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The Memory Doctor: Fun, Simple Techniques to Improve Memory and Boost Your Brain Power
Are You Becoming Forgetful? The Doctor Is In!
Do you have trouble finding your keys in the morning? When you meet new people, do you often forget their names—as soon as they leave the room? Don't panic! Just because you can't remember why you picked up this book doesn't mean you're losing your mind—or even your memory. It's more likely that stress and information overload are making it harder for you to get information into your head in the first place. No matter what age we are, the way we remember things is a process: understand and pay more attention to the steps of the process, and your memory will improve.
Make an appointment with The Memory Doctor and learn fun, simple ways to sharpen your memory:
Get inside your head and see how your memory really works Target specific areas of memory that you can improve Experiment with fun, simple techniques to accomplish your memory-enhancing goals Find out which supplements can help improve memory—and which do nothing at all Learn about exciting new developments in memory research
Do you have trouble finding your keys in the morning? When you meet new people, do you often forget their names—as soon as they leave the room? Don't panic! Just because you can't remember why you picked up this book doesn't mean you're losing your mind—or even your memory. It's more likely that stress and information overload are making it harder for you to get information into your head in the first place. No matter what age we are, the way we remember things is a process: understand and pay more attention to the steps of the process, and your memory will improve.
Make an appointment with The Memory Doctor and learn fun, simple ways to sharpen your memory:
Get inside your head and see how your memory really works Target specific areas of memory that you can improve Experiment with fun, simple techniques to accomplish your memory-enhancing goals Find out which supplements can help improve memory—and which do nothing at all Learn about exciting new developments in memory research
152 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 8, 2018
Some notes I took at the time I read it that I just came across in my old reader's notebook:
-memory is intimately linked to who we are; the memories define us
-3 stages to how you remember info: 1) encoding - putting info in, 2) storage - keeping info in, 3) retrieval - getting info back out again.
-when you like something you pay more attention to it and it gets encoded more deeply
-good encoding leads to good memory; this is the stage of memory you can have the most influence on
-working memory (short-term): all the info you need to do a task at any given moment
-rehearsal/repetition transfers working memory to long term
-long term memory: accumulation of all the things you have stored in your mind
-when you want to remember something, think of your encoding process as you try to remember it; be conscious about what's going on in your brain; think about the neural networks being formed in your brain
-two types of memory: things you know you know and things you know but don't know you know (also known as declarative and non-declarative)
-declarative stores memory about facts & relationships between them (explicit, cognitive) and info you can recall at any time
-non-declarative includes skills achieved through repetition like riding a bike
-anxiety inhibits good recall
-associate things with other stuff you already know; sharing those pathways helps to recall
-when you forget something, take a break, do something calming like abdominal breathing, then return to it later
-memory is intimately linked to who we are; the memories define us
-3 stages to how you remember info: 1) encoding - putting info in, 2) storage - keeping info in, 3) retrieval - getting info back out again.
-when you like something you pay more attention to it and it gets encoded more deeply
-good encoding leads to good memory; this is the stage of memory you can have the most influence on
-working memory (short-term): all the info you need to do a task at any given moment
-rehearsal/repetition transfers working memory to long term
-long term memory: accumulation of all the things you have stored in your mind
-when you want to remember something, think of your encoding process as you try to remember it; be conscious about what's going on in your brain; think about the neural networks being formed in your brain
-two types of memory: things you know you know and things you know but don't know you know (also known as declarative and non-declarative)
-declarative stores memory about facts & relationships between them (explicit, cognitive) and info you can recall at any time
-non-declarative includes skills achieved through repetition like riding a bike
-anxiety inhibits good recall
-associate things with other stuff you already know; sharing those pathways helps to recall
-when you forget something, take a break, do something calming like abdominal breathing, then return to it later
January 20, 2024
Loved reading the book
July 29, 2017
I learned a little bit from this book. It is geared for an elderly audience, and that purpose is accomplished successfully.
September 18, 2017
The biggest thing I learner from this book is that anxiety prevents you from remembering rhings.
February 24, 2019
A USEFULL BOOK...!
January 17, 2026
tl;dr
"The Memory Doctor" is a short, accessible read and presents helpful techniques to improve memory that can immediately be put into practice.
Review
In "The Memory Doctor: Fun, Simple Techniques to Improve Memory and Boost Your Brain Power," Mason provides an introductory overview of memory and how anxiety, mental fatigue attention, stress, are interrelated. He makes some excellent points to improve memory, based on the premise the brain has muscle-like responses. The more we exercise memory, we should realize improved outcomes.
Mason defines memory in three simple processes:
1. Encoding — Getting information into your brain (paying attention and processing it effectively).
2. Storage — Keeping it in long-term memory.
3. Retrieval — Pulling it back out when needed.
His approach is application focused, not necessarily research focused.
These helpful exercises are covered in the book:
1. Relaxation exercises — Quick methods to reduce tension (e.g., deep breathing or progressive relaxation) before trying to remember something, as stress blocks encoding.
2. Attention-boosting drills — Practice focusing intensely on details (e.g., when meeting someone new, repeat their name mentally and link it to a visual feature).
3. Rehearsal and repetition — Actively reviewing information shortly after learning it to strengthen storage.
4. Sensory elaboration / association — Make information vivid by connecting it to multiple senses, visuals, or personal stories (e.g., to remember a name, associate it with something funny or exaggerated).
5. Memory experiments — Simple tests to track improvement, like trying to recall lists or names after applying a technique vs. without.
This book is short and the writing is direct. There are cheesy jokes sprinkled throughout, think "dad jokes" that can be easily skipped over.
"The Memory Doctor" is a short, accessible read and presents helpful techniques to improve memory that can immediately be put into practice.
"The Memory Doctor" is a short, accessible read and presents helpful techniques to improve memory that can immediately be put into practice.
Review
In "The Memory Doctor: Fun, Simple Techniques to Improve Memory and Boost Your Brain Power," Mason provides an introductory overview of memory and how anxiety, mental fatigue attention, stress, are interrelated. He makes some excellent points to improve memory, based on the premise the brain has muscle-like responses. The more we exercise memory, we should realize improved outcomes.
Mason defines memory in three simple processes:
1. Encoding — Getting information into your brain (paying attention and processing it effectively).
2. Storage — Keeping it in long-term memory.
3. Retrieval — Pulling it back out when needed.
His approach is application focused, not necessarily research focused.
These helpful exercises are covered in the book:
1. Relaxation exercises — Quick methods to reduce tension (e.g., deep breathing or progressive relaxation) before trying to remember something, as stress blocks encoding.
2. Attention-boosting drills — Practice focusing intensely on details (e.g., when meeting someone new, repeat their name mentally and link it to a visual feature).
3. Rehearsal and repetition — Actively reviewing information shortly after learning it to strengthen storage.
4. Sensory elaboration / association — Make information vivid by connecting it to multiple senses, visuals, or personal stories (e.g., to remember a name, associate it with something funny or exaggerated).
5. Memory experiments — Simple tests to track improvement, like trying to recall lists or names after applying a technique vs. without.
This book is short and the writing is direct. There are cheesy jokes sprinkled throughout, think "dad jokes" that can be easily skipped over.
"The Memory Doctor" is a short, accessible read and presents helpful techniques to improve memory that can immediately be put into practice.
September 18, 2019
Not the kind of book I imagined it would be, but helpful none-the-less.
December 4, 2012
A really concise book on how to improve our memory for day to day use.
While this book doesn't offer many techniques to memorise hundreds of names and the likes; it gives me a better understanding about how memory and our mind in general works.
I'm personally encouraged to learn that we can always learn even at older age. Secondly that the information stored in our brains, remains there, keep calm and it will come back.
While this book doesn't offer many techniques to memorise hundreds of names and the likes; it gives me a better understanding about how memory and our mind in general works.
I'm personally encouraged to learn that we can always learn even at older age. Secondly that the information stored in our brains, remains there, keep calm and it will come back.
August 3, 2011
Not one of the best memory books as I'm just realizing now as I write this review that yes, I have read this book in the past but forgot :)
Couple of good concepts in the book and some updates on brain research. One of the better items is the tests that have confirmed we don't loose brain cells as we grow older. Yeah, the gray matter remains a constant :)
Couple of good concepts in the book and some updates on brain research. One of the better items is the tests that have confirmed we don't loose brain cells as we grow older. Yeah, the gray matter remains a constant :)
February 17, 2008
it helped me understand how the brain works to store memories, and gave methods on how to better your own. but, i didn't practice them, therefore my memory did NOT improve after reading this book. maybe some of u guys will stick to the methods and get some results~!
November 12, 2016
Short book with tips on memory - main thing learned is to pay attention to things you want to remember - encode those things with visualizations and eliminate distractions and relax. Now if I can only remember to do those things.
January 29, 2014
I read heaps of these and this is one of the best. Written clearly with good explanations and research. The techniques are easy and enjoyable to apply. The light-hearted tone was also a pleasure.
July 12, 2016
From memory tips to breathing exercises, this was a helpful and quick listen for me. Picture where you left your keys... Breath, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews