest of the changes and put them in the other locations in order. Boom.... Cherokee.... memorized. All twelve keys. Done. In 15 minutes. WOW! (This is of course when combined with other musical knowledge and tricks I have acquired over the years)

A MUST BUY book for Catholics, and for ANYONE interested in committing important things to memory. I wish someone taught me this stuff years ago!
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80 of 84 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An unforgettable book! July 27, 2006
Format:Paperback
I was somewhat skeptical this book could deliver the claims it made. I had read other memory books in the past and was unimpressed with the methods they proposed. There seemed to be something missing that kept me from fully realizing my potential. This book provided that missing part. I don't want to give away what it is but, I can assure, if you apply the methods the author outlines in this book you will definitely increase your ability to retain and recall at will almost anything you can imagine. It took only two, 45 minutes sessions for me to memorize all 73 books of the Bible, in order, and backwards!

Mr. Vost writes in a breezy style that entertains while informing. His book will be especially useful to anyone tasked with teaching others be they child or adult. If as a teacher you have struggled for a way to make a dry list or technical term memorable, this book will give you everything you need to make that happen. I plan on stealing...err... using (wouldn't want to violate the seventh commandment) the vivid memory anchors described in this book when teaching adult religion classes.

Some might be turned away by the content Mr. Vost concentrates on, namely the basic tenants of the Catholic faith. Don't let it. Even if you are not Christian, you should read and apply the methods taught in this book.
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58 of 60 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Edifying September 11, 2006
Format:Paperback
Being fairly new to the Catholic faith, I love this book. It's not a substitute for the Bible and Catechism, but certainly helps with learning the faith.

I had never heard of the Method Loci and think it is great for memorizing lists. It can be applied to any list, whether studying for an exam, going grocery shopping, or making a to do list while talking with your boss.

I agree with another review in that may not be so great with poetry or prose. However, he does provide 30 "memory master tips and facts" on the art of memorization, which may transfer over to poetry and prose.

This book is fun to read. The author comes across as brilliant, but has a wonderful ability to bring it down to my level. It's the best book I've purchased in a long time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Great memorization technique for those studying for finals in high...
I wish I used this technique when I was in College, when I had memorize so much material.. This is not older adults who just want help on their short term recall.
Published 24 days ago by Brenda Schmitt
3.0 out of 5 stars I am finding uses for these techniques, but it needs more practice.
I love to memorize poems and things because I do not always have other means of entertainment in the middle of the night! I'm not sure that this is a workable system for that. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Francis Kendziorski
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
My children use this book to learn and memorize the Catholic teachings, such as the Seven Sacraments, the Eight Beatitudes, and the Mysteries of the Rosary. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Vizio
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Work
This product arrived on time and as described. I am very happy with my purchase. I look forward to additional orders
Published 5 months ago by J. Lopez
4.0 out of 5 stars trowland
Easy to read and very formative. A must read for anyone that is serious about being informed about the faith and being able to share the faith with other.
Published 6 months ago by tish6733
1.0 out of 5 stars Should have returned it...trashed it instead
I could have returned this book...the title is extremely misleading and the methods described are far from anything used by the great Catholic Medieval Memory Masters. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Craig
4.0 out of 5 stars Useful Techniques for Improving Memory
I have a very good memory to begin with, but I was intrigued to see what I could learn from this book. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Samuel C. Urfer
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a fantastic book.
I want to add my voice to the cavalcade of five star ratings.

I first heard Kevin Vost explain his memory system - developed, he says, from the insights of St. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Peter S. Bradley
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended!
I'm a life long Catholic and while there were a few of these I had long since memorized (never had a problem recalling the Four Last Things, the Seven Sacraments, the Four Marks of... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Jim Cook
5.0 out of 5 stars Legalrule
Absolutely fantastic!! In short order I was memorizing chess and go games forward and backward with 100% accuracy and my rating has gone through the roof. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Legalrule
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"Most Anything Else" -- Exaggeration or Understatement
Why can't I buy the book on amazon?
Aug 26, 2006 by Patrick C. Beeman |  See all 4 posts
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