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Use Your Perfect Memory: Dramatic New Techniques for Improving Your Memory
From the bestselling author of The Mind Map Book and Use Both Sides of Your Brain
The potential of the human memory is phenomenal. But do you know how to make the most of yours?
World-renowned expert on the brain, memory, speed reading, creativity, and innovation Tony Buzan, inventor of Mind Maps, shares the secrets of how to stretch your memory to its fullest. Buzan has devised an ingenious system for memory improvement, geared to handle each specific memory problem—from everyday names and phone numbers to special programs for card players to showing students how to prepare for and get optimum results on exams.
The potential of the human memory is phenomenal. But do you know how to make the most of yours?
World-renowned expert on the brain, memory, speed reading, creativity, and innovation Tony Buzan, inventor of Mind Maps, shares the secrets of how to stretch your memory to its fullest. Buzan has devised an ingenious system for memory improvement, geared to handle each specific memory problem—from everyday names and phone numbers to special programs for card players to showing students how to prepare for and get optimum results on exams.
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1984
17 people are currently reading
396 people want to read
About the author
Tony Buzan
290 books998 followersTony Buzan was an English author, educational consultant, and pioneer of the mind mapping technique, which he developed to enhance learning, creativity, and memory. Born in Middlesex in 1942, he studied psychology, English, mathematics, and science at the University of British Columbia and later became a graduate student at Simon Fraser University, where he served as the inaugural president of the student society. Buzan was a strong advocate for mental literacy and radiant thinking, drawing inspiration from figures like Leonardo da Vinci and Albert Einstein. He authored or co-authored over 80 books, including the bestselling Use Your Head, The Mind Map Book, and The Speed Reading Book, and gained international recognition through his 1970s BBC series Use Your Head. Buzan co-founded the World Memory Championships, the Mind Sports Olympiad, and the Brain Trust Charity. His legacy lives on through his books, seminars, and iMindMap software.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 20, 2018
Use Your Perfect Memory by Tony Buzan is a self help book on how to improve your memory, or in better words 'Use it'.
I decided to pick this book up, because I am learning a new language and it is difficult for me to retain new vocabulary. Hence, I though this book would help me improve my memory. The book covers various ways and systems you could do and use to put your brain into better use.
The author goes through the Link System, The Peg memory system, The alphabet system, The major system and finally Mindmaps. The Link system is what I normal would use to memories difficult words (with weird spelling), however, the extent of the use of this system discussed by the author is beyond what I regularly would do. The system is actually very useful; For instance, if you want to memories your shopping list in order, you create a storyline that contain all the items. The storyline should contain elements from all your senses to aid in memorisation. I still remember the example used in the book, and all the items that were mentioned in the story, nevertheless, on a daily basis I wouldn't use this system. If you have a test to study, there is so much information to remember and creating stories that involves all your senses is time consuming.
I don't disagree with the extent this system is being presented in the book, I just don't see myself applying it as it will make my progress much slower. Still, I will use it without the story aspect and only attach sensory elements to the information.
With the other systems, The Peg Memory System is something that I would see myself using, but the Roman room system, the alphabet system and the major system are too complicated. The book explains well how these systems could be put to use, but I would end up forgetting the actual system or mix up. Which happened alot while going through the examples. For the Major system, you assign numbers to consonants and then give words to each number and this can go up to forever. Sometimes, a word has more than one consonant but only one represents an actual number. I personally see myself getting messed up with this system a lot (which happened while going throught the exercises in the book), and I would need to spend a lot of time to just get the system.
The book also briefly discusses Mindmaps (in barely two pages), it was one of the parts I was looking the most forward to. yet, I understand why it was short, as the author has books specifically discussing mindmaps. Funny enough, I think mind maps are going to be the best way for me to retain information and I've already begun using them.
As I said earlier in my review, I picked this book up to help me in learning a new language, and there was a chapter about 'Remembering vocabulary'. Unfortunately it didn't present anything new to the table. I guess, I should just keep on doing what I am already doing and hope for the best XD
Finally, the book goes into detail on how to use these systems to remember names, faces, phone numbers and study materials. I think this book might be interesting or helpful for individuals who are interested in improving their memory. It is a very light read, and I would recommend it.
3/5 stars 'liked it'
I decided to pick this book up, because I am learning a new language and it is difficult for me to retain new vocabulary. Hence, I though this book would help me improve my memory. The book covers various ways and systems you could do and use to put your brain into better use.
The author goes through the Link System, The Peg memory system, The alphabet system, The major system and finally Mindmaps. The Link system is what I normal would use to memories difficult words (with weird spelling), however, the extent of the use of this system discussed by the author is beyond what I regularly would do. The system is actually very useful; For instance, if you want to memories your shopping list in order, you create a storyline that contain all the items. The storyline should contain elements from all your senses to aid in memorisation. I still remember the example used in the book, and all the items that were mentioned in the story, nevertheless, on a daily basis I wouldn't use this system. If you have a test to study, there is so much information to remember and creating stories that involves all your senses is time consuming.
I don't disagree with the extent this system is being presented in the book, I just don't see myself applying it as it will make my progress much slower. Still, I will use it without the story aspect and only attach sensory elements to the information.
With the other systems, The Peg Memory System is something that I would see myself using, but the Roman room system, the alphabet system and the major system are too complicated. The book explains well how these systems could be put to use, but I would end up forgetting the actual system or mix up. Which happened alot while going through the examples. For the Major system, you assign numbers to consonants and then give words to each number and this can go up to forever. Sometimes, a word has more than one consonant but only one represents an actual number. I personally see myself getting messed up with this system a lot (which happened while going throught the exercises in the book), and I would need to spend a lot of time to just get the system.
The book also briefly discusses Mindmaps (in barely two pages), it was one of the parts I was looking the most forward to. yet, I understand why it was short, as the author has books specifically discussing mindmaps. Funny enough, I think mind maps are going to be the best way for me to retain information and I've already begun using them.
As I said earlier in my review, I picked this book up to help me in learning a new language, and there was a chapter about 'Remembering vocabulary'. Unfortunately it didn't present anything new to the table. I guess, I should just keep on doing what I am already doing and hope for the best XD
Finally, the book goes into detail on how to use these systems to remember names, faces, phone numbers and study materials. I think this book might be interesting or helpful for individuals who are interested in improving their memory. It is a very light read, and I would recommend it.
3/5 stars 'liked it'
February 16, 2022
Oceánico libro con cientos de trucos para mejorar la memoria. Desde el clásico truco de los veinte lugares (para memorizar una lista de veinte objetos, imagínatelos en tamaño gigante en veinte puntos de tu casa. Así, recordaríamos, por ejemplo, esta lista
corazón
perro
coche
luna
flan
imaginándonos visualmente un gigantesco emoji rotatorio de un corazón en la entrada de nuestra casa, un flan de un metro cúbico temblando en la cocina, un perro que no nos deja pasar por su tamaño en el pasillo, una gran pelota con forma de luna en el salón y un coche aparcado en nuestra cama en el dormitorio. El simple hecho de imaginarlo visualmente hará que sea más fácil recordarlo.
De ahí el autor nos lleva a recorrer cientos de trucos de memoria, reglas mnemotécnicas variadas, técnicas de estudio (muy útil, el método de la repetición espaciada) y muchos más. La verdad es que este libro es un pequeño tesoro. Seguro que hay ediciones más modernas, pero a mí me encontó y he usado muchas de las técnicas que recomienda y describe.
corazón
perro
coche
luna
flan
imaginándonos visualmente un gigantesco emoji rotatorio de un corazón en la entrada de nuestra casa, un flan de un metro cúbico temblando en la cocina, un perro que no nos deja pasar por su tamaño en el pasillo, una gran pelota con forma de luna en el salón y un coche aparcado en nuestra cama en el dormitorio. El simple hecho de imaginarlo visualmente hará que sea más fácil recordarlo.
De ahí el autor nos lleva a recorrer cientos de trucos de memoria, reglas mnemotécnicas variadas, técnicas de estudio (muy útil, el método de la repetición espaciada) y muchos más. La verdad es que este libro es un pequeño tesoro. Seguro que hay ediciones más modernas, pero a mí me encontó y he usado muchas de las técnicas que recomienda y describe.
March 18, 2008
My good opinion of this author went down with one of the suggestions he made for remembering numbers. However, in combination with THE MEMORY BOOK by Harry Loraine and someone else, seems it would work pretty well. The theories are popular with other memory strategists like Ron White, so chances are they'll work if I use them.
August 5, 2007
i read this book and i got hook up..this tony buzan is a smart man whom create the mind-mapping techniques....
September 13, 2021
The cover of this book has a phrenology chart on it or something. That isn't important, though. Tony Buzan writes about memory systems in "Use Your Perfect Memory." Once again, nothing differentiates this book from any others besides the author.
Use Your Perfect Memory is one of those activity books where the author or publisher expects you to write in it. I suppose that makes it different. Much of the book focuses on lists. Use the lists listed to construct a Major System for yourself.
Use Your Perfect Memory is one of those activity books where the author or publisher expects you to write in it. I suppose that makes it different. Much of the book focuses on lists. Use the lists listed to construct a Major System for yourself.
March 5, 2019
Nice book 👌
Read
January 11, 2020good book
February 21, 2022
Really great book, had lots of awesome mnemonic techniques and very easy to understand. If you want to improve brain strength it's a great place to start.
June 23, 2016
A good resource for the memory generalist, but there's not much in this volume for linguists... save a short chapter on vocab building. The best chapter is the one on reviewing in order to improve memory, which shows the memorization curve and is effectively a recap of your basic SRS/goldlist models.
August 24, 2011
One of the better books on memory techniques - worth having on your own bookshelf. Still hunting for a book describing how to apply and practice these techniques to develop a superior memory.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews