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Mind Mapping: Improve Memory, Concentration, Communication, Organization, Creativity, and Time Management
The Most Complete Mind Mapping Book on Amazon!
Mind mapping is a thinking and learning tool that improves memory, concentration, communication, organization, creativity, and time management.
This is the ultimate resource for students, parents, teachers, and professionals to improve studying, learning, note-taking, brainstorming, writing (non-fiction & fiction), planning, goal setting, lists, groups, and more.
Also includes an in-depth discussion on mind mapping with children, tapping into your child's natural ability to think better, learn quicker, and remember more.
* Please take the low-star reviews with a grain of salt
Some reviews claim there are no examples, case studies, or illustrations. In truth, each chapter provides detailed, step-by-step instructions and examples, with many chapters providing multiple examples.
Also, there are over 50 mind map images, illustrations, and diagrams - more than any other book. Unlike images in other books, which are only 1 or 2 levels deep, many images in this book go 3 to 4 levels.
Still others claim image quality is low. The reality is most books and e-readers do a poor job of reproducing mind maps. This is the only book that provides links under each image to see a larger, fuller, and more detailed version online.
All the examples and illustrations are designed to open your mind to the true power and flexibility of the tool.
In short, this is the most comprehensive look into mind mapping, enhancing your skills in reading, writing, learning, note taking, brainstorming, planning, productivity, and so much more.
Give it a shot, it will change the way you interact with information, no matter how complex.
Mind mapping is a thinking and learning tool that improves memory, concentration, communication, organization, creativity, and time management.
This is the ultimate resource for students, parents, teachers, and professionals to improve studying, learning, note-taking, brainstorming, writing (non-fiction & fiction), planning, goal setting, lists, groups, and more.
Also includes an in-depth discussion on mind mapping with children, tapping into your child's natural ability to think better, learn quicker, and remember more.
* Please take the low-star reviews with a grain of salt
Some reviews claim there are no examples, case studies, or illustrations. In truth, each chapter provides detailed, step-by-step instructions and examples, with many chapters providing multiple examples.
Also, there are over 50 mind map images, illustrations, and diagrams - more than any other book. Unlike images in other books, which are only 1 or 2 levels deep, many images in this book go 3 to 4 levels.
Still others claim image quality is low. The reality is most books and e-readers do a poor job of reproducing mind maps. This is the only book that provides links under each image to see a larger, fuller, and more detailed version online.
All the examples and illustrations are designed to open your mind to the true power and flexibility of the tool.
In short, this is the most comprehensive look into mind mapping, enhancing your skills in reading, writing, learning, note taking, brainstorming, planning, productivity, and so much more.
Give it a shot, it will change the way you interact with information, no matter how complex.
148 pages, Paperback
First published September 9, 2012
568 people are currently reading
1469 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 28, 2021
I heard about mind mapping probably a few decades ago but never took the time to really look into it. It turns out there’s not much to it. In a nutshell, you just:
- Place your main topic in the center of the mind map.
- Place subtopics around the main topic.
- Drill down further into each sub-topic with additional details.
There are a few things you can do to help distinguish the hierarchy of items on a mind map:
- Size
- Color
- Shape
- Placement
In addition to just explaining how to create a mind map, the book goes into detail about the various applications for using mind mapping. Some of the applications the author describes included:
- Taking Notes from Lectures or Presentations
- Research
- Brainstorming
- Writing
- Planning
- Creating Lists
- Setting Goals
I agree with most of the applications except for using mind mapping for taking notes from a live lecture or presentation. I can't entirely agree with this application because mind mapping works best for a topic where you know all the details before making the mind map. With a live presentation, you most likely won’t know all the details until the end of the presentation. You could create a mind map from your notes after the presentation, but it would be difficult to create during a presentation.
Mind mapping takes a bit of time to get used to, but it’s an excellent tool for organizing your thoughts. I really liked learning about creating mind maps and have already started using them for various tasks like outlining articles I'm writing.
- Place your main topic in the center of the mind map.
- Place subtopics around the main topic.
- Drill down further into each sub-topic with additional details.
There are a few things you can do to help distinguish the hierarchy of items on a mind map:
- Size
- Color
- Shape
- Placement
In addition to just explaining how to create a mind map, the book goes into detail about the various applications for using mind mapping. Some of the applications the author describes included:
- Taking Notes from Lectures or Presentations
- Research
- Brainstorming
- Writing
- Planning
- Creating Lists
- Setting Goals
I agree with most of the applications except for using mind mapping for taking notes from a live lecture or presentation. I can't entirely agree with this application because mind mapping works best for a topic where you know all the details before making the mind map. With a live presentation, you most likely won’t know all the details until the end of the presentation. You could create a mind map from your notes after the presentation, but it would be difficult to create during a presentation.
Mind mapping takes a bit of time to get used to, but it’s an excellent tool for organizing your thoughts. I really liked learning about creating mind maps and have already started using them for various tasks like outlining articles I'm writing.
March 17, 2025
Knight, Kam. Mind Mapping.
Mind mapping is the most important skill I have learned in the past two years. Not only has it changed how I read books and take notes, it changed how I view knowledge itself. This book by Kam Knight, although extremely basic in its presentation, has the potential to revolutionize how you experience information. I know that sounds like an infomercial, but it is true.
Mind mapping is effective because it mirrors the associative nature of the brain (or mind). The brain connects new thoughts with older ones. Although Knight does not draw this out, it is similar to how the brain always seeks coherence and patterns with information. That is where mind mapping proves helpful, as we will see below.
There are other benefits. Mind maps employ the sense of sight, allowing the student to see the main points more rapidly than in a traditional outline. If possible, use a different color for a different branch, but use the same color within the same category, as shown below.
When beginning a mind map, place the main idea in the center, drawing a box (or circle) around it. From there, when you come across a subtopic, draw a branch. From the subtopic, draw other branches, and so on. It is important to move in a clockwise manner. There is no magic in that direction, but our minds are used to reading clocks and moving in that direction.
For Reading
Before reading, preview the material. This allows the mind to work naturally in an incremental manner (which is often how we gain knowledge). As you read, note the key words. Those will be your subtopics. After reading, you can make the mind map.
For Lectures
A mind map’s greatest strength, at least for me, is its use in lectures. Knowing the topic ahead of time, place the main idea in the center of the page (and it needs to be in the center, otherwise you will likely run out of space). Listen for audible transitions: “Next,” “moving on,” etc. These will be your subpoints. If the speaker introduces a new point, or if you run out of space, use a new sheet. Ideally, you should use a new sheet for new topics.
The following is a mind map I have made of the first half of the book:
Mind mapping is the most important skill I have learned in the past two years. Not only has it changed how I read books and take notes, it changed how I view knowledge itself. This book by Kam Knight, although extremely basic in its presentation, has the potential to revolutionize how you experience information. I know that sounds like an infomercial, but it is true.
Mind mapping is effective because it mirrors the associative nature of the brain (or mind). The brain connects new thoughts with older ones. Although Knight does not draw this out, it is similar to how the brain always seeks coherence and patterns with information. That is where mind mapping proves helpful, as we will see below.
There are other benefits. Mind maps employ the sense of sight, allowing the student to see the main points more rapidly than in a traditional outline. If possible, use a different color for a different branch, but use the same color within the same category, as shown below.
When beginning a mind map, place the main idea in the center, drawing a box (or circle) around it. From there, when you come across a subtopic, draw a branch. From the subtopic, draw other branches, and so on. It is important to move in a clockwise manner. There is no magic in that direction, but our minds are used to reading clocks and moving in that direction.
For Reading
Before reading, preview the material. This allows the mind to work naturally in an incremental manner (which is often how we gain knowledge). As you read, note the key words. Those will be your subtopics. After reading, you can make the mind map.
For Lectures
A mind map’s greatest strength, at least for me, is its use in lectures. Knowing the topic ahead of time, place the main idea in the center of the page (and it needs to be in the center, otherwise you will likely run out of space). Listen for audible transitions: “Next,” “moving on,” etc. These will be your subpoints. If the speaker introduces a new point, or if you run out of space, use a new sheet. Ideally, you should use a new sheet for new topics.
The following is a mind map I have made of the first half of the book:
February 12, 2019
Being new to mind mapping and having tried several applications that ended in frustration because I didn't understand how to use them correctly, this book gave me a great foundation to work on. With TONS of examples, they walk you through a variety of ways to use mind maps for everything. This includes grocery lists, event planning, book reports, writing, to do lists, and of course business planning or product development. It does a great job of encouraging dumping your ideas on paper in an organized way which eliminates the unnecessary filtering we tend to naturally do and forces greater productivity and creativity as you simply allow thoughts to come and record them in an easily organized fashion.
March 12, 2022
This book was a rough read. The concept of mind mapping was explained well in chapter 1. This was followed by 20 chapters of filler to make this a book.
Since there’s so little you can say about mind maps, the author started explaining other things like “How to write a research paper,” and “the purpose of an introductory sentence in a paragraph.”
There’s probably a 3 minute YouTube video out there that can cover the content of this book.
Since there’s so little you can say about mind maps, the author started explaining other things like “How to write a research paper,” and “the purpose of an introductory sentence in a paragraph.”
There’s probably a 3 minute YouTube video out there that can cover the content of this book.
May 20, 2020
A book that did not need to be published. Most of this information can be read in articles online, and this book had many errors. I assume it to have been self-published, and some of the spelling errors almost made this a DNF.
Read
October 12, 2020I didn’t actually read this but it’s not letting me update unless I say I did.
I can’t give this a fair review because it should definitely not be consumed as an audio book which I kinda figured but tried anyway. Don’t! The audio book comes with a 46 page pdf which it definitely needs, but just read the print version then. Will update when I do that as it seemed like in spite of problems other reviewers have mentioned it did seem to have some useful tips but hard to say.
I can’t give this a fair review because it should definitely not be consumed as an audio book which I kinda figured but tried anyway. Don’t! The audio book comes with a 46 page pdf which it definitely needs, but just read the print version then. Will update when I do that as it seemed like in spite of problems other reviewers have mentioned it did seem to have some useful tips but hard to say.
November 12, 2017
The book would make a good Wikipedia article or (series of) blog post(s). Not very useful except as an introduction to the usefulness of mind maps.
February 26, 2025
Got the information I was looking for but this whole book could’ve just been a 10 Minuit YouTube video
November 7, 2018
I found this book very informative on making mind maps. This is a great study tool and can be used in planning out projects as well.
Mind maps follow the natural flow of ideas so thing are easier to remember as it is both kinestetic and visual modes of learning.
Mind maps follow the natural flow of ideas so thing are easier to remember as it is both kinestetic and visual modes of learning.
June 21, 2019
Interesting read, I want to revisit this book to come up with concrete strategies to improve memory retention of complicated material, while avoiding the pitfalls of taking several times longer to initially read new material in the first place.
December 2, 2023
This stellar book deserves a full five-star rating for its transformative impact on cognitive skills and personal development. This book is a treasure trove of techniques and insights that have profoundly improved my memory, especially remembering names, which has always been challenging for me. The author presents mind mapping as a versatile tool for enhancing memory and boosting concentration, communication, organization, creativity, and time management. The strategies are presented clearly and concisely, making them easy to understand and apply in everyday life. What sets this book apart is its practical approach to harnessing the brain's power through mind mapping. This skill has proven invaluable in both my personal and professional endeavors. It's a book that I frequently recommend to colleagues and friends, as it offers a unique and effective method for enhancing mental performance. Whether you're a student, professional, or anyone interested in personal growth and cognitive development, this book is a must-read, providing tools that can significantly improve various aspects of life.
December 14, 2024
A Mind Map is a note-taking tool that starts with the main topic in the center and includes all supporting ideas radiating outward. It is effective in making associations gel. I learned the technique, but I never gained proficiency in it.
Mind Mapping by Kam Knight is a book about making mind maps and utilizing them for better learning. It contains examples. Beyond merely taking notes, you can use mind maps as an organizational tool or to brainstorm. One example the book covers is planning a wedding. I don't plan weddings, but I imagine a lot goes into them.
Knight applies the technique to several fields. Because the future is now, Knight suggests programs and apps enabling the formation of mind maps. Finally, the book contains suggested titles for further reading. If you want to know more about Mind Maps, check those titles.
The book is short. It goes in and gets out quickly, never overstaying its welcome. I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
Mind Mapping by Kam Knight is a book about making mind maps and utilizing them for better learning. It contains examples. Beyond merely taking notes, you can use mind maps as an organizational tool or to brainstorm. One example the book covers is planning a wedding. I don't plan weddings, but I imagine a lot goes into them.
Knight applies the technique to several fields. Because the future is now, Knight suggests programs and apps enabling the formation of mind maps. Finally, the book contains suggested titles for further reading. If you want to know more about Mind Maps, check those titles.
The book is short. It goes in and gets out quickly, never overstaying its welcome. I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
August 28, 2025
Kam Knight's Mind Mapping is one of the most practical and transformative self-help books I've read. In just 150 pages, Knight clearly explains what mind maps are, how to create them, and - most importantly - how they can be applied to almost every aspect of learning, working, and problem-solving.
What I found most valuable was the sheet versatility of the tool. From note-taking during lectures and reading, to brainstorming, to structuring writing projects, mind maps provide a visual way to organize information and make meaningful connections. I especially wish I had discovered this method back in high school or college, when organizing essays and studying for exams often felt overwhelming. Knight's writing is clear and full of examples, and I walked away motivated to immediately apply what I learned.
The book is not without its flaws. At times it felt repetitive, and I would have liked to see more real-world examples of professionals or creatives who credit mind mapping for a portion of their successes. Still, those are small issues compared to its overall value.
Since finishing, I've already used mind maps for studying, brainstorming, and everyday organization of thoughts. Highly recommended for students, lifelong learners, and professionals.
What I found most valuable was the sheet versatility of the tool. From note-taking during lectures and reading, to brainstorming, to structuring writing projects, mind maps provide a visual way to organize information and make meaningful connections. I especially wish I had discovered this method back in high school or college, when organizing essays and studying for exams often felt overwhelming. Knight's writing is clear and full of examples, and I walked away motivated to immediately apply what I learned.
The book is not without its flaws. At times it felt repetitive, and I would have liked to see more real-world examples of professionals or creatives who credit mind mapping for a portion of their successes. Still, those are small issues compared to its overall value.
Since finishing, I've already used mind maps for studying, brainstorming, and everyday organization of thoughts. Highly recommended for students, lifelong learners, and professionals.
February 26, 2023
Clearly written and suitable for a beginner like myself. If you've ever heard of this wonderful 'thinking' tool and wondered what it was, this book is comprehensive in it's coverage of the technique. And you're not of an age where it was taught to you in school.
The online links however are less accessible if you're not a Facebook participant like myself. I went to the website, but it seems the resources it promises are only available via the Facebook page. In other words, you need to sign up just to access them - not for me. Also, I wasn't the least interested in all the 'sell on' offers this author suggests; you know how it goes, 'get rich quick while you're asleep' or whatever magic wand that's being promoted.
The online links however are less accessible if you're not a Facebook participant like myself. I went to the website, but it seems the resources it promises are only available via the Facebook page. In other words, you need to sign up just to access them - not for me. Also, I wasn't the least interested in all the 'sell on' offers this author suggests; you know how it goes, 'get rich quick while you're asleep' or whatever magic wand that's being promoted.
December 26, 2024
I wasn’t impressed, honestly. Not that I don’t think Mind Mapping, The Book, might be useful to some, just that I don’t think a Manual like this is needed to describe the process. As another reviewer pointed out, the method was laid out in the first chapter fairly clearly. The rest of the book is examples that would have been imagined by anyone who read the first chapter.
Most everyone’s Mind reacts differently when posed with a task or problem. If scribbling a picture on a whiteboard, making a list of Pro’s & Con’s, or creating a ProjectedTimeline, works for you, Great. If a Mind Map helps you visualize a Project, Great. Build one that works for you. No Step-by-Step Manual necessary. Save your $$$.
Two Stars.**
Most everyone’s Mind reacts differently when posed with a task or problem. If scribbling a picture on a whiteboard, making a list of Pro’s & Con’s, or creating a ProjectedTimeline, works for you, Great. If a Mind Map helps you visualize a Project, Great. Build one that works for you. No Step-by-Step Manual necessary. Save your $$$.
Two Stars.**
January 15, 2021
First of it's kind I've read on mind mapping; learnt of it in a conversation with a work colleague and thought that will be interesting to explore - fast forward, bought an online course on it but never really got around to taking it. But I have the motivation to learn and expand my knowledge more in this art now.
I'd naturally been *doodling* with this craft in note-taking somehow someway - I'm a very visual person.
I know more now to do more with it; I will reread the book once more and move on to the 3.0 version of a variant topic.
As an engineer, I've found this book very informative and a good kicker!
I'd naturally been *doodling* with this craft in note-taking somehow someway - I'm a very visual person.
I know more now to do more with it; I will reread the book once more and move on to the 3.0 version of a variant topic.
As an engineer, I've found this book very informative and a good kicker!
November 14, 2025
It serves as a rather dry manual for mind-mapping that could've been compressed in two or three high quality articles.
This book is definitely addressing a niche audience. perfect for high school students. I think it's too dry, shallow, and sterile for adults with little to no added value.
I love mind-mapping, and it's my primary way of consuming and organizing information. Hence, I found nothing new in the book, nor anything with writing down. which is a major let down as I had high hopes for it.
to quote the author
"how many times and in how many ways can you repeat the simple yet powerful idea of starting with a main topic and branching out with subtopics arranged by relevance?"
This book is definitely addressing a niche audience. perfect for high school students. I think it's too dry, shallow, and sterile for adults with little to no added value.
I love mind-mapping, and it's my primary way of consuming and organizing information. Hence, I found nothing new in the book, nor anything with writing down. which is a major let down as I had high hopes for it.
to quote the author
"how many times and in how many ways can you repeat the simple yet powerful idea of starting with a main topic and branching out with subtopics arranged by relevance?"
September 6, 2024
Simple enough concept, but even with the years upon years I’ve spent in school, taking laborious notes, I’d never heard of it until researching better ways to study for an upcoming actuarial exam. Truly a game changer for me. I both get through lessons more quickly by only using a sheet of paper and one mind map per lesson, and have better recall because I can spatially recall the main topics in clockwise order. Only 4 stars because the 2nd half of the book to me wasn’t useful but the beginning few sections well made up for it.
July 12, 2024
Mind mapping makes my brain jiggle (in the best way possible). It's a different way of organizing/taking notes where you write things out as a diagram vs. a list. The book is good at breaking down what a mind map is and then walking through how you might use mind maps for different activities (note-taking, writing, planning, etc). Highly recommended if you want to have a new way to plan things out.
January 27, 2025
mind mapping is one of those things that sounds cooler than it actually is. this book? it's fine. does the job. explains the basics, gives you the rundown, but don't expect fireworks. it's kinda dry, kinda repetitive, and it could use WAAAAY more examples, like real ones, stuff you can actually follow. but then again, maybe that's on me. mind mapping isn't rocket science. once you see a good example of one, you pretty much get it and move on. it's a decent read, nothing more.
September 7, 2025
wow awesome technique
The book is great with very good day to day examples, author explains each use case in depth with examples on different areas where the technique can be used, at the end he lists the software as well which is cherry on top, he also provides all the mind maps for various examples covered in the book, idea is simple and easy to follow, I enjoyed the book from the beginning till the end
The book is great with very good day to day examples, author explains each use case in depth with examples on different areas where the technique can be used, at the end he lists the software as well which is cherry on top, he also provides all the mind maps for various examples covered in the book, idea is simple and easy to follow, I enjoyed the book from the beginning till the end
April 19, 2022
Mindmaps and all its relative techniques are useful tools when it comes to learning, writing or explaining things. An easy way of mapping ideas that will help the brain process and store the information more closely with hiw brain isnused to store our thoughts and experiences.
May 23, 2022
I could see benefits from the tips they give, but the audio book is probably not the best way to convey the message. If you are interested in this book I would only recommend reading it, not listening to it. It has too many visuals to go along
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2023
Good overall introduction to the use of mind maps. Admittedly I have used them before for brainstorming, but this expanded on the use of them, and I am looking forward to using it to take notes to see if there is a comprehension difference.
February 1, 2024
It has some valuable information, visuals are nice but I wish they talked about mind mapping more and in deep. I stopped listening to it at some point. I feel like I could have read an article or watched a video instead of reading it.
September 5, 2024
This book has a lot of excellent examples, clearly designed to be shown on a Kindle. I enjoyed the examples and a review of how to do mind mapping (I have read other books on the subject.) I think this would be good for a beginner.
October 3, 2024
Excellent coverage of mind mapping
This book provided an excellent explanation of mind mapping and provided suggestions and examples for ways it can be used. As a bonus a number of related methods are also included!
This book provided an excellent explanation of mind mapping and provided suggestions and examples for ways it can be used. As a bonus a number of related methods are also included!
October 24, 2024
Excruciantingly detailed and boring.
I love mind mapping, but I found nothing new in this book. and found it quite linear and boring - the opposite of what i would expect from mindmapping principles.
Overall it is too basic for my taste. It is probably good for students who are new to the concept.
I love mind mapping, but I found nothing new in this book. and found it quite linear and boring - the opposite of what i would expect from mindmapping principles.
Overall it is too basic for my taste. It is probably good for students who are new to the concept.
December 5, 2017
Good read
June 3, 2019
PDF worth the download and the instructions are easy to follow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews