Improve Your Memory

by Robert Allen

Consider this appealingly illustrated guide a personal trainer for the brain, one with a huge assortment of entertaining and fast-acting memory-strengthening techniques. Test your sharpness with fun instant assessments. Try intriguing short- and long-term memory tasks, such as remembering a series of long words and recalling landmarks on a map. Follow a month-long plan of “do it in a day” exercises. In addition to invaluable “Tips and Tricks” boxes, there’s advice on boosting concentration, using mnemonics and other forms of mental association, and much more. With the tools provided here, you won’t forget a birthday, struggle to find a word, or fail to match a name to a face.

Genres: Self Help

160 pages, Spiral-bound

First published September 1, 2004

Reviews

[Yodamom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Simple and interesting.
I suffer from lack of memory, the simple things like where I put my keys, somebody's name, where I put my glasses. I used to remember everything, back when life was slower. I think we are all so busy that we have lost focus. I want a better memory. I want more clarity, focus and throw more creativity in, sounds wonderful.
I enjoyed this simple short book. It got right to the point with quick tests, exercises and hints to improve and build your memory powers. These are not you typical clinical tests this are offbeat and fun. Do they work ? I haven't forgotten my phone in a week ! Miracle!
I will continue to work on the exercises and hope to remember that women's name from my kids sports team that always smiles and waves at me in the store.

[Am Y · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not recommended, except for perhaps teenagers and teachers looking for some memory activities to give to their students to supplement lessons.

I expected something more scientifically-oriented/based, but almost everything in the book is based on the author's own conjecture. He writes mostly from his own experience memorising stuff and what worked for him. There is no scientific backing or proof behind the methods recommended, and I found much of what he said to be of no specific use to me. There are many memory exercises inside the book which are based on various things from numbers to alphabets to historical events and famous people. The working adult would typically not find it useful to remember such things.

If you're seeking answers on how to stop leaving your keys in locks, forgetting to bring an item along with you when going out, failing to remember someone's birthday, leaving the cake you bought earlier in the car (and causing it to rot! Aw!), etc, you will not find them here.

[Nadiatul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book to read during MCO.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and more can be seen on my blog: http://talkwordy2me.blogspot.com/

Improving your memory can help you in your everyday life and is extremely important to everyone. Your brain is a muscle and you need to exercise it. With this book you CAN improve your memory.

I know that was a super short intro but it pretty much summed up this awesome book. Even from the start I appreciated that the book didn't talk 'down' to me but rather approached this topic as an equal. There was also a lot of good advice on things that I wouldn't normally think had anything to do with your memory but really (when I actually think about it) would effect your entire life so duh that would include your memory.

Taking the tests included in this book was both interesting and frustrating because I need work on my memory (hence my desire to read this book lol). I do have to say that I did better on them than I thought I would so I guess that's something right? I really liked the metaphor of memory being like glue and then going through the different "strengths" of glues. Throughout the book there were some cute quotes sprinkled in and I enjoyed them. I also really liked that the author fully admitted that some of the techniques were just plain wacky but that is what made them work! In the back of this there are plenty of memory tests and I liked the variety and content. I also really liked that this author didn't go into a bunch of medical stuff about your brain and memory it was more of a peer talking to you.

There was one example used in the first part of the book that I didn't appreciate at all. The author mentioned how the Army uses rituals to teach "a youngster who has little formal education (and may not be too bright) to strip down a complicated device.." and I really think this could have been worded differently to try not coming off like recruits are all stupid young kids. There are plenty of veterans in my family (young and old) and I just found the example left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm sure it wasn't really meant to be rude but it bothered me none the less.

Overall I liked the book and found it very easy to read and hopefully it will help me with my long and short term memory!

I got the opportunity to read this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short, simple book with illustrations and activities designed to help improve your memory. I think teens and adults might find the activities fun to do. I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exercises to challenge the memory.

[Asma_hehe · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting, colorful and fun.