44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Photographic Mind, May 11, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Photographic Mind: Holographic Memory System (Paperback)
The title of this book may be a little misleading. If your goal is to attain perfect photographic recall, then you are looking at the wrong book.
However, if your goal is to improve your memory, this book is an excellent choice. The exercises in the book are superb. They lead you very methodically through the usage of the link system, the loci system, the peg system, and the phonetic system. What sets the book apart is the quality of the exercises. You are carefully guided through the entire process with real examples.
I have not decided whether the CD that is provided is helpful or not. There are two basic tracks. The first is baroque music for enhanced learning. It did provide a nice background while reading through the exercise. The second track is reported to help seal the learning into your brain. I used the track after each exercise but did not use it every day for the recommended 60 days. You be the judge.
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39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Photographic mind not photographic recall, December 12, 2001
This review is from: Photographic Mind: Holographic Memory System (Paperback)
First, I would like to comment on this particular book. Then I will comment on the Brain Supercharger CD contained with this book.
The book Photographic Mind: Holographic Memory System, is almost entirely based on mnemonics for memory improvement. As the title of the book is deceptive, as there is an explanation of this is contained inside. Dane Spotts states "The Photographic Mind applies traditional time-honored memory systems with a new holistic approach based on the latest scientific findings that support the existence of not only an intellectual memory (of your left brain and right brain) but an emotional memory (of your body) as well."
These time-honored memory systems are merely mnemonics. Dane Spotts does a fine job with some of the mnemonic systems provided. He does offer a fresh new look into them, also how to practice them. I wish to comment on them further, although briefly.
Dane Spotts goes through the link system, loci, peg, and the phonetic system for memory improvement. If readers have read other memory books, they will recognize these memory systems. Let us not fool ourselves here, they work very well. Although, Dane uses the classic phonetic system for memorizing numbers. This method of memorizing numbers is archaic and outdated. I would like to refer anyone to my previously reviewed books such as The Memory Pack of Andi Bell or any of Dominic O'Brien's fabulous memory books (true memory champions). However, Dane Spotts shows good and novel ways in becoming acquainted with the loci, peg, or the link system for memorization. His methods work well. In the mnemonic sections, Dane Spotts does an adequate job in using loci, peg, and the link.
Furthermore, a rather presumptuous statement from Dane: "There is a difference between a true photographic memory and the photographic mind you will be developing through the workshops of this book. A photographic mind is much more powerful than a photographic memory-a phenomenon which psychologists call "eidetic imagery."
I would be very ecstatic to witness the proof of this statement. My personal statement is that one cannot fully quantify memory or its functions, or even to the extent of pure photographic memory, we have not the capabilities. A powerful form of photographic memory, photographic recall, as well as eidetic memory, is proven to exist, check literature or hypnosis studies! At this point, we are just throwing rocks, and I will be happy to give in.
I was a little worried because of Dane's subchapter entitled "The Double Curse of Rote Memorization" pg. 36
He does not give much attention to rote memory and its important uses. His point is well deserved of using better techniques such as visualization and emotion. If one were to read Memory Search by a Memorist by Charles Thompson, one would understand rote memory and its importance. Also check Kenneth Higbee's book "Your Memory How it Works and How to Improve it."
This book does read of lecture material with very little references. No index or reference section or chapter notes.
I could have picked this book to pieces in light of the heresy information contained within. Nonetheless, there are good sound applications in this book.
In my view Dane Spotts, photographic mind is simply: high visualization with well practiced mnemonic techniques. Let us not confuse ourselves here, Dane Spotts Supercharged Brain CD is novel and useful. He briefly mentions "Georgi Lozanov." In the book, "Georgi Lozanov" is misspelled as "Georgi Lasonov" the popular Bulgarian scientist located in the books Supermemory, or Superlearning, or Superlearning 2000. He briefly comments on Georgi's work with learning improvement because this is the basis of track number two on his Brain Supercharger CD.
The Brain Supercharger CD included with this book contains three tracks. Track number one is an explanation -by Dane Spotts- of the other two tracks on this CD.
Track number two on this CD is the Accelerated Learning Music. I find this track pleasurable and useful. If anyone has listened to classical 40-60 beat music while studying, one will enjoy this track. A great addition to the CD.
Track number three is the Super Memory Transformation track. On this track there is "Brain Supercharger Technology" which is simply is 3-D sound recording and what is called Neuro-Entrainment Matrix, which is very simply, sounds and tones for brain synchronization or entrainment. In addition, there are affirmations contained on this track. These affirmations are to enforce learning and memory.
I am very impressed with the Super Memory Transformation track. This track is very relaxing, with a blend of running water and deep background base sound one feels relaxed in a short period of time. At this time, I have limited use of the CD but the results thus far are very encouraging.
In conclusion, there is much more I could articulate. I did leave some minor points, but the major details are worked out above. For memory books I recommend "Awaken the Genius by Patrick Porter" or my previously reviewed books. Nevertheless, there is some good reading here and I do recommend this book as a later choice for a memory book.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Memorization Lite, April 5, 2011
This review is from: Photographic Mind: Holographic Memory System (Paperback)
There are four basic memorization techniques: Link, Peg, Loci and Phonetic. Many memory experts have made quite a bit of money rehashing these same concepts over and over in various books.
Dane Spotts contribution to the genre is the wonderfully misleading title "Photographic Mind". The production values of the CDs are a cut above most memory experts, unfortunately, the quality of the verbiage is more than a little lackluster.
The author does a wonderful job spoon-feeding the Link and Peg systems to memorization neophytes. The first four chapters are excellent in this regard. Unfortunately, the wheels fall off the "memorization bus" beginning in chapter five.
You see, there are two generally accepted memorization systems for numbers from one to 100. These are the so-called "Major system" (championed by memory experts such as Harry Lorayne, Jerry Lucas and Tony Buzan, among others) and the more recent "Dominic system" (the brainchild of World Memory Champ Dominic Obrien). Dane Spotts, though, offers his own cut-down system for memorizing up to a paltry 20 items.
If you have a burning to desire to, say, memorize HALF the presidents of the United States, perhaps you could find some value in this product.
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