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Top positive review
16 people found this helpful
4.0 out of 5 starsCaution: This book can lead to compulsive memory training
Bydescarteson April 3, 2018
I bought this book after watching a youtube presentation by Joshua Foer regarding his research for the book. I read through this book impatiently, because the reason for buying it was to learn the memory techniques he described in his Youtube video. I found his accounts of the eccentric contestants in the US and world memory tournaments to be overly detailed. Nonetheless, his writing skill are strong.
I do wish to warn you that if you try out the book's memory techniques, practicing them can be addicting, as they must have been for the author. Within six weeks, I passed all three of the FCC Amateur Radio license tests. Once starting to practice memorizing the concepts and answers behind the large question pools (1,450), I couldn't stop. Now, having reined in my compulsiveness, I just use the techniques learned from this book to give presentations without using notes and to study for exams. So if you are at all manic when it comes to learning, you may find that this book will magnify those learning habits.
This book is excellent journalism rather than a memory technique book. He states that fact and points you towards actual memory technique books. I have purchased and read some of them. Those books do not compare with the motivational aspects of this book to actually try out memory techniques to see if they can enhance your life.
This book is a fun read and it may motivate you to learn something new - something that requires lots of memorization. Read it and go take a bar exam, like the one for US Tax Court.
I do wish to warn you that if you try out the book's memory techniques, practicing them can be addicting, as they must have been for the author. Within six weeks, I passed all three of the FCC Amateur Radio license tests. Once starting to practice memorizing the concepts and answers behind the large question pools (1,450), I couldn't stop. Now, having reined in my compulsiveness, I just use the techniques learned from this book to give presentations without using notes and to study for exams. So if you are at all manic when it comes to learning, you may find that this book will magnify those learning habits.
This book is excellent journalism rather than a memory technique book. He states that fact and points you towards actual memory technique books. I have purchased and read some of them. Those books do not compare with the motivational aspects of this book to actually try out memory techniques to see if they can enhance your life.
This book is a fun read and it may motivate you to learn something new - something that requires lots of memorization. Read it and go take a bar exam, like the one for US Tax Court.
Top critical review
9 people found this helpful
3.0 out of 5 starsFun Read but not a Palace Builder.
ByBigBangFannon September 27, 2017
I just finished Moonwalking with Einstein and found it to be an interesting story about a journalist's self congratulatory pursuit of memory athletics but very, very little on actual techniques. The best part (for me) was two pages on Deliberate Practice. If you want some history on memory competitions - fun read. If you want memory techniques - The Memory Book by Lorayne and Lucas is far superior.
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Bydescarteson April 3, 2018
I bought this book after watching a youtube presentation by Joshua Foer regarding his research for the book. I read through this book impatiently, because the reason for buying it was to learn the memory techniques he described in his Youtube video. I found his accounts of the eccentric contestants in the US and world memory tournaments to be overly detailed. Nonetheless, his writing skill are strong.
I do wish to warn you that if you try out the book's memory techniques, practicing them can be addicting, as they must have been for the author. Within six weeks, I passed all three of the FCC Amateur Radio license tests. Once starting to practice memorizing the concepts and answers behind the large question pools (1,450), I couldn't stop. Now, having reined in my compulsiveness, I just use the techniques learned from this book to give presentations without using notes and to study for exams. So if you are at all manic when it comes to learning, you may find that this book will magnify those learning habits.
This book is excellent journalism rather than a memory technique book. He states that fact and points you towards actual memory technique books. I have purchased and read some of them. Those books do not compare with the motivational aspects of this book to actually try out memory techniques to see if they can enhance your life.
This book is a fun read and it may motivate you to learn something new - something that requires lots of memorization. Read it and go take a bar exam, like the one for US Tax Court.
I do wish to warn you that if you try out the book's memory techniques, practicing them can be addicting, as they must have been for the author. Within six weeks, I passed all three of the FCC Amateur Radio license tests. Once starting to practice memorizing the concepts and answers behind the large question pools (1,450), I couldn't stop. Now, having reined in my compulsiveness, I just use the techniques learned from this book to give presentations without using notes and to study for exams. So if you are at all manic when it comes to learning, you may find that this book will magnify those learning habits.
This book is excellent journalism rather than a memory technique book. He states that fact and points you towards actual memory technique books. I have purchased and read some of them. Those books do not compare with the motivational aspects of this book to actually try out memory techniques to see if they can enhance your life.
This book is a fun read and it may motivate you to learn something new - something that requires lots of memorization. Read it and go take a bar exam, like the one for US Tax Court.
16 people found this helpful
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ByAlon March 4, 2017
I had originally assumed this book would divulge the secrets of an eternal memory to me; however, what I was given instead was far more insightful. This book is a wonderfully spun tale of Josh's journey to learn the secrets of our memory. He tells the reader about the history of memory and the philosophical ideologies of what memories really mean in our lives.
If you're looking for a how-to guide on memory, this is not it. Moreover, this book is about a year of Josh's life and the things he learned along the way. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for: a short read (I finished this in 2-days); a fantastic story; a introduction to memory training; or a stimuli to the question: what is memory?
Read this book, you won't be disappointed.
If you're looking for a how-to guide on memory, this is not it. Moreover, this book is about a year of Josh's life and the things he learned along the way. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for: a short read (I finished this in 2-days); a fantastic story; a introduction to memory training; or a stimuli to the question: what is memory?
Read this book, you won't be disappointed.
Bymonsterpixelon August 16, 2017
This is a great book. It's engaging and well-written. However, I bought it to learn the memory techniques, not so much for the anecdotes. But, the anecdotes are rich and provide an entertaining trail to go down through the book. You can learn some memory techniques here, but the author does not focus on them so I would not call this a step-by-step guide to improving your memory so much as it's a journalistic tome on the history and current event surrounding memory and subtopics therein. I do recommend the book just for the sheer entertainment of reading how people have done what they've done but as far as a guide goes, you have to get the tips throughout the stories. I would have preferred an upfront discussion of all techniques you can use to improve your memory and then the stories to follow. However, reading the stories the the author reports on and his conclusion regarding how he came to view these memory tools and techniques, I can understand why he went the direction he did with his book (which is a great one).
ByThe F7 Pawnon October 8, 2017
Entertaining, humorous, and surprisingly philosophical. Foer turned a seemingly insignificant brush with mnemonics into an investigation of its history and then, on a more personal level, into a passion that led him to become the US memory champion. From Greek antiquity, through the middle ages, and into the modern era, he charts the meaning and use of human memory. What you learn is surprising and thought-provoking as Foer plumbs the purposes of memory and the influences of reading, the written word, and the ubiquitous external memory devices (e.g, smartphones) we all use today. Aren’t these, after all, crutches for our frail cognitive abilities? Yes, and no, as Foer ably demonstrates. Along the way, we meet the colorful characters, self-promoters, savants, and geeks who populate this fascinating sphere of human activity. My only quibble is that Foer tantalizes us with memory techniques without delivering more details on the specifics of all aspects and applications of the technique. His memory palace is filled with mental images of a moonwalking Einstein (whence the title of the book), but the mechanics of how he associates these person-object-activity groupings with the number, card, or object they represent is beyond my limited creative capacity. Nevertheless, this is highly recommended.
ByBigBangFannon September 27, 2017
I just finished Moonwalking with Einstein and found it to be an interesting story about a journalist's self congratulatory pursuit of memory athletics but very, very little on actual techniques. The best part (for me) was two pages on Deliberate Practice. If you want some history on memory competitions - fun read. If you want memory techniques - The Memory Book by Lorayne and Lucas is far superior.
ByReid McCormickon May 25, 2018
Memory, when you really think about it, is bizarre. There have been times I have forgotten a close friend’s first name but I can in great detail describe to you my desk in first grade. It is like my mind enjoys playing tricks on me. I can remember everything and recall nothing at the exact same time.
Our memory is really the only way we interact with our surroundings. We live our lives in expectation of things occurring in a pattern, that is why things shock us (good or bad) when things are different.
Moonwalking with Einstein is n fascinating journey in remembering. Joshua Foer, who has written about memory competitions, decides to try it out for himself. He wants to know if remembering things is something any one can do or is it just for brilliant.
This book is his journey from interested bystander to national champion. He shows us the unique and interesting methods of memory champions. He walks us through the history of memory and how our ancestors valued and devalued memory.
For such a simple concept, this book was really interesting. I actually tried one of the methods in the book and it does work (pickled garlic, cottage cheese, smoked salmon, six bottles of wine, three pairs of socks, hula hoops, dry ice, so on). I have not committed to using any method in my life – this book is not a how to guide – but there are references to many methods used in the past that have proven to work. It is very interesting.
Our memory is really the only way we interact with our surroundings. We live our lives in expectation of things occurring in a pattern, that is why things shock us (good or bad) when things are different.
Moonwalking with Einstein is n fascinating journey in remembering. Joshua Foer, who has written about memory competitions, decides to try it out for himself. He wants to know if remembering things is something any one can do or is it just for brilliant.
This book is his journey from interested bystander to national champion. He shows us the unique and interesting methods of memory champions. He walks us through the history of memory and how our ancestors valued and devalued memory.
For such a simple concept, this book was really interesting. I actually tried one of the methods in the book and it does work (pickled garlic, cottage cheese, smoked salmon, six bottles of wine, three pairs of socks, hula hoops, dry ice, so on). I have not committed to using any method in my life – this book is not a how to guide – but there are references to many methods used in the past that have proven to work. It is very interesting.
ByVahagn Karapetyanon August 25, 2012
I have two primary complaints with this title. The first one is how much time the author spends on talking about his own life and going into a great amount of detail describing the people he interacts with. He spends a lot of time talking about the mannerisms of the people he meets, what they are wearing, what their backgrounds are, and what their goals in life are. For instance, he spends a whole chapter talking about a memory champion/"prodigy" that apparently might be a fake. He goes into great detail about this person's early life and the author's own interviews with him. The whole time I was hoping he would go back to talking about the art and science of memory training and I was consistently disappointed. Furthermore, the author also spends a lot of time talking about himself and his own life. Once again, he devotes many pages discussing his own dreams, aspirations, and personal life. No offense to the author, but I didn't purchase this book to hear his life story.
I bought this book to learn about the art of memory retention and how to increase your memory. I was also expecting the author to break down and summarize relevant scientific studies in the field. Don't get me wrong, he does in fact do this but he devotes, at most, 60-70 pages to the interesting neuroscience and psychology behind it. He talks about memory experts and the scientists that study them. He describes scientific theories on what actually makes an expert and what is different (physiologically and non-physiologically) about them when compared to people with average memories and average talents. The author also gives specifics on how to train and improve your memory. These sections of the book were VERY interesting to me and I was hoping this is how the majority of the book would be like. Unfortunately, it wasn't, hence my 3/5 stars instead of something higher.
If you are expecting a largely scientific book that discusses the topic of memory, you will be mostly disappointed. If you think you will enjoy the great amounts of useless autobiographical detail then this book might be for you.
I bought this book to learn about the art of memory retention and how to increase your memory. I was also expecting the author to break down and summarize relevant scientific studies in the field. Don't get me wrong, he does in fact do this but he devotes, at most, 60-70 pages to the interesting neuroscience and psychology behind it. He talks about memory experts and the scientists that study them. He describes scientific theories on what actually makes an expert and what is different (physiologically and non-physiologically) about them when compared to people with average memories and average talents. The author also gives specifics on how to train and improve your memory. These sections of the book were VERY interesting to me and I was hoping this is how the majority of the book would be like. Unfortunately, it wasn't, hence my 3/5 stars instead of something higher.
If you are expecting a largely scientific book that discusses the topic of memory, you will be mostly disappointed. If you think you will enjoy the great amounts of useless autobiographical detail then this book might be for you.
ByNavigatoron September 28, 2017
As a history of the author's quest for a memory-challenge championship, the book is mildly entertaining. As a compendium of memory-improving techniques and practices, this book is absolutely USELESS. Perhaps the book's description has changed since I wrote this review, but at the time I purchased it, it was advertised as "cutting-edge science" for improving your memory. Instead, it's basically a 274-page-long "selfie" about what Josh did on his summer vacation, which really wasn't what I was hoping for.
ByDoctorHardricon January 1, 2018
Joshua Foer's great personality, sense of humor and very high IQ comes through in this book. This is well worth your time to read as it not only inspires you to work on your Memory, but it gives you a compact history of memory systems and a good look at education and just what training the memory has to do with learning, in a world where all the information in the world is at your fingertips. Why develop your memory....internal memory, when you can store it on a post it note, or find it on your I-phone or computer ? Foer gives some great answers for that question. The author proved several points about memory training in the book and I don't wish to be spoiler about them here....except to say, you will only help yourself if you take the time to train your memory. One of the most interesting islands of information in the book is about several so called "Savants", Kim Peek in particular, who can do what the memory athletes do, from sheer in born talent. I took several days to read this work, because I stopped and checked out everything Foer said about other people between the pages. It all came back just as he stated it. My only issue with him is that he said that you can go online and learn the formula for Calendar Calculations in a hour and perform the Date calculation almost immediately....NOT ! I enjoy Mathematics and believe me, you will not be able to be a Calendar Calculator in a hour of study, or a week of study. Nevertheless, buy this one, and come away, much more informed about the mind, and some of it's leading players, than you ever were before.
ByTravis Robinsonon July 16, 2017
This book is an entertaining autobio. Foer meets some really interesting characters in his experiment with memory training and colors them as such in his writing. You won't want to put it down. He will teach you the basics of memory training, but unless you have strong interest they will seem too laborious to implement in your life. Interesting and unexpected, nonetheless.
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