You can rest assured that learning how to use it is worth your time because it has been used for thousands of years and studied by scientists.

We know how and why it works.

And one reason the technique has continually improved over the years is simple:

Many people have worked to ensure that proper mnemonic linking helps you build instant associations.

In other words, well-linked associations can help you memorize certain kinds of information within seconds.

You just have to learn it properly.

Sometimes, this particular learning strategy lets you retain information you’ve heard just once for the long-term without needing any repetition.

For example, as a memory educator, I give a lot of demonstrations in the community. I remember the names of people from live classes I’ve given decades ago.

And once you master basic linking for simple information like names, you can use the technique in more elaborate ways.

Everything from language learning to complex mathematical formulas.

The problem is…

Even simple versions of the technique can confuse people new to the link method.

This is not your fault. The confusion creeps in because different memory teachers use the term in several different ways.

In fact, the sheer number of definitions is enough to melt your mind.

Well, never fear. On this page, I’m going to do my best to reduce the confusion.

Because the reality is this:

Linking really can help you learn faster and remember more.

You just need to apply this mnemonic device in the right way and in the specific situations where it’s useful.

So if you want to master linking for faster and more thorough learning, let’s look at exactly how linking works.

And when to combine it with other memory techniques for even stronger recall.

https://youtu.be/bn4BERnf788

What Is The Linking Method?

In the world of memory training, we use the word “link” because this technique creates a kind of chain between what you want to remember and something you already know.

You can think of it like a gold necklace. Each loop links to the next one until the circle is completed by a clasp.

Except in memory, each mental image or association is the link that helps you find your way back to the target information.

This is part of where confusion about the technique comes in.

Is Linking Different Than the Chain Method?

Memory educators often use the word link to create the mental image of a chain, as in a chain of associations.

Everyone from Bruno Furst to Harry Lorayne present the technique in this way.

This means that there’s no particular difference between linking and the chain method.

The key is that you mentally “link” or attach one item in a list to the next item. That’s why most memory trainings will present a list of words with which to practice. For example:

• Hero
• Drill
• Spacecraft
• Music

Then most memory guides will suggest that you:

1. Create an image that reminds you of the first word in the chain, and
2. “Link” the next word to the first.

In the case of the example list above, you would imagine that your hero uses a drill on a spacecraft that is blasting out music.

This way of using linking sounds a bit like a story, doesn’t it?

The story is a kind of chain that you follow, and each action or action and reaction is the link that helps you “trigger” the next word.

Many people successfully use this form of linking to memorize lists, something I discuss with more depth in this tutorial on how to memorize a list.

Pros and Cons of The Link Method

Linking works well for when you need to memorize simple lists.

The approach also has its weaknesses, though, problems we’re about to fix.

What are those problems?

For one thing, if you can’t remember how the first part of your narrative chain started, you’ll struggle to trigger the next part.

It’s also possible that an individual link in your chain will go “missing.”

One key solution is called deliberate practice.

And although most memory improvement guides do give you words to practice, I’m a critic of them and here’s why:

It’s very rare in real life that we have to memorize random words.

A rare case is when you go shopping and need to get tomatoes, carrots, celery, and bread. In such a case, it does make sense to use linking to quickly imagine a tomato stabbing celery and bread with a carrot.

Even so, as a person who loves using memory techniques for large learning goals, I have to ask?

Why waste time on memorizing a shopping list when you could just write it down? That lets you save your energy for memorizing vocabulary or technical terms related to your profession.

How to Practice Mnemonic Linking

And that’s how I suggest that you practice. With important information that you can’t just write down.

Here’s one fruitful practice:

If you’re going to memorize your shopping list, at least get a bang for your buck by memorizing it in a foreign language.

Then, apply the linking technique to memorizing more complex terms, like:

• Medical definitions
• Musical terms
• Names you repeatedly forget
• Geographical facts

Basically, learn to get really good at linking by practicing with useful information that will improve your life.

Then, once you’ve got a handle on the basics, take things to the next level using the process we’ll discuss next.

From Linear Linking to Spatial Linking: The Memory Palace Advantage

As you’ve seen, the linking method can be powerful for chaining together lists of information.

But it’s mostly linear. That means, if you can’t remember the first part of the chain, or drop one of the links, you’re in trouble.

The Memory Palace technique fixes this quirk.

If you’re not familiar with the term, sometimes it’s called the Method of Loci or the Roman Room Method.

No matter what you call it, a Memory Palace provides your brain with the ultimate, non-linear linking system for a few reasons.

Why the Memory Palace Technique is the Ultimate Linking Strategy

Think back to necklace example. We’re about to expand it.

Rather than having every link in the chain dependent on the previous link, a Memory Palace lets you place each link securely in its own display case.

Each case is itself linked naturally by your familiarity with the locations you use to place them. When you have a series of locations strung together in a chain, this is called the journey method.

For more on how this technique works, watch the video below and read my full Memory Palace guide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5-YrZhudPU

In sum, you’re using familiar locations as a foundational link.

Then, on each spot within the Memory Palace, you use the story method to establish a link on each and every station of the Memory Palace.

This approach helps with recall for a few reasons.

First, you don’t have to think back to how the story started or do anything elaborate to kick off the first link. You can simply think back to where you placed the first link, which gives you two chances to kickstart your list of associations.

Second, the Memory Palace technique allows for spaced repetition. This non-linear form of review means you can quickly make sure each item in your list enters long-term memory.

True, in some cases you won’t need to review the information. But it’s the missing step many of the most popular books like The Art of Memory completely miss.

Applied Example:
Remembering Names Using Linking with a Memory Palace

One of the most direct ways to see linking and the Memory Palace technique at work in combination is to join me at one of my events.

As you can see in the photo above, I’m at the head of the room.

I’ve just finished memorizing the names of everyone in attendance.

To do this, I used the room itself as a kind of Memory Palace.

Exactly where Alan was sitting, I imagined a giant Allen key. He used this to open a door on the ear of Sharon, who was sitting next to him. But to remember that her name was Sharon, I pretended she was the very famous Sharon Osbourne.

Later that day, I wrote out all of the names, revisiting each one from the exact location where I’d placed the association in that room.

In some cases, I had used the bodies of the attendees as mini-Memory Palaces.

For example, Martin had mentioned a friend named Eloise was an author of thrillers. I placed an association that helped me remember this fact on his chest.

You can learn the body Memory Palace technique yourself in my tutorial on the most important ancient memory techniques.

And for another dedicated example, check out my full tutorial on how to remember names quickly.

Your Turn (Test This Linking Process)

For a fun example that will improve your life immediately, go to your bookshelf or glance through your preferred e-reader.

Jot down a list of names you continually forget but would find helpful if you could remember them.

Then, create a quick Memory Palace. Let’s say you use your kitchen.

• On the counter, create an association for the first name
• Use the fridge door to stick an association for the second name in place
• Place an association in the sink for the third name

Make sure to link each name to a distinctive association.

If name one is Lars, for example, make sure it’s Lars from Metallica pounding the counter with his drum sticks.

If name two is Lucas, have a Star Wars character like Luke Skywalker carving his name into your fridge.

If the third name is Jerry, imagine Jerry Seinfeld dancing in your sink, etc.

Later, revisit the kitchen in your imagination.

Bring each station to mind and simply ask what it was you imagined taking place on each location.

I suggest writing down your answers. Soon you’ll see exactly why I consider the Memory Palace the ultimate link:

Not only does each association help you recall the names on your list. The Memory Palace journey itself links you to the next item in the list in a logical formation.

One that is already in your memory. This fact reduces cognitive load and makes the learning process faster, more interesting and fun.

More Practical Link Method Examples You Can Try Today

One of the first ways to use the more advanced version of linking you’ve just discovered is to your studies.

In my full guide to studying faster, I share how I used the technique as part of earning my PhD and passing various certification exams.

Another favorite example is in giving a speech from memory.

In 90 BCE, the unknown author of Rhetorica Ad Herennium created an incredible guide that I used to help me memorize this popular TEDx Talk.

Here are some other example tutorials where I walk you through various goals for which linking is helpful:

How to Memorize Scripture

How to Memorize the Presidents

How to Memorize Vocabulary

How to Memorize Numbers

How to Build Your Own Linking System (Step-by-Step)

It’s one thing to read about how others use linking.

The key is to develop your own linking system.

My favorite way to do this is to develop a mnemonic alphabet.

To do this, you simply associate (i.e. link) each letter of the alphabet with a famous figure, pop-culture icon or familiar person in your life.

Here’s a video where I dive deep into how and why this simple exercise is so important for enjoying better recall:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caCUFPy7j0I

If you think about it, the alphabet is the ultimate mnemonic chain!

To ensure that you always have mnemonic links ready for use, here’s what to do:

Get out a piece of paper and write out associations for each letter of the alphabet. Like this:

• Z = Zorro
• Y = Yankovich (Weird Al)
• X = Xenophon
• W = Will Smith
• Etc…

Once you’ve completed a list of people coded to the alphabet, create a second list filled with objects.

For example:

• Apple
• Biscuit
• Camera
• Doll
• Etc.

Ideally, all of your objects will connect with people or places in some way.

For example, I don’t just think of a weathervane in an abstract way. I’m thinking specifically about weathervane for W as an abstract object. No, I think about how it was used as a weapon in the movie Warlock.

Likewise, with Zorro. I don’t think abstractly about him as a pop culture character.

I focus specifically on Antonio Banderas’ performance of this character. Drawing upon him specifically was particularly helpful when I was learning German, a language packed with Z words.

For example, “zerbrechlich” means “fragile.” I simply saw Banderas as Zorro at a Berlin movie theatre with a few other images to help me memorize the sound and meaning of this word.

To be clear, the link is not just the letter “Z,” but all of the many multi-sensory sensations Banderas as Zorro helps me bring into the Memory Palace.

Multi-Sensory Linking is the Key

The next step is to make sure the “links” are always multi-sensory.

When I say that this is the key, that’s not a simplistic cliche. The renaissance memory master Giordano Bruno often used the Latin term “clavis magnus” or “great key” in his memory training books.

To make all of your links multi-sensory, I use the eight main Magnetic Modes: KAVE COGS:

• Kinesthetic
• Auditory
• Visual
• Emotional
• Conceptual
• Olfactory
• Gustatory
• Spatial

For more ideas, The Memory Book has a broader system of multi-sensory elaborations. It has SEM3, which is based on the linking strategies of Bruno, Peter of Ravenna and Jacobus Publicius.

A Myth About Mnemonic Linking You Can Safely Forget

The KAVE COGS model will sound like it’s missing something to people already familiar with linking.

Often memory teachers say that you have to make the associations in your links strange, crazy and bizarre.

Although that additional layer of mnemonic encoding certainly helps many of us, this study on “Bizarreness as a nonessential variable in mnemonic imagery” confirms that it’s simply not true.

In fact, one of the reasons I worked to develop KAVE COGS is that many people told me that they don’t want their minds cluttered with strange images.

Me neither, quite frankly. And now you have an alternative.

That said, memory competitors like Nelson Dellis are not wrong when they embrace the vigorously strange while memorizing.

As he shared in our discussion of extreme imagery for competition purposes, he imagines whatever is necessary to help him win.

The point is that you have options. You can safely remember more by using multi-sensory links. Or you can explore bizarre imagery.

You should just know that scientists have found that adding weirdness simply isn’t necessary in order to get great results.

Link Method Psychology: The Mindset of a Memory Master

Phew — that was quite a deep dive into linking!

And if I’ve succeeded, you’ve seen how even a simple chain of associations can serve as a portal to the larger memory arts used by our ancestors for more ambitious learning goals than memorizing lists.

You’ve also learned more about how advanced mental imagery is multi-sensory.

This means that your memory is not limited by space.

The only limits you face come down to strategy and deliberate practice.

That’s why my message always involves the core suggestion that before you practice with a meaningless list of words, you take a moment to define why you’re memorizing.

Then practice with information that gets you closer to your goal.

That way you can improve your memory while learning in ways that help you experience accomplishment every time you use linking.

So what do you say? Are you ready to put linking to work? If you’d like to go deeper into memory improvement you’ll find more step-by-step exercises inside my  free Memory Improvement Kit.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, and please remember:

Every link you create is more than a memory trick.

It’s a step toward mastering your mind and experiencing learning as a lifestyle and an art.

Today I’m going to show you how to get rid of brain fog based on the research I’ve done to handle the problem for myself.

I knew I had to take decisive action because when left untreated, brain fog is likely to get worse.

That means, your focus could continue to fade.

You may fail exams you want to pass.

And learning that language you dream about speaking fluently? It will continue to feel like a slog.

Worse, remembering the names of new people and even loved ones will potentially get harder and harder to retrieve.

But here’s the very good news:

You can reduce the impact of brain fog.

Possibly even eliminate it.

On this page, I’m going to share with you exactly how I resolved my brain fog in a step-by-step manner. And give you a 7-day routine you can start benefiting from immediately.

Important: The experience I’m sharing is educational and not medical advice. If your symptoms are new, severe, or worsening, see a clinician and discuss any changes before you try any of these suggestions.

As discussed in my book, The Victorious Mind, getting proper medical advice while researching solutions is what I’ve always done.

So, if you’re ready to reduce the impact of brain fog on your life, keep reading. 

We’re taking a deep dive into what brain fog is and how to beat it.

https://youtu.be/PzMafhiYU0Y

What Is Brain Fog?

Brain fog is defined as mental fuzziness. Its symptoms include:

• Mental exhaustion
• Reduced cognitive ability
• Lack of concentration
• Feeling “spaced out”
• Foggy head
• Long-term memory loss

Another way to define it comes from the scientist Karan Kverno, who says that it is “the subjective experience of neuroinflammation.”

Just as important as the definition, we have to take note of this condition.

For example, mental fog has only gotten worse since the pandemic. Studies show that Long Covid Syndrome (LCS) can create or aggravate it.

People undergoing chemotherapy may also suffer increased incidences of mental fog.

With its ongoing evolution in mind, let’s look deeper at these symptoms.

Symptoms

Mental exhaustion can be defined as everything from lack of motivation to irritability. It can have short-term or long-term effects.

Reduced cognitive ability can involve things like struggling to complete tasks that should be deep in your procedural memory.

Poor concentration is not only about focus. It can involve difficulties in sitting still. You might also notice that you lose things more often.

Being spaced out involves mind wandering or feeling disconnected with reality.

And having a foggy head gets that term because you might feel like your mind is cluttered with dense clouds. You may be easily distracted or confused.

Causes

When I was still on the hunt for a brain fog cure, I experienced all of the above symptoms. In my case, each symptom was exaggerated by taking lamotrigine for manic depression.

Fortunately, I asked my doctor about alternatives (just like you should do). We found that a complete dietary overhaul enabled me to stop taking this medication.

Now all of the brain fog issues it caused are over now and I find it easier to concentrate on demand.

All the more reason to regularly visit your doctor and discuss everything.

In my case, it’s clear that a medication that was no longer needed was a huge driver of the symptoms. But many people don’t get regular medical reviews, which are so needed in our era of automated prescription renewals.

Beyond medication, there are many lifestyle culprits you can eliminate to deal with brain fog and other aspects of cognitive decline. These include:

• Lack of exercise
• Computer use in bed (instead of using this reading before bed protocol)
• Poor diet, especially from eating foods that harm the brain
• Dehydration
• Insufficient sleep
• Undiagnosed health issues
• Stress and anxiety
• Depression
• Chronic pain
• Gut health
• Aging (especially when chemotherapy is in use)
• Neuroinflammation

Even air pollution has been studied for how it contributes to brain fog in different parts of the world. So if you can’t find other reasons behind why you keep forgetting things, consider getting air filtration systems where you work and sleep.

Quick Relief

Now that you know some of the core causes, here are a few things you can do right now that will help:

• Hydrate
• Analyze your diet and reduce caffeine
• Take a 5-10 minute walk (or if you want to be as polymathic as Thomas Jefferson, he would suggest at least 2 hours of exercise daily)
• Practice box breathing
• Open any curtains so you’re exposed to more daylight
• Make a plan for an improved bedtime routine you can follow tonight
• Complete one of the memory drills I teach

Please don’t underestimate these simple steps.

While my wife was away recently, I fell out of my usual bedtime reading habits and started watching a series.

Brain fog quickly crept back into my life. But by catching myself in this habit and returning to my bedtime reading protocol, it quickly receded.

7-Day Routine

Again, the following suggestion is educational only and not medical advice. Always see a clinician.

Day 1: Reset Your System & Get Some Simple Wins

• Make an appointment to see your doctor
• Hydrate upon waking, ideally with room temperature water
• Place a book you plan to read on your pillow
• Keep hydrating throughout the day
• Get 5-10 minutes of morning light on as much of your skin as possible
• Take a morning walk
• Cut off caffeine at least eight hours before sleep
• Journal your day, repeating in your own words what you’ve learned the way Benjamin Franklin formed long-term memories
• Read the physical book you’ve already prepared in the evening instead of looking at any kind of screen

Day 2: Fuel Review & Rhythm

• Repeat the hydration and daylight protocols
• Add hip and shoulder circles to your morning walk
• Run a Magnetic Alphabet drill using the pegword method for your memory exercise
• Continue the caffeine cutoff
• Continue journaling, adding some of my journaling protocol for more wins
• Read a physical book before bed

Day 3: Expand Your Focus

• Continue all of the hydration, daylight and walking protocols and learn the mnemonic linking method
• Apply it to learning a fact, such as a nutritional detail that will help motivate any dietary changes recommended by your doctor
• While journaling, jot out the dietary fact you learned and use reflective thinking to expand your plans for self improvement

Day 4: Bump Up Your Movement Protocol

• Continuing your morning protocols, start to walk more briskly
• Look for an outdoor gym or tree branch where you can hang to improve your shoulder mobility
• Use the memory techniques you’ve studied so far to practice memorizing a list of names
• Wind down with journaling and reading in a device-free zone

Day 5: Reduce Cognitive Load

• Following your morning protocols, declutter one area that drains your attention
• Study how to reset your dopamine levels and memorize a fact about this area of self improvement
• Call a friend just to chat and reminisce for an easy and fun memory exercise
• Close the day with journaling and reading

Day 6: Add a Meaningful Challenge

• After completing your morning hydration, sunlight and exercise protocol, write a list of meaningful skills you’ve always wanted to learn
• Commit in writing to tackling one of them for the next 90-days (a musical instrument, learning a language, memorizing poetry, etc.)
• Revisit the commitment in the evening and spend 10-15 minutes preparing Memory Palaces for your new learning challenge
• Select a book you already own related to the challenge (or order one before starting your computer curfew)

Day 7: Review & Adjust

• After completing your morning protocol, write in your journal about what you feel helped the most over the past six days
• Identify one thing you can change over the week to come
• Share your biggest win with someone
• Wind down early and practice a concentration meditation after reading

Treatments

I know it can be frustrating looking to doctors and science to cure your brain fog. Often doctors don’t have enough time to go through your entire history and look at all aspects of your lifestyle.

You should still consult them, however. And insist that they take the time.

In fact, talk to as many people as you can.

As Dr. Raphael Kellman talks about in his Whole Brain Diet book, people need “will” to fix their brain fog issues and the best way to get this is by tapping into the largest community possible.

In addition to consulting medical professionals, you should discuss treatment options with family and friends who can support you. 

And the good news is that there are a number of powerful ways to cure your brain fog.

We’ve covered some already, but let’s look at each in greater detail, along with some research resources I think you’ll find useful. I know I sure did.

Diet

According to Dr. Kellman, a “whole brain diet” should be one’s first line of attack. The core of his idea involves the role of healthy bacteria in your gut. As many people have discussed, your digestive system is like a “second brain” connected via the vagus nerve, so it’s important to feed it correctly.

Sleep

Diet and sleep go together in many ways.

For example, Dr. Kellman shows how preservative dyes can interrupt sleep. Since both the dye and the lack of sleep contribute to brain fog, people who react to the dyes suffer twice as much.

In addition to checking your sleep rituals and making sure you’re getting enough, do a thorough dietary analysis for ingredients that could be robbing you of rest.

Fitness

Physical activity and brain health are well-studied.

The good news is that you don’t need much. Even just a short, brisk walk every day provides tremendous health benefits for both your body and brain.

However, I’d suggest regularly adding more challenges to your fitness routine. It’s easy to get complacent and bored, but if you keep researching physical fitness and adding new things, you’ll be more motivated and encouraged.

Above all, exercise as a treatments is preferable to something like taking supplements. This is because many issues can arise from mixing off-the-counter substances. 

For example, someone might say that Vitamin B12 is the ultimate weapon against brain fog.

However, you could easily overdose on it. Or, a supplement might interfere with some other absorption process in your body, especially if it’s already adequately covered by your diet.

Always see your doctor and ask for a full blood panel before taking any advice – including the advice on this page.

Get More Light

I mentioned getting more light in my quick fix and 7-day routine sections.

For some people, this will be easy.

But if you live in an area with constant bad weather or your home has poor access to outdoor light, discuss getting a light box or similar device with your clinician.

During the years I lived in Germany, which is notorious for its long and dark periods, I used a variety of lamps to help reduce the impact of poor weather days.

Another thing that helped, which is something to explore if you’re able, is planning travel in advance. I used to anticipate bad weather in northern Europe and make sure I was already booked at my favorite hotels in Greece and Spain.

How to Fix Brain Fog: My Personal Secret Weapons

For me, the solution to my brain fog was not knowledge.

Most of what cures brain fog boils down to common sense.

The problem is in remembering to put the information into action. 

To make sure that I reached my life improvement goals, I did a few things. Here are those steps:

One: Make A Goal and Journal About It

First, I used The Freedom Journal to set a 100 day goal. It’s a great tool because it’s big and visually striking. That makes it hard to miss.

For each of the brain fog treatments above, I made a handwritten commitment.

I recommend you do the same. There’s something deeply personal about writing intentions out by hand.

Richard Wiseman collects some of the scientific evidence around why writing by hand works in his book, 59 Seconds: Think A Little, Change A Lot.

Two: Connect With A Larger Vision

Second, I wrote a “Magnetic Vision Statement” around the exact nature of my brain health goals.

This is all part of establishing the mental strength needed to stick with the lifestyle changes – which are admittedly hard to consistently pursue.

One great thing about this activity is that it gets you more into your body and out of your head (where the problem lives).

Here’s a tutorial on creating a vision statement for your memory. In your case, you’ll want to focus specifically on your vision for tackling your cognitive dysfunction.

If you prefer, you can also explore mind mapping as an alternative to writing your vision statement in a journal.

I’ve built a business through many mental challenges even more difficult than brain fog, and keep this business-development mind map in sight all the time so I don’t forget my mission and my goals:

Vision statements and mind maps are not magic bullets.

But the great thing about the mind map technique is that you can do it purely on the basis of images. I don’t have to read anything and am reminded of my goals by engaging images that are easy to understand at a glance.

And because they’re deeply personal and connected to a variety of memories, they quickly inspire me, even on the foggiest of days.

Three: Memorize The Steps You’ve Identified

Everything worth doing involves multiple moving parts.

And anything modular can essentially be memorized as a list.

For example, I was overweight when I first tackled my brain fog in earnest. I got a health coach and a personal fitness coach.

To help me remember the choreography of various stretches at the gym, I used a Memory Palace. I used the same memory techniques to help me deeply internalize information about how to eat better. 

Four: Get Plenty of Brain Exercise

People are currently stretching the limits of their minds with more information than ever before.

But constant exposure to the Internet is not necessarily exercising your cognitive functions.

You need real brain exercise, the kind that occurs offline and truly challenges your mind. There are many brain games for adults, but I strongly advise you favor the offline versions for best results.

Personally, I work a lot with playing cards.

You can see one of the challenges I complete in this video if you want to adopt a simple and fun brain-maintenance exercise for yourself:

https://youtu.be/-7Feazpc_ho

Five: Take On Meaningful Challenges

As human knowledge grows, meaning seems to diminish. We now understand so much about how the universe functions that we’re living in an age of anxiety.

Why?

Because few can agree on the fundamental reasons why anything exists at all.

And as more voices crowd online to argue about how things should be going forward, it can be hard for people to feel like they’re anchored to a solid position that makes sense for them.

The solution?

Create your own meaning.

There are many ways to do this, such as studying:

• Philosophy
• Music
• Art
• Languages
• Culture

I recommend you take on long form learning projects by designing your own 90-day learning missions.

I’ll be sharing how I do this for myself in my popular Read with Momentum program.

This form of self-study is powerful for fending off brain fog because it defeats the despair that leads to depression – a common cause of mental fuzziness.

The Future of Curing Brain Fog

Although I haven’t tried any of the following personally, I’m a keen reader of as much memory science as I can find.

Here are some of the more radical and interesting approaches you likely haven’t heard of before:

Transcranial Photobiomodulation

As you can see in this scientific study, researchers are studying various headsets and goggles to help the brain combat neuroinflammation.

The light-based procedure directly stimulates cellular energy production in the brain.

Researchers expect that, upon further validation, the technique will succeed because it can be conducted at home. It should be relatively inexpensive too.

Stimulating Neurogenesis

The death of brain cells could be a major cause of brain fog, along with the struggle to learn new things quickly.

These researchers are identifying various genes to help identify methods that will help the brain create new neural pathways. Although they are currently focused on people with Alzheimer’s disease, the findings could well help others who suffer brain fog for a variety of reasons.

Minimizing Electronic Exposure

Although some people criticize concerns about our constant exposure to computers and cell phones, these researchers have explored the role of electromagnetic pollution.

The major challenge they point out is that proper measurements aren’t always possible.

But the data they have been able to gather suggests that it should be possible to not only reduce the amount of energetic pollution to which we’re all exposed. It should be possible to reduce the energy costs we pay too.

Sound Therapy

I’ve been listening to a lot of singing bowl sound therapy sessions lately. Particularly via a YouTube channel called Mindful Melodies:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nodOEtLxLtw

As these researchers note, the relaxation benefits are often profound.

Although I can’t find any studies that state directly that singing bowls specifically help with brain fog, this study found many benefits for overall well-being.

And there’s solid scientific evidence that sound therapy helps with other cognitive issues.

My acupuncturist uses sound therapy a lot in her clinic.

But she also told me that she recently bought a CD player so she can listen to music offline.

Sure, there are still electronics involved. But she’s able to use a long headphone cable and reduce the time exposed to any device while still listening to music that could be helping modulate various brain wave patterns.

In all things, the future holds many exciting options, so watch this space for updates as I continue to explore new research as it arises.

How To Fix Brain Fog Permanently

As you can see, there are clear causes and solutions when it comes to brain fog.

But the final bit of common sense we need is this:

Rinse and repeat.

Your brain is a living organ.

You don’t get to stop solving the problem of brain fog.

You need to think and act like a gardener of your mind.

Keep tilling the soil.

Keep planting seeds.

Keep fertilizing, watering and clearing away the weeds.

You’ll be glad you did!

And if you’d like help with remembering everything involved, grab my FREE Memory Improvement Kit now:

It will teach you to use the same Memory Palace technique that helped me remember the self care needed on a daily basis to keep brain fog at bay.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to take care of that brain of yours?

Never forget:

You’re the only one who can!

Worried that you might be suffering long-term memory loss?

See if you can relate to a scenario like this:

I have come to this area a hundred times before.

Yet, I’m lost in this maze of streets now.

Where’s my schoolmate’s house?

Wait, schoolmate, or was she my colleague at work?

If an inner voice like that sounds familiar, it could indeed be your long-term memory acting up.

The question is, what causes long-term memory loss? What are its symptoms? And, how do you treat or prevent it?

In this article, I’m drawing upon my fifteen years experience as a memory improvement teacher to help you understand and avoid long-term memory loss.

You’ll discover how to identify it, and get proper treatment if needed.

I’ll also show you a powerful, “magnetic” way to improve your memory so it stays intact even as you age.

Better than that, I’ll show you some simple memory exercise routines I practice myself to keep sharp as I approach my fifties.

Here’s what I’ll cover:

• What is Long-Term Memory?
• What is Long-Term Memory Loss?
• Symptoms of Long-Term Memory Loss
• What Causes Long-Term Memory Loss?
• How is Long-Term Memory Loss Diagnosed?
• How to Treat Long-Term Memory Loss
• 5 Ways to Boost Memory and Prevent Long-Term Memory Loss

Let’s start with a quick look at long-term memory. Definitions are important because often people don’t stop to consider exactly what this type of memory really is.

What is Long-Term Memory?

Long-term memory is how your brain encodes and remembers events, facts, and how to do things.

For example, if you can remember your high school teacher’s name or the route to the house you stayed in 20 years ago, that’s information stored in your long-term memory.

How is it different from short-term memory?

Short-term memory (or working memory) is how your brain stores things temporarily. Examples include a grocery list, or what you had for lunch earlier today.

How do short-term memories wind up in long-term memory?

Usually through some kind of repetition or process of learning that leads to what memory scientists call “consolidation.’

In other words, the more you deliberately recall memories, the better they get consolidated into permanent, long-term memories.

So, how are these memories stored in the brain?

Assuming your brain is free from any memory disorders, short-term memory activates your prefrontal cortex, frontal lobe, and the parietal lobe of your brain.

The hippocampus brain region is responsible for the consolidation of info from short-term to long-term memory.

And, your long-term memory is associated with the prefrontal cortex, cerebrum, frontal lobe, and medial temporal lobe.

Types of Long-Term Memory

I mentioned the recall of a teacher’s name or a street address. Those two details are actually a kind of information called “semantic.”

Overall, your brain stores many types of long-term memories, not just semantic memory.

You also store episodic memory, procedural memory, implicit memory (non-declarative memory), and explicit memory (declarative memory).

For example, if your teacher’s name is a semantic memory, remembering the time your teacher gave you an A+ is an episodic memory. It is literally an episode from your life.

Your ability to effortlessly jot out the alphabet with a pen or pencil? The same teacher may have given you the skill, but it’s a procedural memory that helps you remember how to recreate your semantic memory of what letters the alphabet contains.

Fascinating, isn’t it?

Yes, and these differences in the various types of memory and kinds of information really matter. That’s because they make the deep-dive into all things related to long-term memory loss we’re about to discuss much more valuable.

Let’s dig in.

What is Long-Term Memory Loss?

When you find it difficult to remember any of the information types we just discussed, provided that you learned it in the past, we call the failure to retrieve these details or skills long-term memory loss.

Is long-term memory loss the same as dementia?

No. Long-term memory impairment isn’t the same as dementia. Not even close.

However, it can be a sign of dementia.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, dementia is an umbrella term for “diseases and conditions characterized by a decline in memory, language, problem-solving, and other thinking skills.”

Alzheimer’s disease specifically is a kind of cognitive impairment that progressively destroys your episodic memory, thinking abilities, and the ability to do even simple tasks like writing.

Around 10% of Americans above 65 years of age are said to have Alzheimer’s disease. And Alzheimer’s disease happens to be the most common cause of dementia.

How does Alzheimer’s disease affect long-term memory?

The first symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is short-term memory impairment. Long-term memory impairment follows, along with other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

So even though you’re probably not suffering any kind of dementia if you can read this page, if your memory is currently affecting your ability to perform daily chores, it’s worth checking things out with a doctor.

Doing so is critically important because many people diagnose themselves. But as we’ve seen there are different kinds of information and various brain problems influence them differently.

Different types of dementia

That’s why it’s important to understand the many types of dementia. Beyond Alzheimer’s, these varieties include:

Lewy body dementia: This is an umbrella term for Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) and Parkinson’s disease dementia — both characterized by abnormal deposits of the alpha-synuclein protein in the brain.

It usually sets in after the age of 50. Dementia symptoms are episodic loss of long-term memory, movement problems, and decision-making difficulties.

Frontotemporal dementia: This dementia is caused by progressive degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobe of the brain. It usually starts with behavior changes, and could eventually lead to severe memory impairment.

Vascular dementia: This is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain due to stroke or any other vascular brain damage. It causes progressive memory impairment and affects your attention and problem-solving abilities.

Remember, while memory impairment is a symptom of dementia, having long-term memory impairment doesn’t always mean you have dementia.

Also, note that dementia is often confused with cognitive impairment conditions like amnesia. One way that professionals test to make sure the diagnosis is correct is to have the patient play games that help identify dementia.

People with amnesia find it tough to form new memories. Others are unable to recall facts or past experiences. The two main types of amnesia are anterograde amnesia (characterized by short-term memory loss), and retrograde amnesia (inability to recall long-term memories that happened before developing amnesia).

So, is long-term memory loss different from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)?

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the intermediate stage between normal age-related memory difficulties and dementia.

People diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment have significant short-term memory impairment. But, for some people, it will eventually progress to severe long-term memory impairment and even dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.

How is long-term memory loss different from short term memory loss?

You’d be able to remember incidents from 15 years ago when you experience short-term memory loss, but you’d forget details of what happened 15 minutes ago.

Tests for short-term memory impairment

Your doctor will probably start with a medical history. This initial investigation may be followed by cognitive function tests, blood tests, MRI or CT scans, or cerebral angiography.

Please don’t try and test yourself.

As I discuss in my books on learning tutorial, there’s something the brain does called predictive processing.

If you determine on your own that you have short-term memory loss when you actually don’t, this process can cause you to create problems you don’t actually have.

Or it can make a mild memory impairment worse because you start focusing on it in a negative manner, rather than in a positive and preventative way.

How do you prevent short-term memory loss?

The simplest way to prevent short-term memory impairment is to combine plenty of physical fitness with a good diet, sleep and various memory games, crossword puzzles, or sudoku.

I also suggest spending time with activities like the neurobic exercises I share in this video tutorial:

https://youtu.be/DU4VznNm1z4

By exercising your eyes, ears and your mind at the same time, your memory gets a full workout that transfers to other types of learning and memory tasks.

Please don’t skip this kind of activity. Get in at least a little practice daily, everything from juggling, writing with your non-dominant hand and memorizing playing cards.

You won’t regret it.

Now, let’s look at the ways long-term cognitive impairment like Alzheimer’s disease manifests itself.

Symptoms of Long-Term Memory Loss

The main symptom of long-term memory impairment is forgetfulness of important things or events that happened earlier in your life.

Here are some examples:

• Forgetting the name of the countries you’ve lived in
• Mixing up names of people and words
• Forgetfulness of common words
• Losing your way in familiar places
• Confusion about time and dates
• Repeating the same questions or personal stories frequently
• Difficulty following instructions
• Irritability and other mood changes

All of these signs and symptoms should be reviewed with a doctor.

Checking in with a medical professional is important because early intervention makes a big difference when it comes to long-term brain health.

You’ll also enjoy better piece of mind merely by taking steps to educate yourself with qualified help.

Now let’s look at some of the factors that might cause the symptoms we’ve just discussed.

What Causes Long-Term Memory Loss?

Long-term memory problems could occur due to several reasons:

• Anxiety and depression
• Side effects of prescription drugs
• Vitamin B-12 deficiency
• Fatigue and sleep deprivation
• Thyroid problems
• Drug and alcohol misuse
• Chemotherapy
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Brain tumor, encephalitis, stroke, epilepsy, transient ischemic attack, transient global amnesia
• Sleep apnea
• Kidney and liver disorders​
• Mild Cognitive Impairment
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

You may also wonder:

Does aging lead to memory loss?

Yes, your long-term memory can get weaker as you get older. So, occasional forgetfulness – or memory lapses like forgetting your new neighbor’s name – is normal.

This kind of forgetfulness is just a part of normal aging, and won’t affect your daily routines or the quality of your life.

But how do you know whether you should get medical help or not?

Let’s see.

When should you see a doctor?

Visit a doctor if:

• Your memory problems start affecting your day-to-day activities
• You had a head or brain injury
• You’re disoriented or experience delirium
• You have other symptoms like headaches, sluggishness, or vision problems

Why is it essential to diagnose long-term memory impairment?

Some people hide their memory problems due to fear of social rejection or family issues.

But, you should get any memory troubles diagnosed by a doctor, because in most cases it can be treated partially or entirely.

Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia will help you sensitize yourself and loved ones about the illness, get proper care at home or at a facility, and get support from organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association.

So, how can it be diagnosed and treated?

How is Long-Term Memory Impairment Diagnosed?

To evaluate long-term memory problems, doctors typically perform the following steps:

• Medical history, including your family history, and any medications you take.
• Physical exam to check for symptoms like muscle weakness.
• Neurologic exam and questions to check for signs of cognitive impairment. (For example, basic calculations, naming common items, and writing short sentences.)

Depending on the results, your doctor would prescribe some or all of the following:

• A blood test to check for vitamin deficiencies
• Urine tests
• Nerve tests
• Brain imaging tests like computerized axial tomography (CAT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Neuropsychological testing to find the exact reason for memory problems like Alzheimer’s disease

A holistic examination and the results of these tests will help your doctor make a correct diagnosis.

Based on the diagnosis, your doctor might refer you to a geriatrician, neurologist, or psychiatrist to medically manage the condition. Or they may refer you to a psychologist to help you cope with memory problems.

How to treat long-term memory impairment

The treatment of long-term memory impairment will depend on the underlying reason for your mental condition.

For instance, if cognitive impairment is due to vitamin B12 deficiency, the doctor could prescribe vitamin B12 injections. Or, if the underlying cause of your forgetfulness was a brain tumor, then you’ll need surgery to remove the tumor.

But, think about this:

Wouldn’t it be better if you could prevent memory problems instead of seeking treatment after it reaches advanced stages like Alzheimer’s disease?

I’ll show you how to do it.

5 Stimulating Ways to Boost Memory and Prevent Long-Term Memory Loss

These simple yet powerful activities will help you boost your mental function.

They work by strengthening connections between your nerves, helping compensate for any cognitive impairment due to changes in your brain.

1. Build Memory Palaces Using the Magnetic Memory Method

Building Memory Palaces is one of the easiest and most powerful mnemonic techniques to improve your long-term memory.

It allows you to develop your spatial memory while exercising your episodic memory, procedural memory, semantic memory, and more.

When combined with Recall Rehearsal, you’ll be able to move information into long-term memory faster — and with predictable and reliable permanence.

You can also use any other memory technique inside of Memory Palaces (but not the other way around).

Here’s how to use it:

Imagine you need to understand DNA sequencing techniques and be able to recall them later.

Mentally walk through a familiar place like your home or office. Place the facts related to one DNA technique in your entrance hall, all facts related to the next technique in your bedroom cupboard, and so on.

As for remembering complex DNA-related words, associate them with everyday words already in your memory — e.g., to remember Cytosine, associate it with cycle.

Later, take a mental walk through your home, and you’ll easily recall all the DNA techniques.

And, the more you recall (recall rehearsal), the better you’ll commit this information to your long-term memory.

2. Do Regular Exercise

Regular physical workouts are proven to enhance the development of new brain cells in the brain. Exercise lowers the risk of age-related brain impairment and protects the brain against degenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s or Mild Cognitive Impairment.

In a study, a few participants were subject to MRI scans and a series of cognitive tests before and after a physical workout over a period of 12 weeks.

Researchers found that those who exercise regularly could remember things long after the workout was over.

So, set aside at least 30 minutes of your day to walk briskly, run, dance, or cross-country bike.

3. Eat a Healthy Diet

Consume a nutrient-rich, healthy diet to strengthen your long-term brain function.

Some of the best brain-boosting foods are:

• Fatty fish (like salmon and mackerel)
• Turmeric
• Dark chocolate
• Berries like strawberries and blueberries
• Nuts and seeds like sunflower seeds and almonds
• Whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal
• Eggs
• Vegetables like broccoli and kale
• Green tea

Also, stay away from a high-calorie diet. Research shows that a high-calorie diet can impair memory if it causes inflammation in certain parts of the brain. In a 2009 study, women above the age of 60 who reduced their calorie intake by 30% showed significant improvement in their verbal memory scores.

4. Learn a New Skill

A study showed that older people who learned a new skill showed a significant improvement in memory even when tested a year later.

A seemingly simple activity like knitting is a complex one for someone new to it. So learning it from scratch will boost your brain by strengthening the connections between various parts.

You could try to learn anything unfamiliar to you — digital photography, speaking a foreign language, playing a musical instrument, or even how to fix a motorbike.

There’s also the power of relearning skills you’ve lost.

Technically, this problem is called deskilling, something I’ve gone through personally with both languages I’ve learned and skills like driving.

To explore how I re-learned those lost skills, check out this video tutorial where I take you out on the road with me for a drive here in Australia:

https://youtu.be/U1GH0teKTLo

5. Explore Targeted Strategies For Older Adults to Manage Memory Impairment

Again is a challenge, no doubt about it.

When I was younger, I thought I would be fine. But as I’m approaching my fifties, I’m starting to accelerate my use of these memory strategies for coping with forgetfulness and better preventing memory decline, including stopping Alzheimer’s disease in its tracks:

• Get enough sleep
• Make shopping lists and memorize them using this list memorization technique
• Keep a detailed calendar for the week
• Play board games and card games regularly
• Pay focused attention to one thing at a time
• Keep all your things organized, like car keys and stationery
• Regularly spend time learning new languages
• Use external memory aids like Zettelkasten
• Stay socially active and maintain meeting new people as a regular routine

I know that all of these activities can sound like a lot.

In fact, some people suffering long-term memory loss will likely find so many suggestions a bit overwhelming.

The best thing is to pick just one or two things and take action.

Choosing something over nothing is key because it will promote stress reduction. Since we know that stress itself can cause memory loss, just by picking one or two activities, you stand a chance to enjoy a memory boost.

Take Control Of Your Memory Lifestyle

Your long-term memory is bound to decline with age and due to several other factors.

But memory loss doesn’t have to take over your life. And long-term memory impairment is often preventable.

If you’ve already got it, it’s certainly manageable. In many cases, such as with my student Matt Barclay, it’s reversible. He literally went through cardiac arrest, lost his memory and did everything we discussed above. In short order, he was able to recite a Psalm from the Bible in front of his congregation along with getting his memory back.

It’s success stories like his that make me so passionate about teaching the Magnetic Memory Method.

It’s an approach that taps into your brain’s natural ability to store and retrieve information.

And you can grab your free copy of the training now:

Enjoy taking your first step towards strengthening all aspects of your memory today.

Remember:

You don’t have to wait for forgetfulness to become frustrating.

You can start strengthening your memory today and safeguard your wisdom, your stories and your skills.

They’re what make life meaningful, so power to your progress and I can’t wait to hear your memory improvement story soon.

For many people, paralysis would mean the end of studying.

But for the historian Tony Judt, who found himself immobilized by ALS, his condition became the beginning of something unexpected: a new way of thinking about memory, language, and the act of learning itself.

Even more astonishing, he found it within himself to write a book using dictation technology while he was still able to use his mouth.

The Memory Chalet is often read as memoir, and it is.

It’s also a poignant farewell by a brilliant European historian.

But hidden in its pages is something more enduring: a learning system disguised as autobiography.

And as I’m about to explain, part of this book’s value comes from the fact that it was forged under constraint.

This isn’t just a book review. It’s an excavation of the intellectual architecture and learning models Judt left behind for any autodidact can use.

And the tools and mindsets he shared matter now more than ever.

Let’s dig in.

https://youtu.be/UQHGXXKQIUo

Nostalgia as a Learning Tool

Early in The Memory Chalet, Judt wrote something that feels like a manifesto:

“Nostalgia makes a very satisfactory second home.”

It’s a striking claim.

Especially in our world of digital amnesia, where nostalgia is often dismissed as weakness, sentimental indulgence and a way of avoiding reality. We’re told to “live in the present,” to stop romanticizing the past.

Judt thought otherwise. For him, nostalgia wasn’t a trap. It was architecture.

Unable to write notes or type a single sentence, he turned memory itself into a private study where he composed his final lessons.

Why Judt’s Take On Nostalgia Matters for Learning

Psychologists like Endel Tulving have shown that deliberately engaging in autobiographical recall strengthens encoding and retrieval.

Many self-taught geniuses seem to have known this well, such as Benjamin Franklin who wrote extensively about his life and the lessons he learned along the way.

When we connect new information to vivid, personal memories, it sticks.

And we know that Judt was doing this based on his knowledge of memory techniques.

So his choice to write about his life was not nostalgia as escapism, but as construction material. And his choice to use a reframed version of the Memory Palace technique also helped him reinforce the present.

What does this suggest for you, practically speaking?

Your own history is not dead weight. It can be turned into a system for thought.

The hallway of your old school can become a place to rehearse arguments.

The kitchen you grew up in can help you memorize a list.

Even a remembered teacher’s voice can become a tool for mental rehearsal.

So Judt’s first lesson is simple but radical:

Don’t dismiss your past. Use it.

Nostalgia, when harnessed correctly, is not regression. It is forward motion.

The Autodidact’s Secret: Community

Judt described himself as an “isolated autodidact.”

It’s an evocative phrase, but it’s only half true.

The deeper truth is this:

Judt engineered his learning life so that he still encountered other minds.

When he set out to teach himself Czech, for example, he didn’t bury himself in a textbook or trust an app to drip-feed him vocabulary.

He sought out what he called “linguists of talent.” He placed himself in the company of sharp, demanding speakers.

Not only that, but he sought out the corrections of native speakers, which as anyone learning a new language knows, gives you the challenge of being wrong in public.

That friction was his sharpening stone.

And it can be yours too.

Why Would-Be Autodidacts Fail in Isolation

Too many self-learners today fall into what Judt would have called “methodological solipsism.”

They seal themselves off with language learning software, YouTube videos, or dense books.

Sure, these can be useful tools, but rarely do they put you under any kind of productive pressure.

Lacking real dialogue, too many ideas and assumptions go untested, leading to sometimes severe memory biases.

And without correction, errors harden into habits.

This is why so many would-be autodidacts flame out. They confuse consumption with education. They mistake being alone for self-directed learning.

But Judt’s example reminds us of the real secret: autodidacts design communities.

They don’t wait for the perfect classroom, professor, or syllabus. They build their own circuits of exchange, no matter how improvised.

Community as Cognitive Fuel

Cognitive science supports this claim.

Psychologist Lev Vygotsky argued that all higher thought is scaffolded by social interaction.

Our minds expand in dialogue, not monologue.

So when Judt surrounded himself with linguists, he wasn’t just practicing Czech. He was literally wiring his brain to handle complexity under pressure.

The same is true for polymaths across history.

From Leonardo da Vinci’s Florentine workshops to Benjamin Franklin’s Junto Club, the great self-learners of the past didn’t isolate themselves.

As I discuss in my full tutorial on how to become a polymath, people like these built learning communities tailored to their ambitions.

My Own Lesson in Community-Based Friction

I saw this need for community play out in my own journey with learning German.

Reading textbooks and attempting translations of Kafka got me only so far.

But everything shifted when I joined a German metal band called The Outside and decided to speak German with them, even if they continued to speak English back.

Suddenly my practice wasn’t theoretical.

Every rehearsal, every backstage joke, every late-night conversation became a test. My bandmates were my “linguists of talent,” and even if they continued answering in English, I knew I was making sense in German so long as the conversation flowed.

My point?

Progress rarely comes from having the perfect study conditions.

It comes from the awkward friction of real use. Mistakes, laughter, corrections. This is the true engine of fluency.

Building Your Own Learning Network

Judt’s lesson is one we can all apply:

Seek out friction. Don’t hide behind apps. Put yourself where mistakes can be corrected.

Even better:

Curate your companions. Find people whose skills are sharper than yours, even if only slightly.

Think like a polymath and for more tips, read my guide on what autodidacticism really involves.

It’s not really about studying on your own. It’s about creating a breadth of environment in deliberate ways that strengthen your depth of knowledge.

This is why I often tell people: if you want to become a true autodidact or even cultivate the broader traits of a polymathic personality, you cannot do it in a vacuum.

You need others. Not always as teachers in the formal sense, but as friction in your learning system.

Judt understood this. It’s why his “isolation” was never really alone. His “memory chalet” was built from the presence of others.

And that may be the greatest secret of all: self-directed learning is a communal act in disguise.

From Palace to Chalet: Rethinking the Memory Palace Technique

Most people who encounter the art of memory are introduced to the Memory Palace: an ancient technique dating back to Simonides of Ceos and then carried forward by people like Thomas Aquinas and the Renaissance memory master Giordano Bruno.

The idea is simple but powerful:

To use a Memory Palace, you simple place information along a route through a remembered building. You then recall each piece of information by walking through that structure in your mind.

For many learners, the grandeur of “palace” is inspiring. It suggests something vast, ornate, filled with chambers and corridors.

But for Judt, it was alien. Too grand. Too abstract. Too far removed from the reality of a body pinned to a hospital bed.

So he quietly re-engineered the method. Instead of a Memory Palace, he chose a “memory chalet.”

Modest, sure. But scaled to the size he need during his final months.

This adjustment wasn’t cosmetic.

It was a redesign of the mental engine that drives discipline itself.

Cognitive scientists call this predictive processing: the brain constantly tests incoming information against the models you give it.

The lesson is simple but radical:

Change the model, and you change the way the system runs.

Why Metaphors Matter for Memory

I’ve seen this lesson play out in my own teaching over the years I’ve been offering the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass.

One of my students, 88 years old, rejected the idea of palaces outright.

“Too grand,” he said. Instead, he invented his own phrase: “apartments with compartments.”

Suddenly, what had once seemed mysterious clicked. Memory became inhabitable.

This isn’t a trivial shift in language. It’s a structural shift in cognition.

At the risk of repetition, I’ll repeat a theme that shows up in countless books on learning:

Choose the wrong metaphor, and the system feels unworkable. Choose the right one, and the doors swing open.

For this reason, every learner should learn to test their metaphors and adapt them.

Take the Next Step: Build Your Own Memory System

Should you read The Memory Chalet?

The short answer: yes.

Tony Judt wrote a masterpiece in the face of unimaginable pain.

His book is more than memoir. It’s a manual for learning like a pro, full of lessons that will certainly endure in my mind.

And I hope yours too.

One of them is that memory is not a passive archive. It can be re-engineered, reshaped, and scaled to fit the life you actually live.

But here’s the part most people miss: you don’t need to wait until your back is against the wall to build your own system.

You can start now. And doing so doesn’t require superhuman discipline, just the right tools and metaphors.

That’s exactly why I created my Free Memory Improvement Course:

Inside, you’ll learn:

• How to design a Memory Palace (or chalet, or “apartment with compartments”) that matches your life.
• How to encode and recall information using images that actually stick.
• Why the right metaphors make or break your memory practice.
• Step-by-step exercises that transform abstract theory into daily results.

Thousands of learners, from language students and professionals to lifelong autodidacts, have already used this course to unlock their memory.

Now it’s your turn.

Because as Judt reminds us, someday never comes.

The time to strengthen your memory is always now.

I’ve been doing so for years as the founder of the Magnetic Memory Method. I’ve also succeeded beyond my wildest dreams as someone who experiences very limited visual imagery.

At first, I struggled with this technique, however. Until my research revealed that the Memory Palace technique was never purely visual.

No, from the beginning, the technique was taught in multi-sensory ways, including one powerful approach that is purely logical and conceptual.

And that’s the approach that helped me earn my PhD in Humanities at York University.

It also helped me learn languages, pass multiple certification exams and substantially expand my knowledge base.

And I’m not alone.

Today, accomplished memory athletes with no “mind’s eye” (aphantasics) prove that Memory Palaces work without inner pictures.

So how did the technique get mischaracterized as primarily visual? And how can you rapidly create well-formed Memory Palaces in just minutes?

Whether your imagination produces high-definition images or nothing at all, the methods I’m about to share will help you use the Memory Palace technique to learn faster and remember more.

Let’s dive in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJTZQbSE_dY

Why Visualization is Incorrectly Emphasized in Memory Palace Training

If you’re new to the Memory Palace technique, its ancient roots might not be on your radar.

Yet.

But we know from the historical science writer Lynne Kelly in books like The Memory Code and The Knowledge Gene that this technique had non-visual foundations for thousands of years.

For example, humans “offloaded” information they needed to remember onto rocks arranged in particular ways at sites like Stonehenge.

People also used objects covered in beads called lukasa to feel where they had encoded information in space.

As the Aboriginal author Tyson Yunkaporta shares in Sand Talk, elders used their hands as Memory Palaces. In some cases, they used each finger to remember an individual rule of conduct during a meeting.

Rather than visualize anything with the mind’s eye, bringing the thumb together with a particular finger sparked recall.

And these are all examples of the Memory Palace technique using an approach that is not inherently visual. It is spatial, kinesthetic and conceptual.

Fast forward to the Ancient Greek and Latin memory tradition, Simonides of Ceos emphasizes location as a concept above all things.

And St. Thomas Aquinas insisted his students imagine that they were inscribing information into the walls of their Memory Palaces as if writing on the surface of a wax tablet. He borrowed this idea from Aristotle and extended it with other useful ideas I have covered in this tutorial on Aquinas and memory.

So how did visual imagination come to be so prominent?

Misrepresentation by Modern Interpreters

In 1966, Frances Yates released an important, but deeply flawed study of the technique called The Art of Memory.

Don’t get me wrong. As a history of various mnemonic devices, it’s an important work. It has also inspired thousands, if not millions, of people to give memory techniques a try.

That said, we shouldn’t brush the problems she introduced under the rug.

By her own admission, she never actually used the techniques she wrote about.

As a result, she missed the importance of orientation, physical sensation and conceptualization discussed multiple times in her historical sources.

How was this mistake possible?

Besides not actually trying the techniques, I believe Yates may have been influenced by Dorothea Waley Singer.

Although this point might seem like an unnecessary detour, bear with me. It will pay off.

In 1950, Singer published the first edition of Giordano Bruno: His Life and Thought.

Singer’s biography influenced and inspired Yates’ own book on Bruno. Yeats in fact wrote The Art of Memory as background for her own book on the infamous mnemonist.

Here’s the problem:

Singer utterly dismisses the influence of another mnemonist named Llull on Bruno. She in fact suggests that Bruno was an utter fool for tinkering with Llull’s memory wheels.

So you don’t think I’m exaggerating, here’s exactly what Singer says:

Capable of hero worship, Bruno sometimes chose heroes who would have been strangely out of touch with him, as for example that saintly and mystical, muddled and truculent Franciscan, Raymond Llull, on whose worst works he wasted many years.

I wish the joke was on Singer and Yates. But it isn’t. Their mistaken dismissal and failure to deeply explore the techniques led a major problem to spread everywhere.

Due to Yates’ enormous influence in particular, uncountable numbers of people have misunderstood the non-visual art of combination so necessary to effectively using Memory Palaces.

As you can learn from this tutorial on Giordano Bruno, he wasn’t wasting his time on Llull at all.

Far from it.

The Influence of Memory Competitors & Stuntmen On the Mass Market

I’ll never forget when one of the most successful authors of memory books told me, “Whatever you do, don’t tell them about the science!”

This was Harry Lorayne, an influential popularizer of memory techniques like linking, the Major System and the story method.

Sadly, Lorayne believed that most people could not rise to the challenge of learning the most robust methods available (like the 20 memory techniques I describe in this tutorial).

He also thought that using memory science to prove that the techniques work only caused eyes to glaze over.

Although Lorayne may have been right that many people just want a fast solution to their memory problems, my point is that he and many other memory teachers took shortcuts.

Rather than lay out all of the multisensory, Lorayne went so far as to cut the Memory Palace from his training until his final book, Ageless Memory.

For years, he stubbornly insisted that he didn’t use Memory Palaces despite all evidence to the contrary. I give some of that evidence in this tribute video I made about Lorayne following his passing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaPMuWHZ1lU

On top of constantly using words like visualization and teaching people to see pictures in their imagination, Lorayne created the impression that Memory Palaces weren’t needed at all.

Another influential memory improvement author named Tony Buzan avoided this error by carefully detailing both Memory Palaces and multi-sensory mnemonic imagery.

But like Lorayne, who was a kind of stuntman of memory, many memory competitors flooded the market with books that refused to challenge readers.

Nelson Dellis is one of the few exceptions to the rule. As a 6x USA Memory Champion who openly teaches how to beat him, Nelson once remarked during a Magnetic Memory Method Podcast interview that “there’s no time to visualize” while using Memory Palaces in the heat of competition.

Despite my efforts in speaking with people like Nelson over the years, it’s been an uphill battle.

And when you combine the force of Lorayne’s influence with Yates, it’s easy to see why many people wound up misunderstanding how our ancestors actually used these techniques.

As a result, they’ve unnecessarily struggled and memorized much less information than they could have otherwise.

But there’s one more factor we need to consider, perhaps the most serious of all.

The Real Problem: People Falsely Believe They Need “Pictures”

Back in 2015, countless people started emailing me about a condition they called aphantasia.

Originally, I dismissed the idea because I know exactly what it’s like to live with seeing pictures in my mind.

But after finally learning about a study called Lives Without Imagery, I got seriously concerned.

People were now using a “condition” labeled by psychologists to describe why they were struggling to use Memory Palaces.

Given that Lynne Kelly identifies as aphantasic and still performed well at memory competitions and as a mnemonist, there’s a clear and obvious disconnect here.

Don’t get me wrong. Some people do benefit from visual memory skills.

The point is that you don’t need them to use the technique.

In fact, many people without aphantasia struggle to imagine clear visuals.

Personally, I feel like people trick themselves into mistaking how we describe the imagination for a proper definition of mental imagery as it is actually experienced.

I’ve written this complete discussion of mental imagery if you’d like to better understand the distinction.

When it comes down to brass tacks, I don’t know how to make the point clearer than this:

The belief that imagery is required for success with Memory Palaces blocks people from using the technique authentically.

The Multi-Sensory and Conceptual Alternatives

As you’ll discover in my full Memory Palace tutorial, my main suggestion is that people make the process inherently visual through the kinesthetic process of sketching.

Over the years, I’ve received thousands of Memory Palace drawings from students of the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass around the world.

These Memory Palace examples completely eliminate the need to imagine the location visually. Instead, you physically produce it so you can see the plan with your physical eyes.

This key distinction made it possible for me to start using the technique immediately after a period of struggle.

I only came to the idea of drawing my Memory Palaces after reading a book by Robert Fludd and speculating that he and other early authors of Memory Palace books must have sketched the illustrations for their printers.

When I discovered how helpful this simple step was, I added simple sketching to other aspects of memory techniques.

For example, I started sketching rather than using words on my flashcards and then combining them with my Memory Palaces. To take just one of many examples, I passed level III in Mandarin easily as a result back when I was learning Chinese using this approach.

Even if you’re highly visual, I still encourage you to sketch your Memory Palaces.

Not as art.

But as a simple planning step to avoid leading yourself into dead ends and creating other avoidable issues.

I’m still proud that my fellow mnemonist Jonathan Levi came to me for advice when preparing to memorize his TEDx Talk.

He’s very visual, but still benefitted from the exercise. He even shared the MMM-style Memory Palace in the talk itself:

But there’s more than one way to use the kinesthetic mode to help you experience the Memory Palace technique.

Let’s explore further.

Kinesthetic Loci

When using the method of loci (an alternative term for the Memory Palace technique), you can make the experience more physical in a few different ways.

I’ve used each of these approaches:

• Run your hands along the walls of a location to make the journey firmer in your mind.
• Imagine doing something physically at each station in the Memory Palace, such as bending down to tie your shoes by the door, brushing your teeth next to a plant, etc.
• Reach up mentally to touch the top of a bookshelf (something suggested by Peter of Ravenna back in the 15th century).
• Associate various locations with gestures, such as waving hello at an entrance.

As an exercise, quickly sketch your home and then run through each of the tactics I just shared.

Don’t try to visually imagine the Memory Palace.

Literally examine your own sketch with your eyes as you experience the location visually with your eyes and then feel the sensation of tying your shoes or making a physical gesture.

This will start training your mind to approach the technique in a deeply physical way.

Auditory Loci

Next, practice anchoring various points in your Memory Palaces to sounds.

Imagine:

• Hearing footsteps in a hallway.
• The echo of voices in a stairwell.
• Music playing from a bedroom.

These are all associations that occur naturally in these locations.

Also practice strange soundscapes, like imaging massive church bells ringing in a tiny bathroom.

As you explore this form of Memory Palace creation, limit the scope of your focus as closely as you can to pure sound. Doing so will exercise your auditory memory at the same time you build your Memory Palace skills.

Abstract Loci

Although it’s not always practical for use in learning when exams are at stake, you can stretch your skills quickly by experimenting with abstract Memory Palaces.

For example, watch this tutorial on using Geometrical Memory Palaces:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAPwOf31N7o

Again, you don’t have to “see” anything.

Whether you’re using a square, circle or more complex shape, words alone will help you navigate from corner to corner.

Conceptual & Logical Loci

Some of the most powerful techniques are admittedly a bit challenging to understand.

My favorite are found in the work of Jacobus Publicius, who was massively influential on Giordano Bruno. Perhaps even more so than Ramon Llull, something neither Singer nor Yates seem to have picked up.

This approach involves using a lot of categories, oppositions and logical frameworks as spatial anchors.

For example, Publicius teaches us to think purely in terms of the cardinal directions (north, east, south, west).

He also discusses alphabetical arrangements on squares and wheels that are navigated directionally by looking at the diagram, not in your imagination.

This one, for example, is a physical volvelle with rotating parts that get your hands involved in the encoding process:

You also find in the ancient tradition a lot of combinatorial tables that work like logical slots.

One way I’ve used pure logic in combination with Memory Palaces has helped with picking up new languages.

Opposites, for example, are logical. You can place the word for “white” on one wall and the word for “black” on another. Provided you use the technique consistently, you can memorize a lot of vocabulary quickly in this way.

Think of it like this:

A location is not just something you look at.

It’s a system of relationships involving everything from facts about height and weight, to grades of light and shadow at various times of day.

The more you think about the logic of association, the more you can harness these conceptual aspects. And the command to “think” has long been part of the tradition, something demanded by Aristotle, Hugh of St. Victor, Peter of Ravenna, Jacobus Publicius and many more.

Perhaps Bruno’s demand to think reached the highest crescendo when he suggested that anyone who thinks long and hard enough about the Memory Palace technique will reach the same conclusions about it as he did.

In Tony Buzan’s The Memory Book, specifically what he called SEM3, we see this principle in play.

Although you might not need to go to these conceptual lengths for your own learning projects, the point is that none of them require you to visualize.

The Integration Principle

The key is never to rely on just one approach.

As taught by Hugh of St. Victor and many other mnemonists until the 20th century, you want to approach all aspects of mnemonic technique in a hybrid manner.

Especially the Memory Palace, as stressed by St. Aquinas long ago with his suggestion that you imagine writing your mnemonic associations into the walls. Literally feeling and hearing the process as you go.

Practical Walkthrough: How to Build a Non-Visual Memory Palace

When you’re just getting started, here’s how I recommend you proceed:

• Choose a familiar location that doesn’t require the strain of trying to visualize it. The place you’re in while completing the exercise is a good option because you can see it in front of your eyes.
• Sketch out the floor plan using pen and paper, not software. Some people do like to use various computer programs and even virtual Memory Palaces, but resist this for now so you don’t place an interstitial screen between your mind and memory at this point.
• Assign each station using a variety of the methods described above using the Integration Principle.
• Rehearse the Memory Palace in all of the patterns I teach in my spaced repetition tutorial.
• Pick a learning goal and use multi-sensory associations on each station to encode the information. Start simply with the number rhyme technique if you want the easiest approach to encoding as a beginner.
• When retrieving information, focus on physically navigating the Memory Palace as if you are participating in a theatre play, not replaying a movie.

This final practice step is crucial.

Many people try to re-enact what happens in their Memory Palaces perfectly, as if reviewing a movie.

That’s not possible, and it’s also not necessary. The Memory Palace technique is much more like theatre where the actors always do things differently.

They still give you the target information, but never in quite the same way.

In other words, approach your recall practice in a relaxed manner that allows for difference. They will always be there as part of your practice with this technique.

Advantages of Non-Visual Memory Palaces

If you’re already skilled with Memory Palaces, you’ll soon find many benefits from reducing down to other modes of experience apart from the visual.

For one thing, you’ll recover the true historical breadth of this mental art.

You’ll also likely find that logic-based loci and associations are more durable than fleeting images. This is because they’re typically easier to dimensionalize.

You’ll also enjoy deeper personalization and variety, which we know from studies in active recall help many learners recall more information with greater accuracy.

Examples & Case Studies

As already discussed, memory experts like Lynne Kelly have used memory techniques with great success without having inner images.

Kelly in particular uses a lot of the ancient memory techniques we’ve just gone through. Her book Memory Craft is fantastic for more information and notes from her personal practice.

Keeping in mind that I’ve already broken the advice from Rhetorica ad Herennium that the teacher of memory should give no more than two examples, let me detail one of the most direct case studies.

Bruno’s Body Memory Palace

Your own body is one of the most physical Memory Palaces you can use.

In Bruno’s case, he talked about creating 30-station Memory Palaces on the statues of mythological figures.

To get that many stations, he focused on all of the major body parts that come in pairs, like the eyes, ears, cheeks, hands, etc.

If you try this practice, your Memory Palace might look something like this:

You can easily start by applying this approach using the journey method to your own body.

I personally start from the top of each body (or my own body) and work my way down. You might prefer to start from the feet and work your way up.

Either way, note that you don’t have to assign as many stations as Bruno advised in his 1586 book, Lampas triginta statuarum (The Lantern of Thirty Statues).

For example, in his Black Belt Memory course, Ron White shares a 10-station version. Not only is this reduced number of stations more practical. He also shows how you can easily link each station to the Major System.

My Hand Memory Palace

My personal favorite use of a physical Memory Palace was a hand Memory Palace I assigned in preparation for an interview with Tyson Yunkaporta.

You can see me use it in the video version of our discussion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_–IAZz410

Although the list of steps for holding a meeting I memorized based on Aboriginal tradition was brief, using my hand was a lot faster than the way I normally memorize lists.

On each finger I placed a single word:

• Connect (pointer)
• Respect (middle)
• Reflect (ring)
• Direct (pinkie)

To lock in each word, I used a phonetic and logic-based version of the pegword method to lock in simple associations on each finger.

For “connect,” I imagined the singer Connie Francis on my pointer finger, Aretha Franklin singing “Respect” on my middle finger, and so on.

It was easy, fun, fast and required no visualization whatsoever.

FAQs About Non-Visual Memory Palaces

I’ve been blessed to receive countless questions about memory techniques over the years, either through my contact page or through one-on-one memory coaching.

Here are some rapid fire responses to the most common questions I’ve received.

Do Memory Palaces work if I have aphantasia?

Yes, and in many cases they work even better because having to visualize takes more time and mental energy than necessary.

What if my imagery is inconsistent?

There are two points to consider:

First, “imagery” is not quite the right way to look at mnemonic associations. So long as you practice using phonic similarities and logical connections, you don’t need imagery at all.

Second, as I discussed above regarding thinking of Memory Palace as theatrical rather than cinematic, our associations are bound to be inconsistent.

It’s not a problem so long as you approach the technique with realistic framing.

Why do people say that the Memory Palace is a visual technique?

Many people have been influenced by authors like Frances Yates and Harry Lorayne.

In reality, the Memory Palace technique was never strictly visual.

Having read vast amounts of ancient memory improvement guides, I believe our ancestors would be distressed to see how some of the most important aspects of the technique have been deemphasized.

That said, if you read teachers like Hugh of St. Victor, Peter of Ravenna and Giordano Bruno, you’ll quickly see that their students also came to them with incorrect conceptions.

There’s a particularly funny passage in Ravenna’s The Phoenix where the author corrects the limited mindset through an example of a typical student objection. You can read it in my updated version of this classic memory training book, available from the Magnetic Memory Method products page.

What senses can you use other than vision in a Memory Palace?

The main eight “Magnetic Modes” I use have come to be called KAVE COGS.

This is an acronym for:

• Kinesthetic
• Auditory
• Visual
• Emotional
• Conceptual
• Olfactory
• Gustatory
• Spatial

I don’t always use all eight. But sometimes I dig deeper into the conceptual mode, which has twenty variations. I shared some of them above in terms of category, opposites and the cardinal directions.

Generally, these are best saved for really tough information, like the Sanskrit phrases I’ve memorized.

Do non-visual Memory Palaces take longer to build?

When you follow my simple sketching recommendations, no. In fact, the process is much faster.

That said, the amount of time depends on the learning project.

For my Sanskrit memorization goals, one Memory Palace took a few extra minutes to work out.

This is my drawing of this particular Memory Palace, which I pre-numbered to help me also remember which verse I memorized on the individual stations:

But generally, a well-formed Memory Palace takes 2-5 minutes to develop or less.

Can I combine the Memory Palace with the Major System without visualization?

This is a very important and interesting question.

In fact, the Major System is a kind of Memory Palace.

So too is its extension, something called a 00-99 PAO System.

The reason I suggest you consider these tools as types of Memory Palaces is simple:

As Hugh of St. Victor pointed out in his writings on memory (which you can find in The Medieval Craft of Memory), raw numbers create a kind of field.

I’ve created this illustration to show you what he means:

Hugh then discusses attaching various associations to these purely imagined locations. These associations are generally Biblical in nature and in some cases surround a Memory Palace based on Noah’s Ark.

But Hugh did not expect you to visually imagine any of these locations. In the case of the Ark, he had a painting on the wall behind him to help illustrate the pairing of Biblical information with associations and conceptual spaces.

In other words, the answer is yes, you can combine Memory Palaces with any numerical mnemonic system including the Major System without visualizing anything in your mind.

How many Memory Palaces should I create if I don’t visualize?

Along with anyone else interested in serious results with these techniques, I suggest you assign as many Memory Palaces as you can.

That way, you’ll always be prepared to memorize anything you like without hesitation.

As two starter projects, I suggest you assign one Memory Palace for each letter of the alphabet.

Once done, learn the Major System and develop a 00-99 PAO. You can use this as a Memory Palace unto itself by experiencing the numbers in a field.

Or you can make the number-based Memory Palace Network more tangible by assigning it to a street (or series of streets) in a neighborhood you know reasonably well.

In other words, you snap your 00-99 figures onto the actual street addresses. Using my system, I would assign Nick Nolte to a building with the number 27 in the address because the Major tells us that 2 is N and 7 is K.

Can children or beginners learn to use Memory Palaces without visualization?

Yes.

That’s because the same conceptual rules are available to anyone at any age.

For examples of young people succeeding with the Memory Palace technique, please listen to my podcast episodes with Alicia Crosby and Imogen Aires. They were both just ten years of age when they were recorded.

Common to both success stories is parental involvement.

And that’s the key if you would like to see your kids succeed with these techniques.

Don’t just put a training guide in front of them. Learn the techniques yourself first so you can teach them from experience.

And share in the fun too.

Unlock the Power of Memory Without Relying on Images

From Simonides of Ceos and Thomas Aquinas to Bruno and beyond, the Memory Palace has never belonged exclusively to those who see vivid pictures in their minds.

The technique has always been grounded on multi-sensory and conceptual frameworks that turn raw data into lasting memories.

Whether you see high-definition images or nothing at all, you can build Memory Palaces that expand knowledge, sharpen focus and unlock your potential.

The key is to correctly understand your imagination and pair it with structure, practice and a willingness to experiment with the techniques.

If you’re ready to go deeper, register for my free memory improvement course:

It walks you step by step through mastering the Memory Palace.

Inside, you’ll get four concise training videos and worksheets designed to get you taking action immediately.

Last thought before we go:

The Memory Palace technique endures because vast amounts of people adapt it to their needs.

Whether by focusing on sight, sound, tactile sensations or pure thought, this technique reminds us that memory knows no bounds.

And all that mastering it requires is the same as anything else:

Constant study and practice.

In this case, that’s a wonderful requirement because using this particular learning technique is endlessly rewarding and fun.

If you’re seeking memory training because of forgetfulness, mental fog, or information overload, you’re not alone.

In fact, I’ve been on both sides.

I’ve been so frustrated with my memory that I nearly dropped out of grad school.

And so successful I came in second in a memory competition against one of the best mental athletes in the world.

My range of experiences means good news for you.

With the right daily drills and proven exercises, you can dramatically improve your recall, focus, and clarity.

In this guide, you’ll discover 7 memory training techniques I’ve personally used to:

• Complete a PhD using mnemonic strategies
• Deliver a TEDx Talk seen by millions
• Learn multiple languages with confidence

Each routine is practical, research-backed and useable starting today.

Whether you want to remember names, prepare for exams, or simply keep your mind sharp as you age, these drills work.

Let’s dive in.

https://youtu.be/DU4VznNm1z4

Proof that Memory Training Works

As we go through the list of memory techniques you can start practicing with today, keep in mind that there’s no particular order of importance.

They all matter and each one is well-worth spending time learning.

But you might like to have some assurance that scientists have actually studied these memory tools.

In addition to reading my full profile of the state of memory science, you’ll be delighted to know that many of my memory champion friends have participated in memory studies.

For example, Katie Kermode recently posted on LinkedIn about her participation in this University of Cambridge Study.

This study follows many others, including a major analysis of how proper memory training leads to superior memory skills.

I’ll share a few more scientific references as we go, but for now, keep in mind that we are talking about training.

This means that your time does need to be spent on learning and applying the various memory techniques we’re about to explore together.

But every moment will be worth it once you see the results of better memory flowing into your life.

The Core Memory Training Techniques & Drills I Recommend

One: Mnemonic Linking

Mnemonic linking is where most people start training their memory.

What is linking?

It’s a simple technique where you assign vivid, strange or emotional associations between information you already know and new data you want to retain.

To keep things simple, let’s say you need to remember a list of words like “apple,” “book” and “dog.”

To use the linking technique, you simply mentally link the apple with something related to apples that is specifically familiar to you. I would personally forge a link with an Apple computer.

For the next word in the list, I would imagine the Apple computer interacting with a specific book. Since the final word is “dog,” that book could be the Bible in the jaws of a specific dog.

The key is to make every association specific. So in this case, the list will be easiest to remember if there’s a kind of mnemonic story playing out:

“An Apple computer flies down from the sky to try and wrestle the family Bible from the jaw of Superman’s dog.”

Silly, right?

Yes, and that’s what makes it so memorable.

In case you’re interested, one of the reasons why so many people start with linking isn’t because it’s the best place to start.

It’s largely because that’s where the dominant memory improvement authors like Harry Lorayne and Tony Buzan talked about starting. They were largely repeating the instructions given by Bruno Furst in his correspondence memory courses.

Linking is definitely worth learning. I use it frequently and found it especially helpful for learning the articles and other aspects of learning German.

Two: Peg Systems

Peg systems are the foundation of how I learned to memorize playing cards.

Please be aware that memory teachers use the general term “peg” in quite a variety of ways.

I generally call it the pegword method and separate pegs into at least four different kinds of mnemonic images:

• Number Rhymes
• Number objects (or number shapes)
• Major System
• PAO System

To give you an example of the simplest peg system, here’s how the number rhyme technique works through the association of rhymed images:

• 1 = sun
• 2 = shoe
• 3 = bee
• 4 = door
• 5 = hive
• 6 = sticks
• 7 = heaven
• 8 = gate
• 9 = wine
• 10 = hen

As a fun exercise that will itself give your brain a workout, I suggest you draw your first number-rhyme list.

Here’s my own hand drawn list:

Once you’re set up with these rhymes (or variations of your own choosing), associating information using this technique will be a breeze.

To give you an example, let’s refer back to our previous list.

Using number rhyme pegs, you could imagine the apple growing as large and as bright as the sun. The book could be shaped like a shoe, and smell just as bad. And the dog could be chasing bees.

The advantage to number rhymes is that you not only remember the items. You also remember the numbered order of each item in the list.

Another advantage when you develop your skills will all four peg systems is that you have pre-learned mental associations.

You don’t have to invent new links on the fly. You have mental “pegs” to hang new information on.

Please train with all of these peg systems in the bulleted list above because having multiple tactics offers tremendous flexibility when you want to remember things quickly.

Also be sure to train with them within Memory Palaces once you know that technique. It will help you with some of the non-visual aspects of the Memory Palace technique that you’ll also benefit from mastering.

Three: Keyword Mnemonics

When preparing for my TEDx Talk, I didn’t memorize every word.

Instead, I pulled out only the most important words. This is generally the best approach to memorizing a speech.

By compressing the speech into a smaller set of memory triggers laid out along a Memory Palace journey, I was able to convey the main points without having to memorize the entire speech verbatim.

As a result, you can memorize two or three words and still recall entire sentences.

For example, my TEDx begins with the line, “How would you like to completely silence your mind?”

The images are simple Howie Mandel with a stick of wood hitting a like button on a YouTube video. Since I know the topic of my talk, I didn’t need to encode the rest of the phrase.

Verbatim Memorization By Making Every Word a Keyword

Now, if you’ve seen my TEDx Talk, you might have noticed that I recite a few quotes and Sanskrit phrases.

This is verbatim memorization, but it’s essentially the same process.

Instead of extracting keywords, every word is memorized as if it were a keyword. To practice this, I suggest you complete my tutorial on how to commit poetry to memory.

As an additional resource, please consult my detailed tutorial on how to memorize a paragraph.

Four: Alphanumeric Mnemonics

I mentioned the Major System above.

Let’s dig deeper into how this technique works so you can easily remember important phone numbers, credit cards, historical dates and even matters related to programming on demand.

What is it?

The Major System is called an “alphanumeric” technique because it helps you transform numbers into consonant sounds.

You then turn these into memorable words by inserting vowels between the consonants.

The Major System is a foundational technique and merely learning to use it will provide you with outstanding memory training.

Here’s the exact alphanumeric pattern I’ve used for decades:

Once you’ve committed this set of associations to memory, here’s how it works:

If you have to memorize the number 34, you note that 3 = M and 4 = R.

You then insert a vowel and come up with a word like “mare” or a person like “Mary.”

Personally, I use “mare” as my word for 34, but make it more specific by thinking of a specific horse: the one pictured on the cover of Piers Anthony’s Xanth novel, Nightmare.

Although this technique is primarily used for remembering numbers, you can actually use it to remember many other things.

For example, often when I learn new words in different languages, I observe the consonants and work out what numbers they would be in the Major System.

This makes it fast and easy to come up with associations.

For example, in German, “blacksmith” is der Schmeid.

In the major, the “sch” sound can be represented by 6, which also covers J sounds. D is linked with 1.

61 makes words like “Jedi” and Judd. So I can imagine the actor Judd Nelson “smushing” his Jedi uniform into a suitcase shaped like an E.

Although that’s not 100% direct, it doesn’t have to be. With a small amount of spaced repetition, the target information will enter long-term memory.

A Brief History of Alphanumeric Mnemonics

Although it can be a bit tough to learn in the beginning, rest assured that people have been using mnemonic tools like the Major System for thousands of years.

For more background, check out Lynne Kelly’s The Memory Code.

In my own research, I’ve found the katapayadi system, which goes back to at least 869 CE.

I find the length of time this particular type of tool for establishing memories has been around inspiring. Hopefully it will continue to survive for both practical uses and fun projects like memorizing pi.

Five: The First Letter Mnemonic Technique

This next technique is great for training with poetry, song lyrics and quotes.

To use it, all you do is take the first letter of each word and write it on a piece of paper.

Here’s what I mean using the opening of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 59:

“If there be nothing new, but that which is hath been before…”

Once you’ve written out the letters, you look at the list and practice recalling all the words in full.

It is literally an exercise in mentally filling in the blanks.

As a learning technique, this approach is related to the Cloze test.

In this laboratory study of using what the scientists called the “first Initial mnemonic,” students who used it as part of their studies showed significantly better recall.

Although I would never use this approach to memorize something mission critical like a speech, it is a good training exercise. I use it a couple of times a year just for practice.

Six: Story-Telling For Better Memory

I mentioned the power of crafting mnemonic stories above. Let’s go deeper.

As we know from the story of Simonides of Ceos, the brain loves stories because it finds them instantly memorable.

That’s one reason why the Renaissance memory master Robert Fludd talked about using theatre plays in your associations.

I personally use this approach often, and have a full Story Method tutorial that will help you use it in a highly targeted way for both training your memory and as a learning tool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhN0rigUHTQ

Seven: The Memory Palace Technique (The Gold Standard)

The Memory Palace technique changed my life.

Also known as the method of loci, it’s powerful because it lets you use one of our most powerful types of memory and mental faculties:

Spatial memory.

In other words, you place associations paired with your target information along a familiar route or location in your imagination.

Then, using spaced repetition and one of the association techniques discussed above, you revisit the images you placed along the journey. Soon, you’ll have the information you want to remember in long-term memory.

That’s exactly what I did to memorize my TEDx Talk using keywords after making a quick sketch of a familiar location:

And like all memory techniques, the Memory Palace has been thoroughly vetted by researchers.

According to a Nature article prepared by Eleanor Maguire and her team, anyone can reshape their brain’s networks by using this technique.

As the scientist’s revealed when sharing the brain scans of memory champions who use the technique, their success in remembering vast amounts of information quickly came from using this spatial memory technique.

The researchers then put non-memory athletes through a memory training program and observed how their brains changed with exercise.

The more the newcomers practiced the memory training techniques, the more their brain activity started to resemble the brains of memory athletes.

That means you can expect similar memory boosts, even if you’re a beginner with this particular mnemonic device.

Beyond Training with Techniques: Daily Memory Exercises

Developing stronger memory skills is generally best approached using the techniques I just shared with you.

However, there are other smaller actions you can take to create remarkable results over time.

Here are some recommended daily memory-boosting exercises I personally use and recommend:

One: Brain Games and Puzzles

You can stimulate multiple aspects of your cognition by playing a variety of brain games.

In addition to the classics like Sudoko and matching games, you can get involved with my Memory Detective game. We usually play a round every Halloween in the Magnetic Memory Method community.

Two: Regular Mindfulness and Meditation

Even just ten minutes a day of sitting meditation can improve your focus and working memory.

As this study shows, less is definitely more.

Not only did they find that brand-new meditators enjoyed better memory. They also experience mood boosts and greater levels of emotional regulation.

Three: Physical Exercise for Brain Health

Although I don’t always feel like it, I work hard to get myself to the gym three times a week. Or I will do a calisthenic routine at home.

I also take walks almost every day, including walking backwards. As this study showed, even just imagining that you’re walking backwards produced a memory boosting effect.

Personally, I prefer the real thing, even though it gets strange glances when I do it at the local outdoor gym.

Four: Learn Something New Every Day

Whether it’s studying a new language, a musical instrument or practicing a hobby like writing, continually learning new topics and skills keeps your brain engaged.

It also helps with neuroplastic change, literally rewiring your brain for better processing speed and memory.

You might also consider exploring a variety of ways to learn. If you typically take notes in a top-down fashion, for example, you can spend a few months on Tony-Buzan style mind mapping for a change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Over the years, I’ve received dozens of questions about various memory activities.

Here are answers to some of the most useful.

Does memory training really work?

The nuanced answers is that any memory exercise you engage in will work relative to the effort you put into it and the level of challenge.

Often people complain that a mental training routine isn’t producing results, but they are not actually challenging themselves in any meaningful way.

For example, in my critical analysis of crossword puzzles as a memory activity, you’ll find research showing that many people weaken themselves by looking at the answers.

So if you’re following a routine that lets you cheat in any shape or form, then no, it’s not likely to work.

The flip side of the coin is that you don’t want to engage in activities that are so challenging you simply feel frustrated.

So I encourage you to find activities that are challenging, but not to the point of constant failure.

How long does it take to see results?

If you choose a memory training exercise like the first letter mnemonic we discussed above, you could feel the results instantly.

But generally, there’s no magic number.

The point of memory training is similar to physical training. You want an ongoing balance of new exploration and maintenance of existing skills.

Are brain training apps the same as using memory techniques?

Not at all.

This is because the point of memory training is ultimately to have sharper recall in situations where you can’t reach for a device and use a search engine.

As I discussed in my post on cognitive training myths, you want some alignment between your specific memory improvement goal and the improvement activities you choose.

So if you truly want to improve your memory, think about exactly what that means. As I discuss in my tutorial on how to increase memory power, you need to start by defining your memory improvement goal.

Then select the activities most likely to get you there. Chances are, it won’t involve an app.

Can memory training help me pass exams?

Absolutely. People who regularly train their memory skills will gain an advantage.

But let’s be clear:

There’s a difference between daily training trills and sitting down to commit testable information to memory.

Just because you’ve sharpened your memory doesn’t mean you’ll memorize test answers.

For that, make sure you consider the techniques for studying I used when completing my PhD more comprehensively.

Memorization was a substantial part of my process, but not the only activity I engaged in by far.

Will memory training help reduce the impact of aging?

Almost certainly.

But you definitely want to discuss any issues you’re experiencing with a doctor.

As you do, please take inspiration from some of the greatest memory instructors who ever lived.

Harry Lorayne wrote many fantastic books on his way to the ripe age of 96 years.

He provided complete proof of concept and shared his best memory training processes in a book called Ageless Memory.

Likewise, Tony Buzan remained sharp during his twilight years. I re-read The Memory Book frequently to continually take inspiration from how he combined memory training with physical activity and diet.

What is the best memory training technique for beginners?

I suggest starting with number rhymes and applying them to simple lists.

It’s quick to setup and wonderfully effective.

Once you have the system setup, the only remaining task is to select various words with which to practice on a daily basis.

Fortunately, that’s as simple as picking up a dictionary or visiting a website that will suggest words for you.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need a “Photographic Memory”

Many people ask me to teach them to have a photographic memory.

I always turn them down because most of what we need to memorize is in language, not pictures.

Plus, photographic memory is widely considered to be pseudoscience.

Ultimately, if you want a trained memory, or even just to learn faster, every technique you’ve discovered on this page is very learnable.

If you’d like more help, especially with turning these exercises into long term results, sign up for my free course now:

It gives you the ultimate memory improvement exercise by focusing on spatial memory through four free videos and three powerful worksheets.

You’ll learn how to:

• Lock information into long-term memory
• Recall faster with less effort
• Transform more of your studies and work life into effective brain workouts

And if you’d like more information on additional mnemonic tools, this list of memory techniques goes deeper still into the many mnemonic activities you can explore.

The important point is to get started and keep going.

The absolute best years of your learning and remembering life await!

Part of the answer is easy: he was a self-made polymath.

That means he trained himself to study and succeed in multiple skills and disciplines with surgical focus.

The key to learning across so many fields?

Habits.

Routine processes and procedures that still work to this day.

In fact, they’re more valuable than ever.

On this page, you’ll learn how Franklin built one of the sharpest minds in all of human history.

Even better:

You’ll learn how you can use the same habits and techniques to learn faster, think deeply, and integrate knowledge across multiple fields.

Let’s dive in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tQm-sM4KIc

What Makes Benjamin Franklin a Polymath?

The term “polymath” has been used for hundreds of years to describe a person of various learning.

But we’re not talking about productivity nerds, which is sometimes how the term is now used in our time.

Franklin, like Thomas Jefferson and other polymaths I’ve covered on this website, built expertise in multiple areas through the power of habit.

It’s important to understand this fact because Franklin was not born into privilege. He wasn’t a savant.

But the specific activities he engaged in make him one of the most influential minds of his time. He influences us to this day.

And his learning habits are proof that polymathy isn’t about talent. It’s about practicing the right habits.

Benjamin Franklin’s Most Important Learning Habits

As we get into my discussion of how Franklin learned, you might think that some of the habits I’m describing belong more to the realm of productivity.

Although that might be true, to succeed in everything from science and innovation to politics and diplomacy, Franklin’s biggest habit is the most important of all.

That’s because it creates reflective thinking. And when you have that, you learn from your own habits, enabling personal growth over time as you learn from your own journey.

With that point in mind, here are what I believe are the most important lessons about learning, overcoming obstacles and long-term focus.

One: The Focusing Power of Franklin’s Reading Deadlines

Franklin worked for a time in his brother’s printing shop.

To educate himself, he would quietly borrow books from apprentice booksellers and read them overnight. Then, before anyone noticed, he would return them.

As he wrote about this habit:

“Often I sat up in my room reading the greatest part of the night, when the book was borrowed in the evening and to be returned early in the morning, lest it should be missed or wanted.”

This early habit of reading against the clock focused his mind and deepened his memory.

He also chose books written in modern styles, which would influence his communication skills.

But the point is that Benjamin chose to become one of the most well-read minds of his era.

And when he read, he wasn’t just reading. He was training.

I’ve also read against the clock for years and deadlines are indeed powerful. Check out my guide to reading faster for more information.

Two: The Expansive Power of Conversation

Franklin didn’t just read books. He also read people.

That’s because he understood something that many people who want to become polymathic miss:

The right conversation with the right person can teach you more than a hundred books. Faster.

In order to make sure he was having plenty of the right conversations, Benjamin created the Junto in Philadelphia.

This was a weekly discussion group where a variety of tradesmen, writers and thinkers shared ideas.

It was not just a social circle.

Rather, the Junto was a living, breathing social system that allowed its members to learn from one another.

As Jessica Borger recently wrote in a scholarly paper titled The Power of Networking in Science and Academia, networking remains just as important in our time. If not more so.

As Franklin wrote with reference to the importance of relationships:

“A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.”

Three: Accumulating Knowledge Through Questioning

Franklin wrote a lot and was clearly highly opinionated.

But Walter Isaacson highlights in his excellent biography,  Franklin wrote that knowledge “was obtained by the use of the ear rather than of the tongue.”

To make sure he had plenty to listen to, Franklin stimulated conversation through questions.

If you’d like to emulate the process, check out my full guide on how and why you should question everything.

The key is to understand that Franklin didn’t ask questions to impress others.

He used dialogue to help refine his thinking, uncover new perspectives and help himself and others understand more.

All the reading to deadlines he did surely helped stimulate his curiosity and stockpile a number of questions.

But the deliberate practice of questioning helped make the process automatic, literally forging it into a habit thanks to what scientists call procedural memory.

Make questioning while you meet with people and as you study a habit of mind. It will help you think differently, learn more and experience tremendous growth.

And the best part is that the more you practice asking questions, the better your questioning will become.

Four: Setting Rules and Keeping Them

Just as reading to deadlines focuses the mind and memory, developing codes of conduct frees the mind to pay much more open attention to what you want to learn.

That’s why Benjamin was a fanatic for creating rules.

But he didn’t just create them.

He wrote them out, tested them, enforced them and evolved them over time.

For example, he crafted thirteen rules around a list of virtues. You can find them in his autobiography, specifically the section where he talks about his goal of achieving moral perfection.

But he didn’t stop at self-discipline for himself.

When he formed the Union Fire Company from a group of volunteers, he wrote bylaws. If members broke the rules around attending meetings or taking care of equipment, they paid fines.

Likewise with the Junto. Members followed written rules to help ensure an environment where their mutual focus on learning from one another thrived.

You might think Franklin’s approach is a bit old-fashioned. But in our time, internet companies like stickK enable people to set up commitment contracts. If they don’t achieve goals they’ve set for themselves, the company will send a certain amount of the users money to a charity or other designated party.

Although your mileage may vary from setting rules for yourself, habitually setting up codes of conduct and sticking to them can create a framework for learning.

Personally, I use rules as accelerators for my learning goals often, such as rewarding myself for getting through difficult books I don’t want to read. For example, I won’t let myself get a book for pleasure until I’ve finished one that I’ve committed to completing for my research.

I find that accountability works best when it’s unavoidable, visible and public. That’s one reason I made a video about my in-progress bookshop Memory Palace project.

Although many challenges have made me want to give up along the way, my rule that I finish the projects I start helps me push through. As does making the projects I start public.

Five: Masterful Note-Taking

As a student of multiple topics, Franklin developed his own shorthand.

These days, you can learn Gregg shorthand relatively quickly, sparing yourself the hassle of creating a system from scratch.

But the larger point is to learn how to take notes effectively.

For picking up this powerful study skill, you can consult my guide to note-taking.

You can also explore one of the core techniques Thomas Jefferson used, an approach now called the Zettelkasten method.

Whichever method you choose, it’s helpful to understand that many of Franklin’s notes were not main points copied out verbatim.

He formulated the ideas in his own words, often reconstructing the ideas in the form of Socratic dialogues.

Franklin even invented names for different personas and had these characters help him explore and refine a variety of ideas.

You can think of this approach as an advanced form of active, transformational note-taking. If you want to be as polymathic as Franklin, avoid passive reading and seek the active synthesis of ideas by engaging them deeply in your own words.

Six: Writing to Learn

Franklin didn’t stop at reformulating his notes. He treated long-form writing as a laboratory for learning.

As a self-taught teenager marked by the most common traits of an autodidact, Franklin copied essays he admired.

Then, he would attempt to rewrite them from memory a few days later.

Even more importantly, he studied grammar and rhetoric to help him craft better persuasion skills. As he wrote:

This habit, I believe, has been of great advantage to me when I have had occasion to inculcate my opinions, and persuade men into measures that I have been from time to time engaged in promoting.

Franklin also wrote correspondences with people around the world. When he could not learn from available journals or his social circle, he wrote to thinkers across Europe.

They helped him design his own experiments, and his habit of regularly communicating in writing through the mail was tremendously fruitful.

Writing also helped provide Franklin with a fantastic memory for quotes and short sayings packed with wisdom.

And of course, writing made him incredibly wealthy. This habit literally bought him more books and more time to read them. He retired from his business at just 42 years of age.

Seven: The Synergy of Synced Habits

Although we often think of polymaths as people who have established mastery in multiple domains, Franklin unified his skills wherever possible.

His strategies for competing with a fellow newspaper printer named Andrew Bradford reveal synergistic thinking.

To do this, Franklin built a multimedia empire over time. He combined the ownership of multiple printing presses in various regions with also creating and owning products.

On top of owning the presses that printed his own catalogs, magazines, almanacs and newspapers, Franklin also wrote content for them.

From there he conquered distribution, meaning that he could profit by taking care of mailing his own products.

These strategies compounded the value of the habits he used to accomplish and maintain all of these processes.

As you work on your own development as a polymath consider the many areas where you can build new skills on top of the foundational abilities you’ve already developed.

In the terms Peter Burke offers in his book, The Polymath, Franklin was a centripetal polymath. This means that he built his many skills to support a singular vision.

Other polymaths might stack on skills more randomly. There’s nothing wrong with doing this, but you’ll wind up missing the benefits of syncing your habits synergistically the way Franklin did.

What We Can Learn From Franklin’s Daily Schedule

There’s no mystery to how Franklin fit all of his skills development and maintenance activities into his day. He lays out the process in his autobiography.

If you look at his illustration above, you’ll see an early version of what we now call “time boxing.”

But more important than giving his time organization habits a name, not that he did not cram. He crafted space for asking questions, removing clutter and thinking reflectively.

When you design your day around thinking, you’ll live more deliberately.

Your mind will have more space for focusing on what you want to learn. And your mind will be freer to integrate what you’re learning.

To emulate Franklin’s process:

• Begin and end each day with one reflective thought
• Protect and assign your thinking time
• Plan and track your exact behaviors, not just what you accomplish

In other words, manage the meaning of your time. This will help align your activities into habits worth having.

Franklin’s Greatest Achievements as a Polymath

Everyone will have their own favorite accomplishment from Franklin’s incredible life.

Here are the ones that stand out most to me.

Science and Innovation

Franklin’s most famous experiment proved that lightning was electricity.

But he didn’t rely on intuition. He studied the topic deeply, including different ways to test his hypothesis safely.

He used some of the habits we’ve discussed above to contact other inventors and scientific-minded people.

As a result, he:

• Invented the lightning rod, preventing destructive fires.
• Created bifocal lenses, solving a personal problem that still helps people around the world.
• Charted the Gulf Stream, helping massively improve Atlantic navigation.

Franklin went beyond curiosity and the relentless consumption of information we see today.

He tested what he learned, applied it and shared his results, inspiring many other “citizen scientists” to do the same.

Politics and Diplomacy

As a student of classical philosophy, Franklin understood the political theories of his time incredibly well.

His self-directed reading habits included international law so that he could practice the highest level of public service.

As a result, he helped:

• Draft the Declaration of Independence.
• Negotiate the Treaty of Paris.
• Serve as a cultural and political ambassador between America and Europe.

Although some people attribute Franklin’s success to charisma, that’s not the full story.

He studied people carefully in addition to being a practitioner of rhetorical tools of persuasion. He turned everything he learned into skills that he leveraged.

Philanthropy and Civic Initiatives

Franklin used his knowledge and business acumen to serve others.

The list of examples is long, but includes:

• Founding lending libraries.
• Establishing volunteer fire departments.
• Organizing street cleaning and mutual aid groups.

All of these came from Franklin’s passion for people.

But their success was aided by the habits that structured his interdisciplinary study efforts.

Writing and Publishing

As a writer and publisher myself, Franklin has inspired me for years.

Everything from his habit of reconstructing what he’d read from memory to building a multimedia conglomerate has given me insight into how to enjoy success of my own.

Franklin’s lifelong writing habits led him to:

• Create Poor Richard’s Almanack, where he shared his practical wisdom and philosophy.
• Establish a lucrative career in printing, publishing and distribution.
• Tackle politics through satire by writing dozens of pseudonymous essays

Stacked, Not Scattered

If there’s one major lesson to take from Benjamin Franklin’s learning life, it’s that he leveraged the power of structure and balance.

His achievements were the product of interleaving:

• Curiosity
• Study
• Systems development
• Experimentation
• Analysis
• Sharing

It was like a perfect circle.

And one that anyone can emulate.

But if you find that your mind is scattered, I suggest getting some memory training.

That might sound like a leap in logic, but if you’ve enjoyed the insights about Franklin you’ve read today, I have good reason to believe that Franklin’s memory was sharp.

It’s part of the explanation for why he could pay attention to what mattered and prioritize the right habit stacks at the right times.

To help you get your memory sharper so you have more focus and clarity, consider signing up for my free course.

Its exercises will help you improve your working memory so you can process more ideas faster.

And prioritize them like Franklin.

So what do you say?

As far as I can tell, Franklin wasn’t born a polymath.

Nor did he wait to be taught.

He used daily discipline, deadlines, intentional habits and a relentless drive to help others enjoy an incredible life of learning.

His polymathy was forged.

And that means you can forge your own polymathy too.

Start with one habit, one question and one page in a journal.

And keep going. Before you know it, learning multiple skills and fields of knowledge will fill your entire being with accomplishment and joy.

That’s because I believe memorizing a list should not be hard.

And people who struggle with with them?

It’s not because their memory is bad.

They’re often just using the wrong method.

I’ve been thinking about lists a lot lately as I reach the final stages of establishing a real-world Memory Palace with a bookshop in it.

To pull it off, I’m studying real estate in a course.

It involves all kinds of acronyms, form numbers and logistics.

And thanks to the technique you’re about to discover, I’m retaining the lists of information with easy.

The Memory Palace technique is not a trick.

It’s a system.

And once you learn it, you can memorize any list. Quickly and for life.

Let’s begin.

https://youtu.be/dJvbbMtA1OA

How to Memorize a List Fast

There’s a fair amount of confusion about list memorization because there are different ways of doing it.

So many ways that people wind up confused and wondering which approach to use.

For example, you might have heard of Harry Lorayne.

He was a magician who popularized using mnemonics for remembering lists using the pegword method.

But what if you want to memorize a list of numbers, like Akira Haraguchi who was able to commit 100,000 digits of pi to memory?

What if you’re a medical professional who needs to memorize lists of symptoms, pharmaceutical information and all the carpal bones?

Or perhaps you want to memorize vocabulary as part of learning a language.

Perhaps your goal is even more modest. You just want to remember a to-do list or the groceries you need to pick up from the store later.

For each of these goals, I suggest you sidestep most memory techniques and get started immediately with the Memory Palace technique.

I teach all of the other techniques in the video above, including number rhymes.

But since I don’t recommend those techniques as the fastest and most practical means of memorizing a list, let’s get into the technique I favor the most.

In detail.

Step One: Create Your First Memory Palace

A Memory Palace is a form of mental association where you place a list of information along a journey you assign within a familiar location.

You’ve probably seen the technique used in Sherlock Holmes when the iconic character says, “I must go to my Mind Palace.”

In case you’re not familiar with this mnemonic device, this ancient memory technique has been used for centuries.

Essentially, you just mentally order locations in the manner you see in this image:

And if you were Sherlock and had to commit a list of facts about a case to memory, you would use a location like the study pictured above.

To avoid laying out associations chaotically, you would identify a few places (called loci) where you can “store” each part of your list.

For example, if you needed to remember the name of a suspect, you would place a mnemonic image on the chair labeled “1” in the illustration above. You do that by using a very special form of association, which we’ll discuss next.

Step Two: Pair Each Item on the List with an Association & the Memory Palace

Let’s use the example of memorizing a grocery list.

To do this, mnemonists (people who use memory techniques) use what are called mnemonic images.

If carrot is the first item on your list, you just imagine a giant carrot on the chair in your office.

That’s weird and strange enough to stick in your memory.

But what if you have a list of facts or the names of the presidents? This kind of information needs to be transformed mentally into an association that’s a bit more elaborate.

For example, if the first name is Washington, you can imagine a washing machine on your bed. Imagine yourself commenting that it weighs a ton. Washing machine + ton = Washington.

How to Practice Placing a List Item in a Memory Palace

For practice, write out your to-do list on a piece of paper.

Let’s say you have to attend a meeting about a technology at 2 a.m. The topic is Microsoft’s Zune.

To add an association and place the word in your Memory Palace, you will need to split the word using the principle of word division I teach in my bestselling course, How to Learn and Memorize the Vocabulary of Any Language.

For this word, I would personally imagine my favorite zoo in Berlin and have the movie Dune playing while zebras watch.

Zoo + Dune = Zune.

What about the time of this meeting, 2 p.m.?

To add this kind of information to your to-list, you’ll want to use either the Major System or a PAO System.

Although these memory techniques are somewhat advanced, anyone can learn them.

Step Three: Gather the Information Into the Best Possible Order

Sometimes the order of items is clear.

However, when studying for an exam, you might need to rearrange the main points in different orders of importance.

For this reason, I like to extract information from textbooks onto flashcards. That way I can easily move the facts around and place them in the most logical order before creating associations and placing them in one of my Memory Palaces.

As a pro tip, here’s something you can try:

I normally draw my Memory Palaces out on a piece of paper (these drawings serve as essentially a list of already-remembered stations within a location).

Then I fold the paper around the flashcards. The example you see above is one of the Memory Palaces I used when I learned Mandarin and passed Level III. Here’s what some of my cards looked like:

If you like the idea of being able to keep the lists of information you need to remember flexible, I also use special flashcard methods known as Zettelkasten and the Leitner System.

Step Four: Use Optimized Spaced Repetition For Reviewing Your List

Here’s where the Memory Palace technique for memorizing lists really shines.

Not only does the technique let you include as many items as you like.

It also makes it easy to use what scientists call spaced repetition. If you’re using flashcards as I discussed above, this kind of rehearsal technique looks like this:

If you’re using the Memory Palace approach (which is kind of like using chairs and other furniture as index cards you draw on), here’s the process:

You simply mentally revisit the journey in your Memory Palace.

Then, on each station, you recall what funny image or direct association you put down.

Try it now:

If I ask you to think about the list item we discussed on the chair in the Sherlock Mind Palace example above, you will probably remember that we talked about a giant carrot.

That one came easily.

But what about the item you needed to discuss at a technology meeting?

Although it may take a second, provided that you personalized your own mnemonic associations, you should be able to get back the word “Zune.”

And that’s another key:

As the Renaissance memory master Robert Fludd used to stress about using these memory techniques, you need to personalize them so that when you are reviewing the images associated with the list items, they pop much better. He was completely right and contemporary science has shown this to be true.

The principle of personalizing your images belongs to what scientists call active recall. By adding personal elements to the information on your lists while you link them with associations, you increase your chance of remembering them.

Many people learn this technique within minutes and immediately get it working.

Memorizing Lists FAQ

Over my years of teaching the Magnetic Memory Method, people have sent me many questions about dealing with lists.

For example, one of my students in the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass emailed today about memorizing the Buddhist eightfold path.

He expressed some concerns that naturally come up when dealing with lists where each item involves multiple words.

We’ll get into these issues and more in the following list of questions and answers.

What’s the fastest way to memorize a list of words?

The brief answer is to become a mnemonist who uses Memory Palaces and related tools.

That way, you’ll have all five of the main mnemonic systems needed for rapidly recalling information in list format.

The longer answer is that you need to start where you’re at.

Learn the memory skills I teach, and then set benchmarks.

If you start by memorizing just 2-3 items and practice recalling them reliably, move on to 4-5 items.

Progressively build the amounts from there by setting time challenges for yourself. If you can memorize 10 items in one minute, challenge yourself to build up to 15, then 20.

If you really want to push your skills, you can explore making your Memory Palaces “stickier” by pre-loading them with associations from your PAO System.

This is how some memory athletes have improved their speed with the kinds of lists that come up in memory competitions.

How can I memorize a long list without fogetting an item in the middle?

To establish long-term retention and recall of each item, you need to use spaced repetition.

You can use Memory Palaces, flashcards, Leitner boxes or software to help.

But giving equal doses of primacy effect and recency effect to each item in the list is key.

How do I memorize a list in order vs. out of order?

Although this is an interesting question, I’m not sure what it means.

Everything we do occurs in time. So if you’re memorizing a list, time always sets some kind of order, i.e. the first thing you memorize is followed by the second.

It’s possible that when people ask this question, they are trying to work out how they can add something to a list they’ve memorized after the fact.

There are two ways:

1. Use the principle of compounding as taught in the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass
2. Add new details to a completely new Memory Palace

I do both, and it depends on the context.

In the case of the student who asked me today about memorizing the items on the Buddhist eight fold path, it actually makes sense to memorize it in two passes within a single Memory Palace.

First, you set the keywords up and use spaced repetition to establish long-term recall. Then you add the description of each step on the path.

How do actors memorize lists of lines or cues?

It’s important to realize that different actors approach learning their lines in different ways.

For those using memory techniques to memorize lines, I suggest this full tutorial. It describes the approach I use for memorizing Shakespeare and recommends a book you might like to read.

You might also have the option of not memorizing your lines at all.

In Dustin Hoffman Teaches Acting, Hoffman relates a story where he saw Robert De Niro reading lines from index cards he kept in his pockets shortly before the director would call action.

According to Hoffman, De Niro said that he didn’t memorize his lines because he didn’t want to look like he was carrying around his responses for two weeks. By not memorizing his lines, he made his performances more authentic.

Of course, the ultimate answer is to ask what your director wants and be prepared to collaborate with them. That way, you’re much more likely to produce an incredible stage play, series or film.

For more on the relationship between memory and acting, please see 8 Unusual Memory Tips from Actors Who Don’t Clown Around.

How do students memorize lists for exams (like biology terms of historical details)?

Unfortunately, many students cram.

But the best students do what we discussed today. Or they might pursue a study strategy that involves linking without using a Memory Palace.

The important thing to understand is that the exact nature of the information is not that important when it comes to using memory techniques.

So long as you’re prepared with the techniques, you can learn anything that involves numbers, words, concepts or symbols.

For examples, you can see my tutorial on memorizing historical dates and medical terminology training post.

What’s the best way to memorize vocabulary lists in a foreign language?

Technically, the best way to study vocabulary lists is to find a method that you’ll actually use.

If using rote repetition helps you achieve your goals, that’s a great way to go about learning a language. In this tutorial about rote learning, I suggest reasons why it’s not the best idea for many people.

But that doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.

Beyond that, I would suggest that memorizing lists is just part of learning a new language.

You also need to add reading, writing, speaking, listening and reading.

Combined with memorization, I call this approach The Big Five, and this illustration shows how these activities work together:

This process is very effective because it gives you natural spaced repetition and lets you experience the words on your vocabulary list in context.

How to memory champions memorize decks of cards or digits of pi? Are lists different?

This is a great question because although committing a sequence of digits is a list, it can feel different.

This is because many mnemonists memorize pi from left to right in their Memory Palaces.

Likewise, many memory athletes memorize cards by following horizontal lines along their memory journeys.

When I memorize cards using the strategy I teach in this card memory tutorial, however, I often place cards in vertical rows.

Using a chunking memory strategy, I usually memorize the cards in clusters of two or three at a time. This makes the task much faster.

However, just because the cards are memorized using different spatial configurations, the information is still essentially a list.

How many items can the average adult reliably retain without using memory aids?

The answer will differ depending on the state of your working memory.

Most people can memorize 5-8 items if they are simple, like numbers.

But we’ve all had the experience of memorizing words and forget a bunch of them, even though they seemed simple.

This is why I personally commit to applying memory techniques to just about everything.

Today in my real estate class, for example, I quickly attached images to various numbered forms to start the process of committing them to memory.

And with memory techniques, there will be no end to the exact amount that any person can memorize, except lifespan.

People who attend my live workshops are constantly amazed by how much information I recite during my courses.

And the way I do it is simply described. I just memory techniques.

How much time should I budged for spaced repetition reviews?

The exact amount depends on:

• The volume of information
• The type
• Your current level of skill with memory techniques

Rather than consider time in the beginning, think about building your skills.

Then, once you’re able to reliably memorize lists, work on shaving off the amount of time you need by practicing so you get better.

Does writing a list by hand improve recall compared with typing it?

Yes, and this Scientific American article gets into the scientific reasons why this is the case.

Also, I mentioned active recall above and the importance of personalization.

A second aspect of active recall involves writing.

The specific process is that you:

• Bring the information in your list to mind by visiting the location you established in your memory palace
• Write it down on paper
• Check your accuracy

I’ve been doing a lot of this kind of active recall in my real estate course. The teacher and the program designers are very wise for including a lot of writing exercises.

How do I blend chunking, the method of loci and spaced repetition for maximum retention?

One way is to use the Magnetic Memory Method, which I designed precisely to form that blend of rapid learning strategies.

Once you have the techniques in operation, all you have to do is organize your time.

If you’d like to discover more about what this approach is like, please register for my free course now right here:

It will help you create multiple Memory Palaces, discover fun and easy ways to use the method of association and more about how to rapidly apply spaced repetition.

Combined, you’ll soon have all the lists you want stored in long-term memory.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to give this approach to memorizing lists a try?

Make it happen!

You then apply these evocative mnemonic images to help with recalling the important numbers in your life. Such as:

• Phone numbers
• PIN numbers
• Account numbers
• Birthdays
• Math formulas
• Historical dates
• The digits of pi
• Playing cards during games

Technically, the Major System is a phonetic peg system. It works either on its own or in combination with other mnemonic peg systems.

It looks like this, a simple pairing of 0-9 with a specific set of consonants:

Like other mnemonic devices, this means that the Major uses consonant sounds to ‘peg’ numbers to words and images, making them easier to store and retrieve from memory.

Although people have been using the Major System (sometimes called the Major Method) to commit numbers to memory for centuries, there’s a rarely taught, but incredibly powerful dimension you’re about to discover.

I call it “bi-directionality.”

It’s the very approach to the Major System that helped me get my PhD in Humanities at York University. I memorized key historical dates, facts related to the history of science, logical formulas and more.

I’ve also applied the bi-directional Major System to learning several languages. I even used it in 2015 to take second place in a memory competition against a two-time Guinness World Record holder for playing cards.

On this page, I’ll share exactly how to use this mnemonic system yourself for memorizing any number. And I’ll share use cases for how you can get started using the Major System to absorb many other types of information.

Ready to get started applying this system to everything from banking numbers to complex academic material?

Let’s dive in!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vonJWVr9EMY

What Is The Major System?

The mnemonic Major System dates back more than 2000 years. The earliest version I’ve found is called the katapayadi. You can also find information about the ancient Hebrew version in Eran Katz’s Where Did Noah Park the Ark?

These versions show that people across many cultures have turned to this kind of mnemonic device throughout time.

In our era, it used for everything from credit card numbers and phone numbers to thousands of digits of pi.

Extraordinary as that sounds, Akira Haraguchi famously used the Japanese version of the Major System to recite over 100,000 digits of pi from memory.

A Brief History of the Major System

Historically, we know from Hugh of St. Victor that students of the Bible used a similar system to memorize the dates of Adam and his descendants.

Hugh even linked numbers to people, actions and objects back in the twelfth century in The Three Best Memory Aids for Learning History. You can find an English version of this text in The Medieval Craft of Memory.

Although Hugh was already quite sophisticated, the Major System really start to take shape in the 16th and 17th centuries through people like Giordano Bruno and Robert Fludd.

Both of these Renaissance memory masters used letters and consonants to represent numbers, but their systems were often inconsistent and lacked a standardized approach. Nonetheless, their contributions added new dimensions, such as Bruno’s influence on the development of the Memory Wheel, and Fludd’s evolution of the number-shape system of Jacobus Publicius.

When it comes to developing the standardized system we now use, these are the most important figures.

Johann Justus Winckelmann

Johann Justus Winckelmann was a German mathematician and mnemonist. He proposed a method where each digit was always associated with the same specific consonants, laying the groundwork for later developments.

Aimé Paris

As a French mathematician and memory expert, Aimé Paris simplified the associations, making the system more user-friendly. His version is nearly identical to the Major System as we know it today.

Major Beniowski and the Naming of the System

The Major System is named after Major Beniowski, the 19th-century linguist, memory expert and author of the strangely titled, The Anti-Absurd or Phrenotypic English Pronouncing and Orthographical Dictionary.

Here’s how he graphically represented the Major System in his book by embedding the consonants into each of the digits, 0-9:

Apart from his book, not much is known about Beniowski. Some people believe that “Major” refers to Beniowski’s military rank.

Although that’s the most likely explanation, the name clearly underscores Beniowski’s “major” role in popularizing and standardizing this mnemonic method. Through his teachings and writings, Beniowski helped spread the use of the system, making it accessible to a wider audience.

The name is also much easier to remember than “alpha-numeric” code.

Further Refinement and Popularization

The Major System continues to evolve and gain popularity. Memory experts like Harry Lorayne brought it to the masses.  Later books like Moonwalking with Einstein encouraged many people to incorporate the system into their learning lives.

The technique continues to evolve to this day. Many memory competitors now use a variation called the Shadow, which is still based on the same alpha-numeric code you learned earlier in the video above.

If you want to check out some of the most impressive users of the Major, check out my podcast episodes with Katie Kermode and Don Michael Vickers. These memory athletes are seriously impressive.

They’re hardly the first of my memory champion friends to use the method, however.

Using Tony Buzan‘s SEM3 technique, many early memory competitors also used it to win year after year. The Major is still at the core of newer techniques like the Shadow, which competitors like Alex Mullen and Braden Adams have used to stunning effect.

Competition is not something many of us are interested in, however.

And the fact is that the Major System was never just about numbers. Limiting the Major in that ways is one of the biggest limitations learners impose on themselves.

But before we dive into how to use it bi-directionally—for both numbers and deep conceptual memory, let’s make sure you have the fundamentals locked in.

How the Major System Works in English

Now that you know where the Major System comes from, let’s break down exactly how it works. We’ll start by learning the sound-to-number code that makes it so powerful.

You start by converting the digits 0-9 into consonant sounds. This is basically a form of mnemonic chunking, a memory strategy that makes information easier to recall by breaking it down into smaller units.

The smaller these units are, the easier it is to make simple words that can be attached to meaningful associations you won’t forget.

Here’s a table of the core phonetic code used in the English version of the Major System. As you can see, each digit is linked to one or more consonant sounds, which you will eventually use to form words.

As you go through this table, you’ll notice that I’ve added a few suggestions for how to commit these pairings to memory:

• 0 → S or Z (sounds like the “s” in “zero”)
• 1 → T or D (sounds like the “t” or “d” in “toad”)
• 2 → N (has two downstrokes, resembles the letter “n”)
• 3 → M (has three downstrokes, resembles the letter “m” or a moustache on its side)
• 4 → R (the word “four” has four letters and ends in “r”)
• 5 → L (hold your whole hand with the thumb out and the hand makes the “L” shape)
• 6 → J, Sh, Ch, or Soft G (a cursive “j” has a similar shape to “6”)
• 7 → K, G (hard), C (hard), or Q (a “k” can be seen as two mirrored 7s)
• 8 → F or V (cursive “f” and “8” look similar)
• 9 → P or B (both have a loop resembling “9

What About Vowels?

Most people leave all vowels out of the system (A, E, I, O, U) .

That’s because vowels are used to form meaningful words or phrases by inserting them between the consonants.

For example, if you need to memorize 84, you can transform F and R into words like fire and fur. I’ll share a few more examples below to help you get the gist of how vowels work in combination with the consonants.

The Major System in Other Languages

Simon Luisi, a French-Canadian mnemonist and organizer of the Canadian Memory Championship event, uses a variation where 3 is also paired with W and 7 with Y.

To help people expand their Major System, Simon joined me on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast to discuss his approach in this episode:

In addition to Simon’s variations, you’ll find different versions in many languages.

Languages like Spanish and Russian each adapt the Major System’s consonant assignments to help native speakers of these languages assign the maximum number of words.

Here’s an illustration showing how the Major System looks in Russian. Notice how the logic and its foundations remain, even if the exact consonants change:

In German, the Major System remains identical to English.

However, authors like Ulrich Voigt use the term “Zifferncode.” That’s the term he uses in his excellent book, Esels Welt: Mnemotechnik Zwischen Simonides und Harry Lorayne.

“Ziffern” means digit, and assembling digits into a code of meaning is exactly what you’ll be doing. No matter what language you speak, let’s next explore how to use these digit-sound pairings to make words and expand them into unforgettable mnemonic associations.

How to Turn Numbers Into Vivid Associations with the Major System

The next step is to transform sequences of numbers into vivid mental images.

To remember the number 123, you could break it down like this:

• 1 → T or D
• 2 → N
• 3 → M

From this arrangement, you might form the word “Denim” (D-N-M). This word is reached by inserting vowels between the consonants linked to the digits.

As you can see, D-N-M isn’t any more meaningful than 123. But once you insert the vowels to make a word, it’s easy to imagine denim. You can add even more meaning by imagining someone famous wearing denim whose name sounds similar, like James Dean.

Let’s take another example:

If you had to memorize 22, you could insert the vowel U and imagine a nun. If you had a number like 22235, you could imagine a nun attacking an “animal” like a tiger just by adding more vowels to the sequence to form words.

At this point, you’ve gone beyond mere words. You have the basis for building a narrative, which in the world of mnemonics is called the story method.

Back to the Ancients

I mentioned adding James Dean to make “denim” for 123 much more memorable.

This suggestion is based on an idea from Hugh of St. Victor, whom I mentioned above.

Don’t worry if you don’t know many celebrities.

You can also draw upon people from you real life, such as:

• Friends
• Family
• Professionals (lawyers, teachers, doctors, dentists)
• Pastors
• Authors
• Musicians
• Historical figures

Since Hugh’s time, many people have used this more elaborate approach. It is now called a Person Action Object System or PAO System.

You can read my full PAO System tutorial when you’re done learning the Major.

PAO is the system I wish I had been using when I competed against Dave Farrow, the Guinness World Record holder I told you about in the introduction.

But don’t worry if you’re not ready for it yet. Like I said, I still came in second place with just the Major. You can read the full story of that competition here for more detail.

Now let’s take the vivid associations you’ve learned to form and give them a place to call home.

How to Use the Major System in a Memory Palace

The Memory Palace technique is one of the most powerful ways to situate the associations you’ve assigned in long-term memory. It involves selecting a familiar location and identifying a simple path for you to place figures like tiger-fighting nuns and James Dean wearing jeans.

I’m talking about locations like you:

• Home
• School
• Church
• Favorite cafes, restaurants, movie theatres
• Libraries
• Bookshops
• Parks

The key is to develop clear mental journeys through your Memory Palaces.

They should be truly based on what is in your memory and have little or no imaginary elements (at least not in the beginning). That way your focus can fall on encoding the number-consonant associations into these spaces.

Once you’re set up, convert the numbers you need to memorize into consonants. Then form words or phrases by adding vowels or other non-consonant sounds. These words should be vivid and memorable and follow the principles you can learn by using these visualization exercises.

Next, place the words you come up with in a Memory Palace. Basically, you’re associating each word as a mnemonic image with the location.

Make each one as vivid as possible, with lots of detailed and interactivity.

Here are some examples:

Example 1: 314

3 → M
1 → T or D
4 → R
Word: “Meter”

Memory Palace Placement: Imagine a large meter on the wall of your bedroom.

Example 2: 72

7 → K or G
2 → N
Word: “Gun”

Memory Palace Placement: Picture a gunman standing in the kitchen, guarding the fridge.

By placing these images in specific locations within your Memory Palace, you can mentally walk through the space and easily recall the numbers associated with each image.

How to Get Numbers Into Long Term Memory

This next step is very important.

Although you will increase your ability to memorize this information greatly by not only creating a crazy image and sticking it in a Memory Palace, you can and should  lock it down for the long haul.

You do this by revisiting the imagery several times. I suggest you specifically use a process called spaced repetition.

It’s really easy. You’ve created a Memory Palace and you know exactly where to look for that tiger-attacking nun 22235.

And if you’ve got ten pieces of information along that journey, it’s easy to travel it and decode each image. It’s almost like watching a movie.

I recommend that you revisit that journey and watch that movie you’ve created (making sure to decode the imagery and practice retrieving the information) at least 5 times the first day. This suggestion is based on remarks by Dominic O’Brien who created an alternative number mnemonic system called The Dominic System.

What To Do If You Have An Exam Coming Up

If you’re studying for an exam that involves historical dates or formulas, I’d recall the numbers five times a day for a week and then at least 1-2 times a week thereafter. Do this for as long as you want to keep the imagery fresh and available.

It will probably still be there if you don’t perform this Magnetic Memory Method Recall Rehearsal, but you might have to fish around for it.

But if you’re serious about being able to recall the information, you’ll revisit it more than a few times to get it down cold.

That’s just how the method of loci works best. Every good Memory Palace book stresses the same point.

And the best part is that you’ve done so without having to use index cards or any weird and boring stuff like that.

The only time that it’s good to repeat information over and over again is when you’re using your imagination to do it. That makes both your memory and your imaginative abilities stronger and stronger.

Intermediate & Advanced Major System Techniques For Memorizing Numbers

Once you have the basics of the Major Method down, you might want to learn how to create a Person Action Object (PAO) or 00-99 system. For that, please check out The 3 Most Powerful Techniques For Memorizing Numbers.

These next-level techniques for memorizing numbers will then help you in other areas, such as human anatomy. Learning numbers related to blood flow through the heart, for example, are easier and faster to absorb when using the Major System.

You can also think about using a Major System to help you memorize any book. All you need to do is call upon words or images for each page based on the page number.

For example, if you want to memorize a fact on page 75 of a book, you use an image built from the Major System to remember the location in the book. Then you use the page as the Memory Palace.

I did exactly this when I wanted to recall a point about episodic memory in Maps of Meaning. I turned 75 into John Cale and had him interacting with Freud and Shakespeare, who are related to memory science related to how we remember ancient wisdom.

You can also easily use the Major System in combination with a Memory Palace for language learning. I normally use alphabetical associations, but when I can’t think of images for some words, I just think through the consonants as numbers in the Major System and then start using that image.

Even if it’s not perfect or doesn’t exactly reflect pronunciation, it’s at least a starting point.

As a recent example, I did this with a Sanskrit phrase.

Although I later realized that a celebrity I’m aware of was better than my image for 07 (Oliver Sacks), at least working with Sacks to get started with “suktikarajatam” led me to think about using Sook-Yin Lee.

For more on just how deep into history this numerical bi-directionality goes, see my video tutoris called Aristotle’s Nuclear Alphabet and The Imaginary Memory Palace Method of Hugh of St. Victor.

And just to make sure you fully understand how valuable bi-directionality goes, let’s dig deeper into this powerful dimension of the technique.

Bi-Directionality Case Study:
The Hidden Superpower of the Major System

Although it’s perfectly valid to use the Major System only for memorizing numbers like PINs, historical dates and long sequences of digits, you now know there’s more to the technique than that.

As artificial intelligence ramps up, I find myself using it much more often than ever before.

Take Lindy’s Law, for example, a principle which states that the longer something exists, the more likely it will continue to exist.

To lock in that idea using the Major System, I used the number 51 because of the strong L and D in “Lindy.”

Here’s a quick YouTube short to enhance the written explanation that follows:

https://youtube.com/shorts/Tqm2HmzCqrA?feature=share

As you can see, I turned L and D into a name more familiar to me than Lindy: Alan Ladd. (L = 5 and D = 1).

I then imagined Alan Ladd pouring a “latte” (also 51) over a copy of Shane, his most-known film. Since this movie has endured for generations, it’s very likely it will continue to enjoy fame.

This is the power of using the Major System in a bi-directional way.

Rather than limiting yourself to using the Major System for numbers, you’re using it to encode words and concepts using the same system.

You’ve now doubled its value, if not more as you start using it to mentally catalog entire books, vocabulary lists and more with greater speed and accuracy.

Major System FAQ

As you’ve seen, the Major System is a powerful mnemonic technique that converts numbers into consonants.

By inserting vowels, you can create simple words that can be expanded into vibrant images and stories.

Let’s turn now to some of the questions I’ve received about it over the years with some answers that will help expand what you’ve just learned.

Why should I use the Major System?

Numbers are abstract and difficult to remember.

But by turning digits into images and stories, your brain remembers them.

As you’ve seen, you can also use the Major System bi-directionally. Whenever you struggle to find an association for a word or concept using the alphabetical pegword method, you can look at the numbers associated with the consonants. Then use those images.

Personally, I wish I would have started using the bi-directional approach much sooner.

Is the Major still worth learning in the age of AI?

Absolutely yes.

As you saw in the YouTube short above, I recently used it to memorize an important concept in computer science.

So if anything, it’s even more valuable now than in any other period of history.

Remember, the value of thinking in relationships, associations and patterns is beyond measure. You differentiate yourself by mastering this mnemonic system.

What’s the difference between the Major System and the Dominic System?

The Dominic System assigns numbers to people specifically using their initials.

For example, 1 = Andre the Giant, 2 = Bugs Bunny, 3 = Cheshire Cat.

Although the Dominic System is just as structured in its way, there’s a higher level of arbitrariness. You have to work harder to make the link between the associations.

The Major is much more flexible and less arbitrary. There’s a reason why you use the pope for 99 (because 9 is associated with B or P). You’re getting more value because of how easy it is to make words and logically infer why you chose them.

What about the Shadow System?

Although based on the Major, I believe the Shadow is specifically for memory competition.

In my understanding, it evolved for card memorization because competitors want to memorize multiple decks at a time. This means you will get two Jack of Hearts in row (if not more).

It’s definitely worth looking into, but I stopped learning it when I realized I would never use it.

What if I forget which vowel I inserted between the consonants?

This might happen in the beginning.

But as you establish a standard set of words for all of the 2-digit pairs, you’ll use the same associations repeatedly.

When I drilled mine to memory the first time, I put all the numbers from 00-99 on index cards. I then practiced shuffling them and naming my chosen figures.

Once I could name them all within seconds, I started practicing memorizing strings of digits.

By the time I had realized that the Major could be used bi-directionally, I was able to easily apply the same images to vocabulary and phrases.

How can I practice applying the Major System for real world benefit?

There are a number of valuable ways to practice applying the Major System once you’ve learned it. You can:

• Take memory number tests frequently.
• Keep a journal as suggested by accomplished memory athlete Johannes Mallow.
• Put numbers on flashcards and test yourself manually.
• Use the International Association of Memory’s free software for generating random numbers.
• Attach the Major System to a pack of playing cards and memorize their order.
• Study vocabulary by using the bi-directional method.

How often should I practice?

It’s really up to you and your needs.

But as I discuss in my book on how to memorize numbers, math and equations, I usually practice 3-4 times a week, typically by using the final method: playing cards.

But all of the above methods are a lot of fun and I use the technique as I read often as a kind of “Magnetic Bookmark.”

Rather than putting a print bookmark into my books, I glance at the page number and have my association interact with the information on the page. That makes it easy to remember where I was in the book.

Can I use the Major System for memorizing formulas?

Yes, and the technique applies to formulas in multiple areas, from chemistry to physics, biology to computer science and programming. You can also apply the Major to speed math and becoming a mental calculator.

Here’s a video where I break down how to do exactly that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAkiuGEs0CU

The trick is always to make sure that you are prepared with the additional symbol and alphabet systems I describe in the video above.

To give you a quick example:

When I was learning the formulas used in logic, I imagined a totem pole for totality and an air conditioner blowing cold air on one of the Ninja Turtle’s weapons for condition. These are examples of the pegword method applied to visual symbols.

For even more advanced techniques related to numbers and equations with examples, please go through my detailed tutorial on how to memorize a textbook.

What’s the role of chunking in the Major System?

The reason systems like the Major work so well is that they help you break long strings of information down into manageable units.

People who memorize large amounts of pi aren’t really memorizing dozens of digits at a time. They are memorizing how interesting images interact in their Memory Palaces.

By recalling these compelling scenarios, they “translate” them back into the original digits.

Should I apply the Magnetic Memory Method technique of KAVE COGS to the Major System?

Yes. Doing so will make your associations even stickier in your Memory Palaces.

In case you’re new to KAVE COGS, it is an acronym to help you remember to add the following multi-sensory associations:

• Kinesthetic
• Auditory
• Visual
• Emotional
• Conceptual
• Olfactory
• Gustatory
• Spatial

With “denim” for 123, you might feel what it’s like to be James Dean wearing denim and hear the zipper as you imagine looking at them.

You can smell the denim and imagine its size and really make things strange by tasting it and adding a zany concept. For example, James Dean could be trying to fit jeans over his race car, using the concept of racing to make the word denim more memorable.

What if the number-consonants don’t form words I like or want to use?

This problem is common.

And the answer is practice without thinking too much about whether one likes or dislikes the possible word options.

For example, even if I don’t care much for Thomas Szasz, but he’s a great image for 00.

In my mind, he’s more concrete than Zeus. Although Zeus is an option, there are countless pictures of this Greek god.

But Thomas Szasz is unique and that’s why I tend to use him the most.

Of course, you also have the option of more than one figure or association. That’s where the PAO System comes in because it gives you three different options.

Can kids or beginners learn the Major System?

Absolutely.

But if you or your children find it too challenging, ease your way in using number rhymes.

Here’s my full tutorial on rhymes for memorizing numbers.

How do I avoid getting confused when the same digits appear twice in a Memory Palace (i.e. 33 or 44)?

This is where the Memory Palace technique really shines.

Because any duplicate numbers appear in their own spot along the Memory Palace journey, it’s difficult to get them confused.

33 on your living room recliner is not the same as the 33 in your sink.

When you add KAVE COGS in a way that includes the recliner and the sink, both the associations and the locations become even more unique.

And make sure to sign up for my free memory course here:

It gives you free worksheets and videos that walk you through getting your Memory Palaces and images created optimally in minimum time. But with maximum effect.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to get out there and master the Major System?

Make it happen!

After moving back to an English-speaking country, I managed to improve my speed of expression and word selection.

But two things happened.

I stopped speaking German daily and that skill slowed down to a grind.

Plus, I stopped driving. Soon enough, my brain started deprecating that simple skill.

Even my guitar playing gets rusty if I don’t keep at it at least once a week.

More than just creating embarrassing experiences (especially on old episodes of my podcast), undergoing deskilling was a major wake-up call.

One we all need to heed because as artificial intelligence and automation ramp up, many of us are going to lose the skills we’ve needed for survival.

Including the practice we need to think clearly.

The good news is that deskilling doesn’t necessarily mean your brain has forgotten the skills entirely.

Your brain cells are just waiting for you to bring them back into action.

And in this post, I’ll give you some ideas for how to do just that.

Or if you do need to put some of your hard-earned skills on pause, you’ll discover ways to maintain them just enough so that you can hit the ground running when it’s time to relearn them.

Let’s dive in.

https://youtu.be/U1GH0teKTLo

What is Cognitive Deskilling & Why Is It Accelerating Now?

Deskilling can refer to a few things, but generally means a loss or suppression of knowledge in a topic area or skill.

In the business world, deskilling happens when new technologies or processes reduce the skills needed to complete a job.

Usually, whatever a new tool or technique that has arrived on the scene allows for core activities to be done more cheaply or easily.

According to Harry Braverman in Labor and Monopoly Capital, these processes degrade professionals in the workforce because it strips away their personal control and engagement with the world.

This dark outcome is certainly possible, and might be part of what scientists call the Reverse Flynn Effect. That’s the term for a generational decline in intelligence scores around the world.

We also have to factor in the distractions of the Internet. Along with causing digital amnesia, many adults have “forgotten” how to socialize. Meanwhile, many young people aren’t learning good social skills at all.

How I First Realized I Was Undergoing Linguistic Deskilling

I was completely floored when I realized that you can actually lose command of your mother tongue. I’m still shocked.

It dawned on me while I was still living in Berlin that I was starting to struggle with recalling very simple English words.

That’s because I almost never used English.

And when I did, it was usually over Skype, a context that robbed my brain of many non-verbal cues that the brain needs to bring spoken communication to life.

When I got to Australia after eight years in Germany, I would sometimes listen back to Magnetic Memory Method Podcast episodes recorded during my years in Berlin.

The struggle was obvious, and the more I spoke English in Australia, the more I felt my English skills come back to life.

Working with many language learners over the years, I’ve realized just how easily bilingualism can be lost.

For example, I often help people who specialize in conference interpreting. Sometimes it’s to help them get into the field.

But often, I’m asked to help interpreters regain skills with languages they’ve watched fall apart through disuse.

Why the Brain Forgets Skills You’ve Slaved to Learn

As strange as it might seem, your brain is built to forget.

In fact, I’ve covered seven causes of forgetting in detail, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The big picture view is that people are right when they say “use it or lose it.”

The scientific explanation is called synaptic pruning.

When you stop practicing a skill, your brain literally assumes it’s no longer important to you. So it stops spending energy maintaining the neural pathways that support the skill.

First those pathways weaken.

Eventually they disconnect entirely.

Or at least, that’s one theory.

The memory scientist Richard Semon thought it highly unlikely that a complete disconnection takes place.

His theory of engrams and how information is chemically encoded in the brain suggested that traces always remain. With the right ecphory or contextual triggering, he thought it was possible to revive lost memories and old skills.

I believe he was on to something, and highly recommend a book about him called Forgotten Ideas, Neglected Pioneers: Richard Semon and the Story of Memory.

But long before I knew anything about him, I found myself losing my native language, just like the people discussed in this New York Times assessment of how easy it is to lose fluency in your mother tongue.

The question was, how was I going to get my linguistic intelligence back? And keep it?

Here are four ways that have worked for me. People who have contributed to my testimonials page report similar success.

Strategy #1: Ritual Repetition with Purpose

Since we know that deskilling happens when neurons disconnect, strategic reconnection is key.

I’ve practiced a basic ritual to keep my German skills basically intact, primarily through reading and listening.

As an avid fan of philosophy, from Nietzsche to the Advaita Vedanta at the core of The Victorious Mind, I read German books and articles that force me to think in the language.

I also listen to podcasts weekly and at least one video interview with a German author, musician or artist.

This ritual is not about drills in German.

It’s about encounters with meaning.

I could definitely do more to meet and speak with people in German.

But I’ve found that if I just keep reading, writing and listening to the language, I can get back into the flow of speaking the language relatively quickly.

This approach works because of the levels of processing effect, or what I often call the Big Five of Language learning.

Except in this case, I’m only maintaining part of the learning cycle elements. As a result, a sufficient number of connections survive in the brain to make the skill easier and faster to revive later.

Strategy #2: Engage All the Senses & Embody the Skill

Most skills involve movement.

So when I wanted to revive my driving skills, I had to get in a car and drive.

It sounds obvious, but how often do we say “someday,” only to wait until our skills are so atrophied, we’ve completely eliminated the possibility of relearning them?

Just as getting behind the wheel and spending lots of hours driving re-skilled my brain, I often have to make myself play my guitars to physically engage with the instruments.

Sure, I can think intellectually about music.

But to maintain your skills, you can’t just study them on paper.

You have to live them.

Bring them into the physical world.

Strategy #3: Develop an Anti-Deskilling Habit Stack

Here’s the fastest way I know to fight back against losing skills you’ve worked hard to develop:

Create a morning habit stack that combines as many of the skills you want to maintain as possible.

For example, I have a memory coaching client who wants to memorize the football rule guide and maintain fluency in a second language.

By memorizing the rules in that additional language, he could be practicing and maintaining three skills at the same time:

• His football knowledge
• His vocabulary and grammar
• His abilities with using memory techniques

This kind of dual-purpose learning builds grit and resilience while fighting against deskilling.

In other words, one of the best ways to deal with deskilling is to never let it happen in the first place.

Strategy #4: Use Metaphor as “Memory Glue”

As I shared in my list of books on learning, one text in particular talks about “predictive processing.” The principle shows that when we use certain metaphors, we set the course for how we’ll perform in the future.

In other words, if you think positively about your ability to maintain or rebuild lost skills, you’ll help yourself make it happen.

Andy Clark talks a lot about predictive processing in his excellent book, The Experience Machine. I also made it the core of my video about how George Clooney used mental metaphors to reduce his chronic pain:

https://youtu.be/T9oNgt1MY70

Finally, Barbara Oakley talks about how thinking can either help you or hinder you in Mindshift:

With intelligence, you see the options, but you also see the barriers. This means that the smarter you are, the easier it can be to talk yourself out of things.

I don’t know about you, but I prefer to talk myself into things, provided they’re good things to do. Like maintaining a language, driving safely, and playing a musical instrument well for life .

To help with that, you can apply metaphors. I’ve done this many times, and started doubling down after Nir Eyal shared how he’s helped people choose better metaphors in this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast.

My favorite example of metaphors leading to fantastic skills-based outcomes was reported in this Duke University Study.

In the controlled experiment, participants were told to think of themselves as art thieves when viewing an exhibition. Those who used this memory metaphor were able to retain information longer compared to those who had no mental metaphor at all.

That’s why I always suggest to students in the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass that they choose a positive metaphor for themselves.

After all, people come to memory training courses like mine because their ability to recall has been deskilled.

So by thinking of their memory in combination with an empowering metaphor, they are able to get back on their feet with techniques like the Memory Palace much faster.

The Metaphor That Keeps My Mind Skilled

My preferred metaphor is to think of my mind as “Magnetic.”

Sure, it’s the name of my brand.

But its meaning is profound.

Magnets stick things in place so they’re easy to find when you need them.

But magnets also repel. And in the case of my training, I show you how to repel distractions so you remain focused on learning new skills.

Frequently Asked Questions About Deskilling, Memory & Recovering Lost Skills

Many people email me with questions about why their brains seem to “delete” skills they’ve worked so hard to build.

This list of frequently asked questions and answers will help you understand more about why this happens. And how to fight back with memory improvement routines.

What exactly is cognitive deskilling?

This term refers to either the quick or gradual erosion of your cognitive abilities.

When it comes to languages, “linguistic deskilling” describes the loss of ability in either your mother tongue or another language you’ve learned.

Sometimes scientists call what I went through during my years of speaking very little English in Germany “first language attrition.” This scientific article goes deep on the topic.

When it comes to losing your familiarity with a topic, forgetting happens for similar reasons. Your brain literally lets the neuronal connections decay.

What’s important to understand is that cognitive deskilling is not related to temporary memory blocks.

Deskilling refers specifically to deep structural decline in the brain.

How long does it take to relearn a forgotten skill?

The answer depends on:

• The depth of your original learning
• The type of skill (linguistic, motor or social)
• How much context dependent memory cues you can access during the relearning phase

In case the idea of context dependent memory is new to you, the basic idea is this:

When first learning a topic, you’re in a particular state. Due to how memory cueing works, any time you’re in that state, you’ll recall the skill or information better.

To give you a concrete example, many people ask me why they can use language learning apps and excel. But whenever they try to speak the language in the real world, they fail.

This is because their state dependence on the app environment has not translated or transferred to the real world.

Although what I’ve said sounds like a detour from the original question, it’s actually the direct answer:

The more you can get yourself in the context or state of original learning, the faster you’ll regain the skill. You just have to make sure that you have developed the skill in the first place.

Sometimes, as in the case of people who use language learning apps, it’s not always the case that the skill was sufficiently learned. Please keep that in mind if you find yourself struggling.

Can AI tools cause deskilling?

Absolutely, and the decay ranges from writing to critical thinking.

By the same token, you can easily use AI tools to give you critical thinking exercises.

When I was first concerned about the rise of AI, I reached out to Andrew Mayne, host of the OpenAI podcast. In this episode of my show, he shares strategies you can use to make sure you’re keeping your skills sharp.

There’s no need for you to lose them. None at all.

What’s the difference between forgetting and deskilling?

Forgetting specifically involves the failure to retrieve information.

It involves partial forgetting, temporary forgetting or permanent forgetting.

Deskilling, on the other hand, involves the degradation of a skill.

Think of forgetting as not being able to find the handle on a door. It’s still there, but you just can’t find it.

When it comes to deskilling, the handle has been removed. No matter how much you search, you won’t find it. You’ll have to insert a new one (or even build a new one from scratch).

What if I want to pause a skill but not lose it?

As with my maintenance of German, I suggest that you pause only parts of the skill.

For example, I still read, write and listen to German even though I rarely speak it. This partial engagement with the language helps prevent losing it completely.

Let’s take another example that involves remembering movements.

I also haven’t practiced Systema in a gym for years. But I write and think about Systema often. And about once a year I manage to practice it with a sparring partner.

In other words, I cannot recommend a complete pause. I suggest only partial pauses so that your brain maintains a certain level of connection. That way it will be much easier to restore the skill later.

How can I use the Magnetic Memory Method to prevent deskilling?

A few ways:

• Journal often, including about your identity, linked to well-chosen metaphors
• Use a lot of mnemonic images to you connect specifically with skills you want to maintain
• Develop an anti-deskilling stack and show up to it consistently
• Focus on encoding your desired skills as deeply into memory as possible using the Memory Palace technique

If you need help with developing well-formed Memory Palaces, feel free to register for this free course:

Completing the four video lessons and three included worksheets will help you stop forgetting things quite so often.

You’ll not only start recalling specific details with greater accuracy.

Soon, your mind will solve problems with greater creativity as well.

Including the problem of removing all the barriers that lead to unwanted deskilling.

You’ll be practicing the cognitive architecture you’ve worked so hard to build, strengthening your mind and memory.

And enjoying a life of learning and continual growth, all based around skills that never fade.

Until now.

And we sure need him in today’s world.

Whereas many people today reach for brain exercise apps, I recommend you train with his memory wheel technique.

Why?

For one thing, his influence on mnemonic theory was so strong, his book was copied thousands of times.

Other memory experts borrowed his visual alphabet and built upon his memory improvement program.

But there’s nothing quite like the original.

Especially when the focus is on exercises that make both your thinking speed and your memory sharper.

That’s why in this post I’ll explain everything you need to know about this incredible scholar, physician and rhetorician.

This article includes how to get started using his incredible memory and brain training program.

It’s the kind of training that helped people during the Renaissance build beautiful buildings, research the cosmos and usher in many of the innovations we still enjoy today.

https://youtu.be/m6t41VxTPsk

Who Was Jacobus Publicius?
And Why Should Memory Students Still Read Him?

Unfortunately, not much is known about Jacobus Publicius other than he was a physician, poet and professor of rhetoric who taught at a variety of universities in the fifteenth century.

You won’t find much more about him than that in The Medieval Craft of Memory, one of the few anthologies where you can read his Ars oratoria, Ars epistolandi, Ars memorativa in English.

Sometimes called Oratoriae Artis Epitoma, this book also shows that he designed a chessboard, including an Alfil piece.

Beyond that, little is known about him.

But his influence was huge.

And the reason we should study him is simple:

It helps us better understand the better known memory improvement books of Robert Fludd and Giordano Bruno.

There’s no question that Fludd’s number-shape images and mnemonic alphabet were heavily influenced by Publicius.

And although we often take Ramon Lull’s memory wheels as the source of influence on Bruno, there’s reason to believe that Bruno copied a great deal of his On the Composition of Images from Publicius.

Influence on Universities

Because Publicius traveled so much to teach at various schools, his book and his teaching instituted memory training in schools.

Although many would have had Rhetorica ad Herennium to draw upon, that famous book is not nearly as high-powered as what Publicius offered those seeking mental training routines.

Plus, we have to take into account the fact that the printing press was relatively new in Europe. As Lynne Kelly puts it in Memory Craft, his was the first of many printed memory guides.

If Publicius really did print the first memory guide in Europe, it would have been a very novel learning resource indeed. Any other memory books at the time would have been by people like Aristotle, Aquinas and Augustine, important texts that copyists would have hand-copied and kept in circulation.

The Publicius Memory Wheel Explained

If you want to know how to use this particular memory wheel, it’s important to begin with what Publicius is not offering.

This matters for one very important reason:

Unfortunately, many people believe that our ancestors used memory wheels as a kind of Memory Palace.

That’s not the case at all. If you want to use Memory Palaces, please go through my full guide on using the Memory Palace technique properly.

You can use memory wheels in a few different ways, ranging from critical thinking and asking questions in a particular order to generating mnemonic images.

It’s for the purposes of training your brain to rapidly come up with mnemonic associations that Publicius offers his memory wheel.

As Clément Poupard has shown in Learning the Art of Memory by Doing, Publicius wanted you to use the memory wheel to train your brain.

In the image above, you can see one kind of memory wheel that Publicius included in his book.

Notice the snake in the center.

It was actually meant to be spun by the person reading the book. That makes this form of the memory wheel a kind of volvelle.

The Uniqueness of Volvelles in Memory Training

Volvelles are charts that operate like analog computers, compressing information into smaller spaces. In this case, the information helps you play a game.

For example, in the image above, the snake’s head faces C and the tail points at F.

You get memory exercise in coming up with mnemonic images by placing vowels between the consonants C and F to create words.

Playing it myself now, I can think of:

• Caffeine
• CEFR (a European language learning framework)
• Cipher
• Coffee
• Cuff

Now, you’ll notice that I haven’t strictly placed the F consonant at the end of each word.

That’s fine. The point is to get in some mental exercise and stretch the mind to play the game as closely as possible to the rules.

For more brain exercises like this that involve words, images and even your body, check out my complete guide to brain exercise.

Although this is just one kind of memory wheel explained, I hope you find it useful. You certainly can use it as a kind of Memory Palace, but that’s not at all the point in the case of Publicius’ book.

What’s Inside Publicius’ Art of Memory?

Publicius left us a few texts.

One is all about rhetoric, focusing on how to persuade people by writing and delivering speeches from memory.

The next part teaches you how to write letters elegantly.

Finally, his Ars Memoritiva (art of memory) takes you through how to use what he considered the best memory techniques.

Although there’s overlap with other memory trainers, such as Peter of Ravenna, the uniqueness of his book on memory boils down to:

• The memory wheel with the movable snake
• His visual mnemonic alphabet
• Descriptions of how to use a chessboard as a Memory Palace

Another unique aspect of Publicius’ work is the woodcut illustrations.

Some people believe these were created for him by Erhard Ratdolt, but I haven’t been able to confirm this as a fact.

Whoever created them, each illustration is evocative and helpful for understanding Publicius’ program.

Publicius vs. Bruno, Ricci & Other Memory Masters

Many people ask me who is the best memory expert to read from the world of ancient memory techniques.

Although it’s natural to want to optimize your learning journey, I believe it’s best to keep your learning goal in mind.

For example, if you want to learn Chinese, you can take inspiration from Matteo Ricci. He was the Jesuit memory master who travelled to China, so without question his goals will align with your own.

Or, if you’re interested in philosophy, Bruno’s use of the memory wheel for ars combinatoria (the art of combination) puts you in the right ballpark.

But when it comes to a book that combines memory training with mental fitness exercises, Publicius is fantastic.

I just wouldn’t suggest reading any of these older Memory Palace books as stand-alone textbooks. They all have their strengths and complement one another.

Even the strangest entries are worth looking at, such as the Ars Notoria. In fact, if you want a good historical overview, the Matthias Castle translation of Ars Notoria is much better than what Yates wrote in The Art of Memory.

Exploring Publicius: Key Questions About His Memory System and Legacy

If what you’ve discovered so far interests you, the following question might be on your mind.

Or, there might be some angles to consider that you haven’t yet considered.

Let me answer them for you now.

Why don’t more people know about Publicius today?

In addition to the fact that people like Carruthers commented on and translated Publicius without working as mnemonists themselves, a much bigger problem emerged in the 20th century.

Harry Lorayne, who was unquestionably influential, hid his references. Rather than name his sources, he would just say that he learned memory techniques from “dusty old books in the library.”

Tony Buzan was a bit more oriented towards sharing his sources.

But not that much more. In The Memory Book, he presents SEM3 as if the mnemonic system is utterly unique to himself.

That’s a shame because Publicius was not like this. He talks about many other figures in his writing and their influence on him.

And my work on the Magnetic Memory Method blog, YouTube channel and podcast has always shared as many other memory books, courses and other resources as I can possibly study.

What makes Publicius’ memory wheel different from other ancient memory tools?

Unlike other memory wheels, this one specifically trains your mind to get good at coming up with mnemonic associations at speed.

You could potentially use it as a Memory Palace, but that’s not its express purpose.

Publicius actually teaches the Memory Palace technique separately. There’s nothing particularly new in that section, so I suggest you dive deep into his exercises. Not all of them involve the wheel, but most benefit from referring to it.

Are these techniques still effective in the age of apps and AI?

In a word, yes.

Even if people eventually adopt brain implants, I believe some of them will still want to switch off, unplug and train using their “native” brains.

As things stand now, so many are talking about how AI is leading to brain rot.

Sabine Hossenfelder recently predicted in this video that brain exercise and memory training would rise in importance.

And Andrew Mayne, host of the Open AI Podcast recently wrote in support of my work:

“Anthony is a brilliant teacher and scholar of ancient memory methods. I think people like him are going to be even more important as we become dependent on AI.”

Although it’s possible that one day we won’t need memory training techniques, I think that’s unlikely.

Even if we only use them for fun in the future, we’ll still want to know about and use a wide range of memory training routines. Including those offered by Publicius.

Can I combine the memory wheel with the Memory Palace technique?

Yes, and by completing the exercises offered by Publicius, you’ll increase the likelihood of success.

I’m actually working on that now with an experiment that I share in the Rules Reborn video supplements.

So far the approach is working great and I’ll share more in the future.

What kind of learner will benefit most from Publicius’ approach to memory improvement?

Although I believe everyone will find his training useful, I think specifically this book is helpful for people who:

• Need help sharpening their mental processing speed
• Want an alternative approach to the modern pegword method
• Would like to give speeches from memory
• Are studying medicine and need help with better mnemonics for anatomy
• Want to know more about the history of memory improvement

Why did you adapt his book, and how is Rules Reborn different from the original?

I first started adapting ancient memory books years ago with Aristotle’s De Memoria and have always wanted to continue this work.

My passion for engaging in this work stems from the low quality of so many memory books.

On top of that, many of the books created by memory competitors are about short-term retention.

My best results have come from the ancient books and their focus on memory techniques that lead to long-term recall abilities.

Plus, it’s fun to learn more Latin by translating it and hear the voices of other memory teachers in my mind.

I am, as Tyson Yunkaporta put it, a “custodian of memory.”

Yunkaporta also said I might become the first person to identify a “unified theory of memory.”

As kind as that is as a complement, I believe that theory has long been with us. I prefer the custodian part, and believe it’s my duty to combine my many years of using memory techniques with providing versions of older books with commentaries from this perspective.

I want to help you better understand what Publicius was talking about. And help you put his techniques and training tips into action.

Should I start with Publicius if I’m totally new to memory training?

The liberal part of my brain says that you should start with whatever appeals to you.

But if you are already struggling with modern memory improvement books, the answer is probably not.

Although I’ve done my best to modernize his ideas and fill in the gaps left by his “shorthand” style, there’s still an assumption that you already know at least something about memory techniques.

It could also be the case that memory training books aren’t the right medium at all. If that’s the case, you will likely benefit from going through my list of memory training courses instead.

Or, memory coaching might be the best option, something I offer myself to very serious clientele.

Ultimately, there are too many places to start. So my best advice is to find someone you know, like and trust.

But instead of just asking them what to read or study, tell them your learning goals. That will enable your memory mentor to guide you with much greater specificity.

In sum, Publicius offers challenging mental activities that take people who already know a little something about memory techniques to the next level.

I’ve done my best to make his work approachable for anyone who can read at a high school level, so it’s definitely worth having in your collection. Even if only for future use.

Where Can I Read Publicius Today?

You can find versions of Publicius’ work in Latin across the web.

The only English version I’m aware of is in Carruthers’ Medieval Craft of Memory.

However, she doesn’t seem to be a mnemonist, which is why I created my own version.

Not only is the translation in that compilation loaded with long walls of text, it misses the meaning of the suggestions, steps and explicit memory training instructions.

If you’d like to read my adaptation, it’s called Rules Reborn.

In addition to completely rewriting the book based on an in-depth analysis of numerous versions, I wrote a full commentary.

Plus, I recorded the audiobook myself and included a full set of detailed videos to walk you through the various illustrations.

If you’d like a copy, you can find it on the Magnetic Memory Method product page.

Final Thoughts: Restoring Lost Memory Wisdom For Contemporary Use

Memory training isn’t just about passing exams or learning languages.

As Publicius makes clear, you can use the techniques to think faster, and even enjoy a more aesthetic mind.

He talks about health, sleep and diet too, reminding us that memory is a holistic discipline.

This point is so important in a world that often treats memory techniques as “tricks.”

Medieval memory training and other cognitive memory systems of the Renaissance are about so much more.

They help you learn like a polymath, expanding how much information you can process and retain.

Just looking at people from previous periods and all they accomplished offers us more than enough proof that such mental training activities work.

Their success wasn’t produced by magic. It was created through deliberate practice and consistent mental training.

Jacobus Publicius gave us one of the earliest and most elegant systems for sharpening the mind.

Not only is it still usable today. It’s fascinating, inspiring and a means of connecting with intellectual history.

If you’re ready to experience how this forgotten memory master trained Renaissance minds to brilliance, Rules Reborn is your invitation to step inside his world.

You’ll not only bring the techniques back to life. You’ll also enjoy the rebirth of your mind, memory and speed of thought.

If you’re looking to unlock the ancient memory techniques used by philosophers, mystics, and mental elites throughout history, this is the conversation for you.

In this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, John Michael Greer returns to reveal how memory systems from thinkers like Giordano Bruno and Ramon Llull can help us reclaim our cognitive power in the AI age.

Why do these long-dead figures matter more than ever in today’s world?

For one thing, a lot of people are scrambling to work out how to survive in a world in which remembering how to think is quickly becoming as scarce as human memory.

But Greer offers hope.

As a renowned author, translator of Giordano Bruno’s On the Shadows of the Ideas, and long-time student of multiple esoteric traditions, Greer joined me again to discuss the growing importance of memory training.

But what makes this episode special is that we’re not talking about just any old kind of training.

And we’re definitely not talking about your everday, average memory tricks.

You’re about to hear about real mental training, the kind that once produced polymaths, philosophers and masters of the mind who inspired the Mentat you’ve read about in Dune.

But don’t let the fictional reference distract from the value at hand. Everything we discuss accords perfectly with memory science, particularly the science of mental imagery.

As part of this discussion, Greer and I also explore his upcoming book project on medieval and Renaissance mental disciplines, a work I’m looking forward to reading very much.

We also cover the overlap between historical mnemonic systems and why reviving these ancient practices is absolutely essential in an age increasingly dominated by machine thinking.

https://youtu.be/hTv4R3e-WWs

From the combinatorial wheels of Llull and Giordano Bruno to the forgotten discipline of syllogistic logic, we discuss:

How memory palaces can function as practical tools and metaphysical metaphors

• Bruno’s integration of memory with logic and ontology
• Why the “art of combination” might be the ultimate question-asking system
• The lost connection between Freemasonry and mnemonic training
• What a modern Mentat curriculum might look like (and why we need it sooner than later)
• Practical tips from historical and contemporary memory masters
• The real philosophical difference between tools we use and tools that use us
• Reasons for reading older memory improvement books like Rhetorica ad Herennium
• Why you should explore the Trivium and Quadrivium as tools for modern mental clarity

Greer also shares insights into his current Latin translation work, John Dee research, and what the Twilight of Pluto means for our cultural moment.

No matter what happens, Greer believes memory techniques can thrive again.

But likely not in Silicon Valley.

They will rise again in the ruins of the cultures that resist.

Why not start resisting now?

Whether you’re a memory athlete, aspiring Mentat, or simply tired of outsourcing your intelligence to devices, this episode will give you both intellectual fuel and practical direction.

Bonus: John Michael Greer on Bruno’s
On The Shadows of the Ideas

During my first discussion with Greer, we focus on Bruno’s memory systems and the nature of knowledge from what Greer calls “the rubbish heap of history.”

We also dig into Greer’s translation of On the Shadows of the Ideas by Giordano Bruno.

Finally, we discuss an old and mysterious book called The Picatrix. Like the Ars Notoria, it kind of freaks me out a bit, but Greer puts my mind at ease.

Press play and listen in as we discuss:

• The value of “intellectual dumpster diving” to preserve ancient ideas
• Why adding more to a text than a literal translation allows can be self-serving, yet somehow can’t be avoided
• The limits of historical clarity in the age of photocopies (which are often of other photocopies)
• Why Bruno’s memory theory remains of great importance to the art of memory
• The reason subject/abject memorization is the most sophisticated method to memorize text
• The deep mystery behind why alphabet-based mnemonics fell out of favor in modern times
• And why overwhelm can occur, even when using a sequence as simple as the alphabet
• Why memory, secrecy and initiation were inseparable in Bruno’s world
• The reason Frances Yates’ ideas about Bruno should be viewed with discernment
• The delusion of treating history as a straight line, and why this idea is wildly inaccurate, given the way the universe operates

  

Further Resources on the web, the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast and blog:

John Michael Greer’s Ecosophia Blog (Toward an Ecological Spirituality)

John’s Dreamwidth Blog

John Michael Greer’s Amazon author page

John Michael Greer Presents: Masonry and the Secret Societies

Frances Yates’s Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition

The Illustrated Picatrix: The Complete Occult Classic of Astrological Magic

My How to Think and Remember Like the Mentat video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/ijm66YXxWfQ

You’re not alone. Many people try memory apps or puzzle games only to wind up disappointed.

The truth is that real cognitive training doesn’t come from playing games on flashy apps.

As the founder of the Magnetic Memory Method, author of The Victorious Mind, and a memory coach with over a decade of hands-on experience, I’ve helped thousands of people get real results.

The results come from proven mental techniques used by memory champions, language learners, and even brain injury survivors.

In this post, you’ll discover what cognitive training really is.

I’ll also expose why most apps fail.

And you’ll discover 5 research-backed ways that actually improve your memory, focus, and learning speed.

The best part?

The improvements you seek can start to emerge faster than you might think.

Ready to dive in?

Great, but before we get to any specific routines you should follow, let’s address the elephant in the room.

Can Cognitive Training Really Improve Memory?

The answer is absolutely yes.

But you actually have to train.

You can’t be passive about it.

And you also have to actually need cognitive training.

See, sometimes people who struggle with brain fog actually have dietary issues.

Brain training alone won’t help them. Instead, they need to take a permanent break from foods that harm the brain.

Or it could be that they’re dealing with a variety of stresses or anxieties that lead to thought blocking.

If you have any concerns about these issues, please see a doctor. Although my blog contains information about recovering memory after a stroke, it’s far better for you to avoid having such medical issues in the first place.

And that’s not to mention an entire range of problems only a trained medical professional can help you sort out.

But if you’ve been told by a doctor that you need to look up some examples of cognitive training to give your brain a boost, then cool. Let’s carry on.

Cognitive Training Explained:
How It Works & Why It Matters

As I explained in my post on spaced repetition, cognitive skill training was first studied by scientists in the late 19th century.

In brief, Hermann Ebbinghaus trained himself to memorize over 2000 nonsense syllables. Then, in his quest to understand the nature of memory as a cognitive ability, he tracked how long he was able to remember them.

His experiments led to great interest in what scientists call learning potential. There are entire books on how to assess it and even attractive university scholarships for people interested in studying it.

In a phrase, the definition of cognitive training boils down to brain plasticity. It’s the idea that certain activities can make your brain better.

These activities can involve everything from neurobics to brain games and memory games. One of my favorite neurobic activities is juggling while reciting the alphabet backwards:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGEuP-ls5hA

Or you can perform concentration meditations or even just read more to improve your mind and memory.

The key thing is to avoid brain training apps. Scientists now agree that the evidence just isn’t there to support using them.

If Apps Don’t Help, What Does?

For the “training” part to be meaningful, it’s important that you’re consistent. Sadly, consistency to their chosen source of mental stimulation is a step many people miss.

As Dr. Christine Till discovered while researching the cognitive training software called Cogmed, people only received substantial results when they paired the software experience with personal coaching sessions.

Please consider this point before spending even a minute with any of the brain training games out there.

Online games might be entertaining, but without the proper features cognitive activities need to have in order to serve you, they’re also potentially empty.

I also covered this issue in detail during my Reddit AMA on memory and learning, where you’ll find dozens of questions about getting real brain boosts in the context of various people’s lives.

Cognitive Training Benefits

Now, provided that the activities you choose actually provide cognitive improvement, you stand to enjoy all kinds of benefits. These include:

• Improved memory, both short-term and long-term
• Improved attention and focus
• Better brainstorming and critical thinking abilities
• Improved ability to memorize vocabulary using a variety of memory techniques
• Faster results when learning new skills
• A shot at developing what Harry Kahne called multiple mentality

Cognitive Training Downsides

Technically, there are no downsides. Using your mind is a wonderful thing to do.

However, self-deception is a problem. People wind up spending a lot of time on activities that don’t actually do much for them.

For example, a lot of the brain training apps create what is called context dependent or state dependent benefits. These terms mean that although you might become more skilled in the environment of an online brain training game, the skills won’t transfer to real life.

Unlike using memory techniques discovered by people like myself and memory expert Lynne Kelly who wrote Memory Craft, most cognitive training apps do little or nothing to combat Alzheimer’s or dementia.

That said, there are some legit activities you can pursue. Let’s take a look.

5 Science-Based Mental Exercises That Boost Brain Power

As we go through this list, start thinking about how you can incorporate one or two of these activities into your daily life.

Remember: It’s consistency that matters. It just simply isn’t “training” without at least 3-4 sessions per week.

One: Play Challenging Games

No, I’m not talking about crossword puzzles.

Why?

Because they let you cheat. It’s way too easy to look up the answers.

You need games that push you a little, such as these memory exercises you can play with on your own.

Other challenging games include live-action role-playing games. Sometimes I host Memory Detective, for example.

To make sure this game involves lots of memory exercise, I wrote a novel tie-in called Flyboy. Knowing the story not only allows you to “play along” as a detective uses memory techniques to help him save the day and solve a crime.

You also get a lot of passive memory exercise because you’re tapping into a story you’ve read.

Also consider playing games where you need to make decisions, games with dice, card games or even some of the games memory competitors play.

Memorizing a deck of cards and trying to beat your own record is a powerful cognitive training exercise, for example, and studies have shown it improves your brain.

Two: Take Courses

Getting out and meeting people is a benefit unto itself. But taking courses and meeting people is even better.

My wife and I took a painting course a few years ago and it was fantastic.

Not only did we exercise different aspects of our minds, but we got exercise and met interesting people we never would have encountered otherwise.

You can also take courses online, especially memory improvement courses.

Just make sure that they are offered by authentic teachers who know that your brain needs a challenge, not just a bunch of meaningless activities.

You can also make your own courses, such as diving deep into neurobics. I did that myself and here are some of my favorite routines:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MlDePoXWuY

Although creating your own courses might seem challenging, that’s just the point.

Setting learning goals is itself a cognitive activity that sharpens multiple aspects of your brain.

Three: Study A New Language

Did you know that bilingualism can protect your brain? It’s a particularly well-proven means of keeping your brain sharp as you age.

Even better, learning new languages involves multiple levels of challenge because you need to read, write, speak and listen while exercising your working memory.

If you can’t pick a language, go for either Latin or something like Sanskrit phrases.

The reason is that you can memorize a lot of useful wisdom in those languages. You get both the benefit of some language learning and powerful ideas that can guide you in life at the same time.

Talk about an incredible mental fitness routine!

Four: Learn Music

Did you know that you don’t have to play an instrument to benefit from learning music?

Even just studying some music theory can give you cognitive training benefits.

Or you can sing. As one study found, people who sing have the same or even better benefits than people who know about other ways to train their brains.

Singing also reduces stress, which is great because reduced stress helps you pay attention better. And that means you can learn and remember more.

Personally, I’ve toured as a musician and although I’m retired from gigging, still keep expanding my musical knowledge.

The benefits are clear. Each new song or theoretical principle I learn stretches my mind.

The key is to lean into new challenges, but never to the point of frustration.

Whenever you get frustrated by a challenge, scale back to where you feel challenged just a touch outside your comfort zone.

That way, you’ll have a healthy relationship to how musical cognitive training can improve your brain.

Five: Become A Memory Master

Memory techniques have been around for a very long time. And for good reason.

For example, techniques like the Memory Palace can be used to help you learn a language faster.

They can also help you remember numbers, names and even long passages of scripture.

How?

To get started developing your memory tools, complete this simple exercise:

• List a number of locations from A-Z on paper
• Then list a number of people you know, also from A-Z

Later, you can use these as Memory Places and mnemonic associations.

But it’s this initial exercise that oils your brain. No matter how rusty you might feel, this one simple exercise will get you started with the ancient art of memory.

Don’t think you can do it?

I’ve had everyone from ten year olds to retirees master these techniques after going through the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass. I’m confident you can too.

And to help you lean into the challenge, I’ve created this powerful free training. Give it a try to start building a brain that remembers everything you learn.

Once you start using these techniques to combat your cognitive decline, you’ll discover what I believe is the ultimate cognitive skills training.

Not only does mastering memory techniques give your mind a powerful workout and great brain exercise.

It helps you reflect on the nature of what it means to have a mind.

And that leads to metacognitive cognition: the ability to think about how you think.

It just doesn’t get any better than that, especially since better memory makes it easy to learn and remember cool terms like “metacognition.”

FAQ: Cognitive Training & Mental Exercise

Over the past decade, I’ve worked with thousands of people using memory techniques to improve their cognitive abilities.

These people include students, professionals, even stroke survivors.

As the creator of the Magnetic Memory Method and author of The Victorious Mind, I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t when it comes to brain training.

These are the most common questions I hear about cognitive training—along with answers rooted in both science and experience.

Q: Do cognitive training apps really work?

Most apps provide short-term gains in the specific tasks they train.

But research shows these benefits from pattern recognition or matching games often don’t transfer to how you use memory and focus for learning in everyday life.

For lasting results, hands-on methods like memory techniques, language learning, or problem-solving games are far more effective.

Q: What are examples of real cognitive training?

True cognitive training includes memory techniques like the Memory Palace, learning new languages, playing musical instruments, solving logic puzzles, and engaging in complex reading or writing tasks.

These activities challenge multiple areas of the brain and build transferable cognitive strength.

Q: How often should I do cognitive training exercises?

Aim for at least 3–4 sessions per week, around 15–30 minutes each.

As with physical fitness, consistency matters more than duration.

Real improvements come from steady, repeated engagement with mentally demanding tasks.

Q: Can cognitive training help with memory loss or brain fog?

It can, but only when paired with lifestyle changes.

Poor memory is often linked to sleep deprivation, stress, diet, or underlying health issues.

If you’re experiencing brain fog, talk to a doctor.

And ask them about cognitive training as a powerful supplement to a healthier lifestyle.

Q: Is there a best cognitive training method?

No single method fits everyone.

But memory techniques (like the Memory Palace) consistently deliver strong, research-backed results.

The key is to choose something challenging that you will enjoy learning and stick with it.

Language learning is one of the best activities for helping your brain develop cognitive reserve, as evidenced by this research paper, among many others.

Q: What about using AI-based tools for cognitive training?

This question is tricky because search engines like Google were the most powerful AI humanity had ever seen until Chat-GPT.

But the Flynn Effect and how it shows IQ scores declining should give us pause.

Using AI is amazing and I do it frequently. But I still get offline as much as possible for learning and other aspects of life.

AI is an assistant and a supplement to human cognition, not necessarily a trainer or a solution to our thinking problems.

Your brain still needs deliberate, challenging training, just like it did in Ebbinhaus’ time. So if you’re going to ask it questions about how to train, make sure to include offline suggestions.

In fact, I’ve been doing that myself when it comes to dealing with some career burnout I’ve been experiencing. It has been helpful and I’ve been happy to see that it supports the suggestions you’ve encountered today.

In sum, cognitive training does really improve your brain, your memory and your ability to focus.

You just need to make sure you rule out other issues, pick the activities that suit your desired goals and engage in those activities consistently.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to start enjoying true cognitive training?

Make it happen!

1. Set a micro‑goal (e.g. “hold a 3‑minute café chat in 30 days”).
2. Develop familiarity with the sounds & script before any of the other steps
3. Build a core vocabulary by memorizing your first 50 mission‑critical words using the Memory Palace technique.
4. Practice the “Big 5” skills of language learning daily:
   • Memorize new words and phrases
   • Speak
   • Read
   • Write
   • Listen
5. Get feedback and reiterate weekly to test your progress and get corrections from at least one native speaker.

Stick to this loop for 15 minutes × 3 sessions a day and you can hit A2 in approximately 90 days.

That’s exactly what I did to pass A2 when I lived in Germany.

I did it again to pass level III in Mandarin in an even shorter period of time.

Of course, there’s a bit  more nuance to each of these steps.

And that’s what I’m going to share with you on this page

We’ll go through each step in detail and you’ll learn fourteen additional best practices used by the world’s most accomplished language learners.

Ready?

Let’s dive in!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgUsv2TZlKs

How To Learn A Language in 5 Steps

Step One: Set a Micro Goal

Having taught people how to improve their memory so they can learn languages faster, I’ve noted one major trend.

Many people make language learning hard on themselves by having an “all or nothing” attitude.

In reality, languages are learned with much greater ease by using what scientists call chunking.

This term means that you break a learning task down into the smallest possible unit.

Many people start by learning how to say hello, please and thank you in their target language.

Once you complete that simple goal, you set another goal. Or as I sometimes prefer to think of them, “missions.”

How to Set Language Learning Goals You’ll Love Completing

When I first started learning German seriously, my classes at the Hartnackschule in Berlin provided these small missions.

Later, I had to provide my own language learning missions.

To do this, I asked one simple question:

“What do I want to be able to speak about next?”

My choices will differ from yours.

But to give you some examples, I played in a band at the time. So I chose music-related topics to help fashion my goals.

I also taught Film Studies at the University of Saarland, so regularly memorized words and phrases related to this industry.

Finally, I love asking philosophical questions, so I learned how to ask them in German.

A2 was passed quite easily. That’s because the courses I took told me what I needed to learn.

But it was crafting my own missions that got me fluent. Because I spent time working out what I wanted to talk about.

And now you know how to create your own goals and missions too.

Step Two: Develop Familiarity with the Sounds and Script of the Language

Before diving into memorizing words or grammar rules, it’s helpful to get comfortable with how the language looks and sounds.

For example, I took a phonology course for that when I first started learning German. Likewise with Mandarin further down the road.

It’s also useful to learn the International Phonetic Alphabet. This set of symbols will help you with pronunciation, which is essential to being understood.

It’s also important to immerse yourself in the rhythms of the language. You can easily do this by:

• Watching YouTube videos
• Enjoying popular movies in the language
• Listening to audiobooks

Even if you don’t understand much yet, this passive exposure will help your brain attune to the phonic features of the language.

Learning Writing Systems

Depending on the language, you may need to learn an entirely new writing system.

I had to do that with Mandarin by learning the hanzi.

For Japanese, I also had to spend time using memory techniques for the hiragana, amongst other character sets.

Each alphabet will propose different levels of challenge depending on your experience.

If you have any concerns, especially if you have limited time, it’s worth considering my article on the easiest languages to learn.

You don’t want to rush, and some languages simply require more from your brain’s ability to associate sight and sound.

The point is that you will want to develop this kind of sensory familiarity between sound and sight to reduce mental friction later.

Your brain will stop having to ask, “What is the sound of this symbol?”

As a result, you’ll be free to focus on memorizing more vocabulary and phrases without interruption while studying.

Step Three: Build a Core Vocabulary

Once you’re familiar with the sounds and script of your language, it’s time to start building your vocabulary.

You’ll want to start small based on the goal-setting process and chunking we discussed above.

There’s lots of advice people give about organizing vocabulary by category and using word frequency lists, but I stick personally to the missions to work out what words I need to focus on.

That’s because taking classes and learning with native speakers does a lot of the organizing.

Using Memory Techniques for Language Learning

Given that you know how to create goals, let’s talk about getting your first round of vocabulary into your long-term memory.

Learning to use memory techniques for language learning well is one of the best ways to rapidly accelerate your practice. Mnemonics help because:

• The Memory Palace technique allows you to rapidly scale the number of words and phrases you can remember
• Effective association through multi-sensory visualization makes words and meanings incredibly “sticky”
• Using the method of loci mentally replicates spaced repetition software without sacrificing the benefits of active recall

In fact, the memory techniques optimize how you practice recalling information in a way that strengthens your memory overall. 

Step Four: Practice the Big Five of Language Learning

In order to create momentum and progress, it’s important to balance multiple levels of processing everything involved in learning and using your chosen language.

To do that, you’ll want to learn the major “meta learning” skills that make achieving fluency possible.

These activities can be broken down into what I like to call The Big 5 Of Language Learning. I’ve illustrated them for you with this diagram:

These five elements are based on a scientific principle called the “levels of processing”

How do I know they are valid?

Because researchers continually confirm their value in research papers like this one about Stephen Krashen’s input theory.

How the “Big Five” of Language Learning Works

And as the illustration above shows, giving yourself enough exposure to achieve the levels of processing effect requires you to combine:

• Memory
• Reading
• Writing
• Listening
• Speaking

It’s not a question of which one of these learning activities is most important.

It’s the holistic combination of all them that matters in the end. When I start a new language, I put each and every one of these activities into a learning cycle and interleave between them.

So far, only Hebrew, Sanskrit and Chinese have put speed bumps in my path. That’s because I had to learn their character systems first. But thanks to memory techniques, that didn’t take long. 

Once you can read the language of the alphabet you’re dealing with, there are effective ways to combine listening and reading. You can do that by combining certain tools, like setting up subtitles on Netflix or the story narration program.

I feature both of these options on my best language learning software post.

You can also get great writing practice at the same time you speak, by repeating what you put on the page verbally either before or after putting it down on paper. These days, you can also explore language learning with chatGPT, which I’ve found helpful in small doses.

Any decent language learning class will make you go through these steps, but if you don’t also get yourself to do it on your own, you’ll struggle to learn your language. 

Step Five: Get Feedback by Learning with Native Speakers

Learning in isolation is possible.

For example, I’ve achieved a lot in Latin purely by studying on my own.

But for most of us, it only gets us so far.

Why?

Because language learners need feedback.

And when you meet regularly with native speakers, you get instant feedback.

Please don’t wait to get started. Speaking before you’re “ready” is a key strategy and provides you with one of the fastest ways to improve.

You can watch me put this into practice in this video with me and my Ukrainian teacher during our very first lesson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_dNtRuBRno

What’s the best way to find native speakers?

• Join a language exchange forum or website
• Schedule a call with a professional teacher and use Zoom (like you see in my Ukrainian learning documentary video above)
• Find a local tutor through a school or by placing an ad

Even just 10-15 minutes of interaction a few times a week can reveal gaps you’re not aware you have.

I suggest recording every session and then applying memory techniques later.

When you combine speaking with each of the other Big Five language learning activities, you’ll lock vocabulary, phrases and grammar principles into long-term memory effectively.

And you’ll build confidence as you go, which leads to competence in the language.

The Best Practices That Get Languages Learned Faster

Now that you have my five best steps under your belt, let’s talk about some best practices.

These suggestions are based on my years of experience interviewing and being friends with some of the world’s leading polyglots.

Their advice has helped me so much and I’m confident these considerations will help you achieve fluency too.

Best Practice One: Develop A Positive Mindset

So many people ask, How hard is it to learn a new language? 

But what if this is the wrong question?

What if a better question is: what are the mental strength resources I need to keep consistent over the long term? 

When it comes to language learning, you’ll want to develop skills with: 

• Setting realistic goals
  • For example, if your language has a character set or new alphabet you need to learn, this might be your first goal.
  • If you already know the alphabet, then your first goal might be how to introduce yourself, plus fifty new words related to some of your interests.
• Creating a practical schedule.
• Showing up consistently.
• Managing your expectations.
• Understanding the different types of motivation when learning languages.
• Accept that mistakes will be made and be willing to learn from them.
• Exploring and acquiring the best language learning materials.
• Developing the courage to speak the language.

Some people will need to spend more time learning these skills than others. But they can all be learned and improved as you go.

Best Practice Two: Choose The Best Possible Language Learning Materials

This step is tricky, but also very doable. 

First, just accept that some risk is involved. You might end up buying a book or course that just doesn’t suit you.

This circles back to mindset, particularly managing your expectations.

Personally, I treat it all as research and don’t get emotionally involved.

In fact, I allow myself to be open to revisiting any resource I’ve purchased again in the future, because we as humans can be tremendously fickle. It might not be that the book or course is bad. It’s entirely possible that we were either not ready for it yet, or just having a bad day, week, month or year. 

A subset of choosing the best materials for learning a language is to limit the amount of sources. When learning a language, we do want tons of input – but that doesn’t mean you want it from dozens of sources. 

Instead, I suggest you take a tip I’ve benefited from. It comes from my friend and language learning expert Olly Richards, who advises that we pick at maximum: 

• One book
• One video or audio program 
• One teacher

By sticking to limits like these, we give ourselves ample opportunity to experience the levels of processing effect while not overwhelming ourselves with materials. Embracing limits helps us maximize our investment in the materials and enjoy the benefits of thoroughness.

Plus, if you’re going to use rote learning instead of memory techniques, the limits will help ensure the rote is concentrated and not spread across too many different sources.

When it comes to avoiding rote, Olly shares some fantastic advice in this podcast:

Again, whether you use rote or mnemonics, you might find you acquire materials that simply don’t work. It happens, but at least you’ll have learned something about language learning materials that don’t suit your needs.

But overall, you can limit this problem in the first place my limiting how many language learning guides you bring into your learning life in the first place. And making sure that you always maximize your thoroughness with the ones you do choose.

That way, time will erase any mistakes and the materials you learn from will pay off soon.

My personal rule of thumb is to stick with a book, course or audio program for at least 90 days.

When I was learning Chinese, for example, I followed my own advice. By working with just one audio program, one book and one teacher, this limited focus helped me achieve much faster progress.

But had I been by constantly throwing new “shiny new textbooks” in my path, I would have been constantly distracted.

Need a source for good language learning teachers online? These days I suggest you give Languatalk a try. 

Best Practice Three: Immerse Yourself With Sensible Input And Strategic Challenges

In the beginning, you might not understand anything. But as you learn, your pattern recognition will go up. 

There are a number of ways to keep increasing your sensible input. These include:

• Meet regularly with a native speaker
  • Be sure to bring a picture-based magazine. Learn to ask, “What is that?” and keep pointing at pictures. Record the sessions with your smart phone and listen back, trying to guess what you were looking at in the magazine. 
• Watch movies with subtitles
  • When you find vocabulary and phrases you want to learn, write them down and memorize them. I recommend you create your own flashcards by hand using drawings and colors, like this:

• Complete courses and textbooks thoroughly
  • These will help increase the amount of patterns you’ll recognize as you continue your exposure to the language you’re learning.
• Read short stories and news articles
  • You can do this by just reading or by creating your own translations as you go. My friend Luca Lampariello shares a number of tips on how to use translation to increase your fluency.
• Take a course
  • Strictly speaking, taking a course isn’t necessary. I’ve done it both as a beginner and as a more established student and find saving it for later much more useful. 
  • If you take a course, make sure the teacher uses the target language primarily. You’re not there to improve your mother tongue or teach it to them.
• Speak with natives online
  • There are many great websites for finding people to speak with during dedicated sessions or in small doses by sending and receiving audio texts.
    • As a rule of thumb, I like to give new speaking partners 2-3 sessions before deciding if they are a fit or not.
• Follow Instagram and other social media accounts in your target language.
• Learn songs in your target language.

I know that it can seem strange that learning songs will help, but it helps get more vocabulary and grammar in memory than you might think.

It’s fun too, as you can see as I practice singing a song in Mandarin I later performed at my wedding:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCyPV6qfKkI

With all of these learning activities, you need to use your judgment. If you go for something too advanced, you’ll just get frustrated.

By the same token, if you don’t challenge yourself, you’ll quickly get bored. Get out of your comfort zone. It’s where you’ll find the progress you seek.

Best Practice Four: Invest Enough Time For Daily Practice (But Not Too Much)

People think you have to spend five to six hours a day while learning a language. This just isn’t true.

By the same token, you’re not going to get very far with just 5 minutes a day. 

That said, if you’re strategic about it, you can learn a lot in 15-30 minutes a day. The trick is in breaking up the activities and making sure you’re getting in enough practice of all The Big 5.

A schedule like the one I’ve drawn up for you in the following example can work wonders:

• Mornings: 15 minutes memorizing vocabulary
• Afternoons: 15 minutes of reading and listening using narrated short stories or news articles
• Evenings: 15 minutes watching a movie (or the whole movie with about 15 minutes spent capturing words and phrases you find interesting)

Then, the next morning, you can memorize the new vocabulary you’ve gathered from the day before.

The exact amount of time you spend is not nearly as important as the consistency and focus you bring to each learning session. 

Also, vary the routine. If the routine I suggested is something you use on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, do this on Tuesdays and Thursdays:

• 30 minutes in discussion with a native speaker
• 30 minutes reviewing the discussion recording

It’s also important to schedule breaks. Taking a week off once in a while actually does your brain good when you’re learning. 

The trick is making sure you don’t take off too long and then struggle to get back on the horse.

Here’s a simple tip:

Make sure your language learning sessions with speaking partners are booked in advance. That way, you’re taking some highly beneficial time off, but not with a dangerous open end.

If you still struggle with developing a personal schedule for language learning, give mind mapping for project planning and scheduling a try. I’ve found it useful during times when I was struggling to organize my time.

Best Practice Five: Build Your Own Vocabulary And Phrase Lists

Many people ask, “How long does it take to learn a new language?” I believe the answer should be that the journey never ends. 

But for those who are in a hurry, they often come across the idea of “frequency lists.”

These are compilations of words that are used the most often in any given language. If you’re learning Spanish, these lists can be especially seductive.

And they definitely can be useful. In some cases, they will accelerate how quickly you can get started learning the language.

However, they’re also incredibly limited.

Why?

Because no maker of such lists can know what contexts you’ll find yourself in or what you’re going to want to talk about.

That’s why when you’re reading news stories and translating them, it’s important to focus on information that’s interesting and relevant to you. 

You’ll move along so much faster if you let yourself be informed by word lists, but also always take care to build your own. There are no “right” words to focus on and true fluency comes from being able to accomplish missions. 

When learning German, my favorite way to produce my own custom lists was to read interviews with musicians. They use so many interesting words and turns-of-phrase. It really helped me add interest and flair to how I use the language.

Likewise in Mandarin, I’ve learned a lot from the hip hop scene. They use a lot of interesting phrases that are not only useful, but also add character to my use of the language.

The point being that the more you build your own list of words and phrases you want to know, the more make your connection to the language unique and feel a lot more special.

Best Practice Six: Focus On Systems As Much As, If Not More Than Goals

Goals are important. But even more important are the systems that help ensure that you actually accomplish your language learning goals. 

Let’s say your goal is to learn 50 new words by the end of the week. Great! That’s perfectly realistic.

But it’s also meaningless if you haven’t sat down and charted out a systematic means to ensure you memorize those words. 

I suggest developing an if-this-then-that language learning habit stack. 

For example, let’s say you’ve developed a Memory Palace strategy and you’ve spent some time gathering the words you want to memorize. Your habit stack might look like this:

• If I wake up, I go immediately to my learning place.
• If I go to my learning place, I open my Memory Journal to the list of words I’ve prepared. 
• If I have my list, I start with the first word and memorize it using Station One of the Memory Palace.
• If I have memorized one word, I move on to the next. 
• If I have memorized 10 words, I put my Memory Journal away and start mentally reviewing the words. 
• If I have reviewed my words 3-5 times during the day, I test by writing them out by hand and speak them out loud. 

This is a little system that drives you towards completing the goal. And if you do something like this every day, by the end of the week, you will have memorized 50 words.

You might think even something as tight as this set of steps will take a long time. But nothing could be further from the truth. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without such a simple and elegant system. 

Best Practice Seven: Use The Language Every Day

Have you learned only one word so far?

No problem. Use it. 

Or do you have only a few hundred words?

The principle is the same. Use what you’ve got. 

Talk to yourself as you’re walking down the street.

Tell other people about the phrases you’ve learned and repeat them.

Sing songs in the language you’re learning.

Make your shopping lists in the language you’re learning instead of your mother tongue. 

You need to get the words into the muscle memory of your mouth and your mind.

If you dedicate yourself, everything from brushing your teeth to tying your shoes and kissing your loved ones to sleep at night are excellent opportunities to practice.

Best Practice Eight: Use History And Culture As Your “Secret Weapons”

As I’ve been learning German, Chinese and Sanskrit, I’ve made sure to not stop at the language itself. 

Reading novels, books of history and philosophy from the cultures not only gives you more exposure to the language. It helps you understand the historical and cultural forces that shaped it throughout history and continue to exert an influence.

I would also include serious study of geography and topics like social science.

Knowing about the region can help you understand a lot about how the language developed, and understanding issues related to psychographics can help you fall in love with certain matters of grammar.

This latter point is important because a lot of people waste time trying to understand the “why” of grammar instead of simply accepting it for what it is. 

That said, John McWhorter has shared some compelling reasons to believe that our language differences don’t distinguish us psychologically as much as we might believe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQRjouwKDlU

These are interesting points to consider, and all arrive at the same benefits for you:

When you immerse yourself in the culture and its history, you’ll have more things to talk about with native speakers.

This point is especially important if you’re introverted or generally shy. But read widely and you’ll never be at a loss for conversation topics. 

Best Practice Nine: Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously

A lot of people get hung up on little things when learning languages. They become perfectionists, without realizing that you need to make mistakes in order to learn. 

Develop the ability to laugh at yourself. If you struggle with self criticism, learn these Two Easily Remembered Questions That Silence Negative Thoughts. I’ve learned them in both English and Sanskrit, and that has been tremendously useful.

And rest assured, the kind of mindfulness that I’m suggesting you adopt has been formally studied for foreign language learners. As this researcher found, people who meditate get better results when learning languages.

Another part of mindfulness involves how you manage your teachers and speaking partners. For example, if a teacher is frustrating you by correcting you too often, ask them to scale it down.

When I submit writing to language teachers, I ask them to please point out just three errors. That way I can keep things light and fun and focus on the biggest aspects to improve without overwhelm. 

But if you meet people who can’t help you or make the journey too serious and destroy all the fun, find someone else. There are plenty of fish in the sea. 

Best Practice Ten: Use “Chorusing”

Let me be honest with you:

Pronunciation has always been my biggest struggle when learning languages. It could be genetics. I’ve been tone deaf my entire life.

Yet, I have managed to learn to play multiple musical instruments and a few languages. 

Time and time again, I always wish I focused more on pronunciation. 

Enter a concept called “chorusing” that I learned from my friends at Outlier Linguistics.

In brief, this technique is the audio version of using flash cards.

Using recording software like Audacity, you record a native speaker speaking a word or phrase. Then you copy and paste it multiple times so you can hear it repeated and really dig into the nuances. 

Next, you record yourself speaking it on a separate track.

Since a good audio recorder will let you see the sound waves, you can try to make your voice match certain characteristics visually.

But the more important aspect with this technique is you are training your ear to hear yourself and correct your pronunciation through direct comparison. 

The time investment on this technique is admittedly intense. But it’s well worth the effort, especially if this is a weak point for you as it is for me. 

Another way to memorize pronunciation is to learn the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet). To do that quickly, I drew my own flashcards with striking images that remind me of the sound I’m supposed to make when looking at the symbols.

Check out the card above, for example.

The “i” is a symbol that indicates a long “e” vowel sound. That is also indicated by the two empty triangles I’ve drawn on the coffee cup.

Why a coffee cup? Because an example of the long “e” is in the word “bean.” Coffee reminds me of beans and that’s how I learned to read this symbol when looking at the IPA pronunciation guide.

The other way to remember pronunciation is to simply speak and listen as much as possible. You might feel like you have to go beyond the call of duty in this department, but if you really want to learn a language, the needed amount of exposure should be a non-issue.

It’s best to focus on one language at a time, however. Certainly you can learn two languages at once, but for most of us this is only going to be practical if we have time for enough speaking and listening practice in each language we focus on.

Best Practice Eleven: Use Cognates But Beware Of “False Friends”

Many languages have words that are the same or very similar.

In Spanish, for example, you’ll find thousands of words that are very close in sound and meaning to their English equivalents. You might also see these words referred to as “loan words.” 

However, there are also a number of false cognates that mean very different things.

Always check so that you don’t wind up creating foundational errors that may be difficult to correct later. 

Best Practice Twelve: Add Another Language After You’ve Earned The First One

It’s normal to want to be a polyglot, or someone who speaks 3-5 languages well. But as far as I can tell, all the successful polyglots got there by being willing to establish mastery in just one language at a time. 

Once you’ve done that, you will be very well-versed in the meta learning skills that will help you proceed in leaps and bounds towards substantial speaking and understanding abilities. 

And then you can do cool things like what my friend Benny Lewis calls “laddering.” This technique is when you pick a textbook or course in a language you’ve already learned to start covering the next one.

For example, most of my sources of material for learning Chinese have been from books written in German. 

I love laddering, but am very glad I stuck with German long enough to enjoy great confidence speaking it before moving on. 

One exception to this suggestion that some people find useful is to spend some time learning Esperanto.

The reasoning here suggests that Esperanto is especially suited to helping learners understand more about how different languages work.

Frankly, I’m not convinced you have to become a grammarian or linguist in order to become fluent in a language. If anything, the world is packed with people who are experts in those topics who can’t even speak one other language. 

But if you’re still stuck, it might be worth looking into Esperanto for these reasons.

Or, you could look at a root language to see if it helps wake up your brain.

For example, a small amount of time learning Latin can open up Spanish or Italian for you to an incredible degree.

However, at the end of the day, the old saying that the hunter who chases two rabbits rarely catches either stands up here. Split your attention between more than one language only at great risk. 

Best Practice Thirteen: Travel If You Can, But Don’t Make It A Must

I’ve been lucky and was able to spend years of my life in Germany. During that time, I made sure to live with people who spoke little or no English to make “total immersion” something from which I could not escape.

But I didn’t have the luxury of living in China when I first started learning the language. And it was absolutely not necessary.

In fact, after less than 3 months of studying the language, my time in the country was so distracting, I didn’t have time to study it at all. And that is typically what happens when you try to combine tourism with immersion. 

Instead, use the tips on this page to create proper goals and the effective systems that will place you in the company of your target language each and every day.

Then, when you do get to travel, you can relax and focus on speaking and understanding much more around you. You’ll have earned it.

Best Practice Fourteen: Give Grammar its Proper Place

You can definitely use memory techniques to help you learn grammar.

However, grammar does not need to be mastered before you start reading, writing, speaking and listening.

In fact, it never needs to be mastered at all.

Instead, it’s best to keep reviewing it and learning it in context as you go.

We have to do this in our mother tongue as well and grammar guides are sometimes updated as languages change over time.

So focus on how the language is used in your target language rather than focusing too much on isolated rules.

Often those rules are useful in language learning classes. But in real life, you’ll find that there are many exceptions to the rules.

Learn to absorb how a variety of people use the language so you can use the grammar naturally and intuitively.

Quick Language Learning FAQ

I’ve been blessed to help many language learners over the years.

These are the questions that I’ve seen the most since I started teaching memory techniques for language learning in 2012 following the publication of my first book, How to Learn and Memorize German Vocabulary.

How long does it take to learn a new language to A2?

Many people reach A2 in about 90 days. The amount of time you need might vary, but start by studying 45 minutes a day across three sessions (fifteen minutes each).

Focus on core vocabulary, daily practice with the Big Five skills, and consistent feedback from native speakers.

Should I learn grammar first or vocabulary?

Start with vocabulary.

You’ll absorb grammar more naturally through reading, listening, and speaking.

Use memory techniques to learn sentence patterns in context instead of memorizing isolated rules upfront.

Can I learn two languages at the same time?

It’s possible, but not ideal for most learners.

Split focus usually slows progress. Master one language first—then use it as a base (laddering) to learn your next language more efficiently.

Do I need to travel to learn a language?

Not at all. While immersion helps, you can create your own immersion at home using Memory Palaces, native speaker sessions, media in the target language, and goal-driven study systems.

In fact, sometimes traveling to learn a language can be a distraction. It made sense for me to study German in Germany only because I was already living there.

What’s the fastest way to remember new words?

Use the Memory Palace technique. The process is worth learning because it creates stronger neural associations and dramatically improves retention.

And don’t worry about not having enough Memory Palaces or that you won’t be able to learn enough words.

As you gain experience with the technique, you’ll soon realize that your memory has plenty of space.

And you’ll see how the Big Five of Language learning works as a spaced repetition process that allows you to focus on getting a lot of learning done as you memorize fewer new words over time.

The Best Ways To Learn A Language Begin And End With You And Your Strategy

A lot of people think that kids have some special advantage when it comes to learning a language. This couldn’t be further from the truth. 

In reality, kids take years to speak proper sentences, and many more to read and write at a sophisticated level.

But because adults have all kinds of skills in their mother language, impulse control and the levels of discipline needed to make it on the job market, you have a distinct advantage. 

You really just need to bring everything you know about being a mature and responsible adult to the process of learning a language. But that doesn’t mean you don’t bring childlike curiosity and fun to the game. 

The benefits of speaking a language are immense, ranging from higher salary to the brain health benefits of bilingualism.

And if you’d like more help with the Memory Palace technique we discussed above, you’re welcome to grab my free course:

It gives you four video tutorials and three worksheets that will get you up and running.

So what do you say?

What language do you want to learn and are you feeling empowered now that you have all of these steps and powerful best practices for learning it?

I get it.

As a lifelong learner with a neurodiverse background, I found most note-taking methods either too rigid or outright ineffective.

I encountered this problem during university.

And many of the most highly-recommended note-taking tactics became even more unhelpful when I started teaching as a professor at Rutgers.

As technologies have evolved, I have found that the landscape for learners has gotten even more confusing.

Sure, many people love using apps to aid their learning. And they even get results from them.

But over the years that I’ve been working as a researcher, writer and host of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast and my YouTube channel, I’ve tested and developed multiple strategies.

I’ve also refined the note-taking strategies I used to use in grad school.

And in this guide, I’ll walk you through my favorite unconventional note-taking methods that consistently help me improve my focus, boost memory, and best of all, actually enjoy the learning process.

Whether you’re trying to keep up with a fast-paced lecture, sitting in a meeting or reading dense books, these flexible strategies will help you take better notes.

Even better, you’ll get more out of the notes you take when using these processes.

Let’s dive in.

https://youtu.be/bG-v3Yo1btA

My Best Note-Taking Recommendations To Make Information
More Engaging and Memorable

A quick note before we dive into the techniques I recommend:

There’s no “perfect” method that works for everyone, every time.

The approaches I’m about to share apply to different kinds of information.

And that’s a huge point about having methods overall:

You need multiple techniques that you can switch between depending on the situation.

That’s why I recommend practicing all of them. This approach will leave you with a flexible framework for taking notes in multiple contexts.

One: Visual Note-Taking

Visual note-taking is exactly what it sounds like, and it has been essential to my goal of learning faster and remembering more.

Instead of scribbling out long, lifeless sentences during lectures, I realized that quick visual representation could be used to represent many concepts and skills I needed to learn.

For example, when studying the International Phonetic Alphabet to improve my language learning skills and understand my linguistics textbooks better, I drew a simple coffee cup next to the “i” symbol.

Here’s the drawing:

Here’s what this quick sketch achieved:

I was rapidly able to remind myself that this “i” makes the vowel sound in beans. Just one image anchored the concept instantly in my memory.

You Don’t Need to Be an Artist

As you can see from my example above, visual notes don’t need to be artistic or detailed.

In fact, the simpler, the better. Usually, I limit the visual notes I take to some simple rules:

• Arrows and flow lines show cause and effect or represent connections
• Symbols represent core concepts
• Simple stick figures or icons to bring ideas to life
• Spatial arrangements (like clusters or grids) group related topics
• Question marks prompt reflective thinking

This visual note-taking method works across the board, but especially well for:

• Fast recall of symbols, terms, or processes
• Condensing complex material into visual shorthand
• Keeping your brain engaged during dry or fast-paced sessions

You don’t need to take your visual notes on cards like you see in my examples.

You can integrate visuals into the margins of your books or reserve one or more pages in your notebook for collecting visual summaries of key ideas.

Copying Charts and Graphs By Hand for Better Understanding

Some people can look at a chart and instantly understand what it’s meant to convey.

Not me.

I often find even simple graphs visually overwhelming.

But as I learned from Tony Buzan, you can simply copy them from your textbooks in your own hand to process their meaning.

I followed his advice and did that to understand how memory works.

By using multiple colors and engaging more parts of my brain, I’ve never forgotten the forgetting curve and the serial positioning effect I drew out visually by copying it from a textbook:

The History of Visual Note Taking for Instant Engagement

Ultimately, I never would have believed visual note-taking would help me so much. But it has, and later I found out that this style of note-taking is actually ancient.

As Jamie Kreiner reveals in The Wandering Mind: What Medieval Monks Tell Us About Distraction, copyists would leave doodles for their readers to remind them to keep engaged.

These included funny faces or pictures of monks with alert expressions.

So if you use visual note taking, you’re in good company.

For more reading recommendations like Kreiner’s to help broaden your knowledge about study techniques, check out my full list of books on learning.

Two: Outline Note-Taking for Streamlining Ideas

Outline note-taking is widely used. You could almost call it a classic approach, though you’re about to discover a few ways I’ve found to make it even better.

I use it frequently when attending lectures or listening to instructional videos by just making a dash beside each point based on keywords.

I also use outline note taking when recording my own thoughts.

For sub-points, I will indent slightly to the right.

It basically winds up looking like this example, which involves simple dashes to outline the larger topic:

The catch with this kind of note taking is you can sometimes puzzle yourself.

Because this kind of note-taking compresses the main point into a single keyword or phrase, you can’t always remember exactly what you meant during the note-taking process.

Fortunately, I have a fix for that.

Combine Outline Note Taking with a Review Process

To avoid being puzzled by notes later when using outline note taking at lectures, I ask the speaker permission to press record on my phone.

Then, listening back, you can expand your basic outline notes later. While getting a complete review of the points you thought were good enough to track during the lecture.

When I was in university, not all professors allowed me to record their talks.

Fortunately, these days it’s very common for just about every lecture to be recorded and even uploaded publicly for the world to view.

But if for any reason, recording is not possible, leave space to one side of the page so you can expand your notes immediately after the session.

Don’t wait. Write your summaries while the ideas are still fresh, even if your working memory is strong.

Also, if you can, go over your notes with classmates or co-workers within an hour or two. This simple activity is one of the most empowering study habits I practiced across my university years.

Should You Type Your Outline Notes?

People ask me by email or in comments if it’s okay for them to type their notes.

According to studies like this one from 2024, you won’t get nearly the same memory benefits from using a computer for note taking.

Why is handwriting better?

We actually have to address two angles: focus and memory.

First, this Scientific American article summarizes studies that show a major difference in brain activity.

You remember and learn more when using your hand due to processing that occurs because real-time note taking by hand is slower.

I know that sounds counterintuitive, but if you think about it, writing requires more focus.

And what we focus on, the brain engages with much more deeply, leading to better memory and comprehension.

Outline Notes for Creative Output

I’ve long noticed that I remember more and understand better when writing my study and research notes by hand.

But this form of note taking has also helped me edit my books better.

For example, it’s totally possible to revise books on the computer.

To get better and faster results, however, I print out my drafts, read them with a red pen and take outline notes on sheets of paper.

It’s so much easier to improve an entire book draft this way. Both to better remember the many moving parts, and to increase focus.

Editing on a computer is not only challenging because your brain activity slumps.

You’re also fighting against multiple open tabs and the knowledge that there are infinite entertainments that await you online.

So whether you’re editing an essay for a school assignment or an article for work, get it printed so you can make notes on the draft in ways that will better serve your goal of creating a masterpiece.

Three: SQ3R Note Taking Driven by a Powerful Questioning Formula

SQ3R was developed by the educational psychologist Francis Robinson in the 1940s to help military personnel read better.

The SQ3R acronym stands for:

• Survey
• Question
• Read
• Recite
• Review

Unlike passive reading or taking notes without thinking, SQ3R gets you engaging deeply with the materials through this easy-to-follow model.

I find it useful for reducing information overwhelm when used in this exact manner:

• Survey the book from back to front before reading to get a sense of its structure
• Question what I want to learn and determine how many flashcards I might need
• Use active reading strategies while going through the book
• Recite the ideas while taking notes from the textbook, verbally and in writing
• Review the ideas from my notes and mentally by continuing to ask questions about what I’ve read

Why Asking Questions Improves Learning and Memory

In my experience, constantly asking questions strengthens memory because you’re processing the ideas in a deeper way.

And scientists have found that you’re engaging in what’s known as elaborative rehearsal. You strengthen your memory and understanding because questions help you look at the information in more than one way.

Sometimes my questions are simple.

If you scroll back up and look at my card with “Really?” on it and the visual arrow to connect two ideas together, I’m expressing both skepticism and surprise.

Here are some other questions I frequently use while reading and note taking:

• What does this point connect to?
• Where else have I encountered an idea like this?
• What is the author’s objective in raising this point?
• Why is the content organized in this way?
• What evidence supports this claim?
• Is the evidence dated or likely to require an update?
• What image, analogy or metaphor could represent this concept?
• What’s the simplest way to explain this to someone who has never heard about it before?
• What’s the biggest and most important takeaway?
• Can I explain the key points in my own words?
• What questions is this book not asking but should be?

There are many more questions you can ask. If you’d like to train your brain and become a question-asking machine, check out my ultimate list of philosophical questions. It’ll help turn you into an SQ3R machine.

Combining SQ3R with Other Learning Methods

As you’ve seen, I combine the question-asking process with my note taking process.

But you can also make quick doodles or sketches that embed questions. Or make sketches of question marks that prompt you to ask the sample questions I’ve shared above.

If you use the method of loci, you can embed questions marks along your mental journeys to trigger your recall.

In fact, one of the earliest memory training books by Peter of Ravenna encouraged its readers to ask lots of questions.

This point was raised again by the Renaissance memory instructor Giordano Bruno. He taught people a means of placing questions on memory wheels.

These “computational” mental tools have a long history, and are worth studying because of how question-focused they were during an era packed with polymaths and autodidacts.

The point is that top learners rarely use any technique in isolation. So to get the most out of SQ3R, pop it into your outline note taking efforts as well.

Four: Flow-Based Note Taking for Capturing Ideas Faster

Flow-based note taking is all about getting your thoughts down without the kinds of filters other methods involve.

Sometimes I think of this approach as “brain dumping.”

For example, here’s a real instance of getting into flow and just letting ideas flow in real time:

In the same section I visually worked out a story idea and even listed the playing cards I had memorized earlier that day.

Although these pages from my private notebook might look chaotic to some, it’s a powerful snapshot of my thinking at that moment.

Handwriting for Speed and Focus

I carry the kind of notebook you see above at all times. The 90x140mm format fits perfectly in the back pocket of my jeans.

The only rule I follow when using this form of note taking is to not interrupt the flow.

There is one precaution, however:

Try to write cleanly enough that you’ll be able to recognize your own handwriting. I recently had to buy a magnifying glass so I could decode some of the notes I took a bit too quickly.

Since then, I’ve started taking more care that I write legibly. Not for perfection, but for the benefit of my future self.

You Don’t Have to Optimize Every Flow-Based Note

Even though I’ve started taking greater care, this approach is not the SQ3R, nor does it involve creating a specific outline.

It’s about momentum and staying in the zone.

In my experience, this method works best for:

• Early-stage project planning
• Creative writing
• Working through a series of scattered ideas
• Journaling for self-improvement outcomes
• Remembering your dreams
• Summarizing ideas from books you’ve read

Can you get the same effect from taking notes in flow on a computer?

Possibly, and sometimes I send myself notes via email, especially when ideas for books I’m writing come up while I’m working on other tasks, like editing videos.

These rapid notes wind up filled with a lot of typos that can be hard to decode later, however.

And we have studies like this showing that cursive handwriting gets much better results for anything involving memory, learning, focus and concentration.

In sum, I stick to handwriting these “brain dump” notes as much as I possibly can.

Five: Doodling While Taking Notes

This might be my most controversial suggestion, but please hear me out.

Doodling while taking notes isn’t about zoning out or expressing frustration with boring topics.

Although some people discourage doodling, my personal experience says otherwise.

As someone with two MAs and a PhD, sketching simple shapes while listening to slow lectures based on dense topics or challenging skills has helped me many times.

For example, when studying music theory and waiting for the teacher to move through ideas I didn’t want to miss, I doodled on the right-hand side of this notebook:

In a way, doodling while paying attention to information is like mind mapping, but without having to create a dedicated mind map.

I find it useful because it helps me focus on the information as it flows in real time without giving in to the need for a dopamine spike.

Doodling also brings powerful memory benefits. As this study found, a group of doodlers who listened to a telephone call remembered 29% more than those who did not.

When it comes to doodles for language learning, the founder of the Fluent Forever app and author of a book with the same title, has talked extensively about making your own index cards. You can hear my conversation about this with Gabriel Wyner on this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast.

I took his advice to heart and started drawing frequently to help me learn both German and Mandarin.

For example, this simple doodle in one of my language learning notebooks helped me remember a very important German word in no longer than the time it took to create the simple image:

I highly recommend giving doodling as a form of note taking for a variety of learning goals.

That way, you can stick with what you’re studying without feeling the need to seek a dopamine spike quite so often.

So next time, rather than constantly flipping through your computer tabs or getting irritated with a lecturer, keep your hands busy by doodling.

What You Should Immediately Stop Doing When Taking Notes

I thought you might find a summary of things not to do helpful.

Obviously, if some of these activities are genuinely helpful for you, feel free to keep up with them.

But for a lot of us, they’re the source of so many issues.

One: Stop Mindless Word-for-Word Copying

Sometimes we do need to write out quotes verbatim.

For example, I traveled long distances to visit libraries across Europe when I was completing my Mercator Guest Professor Grant in Germany. Many of the books were rare, did not exist in digital format and there was no way I would ever see them again.

Even then, I tried to limit my verbatim notes to index cards and only the most essential quotes.

Far better is to withdraw the key points and review all your notes for a book or article immediately. Then write a summary in your own words so that they context of the specific verbatim quotes stick more firmly in your mind.

Two: Avoid Reliance on Digital Tools

I get email from people who love to tell me about their digital tools.

Although I’m happy for them, I’m much more aligned with my fellow writers.

Like the journalist Ezra Klein who told Lex Fridman in this interview about how important it is to the quality of his writing to work with print as much as possible.

As he puts it, print helps him show up and do the work much better than some of his competition. He attributes the success of his podcast to reading from print and preparing his notes in this way.

My experience matches his and I’m confident you’ll enjoy a similar experience when you give your brain more exposure to printed media.

Three: Using Only One Note-Taking Method

After launching the video about my note-taking methods at the top of this page, one of my frequent commentators said he’s not sure what method is his favorite yet.

I said that actually it’s the combination of many methods that I prefer.

I would suggest that you keep flexible by developing skills with a variety of information capture techniques.

Four: Don’t Copy Other Learners (At Least Not Too Closely)

Along these lines, it’s useful to take inspiration from how others take notes.

But rather than copy what they’re doing, seek to “reverse-engineer” why they’re using a particular approach.

You’ll not only develop better research skills. You’ll wind up with your own research style, leading to the uniqueness and success Ezra Klein highlights.

Five: Stop Neglecting Integration

For best results, never make your note-taking a “set and forget” process.

Review them. Think about them. Connect them with notes you’ve taken in the past.

And integrate in topic-appropriate ways.

For example, in a recent Conversations with Close podcast, the magician Peter Samelson suggested photocopying important guidebook pages when learning a process.

Then, in the context of learning a new skill, mark that page up with notes describing the specific steps you need to follow.

This kind of step-by-step note-taking will accelerate your progress.

And that photocopying tip?

Golden.

By making a quick copy, you can be as creatively sloppy with your notes as you wish, and still retain the book’s instructions in its original format.

Likewise if you’re learning from an ebook or PDF, by printing the pages and marking them up physically, you’re integrating your notes at a much deeper level. You’ll enjoy more substantial outcomes as a result.

Frequently Asked Questions About Note-Taking and Memory

I’ve been asked many questions about how I take notes over the years.

Here are some of the most frequent, and the most important.

What’s the best note-taking method for retention?

There’s no single “best” approach in my experience.

I suggest rotating through multiple approaches, especially in a way that combines handwriting, visual note-taking and asking questions as you proceed.

The most important point is that you take the initiative to make the note-taking process active.

Combining multiple approaches based on your specific learning goal will give you outstanding results.

Should I take notes by hand or on a computer?

As we’ve seen, studies show that handwriting works best for memory, comprehension and focus.

But that doesn’t mean you have to leave typing completely out of the process.

When I wrote my dissertation for my PhD at York University, I typed up many of my notes into an outline.

At the end of the day, it was important that the notes were taken by hand. But it’s not at all the case that typing was entirely excluded from the process that led me to a successful graduation.

Notes on paper pile up. How am I supposed to organize them all over time?

This can be a problem, but one thing to consider is that you don’t have to keep all of your notes.

When I’ve moved internationally, I photographed the most important and got rid of the physical versions.

Many of my cards also go into mental storage by using the Memory Palace technique too. There are many that I never photographed but still recall with ease as a result.

But generally I’ve found that using index cards is best because they pack easily into shoe boxes.

You can store thousands of cards inside one closet and label the boxes alphabetically or thematically.

Many people in the Zettelkasten community keep notes in this way. Some invest in wooden cases for their cards, which you might look into if you want to store and organize your knowledge.

What if I forget what I meant because I was sloppy?

This is a real risk.

But you reduce it substantially by constantly questioning and using memory techniques during the note-taking process.

And if you review your notes regularly and write summaries of what you’re learning, you’ll have a backup record.

Chances are, you’ll also wind up like me: Rarely having to look back at your notes because you simply remember them.

Of course, that outcome might make you wonder: If such strong recall is possible, why bother taking notes in the first place?

The answer is that taking notes well helps establish stronger memories.

So even if it’s fairly common to scratch your head when looking at some of your own notes, they don’t all have to be legible. The note-taking process will still have been valuable overall.

How do I make sure I review my notes effectively?

For most of us, spaced repetition is the key.

You’ll need to experiment with how long between reviews works best for you.

Myself, when I really want to remember something, I follow a pattern I modified from Dominic O’Brien’s Rule of Five:

• Five reviews the first day
• One review daily for the first five days
• One review weekly for the next five weeks

Although I don’t follow that pattern slavishly for everything I learn, it’s a general rule of thumb to follow.

It might seem like a lot, but just take it one note at a time. If you let your mind constantly label how much review you have to do, you’re wasting time that could be spent on reviewing.

What are the biggest note-taking mistakes to avoid?

The list is simple:

• Spending too much time on highlighting instead of writing the points out from memory
• Taking notes verbatim without breaking them down to keywords
• Not having a backup recording every time you have the option
• Failing to review your note
• Neglecting to write summaries in your own words
• Not taking time for reflective thinking
• Keeping it all in your head without speaking about what you’re learning
• Not using memory techniques to help absorb more of the granular details
• Waiting to understand instead of diving in and letting comprehension emerge as part of the process

Do I need to take notes on everything I learn?

Strategically selecting what you’re going to take note of is critically important.

No one can cover everything. In fact, human civilization developed specialization groups precisely so we can “offload” certain aspects of human knowledge to others.

Focus the notes you take on the big insights, patterns, trends and areas you really need to be able to recall.

If you try to cover every single detail, your competition will sail past you.

By the same token, to be a specialist, you want to bring your unique perspective.

That’s why developing your own systematic questioning process is so critical to your success.

How do I know which note-taking style works for me?

I would suggest asking a different question:

How can I make the time to explore as many note-taking approaches as possible so I have a collection of techniques to choose from?

This approach will serve you so much better because there are many different kinds of information to learn. There is no single technique that will cover every single kind.

My Best Tips For Turning Notes Into Long-Term Memories

Taking notes is powerful, but it’s just one part of having a truly holistic learning practice.

To truly remember and apply what you’ve learned, please follow up with the following strategies to strengthen your retention and understanding.

Over the years, as both student, professor and memory expert, I’ve refined each of these powerful processes to help turn the many ways I take notes into memories that last.

Understand the Levels of Processing Effect

Simply rereading notes or using Anki isn’t enough.

To enjoy greater understanding and remember more, you can make ideas stickier by speaking, writing, listening and reading those ideas more often.

Some of my favorite memories during university involved just that, typically covered by attending a variety of discussion groups.

In English 1300, for example, a small cluster of us all walked away with the top grades.

Why?

Because after many of the lectures and tutorials, we met to discuss the material further.

I’ll never forget sitting up in the 7th-floor Grad Lounge of the Ross Building.

Although we didn’t realize we were practicing levels of processing at the time, we practiced everything scientists have discovered works for learning at a deeper level. We:

• Read our notes to each other aloud
• Take more notes based on key points raised by our peers
• Learn about additional resources so we could benefit from additional books and articles

Later, in grad school, I joined even more advanced study groups.

In one of my favorites, we would each voluntarily read an article to present to the group.

In this way, we exposed each other to additional reading material we would never have time to consider in any other way.

Yet, we could still take notes about the key points, commit them to memory and enjoy the effect of priming our memory for future encounters with those references.

Summarize What You’ve Learned in Writing

We’ve talked a lot about writing today, and it is proven to hone your focus and boost your memory.

But I didn’t always do it.

And initially, I’m ashamed to say that I hated it.

Especially when one of my grad school professors made me write 300-500 word summaries of the books I read for a directed reading course.

I reconnected with this professor a few years ago, however.

Why? To tell her how much I appreciated the exercise week after week.

Thanks to her requirement, I learned to process the information in my own words, which is incredibly powerful for memory and reading comprehension.

That’s because summarizing your notes in prose forces you to:

• Clarify your understanding
• Reorganize ideas to fit different combinations based on your overall study goals
• Identify gaps in your knowledge
• Ask more and better questions
• Seek answers from more sources

If you don’t have a professor assigning summary tasks for you, try it yourself.

Even just the shortest prose summaries of your notes will boost your memory and improve your comprehension.

Organize Your Notes with Index Cards

I often take notes on index cards because they make it easy to:

• Shuffle the ideas around and put them back into the original order I extracted them from the book
• Group notes by topic, theme or historical order
• Annotate the notes using the Zettelkasten method
• Expand the notes over time in a way that linear notebooks do not allow

To store my many cards and harness the power of spaced repetition, I use Leitner boxes.

This approach lets you review your notes progressively over time and ensure that the information gets retained at a much higher level.

And if you think that using cards and boxes like this is too simplistic, rest assured you’ll be in good company.

Both Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin used similar approaches to great effect, amongst many other autodidactic personalities.

The Ultimate Path To Remembering Your Notes

Effective note-taking skills are discussed everywhere.

But you also need to bring your best critical thinking skills.

Whatever you do, I suggest that you approach note taking as an art, a science and a lifestyle. Make sure that you experiment with multiple styles and track your results.

As you pay attention to what’s happening more consciously, you’ll learn more about what works for you and lean towards your preferences with greater understanding.

But at all times, choose flexibility. Make sure you have on hand what you need whenever you attend a lecture or recording of one so that all your bases are covered.

And above all, remove all stress. So many learners bring so much worry about the game of education that they forget to play it.

This point is important because learning really is a game. It’s one you can win too, provided you put your memory first. And provided you have the mental strength strategies we all need to succeed.

And to help with strengthening your memory, consider learning to use the Memory Palace technique. It’s an ancient version of the Leitner Box that helps you remember more without so much as breaking a sweat.

If you’d like to learn it now, feel free to join my free course:

It gives you a complete set of video tutorials and worksheets that will help you improve your memory.

So what do you say?

Whether you’re a student juggling dense textbooks, or a professional juggling back-to-back meetings, these approaches will transform your notes into meaningful knowledge that stays with you.

And that’s the ultimate point:

Note-taking is not just about notes. It’s about transforming everything you capture into questions, ideas and associations that help usher the target information into long-term memory.

Do any of these note taking technique resonate with you?

Let’s discuss below and keep learning together!

The real fix for when you feel overwhelmed?

In my experience as everything from a touring musician to university lecturer and the owner of multiple businesses, here’s the ultimate answer:

Improve your memory.

Not in a vague way.

And definitely not “someday.”

But by following a clear, proven path designed to held you reduce mental clutter.

On this page, you’ll discover a system that will sharpen your focus and help you relieve cognitive overwhelm.

Pretty much on demand.

No, I’m not offering any magic bullets or hype.

Just proven strategies for preventing cognitive overwhelm in the first place, along with the self-education strategies that have made my successes possible.

If that sounds good to you, let’s get started.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37oyQ4_kN2Y

Understanding the Modern Brain Under Siege:
A Definition of “Information Overwhelm”

It’s supposed to be a dream come true, right?

I’d finished my first major guest professor grant and my first memory improvement books were taking off.

So I went on tour with a band I’d played with in Berlin near the end of my PhD studies.

Never had I experienced so much freedom. Yet, I had also never felt so overwhelmed as my phone buzzed with non-stop updates, alerts and notices of things to do.

As the authors of this scientific overview of information overload have found, it’s not actually the amount of information that drives us crazy.

It’s how that the speed and volume impacts our ability to make decisions.

Stress and memory loss are well-studied, as is memory and anxiety.

But once you know that the biggest problem of all involves a reduction in your ability to think critically, workable solutions emerge.

What follows are the best I’ve found.

They’ve increased my “cognitive budget,” so to speak. Meaning that I have more mental power to spend on the activities that have allowed me to continue playing music while writing novels, learning languages and running multiple businesses.

Of course, there are other aspects of overwhelm to consider. So before we get into the tips, let’s examine what else might be going on in your life.

The Four Levels of Information Overwhelm

Each of the levels we’re about to discuss make critical thinking more difficult, especially analytical thinking.

They are:

• Sensory overload
• Cognitive overload
• Emotional overload
• Decision fatigue

Let’s look at examples of each.

Sensory Overload

When I was a musician, a huge part of the overload came from the noise of traveling all day in a vehicle with my band.

We listened to loud music on top of the traffic sounds. Driving is visually stimulating even if you’re not at the wheel.

And then we would get on stage and have the sensory input of lights, audience cheers and our own extra-loud instruments pounding at us.

One simple hack that helped me was to wear my earplugs while traveling, not just while performing on stage.

As a result, I was able to read on the road and better manage my growing publishing business, which included writing this blog (and still does). To this day, I wear noise-cancelling headphones just to keep myself focused while writing.

As these scientists have found, one of the biggest barriers people face is that they need to experiment with their own ways of reducing sensory stimulation.

Fortunately, Queensland Health has some suggestions that mirror the processes that have helped me, including:

• Identifying places you can go to enjoy reduced stimulation
• Developing routines that involve more time spent in quiet
• Creating a sensory tool kit (sunglasses, noise cancelling headphones, anything that helps you feel calm)

Cognitive Overload

I recently finished the eighth draft of my second “Memory Detective” novel.

The story is so complicated and my notes were all over the place…

There were too many inputs and not nearly enough integration.

The answer was to take a break and then order a print copy of the seventh draft.

I didn’t feel it was ready yet, but by reading the draft in book form, I was able to make marks on the page and consolidate my many notes.

When studying at university, and for my non-fiction books, I rarely have this problem. That’s because I used the Zettelkasten technique to easily organize and integrate my notes.

More on this strategy in a moment, but the point here is that part of my cognitive overwhelm came from working outside my circle of competence as a scholar.

As a result, I shifted how I dealt with the many inputs involved in writing a different kind of book. Chaos ensued until I took a break and approached the task more strategically.

Why did it take so long to arrive at a better solution?

As we now know, overwhelm reduces decision-making skills and other cognitive abilities. Breaking the patterned loop I was in was ultimately the fix, and doing that should help you too with cognitive overload.

Emotional Overload

I have an ongoing debate with a friend who disagrees that emotions have any logic to them whatsoever.

For better or worse, I can’t agree because I’ve read books like The Upheaval of Thought: The Intelligence of Emotions.

But often we don’t listen to what the intelligence of our emotions is trying to tell us.

And that leads us into even more emotional chaos.

Some tips that have helped me deal with emotional overwhelm are all science-backed, such as progressive muscle-relaxation and paced breathing.

Cognitive training has helped as well, including some of the memory-based meditation routines I shared in my TEDx Talk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvtYjdriSpM

Decision Fatigue

Making decisions taxes the brain.

As this study discusses, not only do you have to make the decisions in front of you.

You also have to either execute after the decision is made, or hold information about the processes you’ll need to follow in your memory.

One of the best ways to I’ve found to help make sure I don’t get overwhelmed is to keep studying working memory and practice expanding it.

We’ll talk more about ways to do that to beat down info overwhelm. And not just beat it down, but manage it without anxiety.

Memory Techniques that Expand How Much Information You Can Handle

I’ve been teaching memory improvement professionally for over fifteen years.

What you’re about to explore are the best ways to sharpen your memory so that your overall mind enjoys mental resilience and stamina.

Although the science is mixed, usually that’s because they experiments they run involve granular activities.

For example, in this study, they tested N-back tasks and saw negligible results. But most of us aren’t overwhelmed by those kinds of activities.

We’re overwhelmed by to-do lists, massive textbooks we need to read and the digital amnesia created by life online.

Rest assured, there’s lots of good evidence for taking memory training courses, including focusing specifically on working memory training.

You just need to keep your specific goals in mind.

For example, if you’re overwhelmed with language learning activities, then you’ll want to take the memory advice of a world renowned polyglot like Luca Lampariello. You can listen to him on my podcast share a powerful mental metaphor he’s used to reduce his own overwhelm.

Or, if you’re dealing with books as part of your studies, take advice from someone like myself. I take notes from textbooks in a specific way that will help your memory for that specific type of learning goal.

With these points in mind, here are the major memory techniques that will help you deal with all kinds of overwhelm.

One: The Memory Palace Technique

When you’re drowning in information, it’s easy to feel paralyzed.

Especially when the clock is ticking.

The reason you feel overwhelmed?

The brain isn’t designed to hold disorganized data.

That’s why I use Memory Palaces to help internalize information along highly familiar routes that are already in my memory.

I’ve taught thousands of students to use this technique as well, and my testimonial page is quite long with their stories of success.

What is it?

In brief, it’s the king of all the ancient memory techniques.

Sometimes called the method of loci, scientists believe it works because of how our natural spatial memory abilities allow for highly efficient neural coding.

For a full training, please read my guide to the Memory Palace technique. It goes into great depth about how to get started and even reach advanced levels of use quickly.

Two: Personally Created Flashcards

I pull a lot of notes from tons of sources.

That’s why I use the Zettelkasten technique.

Zettel means slips of paper or cards in German. And kasten refers to boxes.

This means that you don’t just take notes on flashcards.

You take them in a way designed to work combination with Memory Palaces and the Leitner Box approach.

Now, there’s a potentially overwhelming amount of things to say about managing these cards, but take a look at the photo above.

In it, you’ll see that I have very little information on the flashcard I’m holding.

That’s on purpose.

Scientifically, I’m practicing what’s often called the chunking memory strategy.

It’s based on the fact that our mental processing power isn’t that large. Even if you engage in a ton of cognitive activities, you’ll still benefit from breaking things down to smaller components.

It’s more than reducing overwhelm. This “less is more” tactic actually helps your brain remember more.

Three: Rapid Fire Alphabetical Associations

Have you ever met someone and said, “Oh, your name will be easy to remember. I have a friend with the exact same name.”

That’s the principle behind making alphabetical associations to expand how much you can remember without overwhelm.

My friends in the memory competition world use this kind of approach to memorize hundreds of data points.

For example, 3x USA Memory Champion John Graham has astonished people by memorizing dozens of names and numbers associated with those names in high pressure situations.

How?

Mnemonic images.

Specifically approached using one of four pegword methods.

You don’t have to learn them all to benefit.

But please set some time aside to pick up at least one or two of these techniques. You won’t regret how they help you rapidly absorb much more info than ever before.

For more powerful methods like these, check out my full list of memory techniques you can start mastering today.

I’ve also got a list of books on learning that often refer to them, amongst other learning strategies that help reduce overload quickly.

Organizing Your Learning For Stress Free Clarity & Retention

If you want to learn how to organize your learning, it matters a great deal what you’re trying to learn.

My strength is study tips for overwhelmed learners based on having completed so many degrees and certificates.

Even in my forties, I still take exams, such as when I passed Level III in Mandarin a few years ago.

Here’s a list of the tactics that have worked the best for me to create mental clarity and focus as a lifelong learner.

One: Balancing Input with Output

Too many students cram, consuming as many of the main points as they can.

Let me be blunt:

For most of us, this is a horrible learning strategy.

You need to integrate what you’re learning by using what scientists call active recall.

Put simply, instead of just studying, you need to regularly test yourself.

That’s why I suggest that you use Memory Palaces and the flashcard method we discussed above.

These techniques require you to process what you’re learning through writing and speaking the material. As a result

Two: Interleaving

One reason I rarely burn out on topics I study stems from my use of interleaving.

It’s a simple process where you switch between topics you’re studying frequently to avoid topic exhaustion.

The way I use it involves switching between books approximately every 15-20 minutes.

And I basically never read for long when feeling frustrated or bored with a topic.

Interleaving lets you switch without guilt and come back later when your brain is ready for another round.

This process helped me get through many books that didn’t feel like reading during university. And it still helps me educate myself when I have to go through articles and books for my research.

Give this approach a try. You’ll likely find it beneficial.

Three: Daily Routines

A huge part of my success comes from purposefully acting a bit robotic.

Almost every day I complete:

• A morning concentration meditation
• A journaling exercise
• Daily reading and writing
• Selective viewing or listening of educational content online
• Evening wind-down routines

I shot this video about my habits three years ago and little has changed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyUsLTPHbTk

Four: Environmental Control

Often we struggle to overcome information overload because we put ourselves in locations that do not serve.

True, we sometimes have no choice.

But it is possible to seek out the best places for learning. You have my guide to the best study places I used during university.

Even if you can’t change locations to reduce overwhelm, getting out for a daily walk or sitting in a different room to hear some music can work wonders.

How to Reduce Digital Info Overwhelm

Like everyone, I struggle with the tsunamis of information online.

There are more books than I’ll ever be able to read in a lifetime.

New bands release albums at a pace I can’t keep up with and YouTube is constantly filling up with fascinating new videos.

One simple tactic that helps me is to journal what I spend my time on.

In 59 Seconds, Richard Wiseman shares research showing that people who journal experience time quite differently. In my experience, it feels like I have more of it.

And when I look back through my journals, it’s amazing how much I’ve read and still managed to consume online.

But the act of writing it all down also serves as a kind of mindful reminder. Writing things down constantly raises the question:

Is this digital media I want to consume really worth the time?

If you keep asking yourself that question, written or not, you’ll likely waste less time.

You can also use digital filters. But I tend to think it’s better to train the mind to stand up to these temptations without external devices.

Train Yourself to Become an Intentional Learner

As a polymath and autodidact, I learned long ago that there’s a difference between passive consumption and active learning.

You can learn a lot about making the switch in ways that will reduce your overwhelm by studying how to be a polymath and develop your autodidactic skills.

You’ll also want to study how other top performers managed to learn so much, such as Thomas Jefferson.

Although it’s temping to think that you might not be able to reach those levels, you actually can develop the personality traits they use to learn such incredible amounts without burnout.

The key is to get rid of so many of the cliches floating around out there. For example, many people say you have to be “curious.”

I disagree. A lot of top learners set an intention and then work out what needs to be done in order to accomplish a goal.

Then they do it.

And an open secret is that freedom is in the doing.

So much overwhelm comes from letting lists pile up and never attending to the accomplishment of your dreams.

But that doesn’t have to be you.

You really can master your memory and from there master how your mind responds to overwhelm.

If you’d like help, my free memory course has helped over one hundred thousand people. You can get started with it here:

Remember:

The goal isn’t always to consume less.

It’s to process better.

As someone who’s balanced the demands of academia, creativity and entrepreneurship, I know firsthand what overwhelm feels like.

But I also know that intentionally applying the various tactics I’ve shared today work.

And they scale with your goals too as you tackle increasingly ambitious projects.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to stop drowning in data and start organizing information in your mind with more structure?

I’ll be here learning right beside you and look forward to trading notes soon.

Meet Luca Lampariello, one of the world’s most respected polyglots.

But he’s famous for more than just mastering many multiple languages.

He’s known for learning even the hardest languages with joy, and speaking them with remarkable precision.

Although this interview was recorded for the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast over a decade ago, it’s still high-value and highly relevant.

Especially if you want a methodical process that makes language learning fun.

And not only fun, much easier than ever before because you finally understand more about how people who live and breathe multiple languages tick.

Ready to learn from a master, outstanding teacher and all around great guy?

Note: This episode was originally recorded in January of 2024 and released in February 2014. The podcast notes on this page and a few links were updated for relevance and accuracy in 2025.

The audio, which was originally filled with a lot of echo, has now been cleaned up for your listening convenience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RKkPjx963E

Here’s What You’ll Learn From Luca Lampariello in This Episode

• Why fluency is really nothing more than the capacity to assemble the pieces of a language together.
• How to think of language as a net (so that you can go fishing for phrases).
• The epiphany the point where the language is engrained in your brain.
• Why just a couple of books is more than enough when studying a new language.
• Why languages are like a group of friends.
• How the simple act of smiling can deepen your language learning efforts.
• What to do if you find yourself practicing your language with unpleasant people.
• Why learning a language is like courting a lover.
• How to balance quality and quantity when it comes to learning vocabulary.
• Solid tips on using Teams, Zoom or your favorite online meeting service for meeting with native speakers and tutors.
• Why establishing a “time line” is essential to language learning.
• How you can learn up to 40 sentences in just one hour.
• How involving your emotions enhances your learning capacity.
• Why you need to avoid criticism and negative feedback when learning a language.
• How to used spaced-time repetition the right way.
• Luca’s personal experiences with the journey method and the method of loci.
• What Luca learned about mnemonics while studying to be an interpreter.
• How to develop your natural capacity for associating new vocabulary with places and feelings.
• How to vary your activities using the best language learning hacks to maximize your learning curve.
• Why you should think in terms of structures and phrases instead of words.
• The difference between a beginner and an intermediate language learner.
• The number one principle behind all language learning.
• … and much, much more.

As you’ve just heard, Luca’s language learning methods are groundbreaking, riveting and fun. Every day you’re not putting his wisdom to work and studying a foreign language, you’re leaving part of life’s pleasure behind.

For more incredible tips from Luca, please listen to our follow-up conversation next, and this discussion we recorded about working memory. And visit his website where you’ll find courses and books.

Want More Language Learning Wisdom?

Check out my detailed tutorial on how to become a polyglot.

And if you like books that help you learn languages, you’ll probably enjoy my “Learn and Memorize” series. It includes guides for memorizing the vocabulary of Spanish, French, German and more.

If you prefer video courses, you can find my bestselling How to Learn and Memorize the Vocabulary of Any Language in the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass.

I cover many of the core memory processes on my blog. Go ahead and read How to use the Memory Palace Technique for Language Learning to get started.

If you’re looking for the ultimate list of must-read philosophy books, you’re in the right place.

I’ve been reading diverse works of philosophy since I was very young, starting with Albert Camus.

In fact, reading Camus at age fourteen is perhaps too young!

It started with stumbling on The Stranger at the local library while skipping school. It’s a quick and easy novel, but also tremendously profound.

At the back of the novel, the author bio talked about Camus’ work in existentialism, so I went on to read The Myth of Sisyphus and his other novels.

Although I didn’t understand much of his philosophy at the time, it introduced me to an entire world of writing about thinking. I was hooked.

And now I want to share with you my top philosophy books, why they matter and some of the key points that have stuck with me.

Not only that, as a memory expert, I’ll share with you how to remember their titles and key points as well.

Ready?

Let’s get started!

21 Must-Read Philosophy Books That Will Stick With You

Before we dive in, a quick reality check:

Can anyone really rank the “greatest” philosophy books of all time?

Probably not.

Why?

Because in philosophy, as in science, it doesn’t really matter who identifies the truth. As many of the philosophers you’ll discover today point out, it’s the process that matters.

This is one reason why philosophy is quite different than what we find in religious books. True, many books from religious traditions contain philosophy.

But when defining philosophy to the best of our abilities, philosophy always boils down to something we do. It’s not about final pronouncements or producing good feelings psychologically. Philosophy is about creating concepts with an attuned awareness of how our reading influences the concepts we develop.

Why This List Isn’t Just About Famous Philosophy Titles

When it comes to philosophy as a process of creating concepts, I am influenced by Gilles Deleuze.

I believe he’s right and find that various philosophies are most important when the philosopher at hand is working on new concept creation.

Plus, as you’ll see, I’m also influenced by ancient thinkers and people like Nietzsche that at some level, we don’t even do that. Rather, philosophy does us.

I’ll explain more of what I mean as we go through this list.

One: Plato’s Dialogues

Getting to attend university was an extraordinary opportunity. But it wasn’t until my second year that I chose a major, which at that time was Political Science.

The first reading I was assigned was Plato’s The Republic.

It’s an extraordinary read that takes you into deep ideas by questioning just about everything. As you follow its various debates, The Republic demonstrates how to become an effective debater yourself.

It’s difficult for me to underscore the influence this book had on me during my early years as a university student.

I went to the professor as soon as I was done reading it and asked for more.

She told me that Plato had written a ton of dialogues and suggested the Edith Hamilton and Huntington Cairns edition of Plato: The Collected Dialogues.

All of the dialogs are worth reading, but my favorites are The Republic, Sophist, Ion and Lysis.

Lysis was particularly important for me many years later. It has a lot to do with friendship, which is the topic I ultimately wrote my dissertation on.

In terms of core ideas, there’s so much to highlight, and that’s one reason I make this my top recommendation. A major benefit of reading Plato beyond just a few dialogues is that you get to see just how old certain unresolved problems are.

It’s not that there’s “nothing new under the sun.”

Rather, you experience just how nimble the ancient mind was and how little our capabilities have changed. Although you would think our current concerns about technology would be very different, the core anxieties are right there back circa 427-348 BCE.

Pro-tip: To help make Plato’s ideas more memorable, take some time to read about the Pre-Socratics. A lot of what you find in Plato is a reaction to what philosophers like Thales, Anaximander, Heracleitus and others had to say about nature.

Two: What Is Philosophy?

Let’s skip ahead a few thousand years.

What is Philosophy? is a fantastic companion to Plato for a few reasons.

First, it helps you see how Plato created many important ideas as concepts linked to personae.

These points are important because we often think about truth as something objective. In other words, the truth is true regardless of our opinions about it.

But as Deleuze and Guattari argue, it is science that tries to “freeze” observations in time in order to make truth claims about the world. This approach resembles the Pre-Socratic processes and why Plato reacted to them as he did.

For their part, Deleuze and Guattari see philosophy as something intensive and coming into being as one does philosophy in time.

They distinguish their preferred kind of philosophy as immanence rather than the transcendence of Platonic thought.

Rather than respond to the world as if there were some other essential truth or God behind it (transcendence), they respond to being itself (immanence).

In this approach, they are heavily influenced by Nietzsche.

Three: The Gay Science

Friedrich Nietzsche wrote many books. They’re all important because, as Martin Heidegger shows in his commentary on Nietzsche, he was incredibly consistent across his career. It’s almost as if he knew what he would write in his last book in some of his earliest youthful writings.

I chose The Gay Science for this list because this is the book in which Nietzsche warns us against the harms created by thinking that the universe is someone “alive.”

Rather, we need to accept that things are just here and happening. We don’t necessarily get to know why.

This book also gives one of the most important references to the notion that “God is dead.”

However, as Fred Ulfers pointed out when I studied Nietzsche with him at the European Graduate School, this crude idea is not really what Nietzsche meant to convey.

Rather, Nietzsche was critiquing how we all behave religiously. And if we are going to go around acting ritualistically to our gods or even the universe itself (as if it were alive), then our gods may as well be dead.

This is a very different pronouncement and if you read The Gay Science carefully, you’ll pick up this nuance. You’ll become a much better thinker too.

Pro-tip: The Bernard Williams edition of The Gay Science is especially good.

Four: The Analects

Of course, Nietzsche isn’t the only person who thought that our capacity for ritual was out of alignment. Confucius focused on this long before he was born.

The Analects often isn’t on lists of top philosophy books because some people think it is merely commentary. And it was also compiled long after Confucius’ death, so doesn’t have an author in the strict sense.

However, as Bryan W. Van Norden points out in Taking Back Philosophy, you find all the important concerns covered by this text.

He compares Confucius to Plato for the importance of how the nature of being is discussed as a formal procedure. Conventions are described, interrogated and revised in order to help us live better at the personal and societal level.

Other key points include:

• The role of the individual relative to the state
• Learning and being a good student
• Developing and maintaining personal integrity
• Continual self-evaluation through reflective thinking

Long story short: Don’t miss The Analects.

Pro-tip: The Arthur Waley version looks better on the page than some versions I’ve seen. It also comes with excellent discussions of key terms and useful annotations.

Five: Taking Back Philosophy

Although I think parts of Taking Back Philosophy: A Multicultural Manifesto are argued strenuously to the point of excess, at least Van Norden acknowledges this aspect of his style.

He’s clearly passionate about this main thesis: We need to be aware of philosophy from a wide number of traditions, cultures and historical periods. This includes philosophical works from:

• Asia
• South America
• India
• Africa
• Aboriginal philosophy
• Native American

And many more.

He makes a compelling case that many traditions have been not only neglected by European thinkers, but also actively dismissed.

However, a weakness of this book is its lack of acknowledgment of European thinkers who have embraced other traditions. Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, possibly Hume, Deleuze and many others not only owe a debt to philosophers from around the world. They embrace them.

Another issue with this book is how the notion of “West” and “Western” is portrayed. Is there anything particularly “western” about some of the most important Greek philosophers?

Hardly, given the fact that many of them were from what is now called Turkey.

Nonetheless, I feel that Taking Back Philosophy belongs on your shelf and I’m glad it’s on mine. I refer to it often and it helps me think better about bringing together philosophers from around the globe and throughout history.

Six: The Nichomachean Ethics

Aristotle is not one of the Greek philosophers who originated from Turkey, even though apparently in 2016, the country tried to claim him.

Most people think that Aristotle was born in Macedonia, but where exactly he is from is not what makes The Nichomachean Ethics so important.

This book is important because it discussed many concepts that are important to us today:

• The nature and role of happiness in our lives
• Examples of the golden mean, such as its role in courage
• Honesty
• Friendship

I used this text in particular for my own dissertation on friendship. It was essential reading and Aristotle remains a key philosopher for ideas on how to educate yourself and form solid habits for the good of one and all.

Seven: Atma Bodha

Normally, you’d expect a text like the Bhagavad Gita to appear in a list like this.

And make no mistake, I think it’s well-worth reading.

However, there are many texts that have cut out the story and compressed the philosophical knowledge into a much shorter space.

Atma Bodha is one such text.

Some people have also set the text to music, which is useful for memorizing the material if you wish.

My favorite translation of the Atma Bodha is by James Swartz. It comes with his excellent commentary in The Fire of Self Knowledge.

I talk about how I’m memorizing it in the original Sanskrit here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViRwsssg6gg

For more on memorizing philosophy in this language, check out my Sanskrit phrases tutorial.

Why do I think it’s so important?’

I feel that it’s one of the best condensations of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy at the core of Bhagavad Gita.

Pro-tip: Ramana Maharshi also produced a compression of this knowledge in his Upadesa Saram. Comparing both texts is useful.

I’ve also shared my experience memorizing texts from this tradition in my TEDx Talk.

Eight: Sand Talk

In Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World, Tyson Yunkaporta shares key points from Aboriginal philosophy you’ll struggle to find anywhere else.

For one thing, he also shares more than just his own cultural knowledge. He digs deep into the ideas of lesser-known philosophers around the world.

Even better, he shares some of the Aboriginal and Indigenous memory techniques anyone can use to remember the philosophical ideas he presents.

For the full set of mnemonic strategies I recommend, read this list of the 20 most powerful memory techniques.

Beyond the hand-based Memory Palace Yunkaporta shares, the core philosophy in Sand Talk involves a particular style of dialogue Yunkaporta calls “yarning.”

It’s an upgrade of the Platonic dialectal style of discussion, yet also predates it.

You’ll definitely want to read this book to widen your understanding of global philosophy and how Yunkaporta argues it needs to evolve.

Nine: The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics

A. W. Moore has to be one of the most underrated philosophers ever. He’s one of the few analytical philosophers out there who really understands and underscores the value of continental philosophy.

In The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics, his powers of clearly explaining core ideas are in full force. He takes you through the key thinkers starting in the Modern era with Descartes up to people who are often dismissed, like Jacques Derrida.

Since I myself have worked to balance ideas from both analytic and continental philosophy, I especially appreciate the depth of thinking and generosity of intellectual inquiry Moore brings.

Pro-tip: His book Points of View is more complicated, but also astonishing. I think he demonstrates his core thesis that it’s possible to think from no particular point of view very well.

Ten: Modes of Thought

Alfred North Whitehead might not be correct in the end, but in Modes of Thought, you’ll enjoy some of his best ideas and thought processes.

For example, he helps us think about thinking. What’s important and how do we know? What is the nature of understanding? What exactly takes place when we’re expressing an idea?

Philosophical questions like these are tremendously important.

Even better:

Whitehead tackles science and asks us to rethink matter. He sees science as isolating things in time, a point Deleuze and Guattari raise in What is Philosophy?

Rather, if change is truly the only constant, then our philosophy must take it into account in a much more integral manner.

By the same token, Whitehead points out the limitations of language and the dangers of relying on it too much.

Whitehead sees how we use language as one of the main sources of our problems and a key issue with the materialistic worldview overall. Language, like science, causes us to try and “freeze” things in time rather than acknowledging the consistency of constant change.

The best part is that Whitehead often uses stories and anecdotes with references to animals that help make his points clear.

Eleven: Gödel Escher Bach

Although some people won’t recognize Douglas Hofstadter’s epic Gödel Escher Bach as a work of philosophy, I feel that it is one of the best.

It’s about the nature of consciousness with a heavy focus on examples of recursion in computer programming. But along the way, Hofstadter takes care to relate the nature of programming to art, music and our conscious experience of life overall.

Ultimately, Hofstadter sees consciousness as a “strange loop.” And the book is filled with such strange loops, including his excellent meditations on the nature of Zen.

Paradoxically, he later said in an interview, “I hated Zen.” Given how wonderfully he explains the workings of Zen in the mind of the practitioner, I have to believe he meant this in jest.

Twelve: Principles

Some readers will mistakenly dismiss books about business philosophy as “true” philosophy.

However, I feel that would be a mistake. Certainly, as a business owner, I’m biased. But it’s clear to me that a business, like every individual and the universe itself, has some kind of being. Businesses exist and we need to philosophize about them.

I chose Principles for this list for a few reasons:

• Dalio’s tremendous business success
• The structure of the book, which is reminiscent of Spinoza’s Ethics
• The multiple layers of philosophy

For example, Dalio divides his suggestions between the nature of the individual entrepreneur, the entrepreneurial team and the business itself as a kind of “machine” operating in the world.

One of his core philosophical ideas is that all business machines are built from multiple moving parts. When conceived of correctly, these parts can be “fine tuned.”

Dalio really is a lot like Spinoza the more I think about it!

Thirteen: Aramis, or the Love of Technology

Bruno Latour took a risk with his wonderful analysis of technology and society by recording his observations in the form of a novel.

Latour introduces Actor-Network theory in Aramis, of the Love of Technology. Although it might seem unusual to deliver a philosophy about how everything is shifting at all times, Plato’s dialogues are essentially stories. And many philosophers have used the format.

If you’re interested in philosophy of science and the notions of pure immanence and becoming, this book is one of the greatest philosophy books I know that experiments with the format.

Fourteen: Striking Thoughts

A lot of people know at least one Bruce Lee quote. It’s usually, “be water, my friend.” Or it might be, “No ego, no enemy.”

These are all great, but like Bruno Latour, Bruce Lee was a philosopher of change and the relations between many things in the world. As he wrote in Striking Thoughts, “to live is a constant process of relating.”

The book is a fantastic study in dealing with constant change as a learner.

But the best part for me is the teaching philosophy. Although it won’t apply to every aspect of education under the sun, Lee focuses on processes that enable students to reach their own conclusions. And that’s including when either teacher, student or both are insecure.

And as many good books of philosophy do, this book includes enriched approaches to ethics. This book belongs on the shelf of every diverse critical thinker.

Fifteen: Discipline and Punish

Michel Foucault has been a controversial figure lately. A lot of people who seem not to have read him have co-opted poorly summarized versions of his ideas and twisted them out of shape.

Worse, they made ad hominem attacks against the philosopher himself. Sure, he may have been engaged in some unpleasant things. Many humans are. But that doesn’t necessarily reduce the value of his work.

So what is that value?

I chose Discipline and Punish for this list for two reasons:

• The book tracks the historical shift from public executions to private imprisonment and the philosophical ideas involved in the transition
• Foucault helps you think about how we as societies surveil each other
• Foucault provides a nuanced definition of power

For these reasons, this book has been so influential, as have many other works by Foucault. You don’t have to agree with him or become “Foucauldian” to benefit from reading it.

But if you do find yourself responding judgmentally, this book might help you see how and why our culture shapes people for whom capricious responses are often the default setting.

Sixteen: On the Shadows of the Ideas

The importance of Giordano Bruno has yet to be fully explored. Many philosophers mention him, including Nietzsche, and his memory techniques remain highly influential.

Part of his ongoing longevity comes from Frances Yates’ portrayal of him in The Art of Memory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3GGcO5Cx3I

However, she misrepresents him as a hermeticist. Although he certainly has elements of pantheism in his approach, not dissimilar to Spinoza in his Ethics, I believe Bruno is ultimately a non-dualist.

If you read and even put into practice his conceptions and intentions, you’ll discover that, like the Vedantans, he was essentially working to neutralize or dissolve the notion of the individual self.

Sadly, these ideas are often lost in the discussions of Bruno, who was burned at the stake for the crime of believing in infinity.

Pro-tip: John Michael Greer’s translation is fantastic and we discuss it here.

Seventeen: Ethics

Spinoza’s importance cannot be underestimated. In some ways, the best philosophy that follows his Ethics owes him a great deal.

He is a philosopher of unity and becoming, of pure immanence before Deleuze and Guattari cooked up that term.

As Spinoza writes:

“The idea of the mind is united to the mind in the same way as the mind is united to the body.”

By demonstrating the validity of this claim, he ultimately demonstrates a complete oneness between all things. If he’s correct, we all get to experience infinity.

Pro-tip: Steven Nadler’s recent, Think Least of Death is an excellent and accessible discussion of some of Spinoza’s more challenging ideas.

Eighteen: The Classical Trivium

Marshall McLuhan is famous for his media philosophy. But none of his explosive ideas would have happened if he hadn’t been a student of how ideas were spread before radio, TV and cinema.

In fact, probably his most important book is his study of The Classical Trivium. In it, you’ll learn how some of the most important philosophers thought and wrote. For example, humanists like Erasmus and Bacon took pains to align themselves with the ancient philosophers. We often think of them as helping birth the modern era, but if anything, they were looking backwards, not forward.

McLuhan shows us how during the Medieval and Renaissance periods, thinkers believed we could read the world and the universe itself as if it were a book. It shows the history of the art of interpretation and you’ll learn about how people in this era structured knowledge. These are reading strategies that are still useful to this day.

Nineteen: Powers of Horror

Some books contain ideas that are impossible to forget.

Enter Julia Kristeva’s Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection.

This book helps you think better about a few things.

For example, why do you feel separate from everything else? Is it because you’re actually separate, or has your culture trained you to feel and think as if you were divided from the rest of reality?

Kristeva analyzes a number of linguistic codes and social processes, including bodily functions and conventions we’ve created to deal with them.

Sure, these topics are not exactly dinnertime conversation. But going through them with Kristeva will change your life for the better. It’s also essential reading if you want to understand cultural phenomena like the horror genre.

Twenty: How It Is

F. Cordova is an excellent philosopher to round out this list. In many ways, she compliments Kristeva’s concerns about differentiation. She shows how it happens to entire cultures.

We also find through Cordova’s work a compelling study of Native North American thinking. For example, she shows how individuality is a given, yet always in the context of the whole.

Each human being is given different opportunities to grow their strengths in this conception. They are shaped by a balance of interest in the individual’s ability to help the whole as a group.

She also talks about our duty to do philosophy, which reminds of Deleuze and Guattari’s insistence that philosophy is about the creation of concepts.

The more we all get together to collaborate on the creation of concepts for the good of everyone, then How It Is will be very good indeed.

Twenty-One: The Blazing World

Margaret Cavendish wrote philosophy against the odds.

Driven by openness, one of the core autodidact personality traits anyone can develop, her book The Blazing World, covers science, political philosophy and ethics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrzCKfkjUZM

One of the great things about this book is that Cavendish created a hybrid. Drawing from fiction, dialogue and exposition, it’s one of the most unique works of philosophy I’ve ever read.

Although it can be hard to agree with some of her views about the value of monarchic rule, you’ll benefit from considering them.

Especially given her vast intelligence. I recommend that Penguin edition. It comes with other pieces from Cavendish’s wonderful career as a philosopher who refused to be held back.

Read Philosophy with Momentum

There you have it. My top picks from decades of reading, wrestling with and remembering philosophy.

If even one of these books sparked a new idea or goes on to help you think more clearly, then this list has done its job.

But please always remember: philosophy isn’t just about what you read.

It’s about processes and creating new concepts. And it’s about what you remember, rethink and reshape over the years in your mind.

That’s where learning to retain more of what you read comes in. Not just in philosophy, but every area of your life.

To that end, I’ve created a free memory improvement course for you. You can register now right here:

It’ll give you powerful techniques to absorb complex ideas, recall them on demand and make your learning stick.

Happy reading, and remember:

The world is your laboratory for creating philosophical concepts and everything goes so much more smoothly when you have memory techniques on your side.

Whether we’re talking about Margaret Cavendish, Benjamin Franklin or Giordano Bruno, an autodidact is anyone who gets actively designs their own learning cycles.

That doesn’t mean the autodidact never takes courses or listens to teachers.

It means you choose your teachers rather than settling for the ones the system assigns.

Some part of your personality provides you with the motivation and wherewithal needed to arrange your own semesters.

How do I know?

I’ve memorized multiple Sanskrit chants, published dozens of books, earned a PhD, studied multiple languages and built more than one business.

All by following the autodidactic path for decades.

But here’s the real question:

Why do personality traits matter? And how do they connect with neuroplasticity, motivation and memory?

More importantly:

Can you develop these personality traits if you don’t already have them?

Yes, you can. And on this page, I’ll show you the most important traits and how to train each one into your system with surprising ease

Ready?

Let’s dive in.

https://youtu.be/8Pce6HGXdBc

The 7 Most Important Autodidact Personality Traits

The list you’re about to read contains some personality traits you’ll have heard before, such as curiosity.

But I’m not listing them just to check off boxes on a list. I’ll also challenge common assumptions and dig into the nuances that often get overlooked.

Why?

Because when we gloss over the details, we miss the real keys to developing ourselves as lifelong learners.

One: The “Cognitive Engine” of Curiosity

A lot of people have heard about Benjamin Franklin’s kite experiment.

It’s a classic case of curiosity driving an autodidact to run tests in order to produce evidence that solved a mystery.

But Franklin was also trying to avoid getting hurt. He realized that using conductive rods in the experiment would likely cause some serious damage, if not kill him.

So part of Franklin’s success that you can model is that he turned the question of electricity into a project.

Then he used analytical thinking to guide his curiosity and help him create measurable experiments.

Like Thomas Jefferson, Franklin journaled frequently, something you can start to do yourself.

Even if you don’t initially feel curious about boring topics you need to cover, simply starting to write has helped a lot of people.

I know it sounds counterintuitive, but journaling has helped me become a much more curious person. For example, I created a feedback loop around language learning using The Freedom Journal.

It helped me keep curious enough to keep moving forward when I started to find a Mandarin I needed to complete starting to get tedious.

I’ve also used journaling to explore why things I’m passionate about sometimes grow less interesting over time. This curiosity led me to discover the concept of “topic exhaustion” and develop strategies around overcoming it.

Two: High Openness to Experience

People with high openness tend to be mentally adventurous.

According to this study, people with high openness also excel at abstract thinking, artistic expression and intellectual curiosity.

Margaret Cavendish, which was the Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, is one of my favorite examples of this personality trait.

That’s partly because she was also blessed with a number of polymathic personality traits too. But I also really just like her philosophical works precisely because they were so open during a time when her world was so closed.

Although Cavendish was excluded from academic circles (and was even mocked for trying to enter them), she still became one of the first women to publish under her own name in both philosophy and science.

The process she used is easy to follow, and easier than ever before in our times. Cavendish:

• Read across disciplines like natural philosophy, poetry, politics and theology
• Imagined alternative political and social structures
• Self-published her controversial ideas even though she knew they would be rejected
• Innovated by writing fiction to express scientific and political ideas

This final strategy is what you could think of as a cross-modal learning strategy.

If you want to learn more about how to bring multiple learning modes together, here’s my guide to becoming a polymath.

At the end of the day, openness isn’t really intellectual.

It’s about emotional courage. And the way you develop that so you don’t remain stuck within a limited range of interests?

In my experience with releasing deeply personal books like The Victorious Mind, I found that you really just have to get started.

I had very low openness before I published it and now am quite the opposite. And I’ve learned a lot more as a result.

Three: Tolerance for Ambiguity & Uncertainty

I don’t blame you if not having all the answers up front makes it hard to take action.

But you can develop the personality traits needed to feel utterly confused and still make progress.

Giordano Bruno is one of my favorite examples when it comes to epic achievements in the face of historical, intellectual, theological and existential complexity.

In case you don’t know him, he literally lived in a world where you could be burned alive for asking the wrong questions – and that’s exactly what happened to him.

He proposed an infinite universe filled with endless worlds and argued that no central authority could grasp the entire picture. Not Aristotle, not the church, not even Bruno.

Bruno also questioned whether Jesus had free will during his Inquisition and dared to imagine that human memory could be exercised so well that it came to model infinity.

How can you face so much uncertainty in your lifelong learning? And is it worth taking inspiration from rebels like Bruno?

Well, we’ve known since at least 1962 through scientific studies like this one that an tolerance and intolerance for ambiguity shape the careers we pursue. So I think the answer is yes.

And as someone currently developing a unique bookshop, I know that I’ve had to increase my tolerance substantially.

Here’s how lessons from Bruno’s life have helped me:

• Reading across opposing viewpoints that don’t easily reconcile has helped me proceed without needing contradictions to resolve
• Regularly watch videos by people I don’t agree with and practice summarizing their arguments
• Encountering paradoxes and embracing them has helped me become more creative
• Bruno has inspired me to study symbolic logic at a deeper level and practice dealing with what some philosophers call “true contradictions”
• No longer make achieving certainty a goal

Instead, I seek depth and breadth of experience and learning. And Bruno teaches us that we call can, because in some sense, the tolerance for ambiguity is a muscle.

I hope you will explore the processes I’ve followed and enjoy dealing with complexity with greater ease. Even under pressure.

Four: Belief in the Ability to Learn Anything

“Belief” sounds wishy washy. But it’s a real thing and when scientists measure it, they tend to use the term “self-efficacy.”

In this study, for example, the researchers found that higher levels of self-belief predicted strong grades.

If you’ve seen my list of books on learning, you might remember how I discussed the predictive processing outlined in Andy Clark’s The Experience Machine.

Basically, people tend to fulfil their destiny based on what they believe about themselves. This is true of both autodidacts and polymaths.

This fact is probably one reason why the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman came up with his own notation to help himself learn advanced mathematical skills.

His habit of simplifying things for himself has come to be known as “The Feynman Technique.”

To use it yourself, start by:

• Explain things to yourself as simply as possible
• Identify the gaps in what you don’t understand
• Relearn confusing parts of the topic and do further research

Overall, the lesson from Feynman is that you really can take charge of your own understanding. Now you have his process and can make it your own.

Five: Resilience & Grit

Imagine being deaf and blind. Yet still having the inner resources needed to learn how to read Braille and go on to earn a college degree.

And that’s not to mention writing fourteen books.

Helen Keller did exactly that, proving that physical conditions don’t have to hold us back. Determination can help us push through all kinds of obstacles.

Then there’s Stephen Hawking. Despite his ALS, he lived to age 76 and taught theoretical physics across his career.

According to Scientific American, maintained a positive outlook.

It’s a weird article though. The neurology professor they interview says he doesn’t believe that one of the most potent success strategies added to Hawking’s longevity.

We’ve just seen through self-efficacy that our believes can shape our outcomes, so I suggest at least experimenting with the following process:

• Redefine your limits without ignoring or denying them
• Be flexible and change your modus operandi as needed, but keep your autodidactic mission at the front of your mind
• Build positive belief systems around your constraints
• Read biographies of people who persisted and extract more clues from their success stories

Six: Metacognitive Awareness

Thinking about your thinking is a powerful trait to have.

I remember one of the first times I noticed it happening to me. During high school, I was sitting on the porch with my friend Dave and pondering how we actually know that the sky is blue.

He said that I was thinking a bit too much, but I persisted. Over time, I watched myself ask questions like these countless times to the point of even questioning the nature of philosophical questions themselves and how they play out in my mind.

Barbara Oakley provides another example I love.

As the author of A Mind for Numbers, she talked about how she flunked math. Badly.

She ultimately had to overcome a number of cognitive blocks around math by thinking about how she was thinking.

Once she cleared them out by analyzing her thought patterns, she went on to become an engineering professor.

Now, she inspires millions of people to think differently about their own thinking. Mindshift is one of her best books on the topic.

But until you get a chance to read it, here are some steps you can follow immediately:

• Reflect on your past failures and how you thought about them at the time
• Ask questions about the assumptions you were making
• Identify better ways to keep moving forward

In Oakley’s case, part of how she improved her math skills involved embracing spaced repetition.

I’ve done that too by using the Memory Palace technique. The results have been truly profound.

And as Peter of Ravenna makes clear in one of the greatest memory improvement books of all time, a lot of his skills with memory techniques came from thinking about how he was using them.

All kinds of so-called “Renaissance Men” had the trait of thinking, and you can pick up more tips from them in this fuller profile of their habits.

Seven: Accountability

James Clear was pretty much just another blogger when I interviewed him on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast.

I don’t mean that in a bad way.

It’s just that people with blogs were a dime a dozen now, and even with AI, a lot of us are still holding on.

But his commitment to publishing weekly, no matter what?

It’s a prime example of personal accountability.

And you see this autodidact personality trait throughout the lives of all kinds of autodidacts.

Except, it isn’t always true.

For example, Leonardo Da Vinci gave himself all kinds of learning projects in his notebooks.

He would give himself little assignments, from interviewing experts in a variety of fields to learning how birds fly.

But he also left a lot of projects unfinished.

Others?

He returned to years later, and either dabbled with them or brought them to completion.

As someone who has worked on a lot of projects and recently struggled to make progress on one of my “Memory Detective” novels, I feel like I have a sense for why this happens.

As I’ve shared with my audience a few times, I nearly gave up on Vitamin X. But being able to share the struggle is part of what helped me reach the final draft in the end.

To give you a set of steps to follow that will lead to greater accountability, give these a try:

• Write a list of topics you want to master over a one year period
• Use a visible tracking system, like a print calendar or mind map
• Set non-negotiable learning rituals, like always studying in the same place
• Give yourself deadlines and deliberately work towards them
• Stop consuming and do more producing

When I needed to push through the final draft of Vitamin X?

I put aside watching videos and mindless scrolling. I made a daily editing ritual and showed up without pause until it was done.

And to make it impossible to forget my goal, I kept a printed copy of the draft on my desk at all times.

The Tricky Thing about Autodidact Personality Traits (and How to Develop Them)

What many people miss is that autodidactic personality traits aren’t necessarily qualities that you’re born with.

For many people, they’re shaped over time. Or developed in order to solve a problem.

This is a point made by Peter Burke in The Polymath.

And you really can develop in each of these areas.

But the tricky part is that you can’t develop them merely by reading stories of the great autodidacts.

You develop them by designing your own personal operating systems and consistently showing up.

That’s what Benjamin Franklin did. It’s what Bruno did and it’s what I do in order to help students around the world learn faster using the tools taught in the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass.

If you’re serious about becoming a more curious, resilient and self-directed learner, here are two final suggestions.

First, enrol in my free memory improvement course:

Second, study my full guide on how to become an autodidact.

Both of these resources will help you transform from someone who merely reads about autodidacticism to someone who is a practitioner.

The results are profound, so I wish you godspeed on joining us.

How many words do you need to know to be fluent in a language?

The honest answer?

It depends on your goals.

But most people are surprised by how low the number can be to start holding conversations with confidence.

For example, if you want to understand around 75% of everyday conversations, you only need to know about 1,000–1,200 words.

That’s roughly what it takes to pass the A2 level on the CEFR scale. I know this personally as someone who has passed exams in German at this level and found that estimate spot on.

As someone who’s also learned and taught languages including Mandarin, Biblical Hebrew, Latin, German, and Sanskrit, I can tell you this:

• It’s not the number of words you know.
• It’s which words (and how you learn and retain them) that make all the difference.

In this post, you’ll learn:

Exactly how many words are required at each fluency level

How to figure out your current vocabulary size

Memory techniques that help you learn more, faster—and keep it all in long-term memory

Let’s break it down so you can stop guessing and start making meaningful progress in any language you’re learning.

How Many Words Do You Need to Know to Be Fluent in a Language? The Answer

If you want to understand approximately 75% of what native speakers are talking about in everyday life, you’ll need between 1000-1200 words.

This is according to A2 on the CEFR test. For that accomplishment, you’ll need knowledge of approximately 1000 words. I’ve done it myself in German and that number sounds right to me.

What 1000 Words Really Gets You

For some people, 1000 words is going to sound like a lot to cover.

But the problem is not the amount of words. What really matters is this question:

How exactly are these words counted? Take the word “run” in English, for example. Is it really just one word?

Not really. It’s also:

• To run
• To have run
• Ran
• Running

There are other examples, such as dog becoming dogs, or cat becoming cats. A lot depends on the morphology, because in some languages, grammar will determine whether a new word needs to be used or not.

In sum, the number of words you need to learn to become fluent depends on two things:

• Your personal definition of fluency (a.k.a. your goal)
• The way you speak in your mother tongue in order to accomplish everyday goals
• An external testing structure like the CEFR

Why Word Count Alone Can Be Misleading

If you take the CEFR as your standard, which is not a bad idea, then C2 requires familiarity with 16,000 words. But this is generally based on what you will need to understand scholarly and academic writing, a class of information that may have little or nothing to do with your daily life.

Again, keep in mind that how those words in the different levels involves matters of grammar. You can often boost your word count just by knowing how one word changes across different tenses.

For more on memorizing grammatical matters quickly, check out this tutorial.

But you can also think about the exact number of words you need by thinking about the goals you need to achieve. If you don’t read scholarly papers, then you might not need anything close to 16,000 words.

How to Figure Out How Many Words You Truly Know

Think about your mother tongue.

How many words in the language can you recall right now?

Chances are that you would struggle to list all the words you’ve learned over the course of your lifetime.

The same thing will be true when working towards fluency. This is because active vocabulary consists of the words we use most often, even in the easiest language you can choose to learn. 

The Truth About “Active vs “Passive Vocabulary” (And Why It Matters)

Passive vocabulary, on the other hand, involves words that have gone into reserve. We have to stretch to remember them because we use them less often. That, or we might undergo linguistic deskilling for a variety of reasons.

For example, this happened to my English when I spoke primarily German for a few years. Likewise, in Mandarin, if I don’t use the new words I learn frequently, I can wind up struggling to get them back from memory or confuse them with other words.

All of these facts about language learning beg the question:

How do you know how many words are active in your vocabulary? Here are a few things you can do.

One: Anki

Anki is a spaced repetition app that will help you track your recall rate.

It’s easy to misuse this software, however. To avoid failing to use it properly, be sure to check out my article on how to optimize Anki for language learning and other goals.

Two: Flashcards

If you use physical flashcards as part of your language learning efforts, you can simply count how many you answer correctly.

Three: Listening Tests

Throw on a podcast or movie in the language you’re learning.

Using a notebook, keep track of how many words you recognize.

There might be a catch with this kind of testing, however. If the movie or podcast is in a dialect you’re not familiar with, your accuracy count might not be accurate.

This can happen in your mother tongue too. For example, when watching Deadwood or The Witch, both of which use older forms of English, I sometimes didn’t recognize words or expressions, even though they are technically in my mother tongue.

Four: Reading Tests

As you read, keep a tally of how many words you understand. If you read at an especially high level, you can probably just count the amount of words on one line and multiply that by the number of lines on the page.

Also, test with a variety of books in the language you’re learning. These can be graded readers designed for language learners, fiction or non-fiction.

Recently, I got a famous German book and was delighted by how I can cruise through many pages and recognize almost every word. But when I pick up a Thomas Mann novel, I get the inverse effect.

Four: Writing Tests

Every once in a while, sit down and compose an email to someone on a topic in the language you’re learning. If you don’t have a friend or speaking partner in the target language, you can still complete the exercise without sending it to anyone.

But I highly recommend ample regular written communication with a variety of people who speak your target language. This simple daily activity will help you harness the levels of processing effect.

Pop it into a software that gives you word counts and you’ll instantly know how many words you wrote in that message.

You have to make an allowance for repetition, however. Definite and indefinite articles should be excluded from the count, for example.

Six: Record a Conversation

If you’re meeting with a language learning teacher regularly, you can record the sessions. Then, when you review the recording, count the words you know.

If you need tools for doing this, check out the part of my language learning software post where I talk about how I record my sessions and review them.

Seven: Review Your Memory Palace Networks

In the language learning parts of the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass, you learn to use a special memory device called a Memory Palace.

Once it’s populated with vocabulary, it’s easy to know how many words you know. This is because you’ll have one word on each station.

At more advanced levels, you can start to memorize entire sentences on each station of your Memory Palace.

This simple strategy will help you scale your vocabulary much faster than continuing to memorize just one word at a time.

Seven: Sit for an Exam

If you really want to know where your level of fluency is at, arrange to take an exam. The CEFR makes it very easy to see how many words you’re capable of dealing with.

There are other exams you can pursue, depending on the language. When I sat for the level III Chinese exam, for example, it was based on the HSK system.

How to Become Fluent in Any Language Fast

The truth about fluency is that you simply want to be able to accomplish the goals that are important to you in the language.

For most people, you’ll want to shoot for B1, which is achievable within 6 months to a year. This CEFR level will equip you with at least 2000 words.

Chances are that you’ll have a much bigger vocabulary than that, however, especially if you’re reading regularly in the language. After all, books are the ultimate spaced-repetition app.

But beyond reading, here are the steps you need to follow:

Lean Into Multiple Media

I’ve just mentioned the importance of reading. You also need ample doses of:

• Speaking
• Listening
• Writing
• Memorizing

For the listening and reading component, check out my tutorial on using Netflix to learn a language. It will help you combine listening and reading at the same time.

Be Disciplined with Your Language Learning Material

Many people overwhelm themselves with too many options. They’re constantly hunting the Internet for the “magic bullet” that will finally help them learn the language they’re interested in.

It won’t happen.

Instead, you need to milk the materials you already have for all they’re worth.

To make progress much faster, limit yourself to:

• One video course
• One audio program
• One textbook
• One teacher

Stick with them until you’ve reached a milestone before moving on to the next.

Learn How to Associate

The fastest way to commit anything to memory is association.

This means that you take something unfamiliar and associate it with something you already know.

When you learn how to do so, you’ll be able to benefit from active recall. For help with this, you can learn association techniques like the story method or the pegword method.

For a quick example of association, think of a word like “vocabulary.” Just pretend for the sake of this example that you don’t know it.

To use association to learn it, you would look at the first letter of the word. It’s a V so I’m going to think of a Vulcan named Spock. I would then have him tap his vocal chords while jumping into a cab.

What associations can you think up for the rest of the word?

Hint: It’s not always easy, but Ferris Bueller’s Day Off might help you.

How Memory Techniques Make It All Possible

The only problem with association is that it can be confusing and murky to figure out what association goes with what word.

That’s where the Memory Palace technique comes in.

Let’s say you have a Vulcan getting into a cab while tapping his vocal chords. He’s on his way to see Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at a theater next to a library.

Using the Memory Palace technique specifically for language learning, you would place this association in a familiar location, such as on your living room couch. Or you could use an outdoor journey, like the one pictured above that I’ve used for memorizing Sanskrit phrases.

With a smart and strategic approach to creating your Memory Palaces, you can memorize thousands of words and phrases with ease.

Embrace Mistakes

The fastest way to reach fluency is to make as many mistakes as you can.

Sadly, some would-be learners just can’t get past the embarrassment. That, or their egos are too strong.

But the reality is that making mistakes develops pattern recognition through comparison.

And of course, we need to realize that even as experts in our mother tongues, we still sometimes misspeak. Everyone slips up and needs to make corrections from time to time.

To develop greater tolerance for making mistakes, it’s important to be relaxed during your learning sessions.

I recommend meditation and simple stretching exercises a few times a day. These activities are also good for your memory overall.

Fluency On Demand

Anyone can develop fluency.

And everyone should. The benefits of bilingualism are too good to ignore.

The trick is to let the numbers help you, not frustrate you.

The CEFR levels are probably the best indicator out there, and the best part is that you can practice for the texts without worrying too much about exactly how many words you know.

For many of us, numbers will serve as milestones that we use to chart our progress.

Personally, I’ve never stressed about it. Although I once counted that I know 1700 words in Sanskrit, this knowledge hasn’t added a shred to the ways that I use the language to create fulfillment in my life.

The same thing goes with using the Memory Palace technique you can learn with this FREE course:

I have created several hundred Memory Palaces. But the actual number isn’t nearly as important as the outcome of using them.

And that outcome has been tremendously useful. It’s helped me earn degrees, travel the world, and speak with the locals in their language while visiting many different countries.

I’ve learned 1200 words for A2, reached B1 and probably now have 16,000 words for German by now. But as I’ve tried to show in this post, what matters is not your word count. It’s how consistently you study and practice.

And the more you base the words and phrases you learn on what you regularly say on a daily basis, the faster you’ll reach functional fluency. Chances are, what you say in your daily life in your native language is exactly what you’ll need in your target language too.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to dive in and start learning more words in the language you dream of speaking fluently?

Make it happen!

You need the proven techniques you’ll find on this page, each of which has been tested in the real world.

Who am I to say?

As someone who’s trained memory competitors, taught university students, and explored the depths of ancient and modern memory science, I’ve answered thousands of questions about increasing memorization speed.

And I’ve given hundreds of demonstrations of how fast I can memorize using the simple strategies you’re about to discover.

Along with the reason and the proof behind why the strategies work so well to make long-term retention happen faster.

Ready for the no fluff, no gimmicks answer to how to memorize anything fast?

Let’s dive in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a16B8EIBgZ0

How to Memorize Anything Fast: 7 Proven Tips for Rapid Recall

If you want to memorize fast, above all, you must learn the most powerful memory technique ever invented.

That’s where we’ll start.

One: Embrace the Memory Palace Technique

Everything gets faster once you commit to using proper Memory Palaces.

If you don’t know what they are, consult my complete guide to the Memory Palace technique. Or watch this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4J5ZUzCxZY

Although it’s an ancient memory technique, I can’t stress mastering the Memory Palace technique strongly enough if you want to memorize rapidly.

That’s because scientists have shown that using routes to remember leads to superior memory.

To get started with the technique immediately:

• Select a familiar location, such as your home or workplace (or even a favorite cafe).
• Identify distinct areas and craft a clear and logical mental journey through the location.
• Assign what you want to remember along this route and link it with the appropriate mnemonic devices, making sure your associations are always vivid.

What are mnemonic devices?

For increasing your memorization speed, we’ll talk about those next.

Two: Use the Best Mnemonic Tools Designed for Fast Memorization

From crafting catchy tunes or using rhymes to remember, there are a lot of tools you can use in your Memory Palaces.

• The Major System or The Dominic System for numbers
• The Pegword System
• The Story Method
• Linking

The reason these tools help you out is that you use them to help you install associations in your Memory Palaces without having to think for more than a second or two.

No doubt about it. Learning these mnemonic skills takes a bit of setup.

But once you have them working, you’ll be able to memorize anything much faster.

Three: Use the Chunking Memory Strategy

So many of my students have an “all or nothing” attitude when they first wind up in one of my workshops or courses.

Although you certainly can memorize mountains of information, it’s important to take everything one unit at a time.

We know this from many studies in what is called the chunking memory strategy. I’ve profiled it fully in this guide for you.

Chunking helps you memorize faster because it strategically breaks large pieces of information down into smaller, more manageable units.

I made my TEDx Talk easier to remember, and the Sanskrit phrases in it simple by sometimes focusing on just one syllable at a time.

Some may worry that chunking will make them slower, but it’s the classic tortoise versus hare principle. The tortoise always wins.

It also just makes sense.

Instead of trying to memorize 15459878455, you break it down into 1-545-987-8455.

This method harnesses your brain’s ability to recognize patterns. As a result, you harness greater efficiency and ultimately move faster.

Four: Engage All Your Senses with KAVE COGS

Now that you know about the main mnemonic tools and chunking, the next step is to engage all your senses.

As scientists have demonstrated, the benefits of multisensory learning are profound when you set things up correctly.

Correctly is the key term, and that’s why when I memorize names at demonstrations, I use a mnemonic elaboration system called KAVE COGS:

• Kinesthetic (touch)
• Auditory (hearing)
• Visual (sight)
• Emotional (feelings)
• Conceptual (ideas)
• Olfactory (smell)
• Gustatory (taste)
• Spatial (sizes)

I apply the same set of elaborations to memorizing playing cards, numbers, speeches, poetry, historical dates or whatever it is I’m memorizing.

When my students in the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass make this memory strategy a discipline too, they memorize faster.

It’s that simple, though you can find more intricate approaches to engaging all your senses in the mnemonic works of authors like Giordano Bruno and Tony Buzan.

I’ve just found that KAVE COGS works best for me. It took me a while to come up with, but once I settled on the pattern, I was very pleased by the results.

But due to how memory works, you should certainly consider creating your own multi-sensory model if KAVE COGS isn’t right for you.

The point is to have one in the first place so you don’t waste time thinking about how you’re going to make the target information “stickier.” You just follow the system.

Five: Use Spaced Repetition Properly

Many people know about spaced repetition. But they don’t optimize how it works.

That’s why I highly recommend you read my full guide to using spaced repetition properly.

Briefly, you need to call information to mind first, then write it down by hand. Plenty of active recall studies show this exact process works well.

Alternatively, you can perform active recall completely from within a Memory Palace. You can also explore my guides on improving your use of these popular spaced repetition devices:

• Flashcards
• Zettelkasten
• Leitner boxes
• Anki

Once you understand your options for optimizing each of thse techniques, plan your review sessions with them deliberately.

Make sure that you manually set the spaced intervals. Leaving it to software to decide is a tragic mistake because notifications are easy to dismiss.

In this study, researchers also show the consequences of not getting enough cumulative reviews, which often happens when we relegate our review schedule to machines.

To avoid such problems, I suggest keeping a memory journal to help stimulate reflective thinking as you test the memories you’re working to establish.

Journaling is powerful because it builds metacognitive awareness around your practice. The process will give you clues on how to improve, and that’s ultimately how you wind up memorizing faster.

For more information on how memory champions use journaling, check out my interview with the legendary Johannes Mallow.

Rapid Recap: How to Memorize Anything Faster

You now know to create Memory Palace, learn the main tools of mnemonic association and tactics like multi-sensory elaboration, chunking and spaced repetition.

By combining these five simple approaches, you will rapidly enhance your ability to memorize information quickly and effectively.

Beyond that, you just need to be consistent. My guide on deliberate practice will help you with that if you don’t know how to show up often enough to get results.

And if you need more help with Memory Palaces and other mnemonic tools, sign up for my free course here:

It gives you four video tutorials and worksheets that will help you improve the speed of your memory.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to use what really works when it comes to permanently committing important information quickly?

Let’s do this thing!

You know you put it somewhere – but it’s just… gone.

Whether it’s your wallet, a USB drive, your keys or something you’re sure you stashed in a safe place, losing things is disruptive.

Fortunately, learning how to remember where you put something is simple.

And in this guide, I’ll show you practical, science-based ways to recover the memory of where you put something.

Even if it was weeks or months ago.

These strategies have helped many of my Magnetic Memory Method students recover lost items and strengthen their spatial memory for betting recall in the future.

Better:

They’ve been able to train their minds to forget less, which is what you’ll be able to do too after reading this post.

Ready?

Let’s dive in!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVOsG9CKCb8

Lost Something? Here’s How to Remember Where You Put It

When you can’t remember where you put something, your first instinct might be to search physically.

You know how it goes. You race around:

• Checking drawers
• Retracing your steps
• Overturning cushions and pillows

However, there’s a better approach.

Search the area you believe you may have left the item mentally first. Here’s how.

One: Mental Time Travel

Although the title of this technique might sound fantastic, it’s based on the science of episodic memory.

When you consciously revisit the past, over forty years of research shows that you have more ability than you might think.

The key is to stop and relax. Breathe deeply and move yourself away from emotions of irritation or panic.

Next:

• Close your eyes
• Ask, “What was I doing the instant before I last held the item?”
• Let your mind do its work

Just letting your imagination operate without too much nudging from you can be hard at first. But with practice, you’ll find that it gets easier.

As weird as it sounds, this technique works best when you stop trying to remember.

Replace the mental pushing with experiencing your memory, almost like you’re watching a movie you’ve seen before.

Two: Ask Reconstructive Questions

I just gave you one simple question to ask. But if it doesn’t work, you can get more specific.

Try these questions:

• What was I wearing when I last saw the item?
• What was I thinking about when I used it?
• Was it part of a routine?
• What there anything or anyone else near me?
• Where have I lost the item before?

According to Harvard professor Daniel Schacter, famous for his Seven Sins of Memory, asking these questions helps you rebuild the context around the missing item.

Context dependent memory is powerful and these kinds of questions help your brain fill-in-the-blanks that you probably aren’t even aware of while hunting around.

Three: Use Physical Cues

If the previous two methods don’t work, it’s now time to revisit the environment where you most likely lost the item.

But not for the purposes of rummaging through cabinets.

First, return to the room where you think the item must be.

Next, try to stand in the same spot where you last had it.

Finally, start touching objects or furniture in the room.

Often, calmly walking into the space can bring you back to the same mental state you were previously in.

Like context-dependent memory, you’re activating what is sometimes called state-dependent memory. Although similar, it’s more physical.

Alternatively, taking a walk or grabbing a hot shower can trigger completely different states. By getting out of context and out of state, you can sometimes trigger recall from a completely different angle.

Four: Make A Checklist

If all else fails, keep a checklist of where you’ve looked using pen and paper. This simple activity is helpful for one simple reason:

Nothing wastes time and stacks on frustration faster than looking in the same place two or more times.

When looking for the missing object, aim to be thorough. If you’re looking into boxes in storage, make sure to pick the boxes up and look under them so that shadows don’t obscure the object.

This happened to me during a recent move when I was looking for a screwdriver I’d set down. I couldn’t see it in the garage until I picked up a box that had hidden the screwdriver in shadow.

Had I been following a check list that covered both the areas I’d searched and reminded me to pick up boxes and other items that cast shadows, I probably would have found the missing item a lot sooner.

Five: Prepare for a Future of Keeping Better Track of Your Items

We’re all busy, but one of the best things you can do when you finally find your missing items is take steps to never lose it or anything else again.

For that, you can read my full post on how to stop losing things.

In brief, the technique involves two steps:

Step One: Designate specific spots for things.

Step Two: Always put things in those spots.

Simple, I know, but I’ve found the technique incredibly powerful.

And since knowledge is power, let’s consider why our brains make such annoying errors in the first place.

Why We Forget Where We Put Things

The list is long and possible reasons for forgetting include:

• Clutter
• Cognitive decline
• Not knowing when something we set down will be needed at a certain time in the future (a prospective memory problem)
• The specific intrinsic value we assign to the item
• The kind of thing (receipts often get lost in ways that differ from car keys)
• Disruptions that “knock” information out of our immediate awareness (we often forget things when moving from one room to another because temperature and other changes swarm our senses with new stimuli)

Thinking through such possibilities can help us be kinder to ourselves when things get lost, which they inevitably will.

A Problem Of Our Times?

One interesting study to look at is called The significance of losing things for nursing home residents with dementia and their families. I suggest their research to you because the authors point out a simple fact that most of us will never think about:

Never in history have people owned so many personal possessions.

Not only do we tend to have more objects overall than any previous generation. We also have elaborate digital identities.

It might seem like a small thing at first glance. But in reality, having multiple email accounts and social media profiles on several platforms takes up tons of mental space. Managing where we’ve placed our information on computers or in the cloud can and often does lead to digital amnesia.

I can think of another issue related to how people living in our times own more things coupled with storing endless personal data in computers.

We have memory “meta-memories,” which is to say, memories about the memories that we’ve had.

In other words, I often think of photos I used to have on hard drives that no longer work. It’s great that I’ve used memory techniques throughout my life, something that’s made remembering such highly personal memories easier.

For some of us, however, this kind of meta-memory leads to levels of loss and longing our species never had to deal with before. Learning to let go is in some case the best option.

But the bigger picture aside, when it comes to simple items that you’ve misplaced, there are fortunately very simple strategies. I use them often myself and each one is powerful.

How to Find Lost Items: Additional Tips

When it comes to finding lost items even faster, here are some additional tips and tricks I’ve found useful over the years.

Keep Control Over Your Emotions

Getting upset when you can’t find something you’ve lost track of is understandable.

But it could be causing you to push the location even further out of your mind. Stress has been linked to memory loss, so we want to avoid it.

In The Victorious Mind, I go further into breathing exercises, meditation and other mindfulness techniques that can keep you in good emotional stead.

Harness Your Family & Community

You don’t always have to search alone. Ask for help from others in order to speed up the search.

If you’re particularly forgetful, getting into the habit of telling others where you’re placing a commonly misplaced object can be helpful.

The trick here is to only involve positive people. Family members who take every opportunity to criticize you for your forgetfulness should be avoided when it comes to this particular issues.

Say Locations Out Loud When Leaving Items

One way to help your brain remember the location where you’re leaving something much better yourself is saying it out loud.

For example, you can announce out loud, “I’m leaving the keys by the door.”

Sure, this might feel silly, but it will help create a stronger memory because you’re using more of your brain while placing the item in a location.

If you’re with someone else, you also give yourself an extra shot that someone else will remember it too because they will have heard you say the location of the item too.

Play Lost & Found Games

Okay, this suggestion is a bit quirky.

But think about it:

When you regularly exercise the “treasure hunt” capacities of your mind, you’ll develop mental muscles for locations.

You don’t have to wait for Easter to play such games. And it’s fun to get the whole family involved.

Also consider using a round of lost & found as a segue into other brain games for adults.

The Ultimate Way to Train Your Brain to Remember Where You Put Something

Earlier I mentioned starting at a particular part of your home when conducting a search.

This approach is also used as part of an ancient memory strategy called the Memory Palace technique.

It’s a way of rapidly finding our way back to ideas we don’t want to forget. It’s also useful in language learning, where the practice of memorizing vocabulary itself helps you find information better in your mind.

Although this technique offers you an indirect path to finding items you’ve misplaced, it will exercise the location-sensibilities of your mind because it uses spatial memory in a way that can heighten your awareness of your surroundings. 

If you’d like to learn more about it, check out my FREE Memory Improvement Course:

Within a short period of practice, you should find yourself experiencing some memory boosts that help you learn faster across the board.

But at the end of the day, nothing beats relaxing yourself, searching strategically and then committing to do better in the future.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to find things you’ve lost in a better way than ever before?

You’re in the right place.

I’ve used Memory Palaces to pass exams, master foreign languages to the point of lecturing in German while living abroad.

And my TEDx Talk wasn’t just delivered from memory.

Thanks to the power of the Memory Palace when it comes to presenting well, it has garnered millions of views.

Across all of these experiences, I’ve developed and tested over three hundred Memory Palaces for different learning goals.

Everything from academic outcomes to speaking from the stage and even applying them to the writing of novels.

On this page, I’ll give you 5 powerful Mind Palace examples you can use to improve your memory training practice.

Ready?

Let’s dive in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWd1KaWFBm0

Before we get started with the examples, let’s properly define the Memory Palace technique.

This step is important so that we’re on the same page.

Real Memory Palace Examples You Can Copy or Adapt Today

Definitions are important because sometimes people use different words for the same technique.

For example, the Memory Palace technique is sometimes called the Method of Loci. Other people call it the Roman Room technique.

No matter what you call, the technique is based on layering associations along a journey based on locations you remember.

That’s the key.

You’re not memorizing locations for use as Memory Palace. You’re harnessing memory spaces that are already in your memory.

For more details, please refer to my foundational Memory Palace tutorial which goes in-depth on its history and a number of important considerations for getting the most out of the technique.

With these principles in mind, let’s look at our first example.

1. The Bird’s-eye/3rd Person Memory Palace Based On Your Home

This kind of Memory Palace involves looking down through the roof on a building, typically your home.

The basic idea is to experience the Memory Palace as if you’re looking down at a floor plan.

To create your first Memory Palace in this style, I suggest you quickly sketch them out.

As you can see, I’ve drawn this Memory Palace by hand:

Drawing each Memory Palaces is important because it trains your brain to think about the journey through the building you’re assigning.

A bit of preparation in the beginning will ensure that you can use the Memory Palace much faster once you’re ready to use it to memorize anything, including vocabulary, or an entire speech.

I’m not the only one who draws Memory Palaces.

My friend and fellow memory expert Jonathan Levi did just that after I showed him how to do so for his TEDx presentation:

In sum, the process is simple:

1. Select a location suited to creating a Memory Palace (usually a familiar building, but parks and other locations will do)
2. Get out a sheet of paper, ideally in a Memory Journal devoted to Mind Palace creation.
3. Draw the Memory Palace.
4. Strategically structure your course through the Memory Palace.
5. Practice it mentally.
6. Use it to memorize something by drawing upon the tools of Magnetic Association

If you’re stuck on what locations to use, How to Find Memory Palaces will help.

If you need help with creating the imagery, these elaborative encoding exercises should be useful to you.

The cool thing about that TEDx picture above is that I’ve already used the process I just described to turn the theatre into a Mind Palace. And it works great!

2. The Campus Memory Palace


In this kind of Memory Palace, you use an entire university campus.

I found this kind very useful when studying for my PhD at York in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

For your benefit, I’ve used the campus map to craft this detailed video tutorial for you of this kind of Memory Palace and its many uses:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1GwODwffCc

In this case, you can use the Memory Palace from the top-down view.

Or you can imagine watching yourself walking from station to station. It’s entirely up to you.

Another option is to use the next kind of Memory Palace.

3. The 1st Person Memory Palace

When using a first person approach, here’s what happens:

You imagine yourself in the Memory Palace, literally seeing the journey as if through your own eyes.

Or, you can pretend to be a character in a video game or movie and see through the eyes of that character.

For example, using an outdoor Memory Palace, I once imagined being this Giordano Bruno statue and navigated parts of Rome that I had previously developed into a small set of Memory Palaces.

Personally, I find this approach draining. But it definitely works.

4. The Virtual Memory Palace

Virtual or Imaginary Memory Palaces are not based on real locations.

They are purely imagined or based on video game locations.

This approach is not for everyone however.

I personally find them difficult for my projects, one reason I prefer standard Memory Palace for activities like language learning.

But if you want to give imaginary Memory Palaces a try, I suggest listening to memory competitor Idriz Zogaj for some wisdom on the practice that you might find useful.

In the meantime, I’ve recorded all my best suggestions for the virtual Memory Palace approach in this detailed video tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myN7wCWDWCI

5. The Magnetic Memory Memory Method Palace


This kind of Memory Palace combines a number or mnemonic systems.

At its core, you still take a location you know well and mentally assign specific pieces of information.

But unlike other approaches, you develop well-formed Memory Palaces that do not lead you into dead ends or waste time and mental energy by crossing your own path.

An illustrator helped me visualize my TEDx Talk Memory Palace with this picture so you can see how direct and unfettered a Magnetic Memory Palace is:

What additionally sets the Magnetic Memory Palace apart are additional tools that I teach. Such as:

• Sea shelling
• The Pillar Technique
• Ample use of Magnetic Bridging Figures
• Recall Rehearsal
• The Big 5 of Learning (Also called the levels of processing)
• The Story Method

With these additional techniques, everything gets much easier. That’s because my approach also helps make the technique more fun.

It feels like a game as you usher any information you want to know into long-term memory quickly.

Bonus: How to Create Your Own Memory Palaces Based on These Examples

I suggest that you avoid starting with just one location.

Rather, use the alphabet to help assign a variety of locations you can link with information easily.

I call this approach the “Memory Palace Network.”

To give you a quick example, I have a few ‘A’ Memory Palaces. Two of them are based on the homes of friends I know named Adam (once from elementary school, another from university).

I often use my friend Brad’s house for words that start with the letter ‘B.’

And when memorizing a poem recently that starts with the letter ‘W,’ I used a Woolworths supermarket.

This approach is an advanced form of linking, a technique well worth learning as you develop your mnemonic skills.

And if you’d like more help, feel free to grab my free memory improvement course:

It gives you four clear video lessons and three Memory Palace worksheets to fill out.

For now, these five Memory Palace examples aren’t just fantastic notions.

They’re tried and true starting points you can model.

And if you feel like you don’t have enough locations, check out this full tutorial I have, a giant list of Memory Palace ideas that will get you started.

Adapt them for yourself, expand on the core principles and you’ll not only improve your recall.

You’ll change the way you think, learn and interact with information.

An incredible journey awaits.

Enjoy and please let me know how it goes. You next breakthrough is just one well-formed Memory Palace away!

The question is, how?

And why was polymathy so key to Jefferson’s success?

Part of the answer is because his thirst for knowledge knew no bounds.

But more importantly, Jefferson had a strategy for retaining what he learned.

From multiple fields.

The way that Jefferson tracked his knowledge helped make him great in multiple fields.

I’m talking about everything from agriculture to technological innovations in writing, language learning and politics.

Everything about his ability to challenge conventions and relentlessly pursue that knowledge that helped him change the fabric of society boils down to four things:

• His personal knowledge management systems
• His polymathic mindset
• His community-focus
• His consistency

Combined, Jefferson’s life of achievement offers us a blueprint for how we can become better polymaths ourselves.

So if you’re interested in constant growth as you explore multiple disciplines, the lessons I’ve extracted for you from Jefferson’s life will ignite your potential.

Let’s dive in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrmsVLJr-zc

What is a Polymath? Why Thomas Jefferson Perfectly Fits the Definition

In case you’re new to the term, any individual with deep knowledge and proficiency across multiple disciplines, counts as a polymath.

It matters that this knowledge has already been established, distinguishing the polymath from the multipotentialite.

When it comes to Jefferson as a polymath, here’s a rapid-fire overview of some of his skills and accomplishments in a variety of domains:

• Linguistics: Mastered Latin, Greek, Anglo-Saxon, and Italian. Jefferson created his own Anglo-Saxon dictionary by tracing thousands of words to their Old English roots.
• Science and Invention: Participated in testing early carbon paper and using a pantograph for simultaneous copying, along with a portable copying press. He also designed a “mould board plow of least resistance.”
• Agriculture: Kept a detailed “Garden Book” tracking meteorology and plant imports.
• Education and Mentorship: Founded the University of Virginia, planning its buildings and rules; mentored students with curated book lists and study plans.
• Law and Politics: Drafted the Declaration of Independence, researched and challenged primogeniture, advocated for free schools and a free press.
• Literature and Analysis: Produced the Jefferson Bible through textual analysis. Maintained a commonplace book for reflections, akin to a Zettelkasten system.
• Organizational Skills: Tracked data in pocket-sized memorandum books and erasable “ivory books.”
• Skillfully outsourced tasks, matching people to roles.
• Music: Played violin daily.
• Designed his 1776 lap desk, mirroring other polymaths like David Lynch who crafted his own furniture for films like Lost Highway.
• Persistence and Vision: Contributed to libraries and universities despite personal debt. Jefferson persistently pushed for educational and social reforms.

Where do all these talents come from?

Let’s look at the origins of his polymathic study habits next:

Setting the Foundation: Jefferson’s Early Learning Experiences

A polymath is also not necessarily an autodidact, though usually some form of self-education is involved. That was certainly the case in Jefferson’s life, including from a young age.

For example, in his first known letter at just 17 years of age, Jefferson expressed concern about anything that would take his time away from studying Greek, Latin and mathematics. He was already committed to extracurricular learning.

Thanks to his father’s library, he was able to read some of the greats at a young age, including Shakespeare, Swift, Bacon, Locke, Newton and Cervantes.

One of his polymathic skills involved book curation and storing them.

Despite losing his first library to a fire at his Shadwell home in 1770, he rebuilt his collection. By 1815, he had amassed 6,487 volumes, not counting many folios.

“Folio” can mean different things, but in his time, the term typically referred to large-format volumes reserved for authoritative works. The fact that Jefferson collected such books demonstrates his scholarly ambitions.

His collection with also multilingual and well-organized.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuX9U2SVF6o

As we’ll discuss later, Jefferson kept a variety of notebooks and special kinds of flashcards to assist in his style of structured learning.

In particular, Jefferson’s habit of keeping a “commonplace book” has helped historians track his many polymath personality traits.

As Jefferson once wrote:

“I was in the habit of abridging and commonplacing what I read, meriting it, and sometimes mixing my own reflections on the subject.”

This comment further underscores his disciplined approach to learning.

Finally, we should note his modesty. He was skeptical of honorary degrees, viewing them as unearned accolades. This choice reflects the true polymath’s preference for authentic mastery over superficial recognition.

Jefferson’s Major Contributions as a Polymath

Spanning politics, agriculture, science, linguistics and more, Jefferson’s contributions are astonishing to behold.

Let’s look at the highlights I’ve found most interesting in my research for how they underscore the key polymathic skills I believe anyone can develop.

One: Politics and Governance

Jefferson’s political legacy is what we hear of most often. And for good reason.

He not only drafted the Declaration of Independence. He served as the third president of the United States.

A huge part of his political success stemmed from his research skills, particularly in law.

He lived during a time when legal books were scarce, yet he tirelessly pursued the resources he needed. His investments demonstrated his commitment.

More impressively, he was devoted to legal education itself. As Silvio Bedini discusses in Thomas Jefferson: Statesman of Science, he created a book list for other would-be legal scholars and offered to visit one learner to help during the learning process.

These efforts at empowering others show that his commitment to positive change was both local and nation with a special devotion to individuals.

At the macro level, you can see this same conviction play out in Jefferson’s efforts to abolish primogeniture.

This law gave the eldest son the right to inherit all of a family’s wealth and land, devastating younger siblings who could be left with nothing. It concentrated wealth and power in fewer hands, limiting opportunity and reinforcing inequality.

Thanks to Jefferson’s reading habits and ability to understand Enlightenment thinkers, he succeeded.

Two: Designer

Jefferson loved adjustable bookshelves. He even designed a revolving bookstand that folded into a cube. It could also serve as a lectern.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAIiy_if1V4

He participated in the invention of early carbon paper systems and a pantograph.

Sometimes called a polygraph, this device had two pens, allowing a writer to create two copies of a composition at the same time.

Although he didn’t invent the device himself, Jefferson’s feedback helped shape how it developed over time.

In terms of landscaping, Jefferson prepared detailed plans for the Gardens of Monticello on his plantation in Virginia.

He also designed his own portable writing desk and in a completely different field, what he called the “Moldboard Plow of Least Resistance.”

That invention belongs to the next area in which Jefferson displayed polymathic mastery.

Three: Agriculture

We know a lot about Jefferson’s skills as an agriculturist because he documented his activities thoroughly.

In his Garden book, he meticulously tracked what he planted, where and when.

Harvests were also meticulously arranged into notated tables with dates. Jefferson called them “Kalendars.”

What can we learn from Jefferson’s detailed record-keeping?

The value of precision, for one thing.

He was able to optimize for efficiency and from there helped inform other agriculturalists. Here we see an example of the power of learning from great minds.

Jefferson’s devotion to documenting these activities set a precedent that would be valuable in the future too:

As an importer of plants from Europe, tracking also helped note any issues that might have emerged. This kind of information remains important today and is used at customs checkpoints around the world.

If you want to know how to think like Jefferson, always keep in mind the power of his commitment to documentation.

Four: Linguistics

Jefferson wrote that being able to read Latin and Greek texts in the original was a “supreme luxury.”

He earned his status as a polyglot, however.

In addition to putting plenty of time aside to learn languages, he took up some language learning for legal purposes.

He partly intended his self-compiled Anglo-Saxon dictionary to help him study law better.

But he had other outcomes in mind too. For example, Jefferson wrote about his approach to linguistic analysis in “Essay on the Anglo-Saxon Language,” material contemporary scholars still study.

Likewise, he read Machiavelli’s The Prince in the original language, partly to learn more about languages, partly for political science.

Five: Music

Jefferson apparently played violin every day while he studied the law.

Jefferson continued playing throughout his life, and as Helen Cripe remarks in Thomas Jefferson and Music, “he devoted a surprising amount of time to it, given the scope of his better-known interests and activities.”

He needed to remember music too because anything on paper could be easily damaged. He once lost from precious minuets to both hungry rats and a strong period of rain.

Luckily, much of the music he collected survives to this day. Give this recording a listen to hear the kinds of tunes he enjoyed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAOurpDRyPw

Jefferson reportedly also sung clearly and was often heard at home. As a hummer, musical accompanied him outside the home as he walked around his properties.

He invested in top-notch musical educators for his daughters and grand-daughters and ensured they had quality instruments.

Although he did not expand his skills from the violin to the piano, he often wished that he did. Nonetheless, he learned to tune and maintain pianos, which is a skill unto itself.

One point Cripe makes in her book that I notice as someone who wrote a dissertation on friendship for my PhD at York University is powerful:

Music and his performance skills were essential to Jefferson’s relationships, both familial, with friends and with other polymaths. As his extensive correspondence with the lawyer, jurist, author and composer Francis Hopkinson shows, they delighted in optimizing their musical instruments.

For example, they experimented on perfecting special parts essential to producing the best possible sounds from their harpsichords.

In his letters to Hopkinson, Jefferson sometimes sketched his ideas for a better metronome and foot-bass pedals.

The time spent in friendship like this provides evidence of collaboration, craftsmanship and a passion for what he called “the delightful recreation” music brings.

In other words, music gave Jefferson a lot of fun. We should all invest in learning to play at least one instrument and helping others do the same.

Six: Vision & Planning

Jefferson’s involvement in the founding of the University of Virginian showcases his ability to bring a wide variety of skills together.

He surveyed the grounds, helped develop the architectural plans and communicate his ideas in ways that led to practical designs.

Despite dealing with personal debt, Jefferson balanced his risk tolerance against his commitment to education. He put significant resources toward founding the university based on his vision, valuing social progress over personal gain.

What can we learn from his actions today?

Jefferson’s vision was almost certainly stronger because he wrote so much in a variety of ways, from journaling to meticulously documenting what some might consider minutia.

My belief is that he was able to take on so much additional risk precisely because his vision was only partially based on speculation. He knew that in order for his country to thrive, people would need to cultivate open minds.

As he wrote, “No nation can afford ignorance.”

To that end, he went above and beyond the call of duty by helping the new university craft innovative rules for admission, graduation and university governance.

Seven: Reading & Research

We might take it for granted that Jefferson was a reader. How could he write so much if he weren’t?

But we know from how Jefferson took notes in a variety of ways that he read actively and strategically.

Ivory pages are one of the most astonishing tools he used to take notes.

These small ivory slates held together by a silver clasp allowed Jefferson to take pencil notes during the day.

At night, he would transfer the most important ideas into permanent journals. Then, he could erase the slates and reuse them the next day.

What did he write on them?

Typically, he jotted out observations about the weather, meeting notes or his philosophical ideas.

As a polymath, this learning system reflects a powerful means of capturing information, reviewing it and then committing it to an archive.

The process itself stimulates retention through active recall, reflective thinking and spaced repetition.

Commonplace Books

Like many polymaths and mnemonists, Jefferson kept commonplace books. More than just serving as a journal, this kind of personal writing helps people curate personal reference libraries.

Some of Jefferson’s commonplace books were for legal matters. In them he would focus on case law and legal principles.

In others, he would collect poems, philosophical ideas and notes related to textual analysis.

This activity lead to the creation of his Jefferson Bible. The first version was produced after Jefferson cut and pasted from several versions of the Gospel. He left out the miracles and supernatural events to highlight the life and morals of Jesus.

In addition to highlighting his skills in textual analysis, the Jefferson Bible demonstrates his commitment to efficient learning based on the core principles of the law and science he admired so much.

Strategically, we can learn from Jefferson the importance of:

• Keeping our notes physical, but also portable.
• The memory benefits of transfering our notes.
• Evolving our knowledge over time by keeping multiple kinds of journals and notebooks.

For more on Jefferson’s notebooks, I highly recommend suing the search function on the Monticello website.

Want to Learn Like Thomas Jefferson?

When people hear about the accomplishments of someone like Jefferson, they can feel out of reach.

It all sounds like hard work, a feeling Peter Burke stimulates in his book, The Polymath. As he summarizes:

“A life of Thomas Jefferson describes ‘amazing readiness’ to work long hours, sometimes from five in the morning until midnight, and his advice to a student to work for eleven hours a day.”

There’s no doubt about it.

That kind of advice can be deflating. And it sounds quite a bit like the kind of “grind culture” we hear from tech bros like Elon Musk.

The good news is you don’t have to play games of comparison with Jefferson in order to use his example to supercharge your learning life.

A hidden secret to what Jefferson was doing is called interleaving. He rotated between multiple study projects, something anyone can do in order to boost retention and comprehension.

He took multiple kinds of notes and made sure to practice music across his lifespan, activities well within reach of nearly ever lifelong learner.

If you like tips like these and want to supercharge your mind and memory further, feel free to continue your journey by claiming my free memory improvement kit:

It gives you four video lessons and three worksheets that will help boost your learning speed and unleash your inner polymath.

No, you might not go on to revolutionize society. But you can revolutionize yourself.

Why not start now?

I had tons of textbooks to cover, after all!

The same worry occurred to me later when I needed to learn German.

In retrospect, it was a silly worry that I can laugh at now.

But even though I’d heard that many memory champions and professional mnemonists typically developed hundreds of these mnemonic tools in short order, I still doubted myself.

After all, back when I was in grad school I had barely traveled. I also still barely knew about the technique and how it really works.

I needn’t have worried, however. And nor should you.

That’s because today I’m giving you concrete examples from a wide variety of people.

Some come courtesy of students who have completed my Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass.

Others are from my friends in the worlds of either memory competition or memory training.

Yet others have been handed down to us from the ancient history of mnemonic methods.

I’ll even share with you a few of my own Memory Palace examples.

So, are you ready to dive in and discover where to find Memory Palaces?

Good. Let’s begin our search with a powerful tool for assessing what precisely makes the following possible locations worthy of your time and effort.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU3UjILxlJE

L.O.C.I: A Mental Tool For Testing
The Worth Of These Memory Palace Ideas

Before I dive into a list of examples, it’s useful to have a means of deciding whether or not one of today’s ideas will work for you.

Since the Memory Palace technique is based on the method of loci, I came up with a handy acronym for you:

• Location
  • Does the memory space you choose support linear or logical navigation?
• Ownership
  • Is the location lodged deeply enough in your memory that you feel like you “own” it? This guideline doesn’t mean that you remember every single detail. Just that it resonates with you in a personal way.
• Clarity
  • Will you be able to clearly and distinctly navigate the space? Cluttered spaces with no clear journey can create obstacles that drain you of mental energy.
• Indexable
  • Can you name the place or give it a number? Although not always necessary, it’s often important for mnemonic linking to be able to refer to the Memory Palace some kind of word-based or number-based label.

Keep this “L.O.C.I.” acronym in mind as you sort through the Memory Palaces ideas that follow.

Memory Palaces Based On Buildings

The Memory Palace technique usually involves buildings you’ve visited. These can include:

• Your home
• The homes of relatives, friends, babysitters, real estate you’ve considered
• Churches
• Museums
• Art galleries
• Government buildings
• Schools and university campuses
• Swimming pools
• Pool halls
• Bookshops
• Grocery stores
• Arenas
• Concert stages
• Airports
• Libraries
• Clubs
• Cafes
• Workplaces (offices, warehouses, factories)

To give you a simple example of how I’ve used one of these locations, check out this quick drawing I made of my mnemonic image for the German word for “area” inside Berlin’s Tegel Airport:

I know, I know.

I’m not a great artist.

But that’s not the point.

The drawing involves Bender and the drummer Steve Reich in an area I was familiar with in the airport. I chose them because the sounds of their names combined reminds me of “Bereich” in Germany.

Why did I stick this strange image in the airport? In this case, it’s because airport starts with the letter ‘A.’ And although you can’t see it in the drawing, they are situated in the “area” of the airport where you can buy pretzels.

In German, pretzel is “das Bretzel” and Bender is trying to buy them from Steve Reich. But he’s getting drum sticks instead in that area of the airport.

If you’re new to combining mnemonic images with Memory Palaces, I know this can sound like there’s a lot going on.

But once you have a bunch of Memory Palaces, it will become very simple. Even intuitive.

So to begin the journey towards the ease I’ve experienced now for decades, start writing down possible locations from you life based on the list above.

And let me know in the comments: What additional possible Memory Palace examples come to your mind?

Memory Palaces Based on Outdoor Locations

My personal preference used to be buildings and the only time I would stray was when I used vehicles to memorize playing cards.

These days, I’ve expanded my collection of Memory Palaces and use:

• Streets
• Parks
• Skateboard parks
• Parking lots
• Rivers
• Mountain ranges
• Amusement parks
• Zoos
• Farms
• Bus routes

Some outdoor locations are too difficult because they don’t have enough landmarks.

So when I mention rivers, please understand that I’m using the Brisbane CityCat ferry stops. They’re still all outdoors locations, but their plan lends a specific structure to the mnemonic journey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn05eskjIFg

How to Find Memory Palaces Ideas from the Indoor & Outdoor Categories

I’ve heard from a lot of people over the years who can’t travel or go outside.

That was once me too.

Long before I was able to travel the world, I spent most of my life indoors during the long Canadian winters.

For me, the initial key to getting together a number of Memory Palaces was to break my schools down to individual classrooms.

For example, in the Memory Palace drawing above, I indexed each room of the high school with the name of the teacher.

In other words, Mr. Ralston’s class was the R Memory Palace. Mr. Schmidt’s class was the S Memory Palace, and so on.

Although small, it was possible to use this one high school in a variety of ways.

Frankly, I believe schools are one of the best places to use as a Memory Palace because most of us spend hundreds, if not thousands of hours in them.

They also provide tactical benefits, including:

• Logical flow
• Distinct landmarks (like baseball diamonds and parking lots)
• Rooms that can be mentally revisited with ease
• Helpful features to use like desks and chalkboards
• Usually aren’t cluttered or abstract

Body Memory Palaces

Although limited in size, it’s possible to use any human or animal body as a Memory Palace.

Ron White and I discussed his approach in depth in this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method podcast.

As with all Memory Palaces, it’s important to keep the rules of L.O.C.I. I mentioned above in mind.

This approach is very difficult to tap out provided you develop a proper pegword system.

In brief, the pegword system I use gives me at least one person for each letter of the alphabet (Adam West for A, Brad Pitt for B, etc.)

Each figure has 10 Magnetic Stations.

This means that if you have one figure for each letter of the alphabet, you’ll have 260 stations per pegword list you develop.

You can prepare lists based on the kinds of categories used by many of our ancestors through ars combinatoria (the art of combination).

In other words, I just mentioned a couple of actors, but you can go far beyond that by having Body Memory Palace Networks based on:

• Actors
• Friends
• Relatives
• Teachers
• Politicians
• Lawyers
• Authors
• Librarians
• Musicians
• Artists
• Philosophers
• Miscellaneous historical figures
• Inventors
• Explorers
• Scientists
• Police
• Doctors
• Dentists
• Manicurists
• YouTubers
• Copywriters
• Your favorite mnemonists (hint hint!)

I’m sure you can think of more categories. The key is to keep developing more over time.

And in case it isn’t obvious, you can double the strength of any Memory Palace by populating them with Body Memory Palaces.

This suggestion was inspired by a strategy outlined by Giordano Bruno in his book, Thirty Statues.

In his work, he suggests 30 Magnetic Stations per body. Personally, I find that too much so use Ron White’s suggestion of 10.

Memory Palaces Based on Shapes & Objects

Let’s say you really like Body Memory Palaces.

You can also break the body down into sections.

When I use my fingers, for example, I think of them like objects.

Likewise my wrist when I memorized the carpal bones.

Essentially, your hand and other parts of your anatomy comprise geometrical shapes. To help you better break things down, give this tutorial on using geometrical shapes for your Memory Palaces a watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAPwOf31N7o

If you’d like to work with the cards you see in the video, they’re a wonderful product created by my fellow mnemonist John Michael Greer.

Other objects you can use include rings, keys, coins, even the buttons on your own shirt.

The key consideration when selecting objects is again found in the L.O.C.I. set of guidelines.

Although you can use a grain of sand as a Memory Palace… is it really going to help you achieve much?

Always keep the goal in mind as you develop your Memory Palace Networks.

Memory Palaces Based On Imagination

Now, you might be wondering:

Is it possible to create Memory Palaces out of thin air?

Yes and no.

When thinking about virtual Memory Palaces, keep in mind that they are always referential.

Here’s what I mean:

Whether you choose a game that has a fortress in it, or develop one on your own, that imaginary fortress is based on your more practical concept of what similar buildings look like in reality.

Some people do just fine with such Memory Palaces and that’s great.

But for many of us it adds a level of cognitive load because we have to memorize the location or object to which we have no practical connection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myN7wCWDWCI

Here’s what matters most:

Experiment.

If you run into issues, no problem. You’ll have learned something.

Don’t run away too soon, however.

What you might struggle with in the beginning can soon become easy after a bit (or a lot) of deliberate practice.

Real-World Examples from Magnetic Memory Method Students

During over a decade-and-a-half of teaching the Memory Palace technique, I’ve received countless examples from lifelong learners around the world.

Here are some of my favorite examples they’ve sent me.

Kevin Richardson

As Kevin told me on the Magnetic Memory Method podcast, he originally learned about Memory Palaces and then dropped them for two years.

Eventually, he came back and used my teaching to help himself finally understand how to use the Memory Palace approach for language learning.

Next thing Kevin knew, he was able to understand tons of Japanese.

Keko

When Keko heard me talk about combining Memory Palaces with mind maps, she determined to give the technique a try.

As you can see above, she used my “sea shelling” principle to create a “path on paper” she could mentally navigate for spaced repetition of my lessons.

Although some minds might find this approach challenging, it’s worth experimenting with at least a few times.

Lee Escobar

I’ll never forget Lee Escobar reaching out for one-on-one coaching for a very specific goal.

As a speaker, he wanted to remember the names of all his attendees… and their seat number.

Having this knowledge committed to memory enabled him to write a highly personalized presentation that blew his audience away.

Don’t take my word for how amazing his results were after I showed him how to accomplish this goal.

Lee himself sent me the results to share with you via this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWgx5W5p0VM

I’ve got dozens of success stories like this on my testimonial page.

But let’s turn now to some examples from memory champions and memory experts I’ve known over the years.

Example Memory Palaces from the Pros

As far as I can tell, the only difference between people who become highly skilled with Memory Palaces and those who don’t is a willingness to study and practice this special mnemonic device.

Here are some of my favorite success stories.

Jonathan Levi

When Jonathan Levi visited me in Berlin, the first thing he wanted was a personal lesson in creating the perfect Memory Palace for his upcoming TEDx Talk.

The image you see above is the result. It’s very similar to the kind of Memory Palace I used to memorize my own TEDx Talk several years later.

As a successful entrepreneur, Levi nailed that talk and even shared it in the presentation. Although he’s now a retired mnemonist, he taught memory techniques to thousands of people during his run.

We tested each other more than once during our many hang outs and he really knows his stuff.

Alex Mullen

Alex Mullen won the World Memory Championship three times.

As he has discussed and shared, he uses his own home as a main Memory Palace.

Want to know what it looks like inside?

Give this video a view:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNAXY53uKWk

Don Michael Vickers

Although I don’t have a picture of any of his Memory Palaces, I’ll never forget Don Michael Vickers telling us about how he uses locations like Tim Hortons during this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast.

He’s so fast with his Memory Palaces, he memorized 50 words in just under 38 seconds?

You can watch him do it under official conditions on MemorysportsTV.

There are other examples from other pros, but these are my favorite that come to mind.

Personal Practice: My Top 4 Favorite Memory Palaces

I’ve been using Memory Palaces for decades now. 2003 feels like a lifetime ago, but that’s when I first got into them.

I first learned about the technique via my interest in card magic and memdeck applications. Then I deepened my understanding by reading extensively about the ancient memory tradition.

Most of my Memory Palaces are simple, but some are a bit more complex. Here are my three favorites.

Mandarin Chinese Class Memory Palace

I still don’t know what I was thinking.

Jonathan Levi and I were developing a non-memory business together and the Magnetic Memory Method project was hopping.

But I’d so enjoyed visiting China and learning about the mnemonist Matteo Ricci‘s adventures there, I just knew I had to learn more about the language.

And so I did.

Without too much time on my hands, I used the Chinese classroom itself for much of the task. You see my sketch of it above.

I also combined a few mind maps with Memory Palaces, like this:

Finally, I used my optimized flashcard method quite a bit.

Although technically flashcards aren’t Memory Palaces, my colleague and Zettelkasten expert Sascha Fast recently told me he thinks they’re close enough. I agree.

Zamalek in Cairo

When I visited Olly Richards in Cairo, I had big plans to learn as much Egyptian Arabic as possible while there.

A few days in, however, I fell off a camel. I got hurt so bad, I wound up not doing much language learning at all.

I did visit a bookstore in Zamalek, however.

It impressed me so much that I immediately sketched it out. I still use it to this day.

My TEDx/Sanskrit Memory Palace

People ask me often about reusing Memory Palaces.

Although you certainly can do it, I normally prefer to avoid this practice. There are lots of issues that can arise, as discussed in this video tutorial about what mnemonists often call “ghosting”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umt-innA-u8

Call me crazy, but when I was asked to give a TEDx, I thought I’d risk it.

I’ve used this same Memory Palace three separate times. Not only that, I used it in three separate ways.

In addition to the TEDx Talk, there are two long-form mantras in it based around dozens of Sanskrit phrases.

I go into detail about how I managed to pull all of this off without making mistakes in the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass.

But to be frank with you: I won’t take that risk again.

It was worth it for the experiment, to be sure. But I ultimately feel that my performance of the talk would have been better in a completely unused Memory Palace.

The “Sand Talk” Memory Palace

In Sand Talk, Tyson Yunkaporta teaches a very simple Hand Memory Palace.

Basically, you link the rules for a meeting to your four fingers. As you touch your thumb and each finger together, you recite: “Connect, Respect, Reflect, Direct.”

I showed Tyson that I had used it during our interview and I’ve been using it ever since. There are many other ways to use hands as Memory Palaces, and I look forward to spending the rest of my life exploring them.

Memory Palace Q&A

Now that we’ve gone through multiple ideas and plenty of examples, let’s get some of the most frequently asked questions answered.

Question 1: What is the best location to start with when new to the Memory Palace technique?

I believe it’s best to give your mind the easiest possible option.

That could be your home, workplace or school.

The key is that the location is already in your memory.

I don’t advise people to memorize locations because that would be the “Memorized Palace technique.”

A true Memory Palace is based on a location already in your memory.

Question 2: How do experts choose their Memory Palaces?

The answers vary.

Memory athletes need speed so their Memory Palaces tend to be clear.

For my personal projects, I often need a lot of volume. So I look for places with big rooms and large walls.

Originally, I struggled with hanging associations in the air. But now I’m much better at it and much of my TEDx Talk is outside.

Ultimately, I find that the more people practice, the more quickly they develop a personal “mnemonic style.” They develop an intuition for what kinds of Memory Palaces work best for their goals.

Question 3: How many loci should a Memory Palace have?

If you’re just starting out, I suggest getting familiar with 8-10.

That will prepare you for many more.

In the image above, you can see the Memory Palace I used for hiragana. It has 48 loci, which I could easily use because I’d already had years of experience.

That said, some people take to this technique very easily.

So it’s important that you experiment.

Try to avoid the idea that there are any “magic numbers.”

Set goals instead and develop Memory Palaces that will help you achieve them. You can always split large goals across multiple Memory Palaces.

Question 4: What factors make a location bad for use as a Memory Palace?

First things first, having negative emotions associated with a location can make it a bad idea to use certain locations.

There are some exceptions to this rule, but generally I suggest picking either happy or emotionally neutral places.

Beyond that, if the locations are overly complex like shopping malls, this can be bad.

Not all hope is lost, however. You can always break shopping malls down into individual stores and corridors. I’ve done that quite a bit.

Some people say that the locations should not be bland or visually unexciting. I haven’t found that to be an issue personally, however.

Many university campuses feature buildings that aren’t particular exciting. They’re just long hallways with doors leading into classrooms.

But I’ve found them perfectly suitable, so long as I hold them in memory. In some cases, bland locations are the best because they don’t distract from the task at hand: using them to memorize information.

Question 5: How many Memory Palaces should I have?

I believe you should develop as many as you possibly can across your lifetime.

Even if you only do it for the brain training, constantly exercising your spatial memory is a very good thing.

If you’re a lifelong learner, even better. You’ll easily remember what you study using the abundance of Memory Palaces you have on hand.

Final Thoughts on Finding Powerful Memory Palace Ideas

When I was just starting out, I had the benefit of years practicing both sleight-of-hand magic and music.

So I knew that it was going to be a lifelong learning journey that involved continually refining my technique and gathering more locations.

Now you have a proven framework that took me years to develop: L.O.C.I.

Always keep in mind that the best locations aren’t necessarily exotic. So long as they’re familiar and lend themselves to mental navigation, you’ll have no problem using them.

Treat your attention as the gateway to finding and using more Memory Palaces. They are literally every way. You just have to notice them and develop them.

Need more help? Sign up for my free memory improvement course:

It gives you four free video tutorials and three worksheets that walk you through everything you need to know.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to develop some Memory Palaces and use them to experience deeper recall, sharper thinking and long-term retention?

Make it happen!

These labels have different histories, for one thing.

And although they both describe people who display diverse talents and interests, there’s a massive difference between them.

Why does the difference matter?

Because you’re not just interested in a few things — you’re fascinated by everything.

In fact, your browser tabs are a hall of mirrors.

Your bookshelves look like an interdisciplinary battleground. You’ve filled notebooks, journal apps, and your brain with treasure troves of knowledge…

But then someone casually asks:

“So… what do you actually study? What did you learn?”

And just like that — your mind goes blank.

You’re not alone.

In fact, this problem has haunted some of the most brilliant, curious, and driven minds I’ve ever met — and I was once one of them.

That’s why we need to dig deeper when it comes to terms like “polymath” and “multipotentialite.”

As soon as you do, you’ll find that there’s no clear consensus on their meaning for good reason.

And few are brave enough to criticize the cultural narratives behind these terms, including whether or not they are truly empowering. Or just being used in the modern world as part of marketing products you don’t need.

That’s why today, I’m inviting you to dive deep with me to explore how these labels and concepts can inspire your own journey.

All while avoiding the dead-ends and traps of empty promises offered by what are sometimes nothing more than self-aggrandizing labels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbsTUz2SsHw

What is a Multipotentialite?

The short answer is that a multipotentialite displays key characteristics like:

• Broad interests and high curiosity in a variety of fields, from coding to painting and entrepreneurship, often mixing them together in unique ways.
• Adaptability for learning quickly and picking up skills in ways that rapidly solve problems before moving on to the next challenge.
• Flexibility, which may involve a lot of gig-style jobs or hybrid roles that allow for a lot of variety.

But where does the term first come from?

In my research, the idea of having potential for multiple skills comes from a 1972 book called Recognizing and Assisting Multipotential Youth.

In this book, authors Ronald H. Fredrickson and John Rothney explain that a multipotential person is:

Any individual who, when provided with an appropriate environment, can select and develop any number of competencies to a high level.

The book is a passionate appeal for both the educators, local governments and the state to identify and nurture students through what they call “enrichment.”

They list several recommended procedures, many of which include encouraging young people to engage in autodidact efforts outside of the traditional classroom setting.

These include:

• Participating in fairs, agricultural activities and contests
• Taking additional courses so they graduate early
• Working personally with teachers on enriched reading program
• Visiting professionals working in a variety of impressions

Multiplicity in the Mind

Next in history, we should also include Howard Gardner’s 1983 book, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

If nothing else, the concept of being a multipotentialite owes Gardner a conceptual debt.

I feel this way because anyone who truly puts in the deliberate practice needed to learn new skills will need to exercise the different kinds of intelligence Gardner discussed. These include:

• Spatial
• Linguistic
• Logical
• Mathematical
• Kinesthetic
• Musical
• Intrapersonal and interpersonal
• Existential (in other words, the ability to ask certain kinds of ontological, philosophical questions)

Overall, Gardner suggests that if someone is going to fulfil their potential, they need to leverage multiple intelligences. That way, they can blend strengths like verbal fluency and multiple kinds of creativity to navigate a variety of pursuits.

Mainstream Attention for the Multipotentialite

In a 2015 TED Talk titled “Why Some of Us Don’t Have One True Calling,” Emilie Wapnick shifted the term to include people who thrive on diverse passions, resist specialization and weave their skills into a multifaceted career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sZdcB6bjI8

Wapnick has also addressed those who criticize the talk’s specialized use of the term in writing.

In essence, Wapnick argues that people should feel free to call themselves what they please. Plus, they should pay more attention to the meaning of the TEDx Talk, not the word “multipotentialite” itself.

I agree, but that doesn’t free the use of the term from some much-needed critical thinking.

But before we get into a deeper analysis of what might be driving this most recent use of multi-potentiality, let’s look at polymathy next.

What is a Polymath?

A polymath is someone who displays expertise across multiple fields.

Often, they are unrelated and we commonly discuss polymaths as if they are driven by insatiable curiosity.

Although curiosity is one of many polymathic personality traits, Peter Burke provides one of the most nuanced studies of exactly what this term has meant throughout history.

For example, in his book The Polymath: A cultural History from Leonardo da Vinci to Susan Sontag, he identifies:

• Passive polymaths
• Limited polymaths
• Clustered polymaths
• Serial polymaths

His suggestion is especially interesting because we sometimes automatically consider polymaths lifelong learners.

But as the limited polymath category shows, there have been many cases where people only needed to be polymathic for a certain period of time.

During the early days of metallurgy, for example, a person experimenting in this area might need to know a lot about mining and smelting. But as civilization developed, there came a day when individuals could focus almost entirely on casting.

In other words, some types of polymathy have to do with historical evolution and the development of particular fields. It’s not necessarily the case that the individuals involved had any special, inborn characteristics. They are simply responding to the need to develop their multiple-potentialities until that need passes.

The Two Main Categories of Polymath

If you wanted to boil the more general understanding of polymathy into two broad categories, Burke suggests using:

• Centripetal polymathy
• Centrifugal polymathy

Whereas a centrifugal polymath simply stacks one interest onto another without any special connection between them, the centripetal polymath has a unifying vision.

For example, someone like Elon Musk talks about populating space as a central unifying concept, but his activities appear more centrifugal to many critics.

He tells a great story, but a lot of what has developed appears to be ad hoc, made up as things go along. Walter Isaacson gives plenty of examples of this, such as the sudden appearance of the Boring Company on the menu.

The polymath Giordano Bruno, on the other hand, had a unifying vision based on around learning, memory and a view of the oneness of infinity. Nearly everything he did was connected to this unifying theme.

Multipotentialite vs Polymath: A Critical Perspective

Please don’t get me wrong in what I’m about to say.

I’m just practicing the analytical skills I learned while studying for my PhD and throughout my career. And I’m mostly going to point the finger at myself.

But when I heard Wapnick talk about choosing the term “multipotentialite” because labels like polymath and Renaissance person failed to resonate, etymological narcissism was the first thing that popped to mind.

Now, I just made up the term etymological narcissism (or at least, I can’t remember seeing it anywhere else). But Wapnick is very specific about pronouns, all while running a blog that intentionally markets a book called How to Be Everything.

The Real Problem with Multipotentialite as a Category

As an author myself, my narcissism is high. It has been ever since I was a kid, along with my cynicism and a high tendency to contradict just about everything I encounter.

According to a study called The Dark Cube: Dark Character Profiles and OCEAN, some people have high narcissism and low-agreeableness.

I’m not diagnosing anyone, but I am reflecting on my personal experience as someone who underwent psychoanalysis nearly twenty years ago in order to help me become more open.

As a result, I’ve become a better researcher and that’s why I went looking for the history of the term multipotentialite.

That’s when I found Fredrickson and Rothney’s book about multipotential youth.

No, Wapnick isn’t at all presenting the term multipotentialite as an original creation.

But the whole issue of assigning new terms and arguing for the right to own them without facing criticism makes me think of when Tony Buzan reportedly established trademarks for the term mind map. As of the time I’m writing this, I cannot find a trademark number for mind map in the UK related to any person or organization.

Don’t get me wrong. I loved Buzan, but as I wrote years ago about mind mapping, no one owns this term. Buzan did amazing work in popularizing a particular means of using round structures on paper to help with thinking and memory.

But if anyone gets credit for inventing that, it’s Ramon Llull with his memory wheels. And even then, the basic idea is much older.

My feeling is that there’s a fallacy of false attribution at play that lends itself to the problem of narcissism. So although I agree with Wapnick that focusing on the terms themselves is futile, by insisting on a special definition for multipotentialite, it’s almost as if there’s a rush deeper into the problem of categorizing things. Not a way out.

That’s why I find the book title How to Be Everything confronting. Even Buzan said that the rules will set you free. But when there are no rules and you can call yourself anything and be anything, meaning crumbles.

A Devastating Blow for the Meaning of “Polymath”?

Although the term “polymath” has a ton of historical weight, it’s not immune to critique.

For one thing, the ideals of the Renaissance Man not only feel unattainable. They don’t really exist, and you’d be right if you felt the urge to dismiss the idea completely.

Time and again, Burke shows how the idea of the polymath is historically determined. And when it comes to the medieval and Renaissance eras, he describes a paradox.

People like Robert Fludd could claim to know everything. But that’s only because there weren’t that many books you needed to cover.

By the same token, it was harder to travel in order to cover all of the extent books. So even though we can talk about our contemporary ideas about human psychology in terms of openness, a person also had to want to travel. They also needed to have the financial means to do and often the social network needed to meet people who owned various knowledge resources.

Indeed, you could be the most curious person in the world. But if you didn’t have a letter of introduction from a powerful person, you didn’t just waltz into the library of Saint-Victor of Paris. You had to know someone, and that’s exactly how Giordano Bruno managed to access it during his lifetime.

Key Differences Between Multipotenialite and Polymath as Learning Types

Putting my critical thinking aside, let’s assume that these terms are both equally valid.

The main differences between the two learning styles boil down to the following.

Learning Style

According to Wapnick, multipotentialites learn quickly and rapidly become functional in the skills they need to complete projects.

Although the examples Wapnick gives strike me as surface learning, that doesn’t mean there isn’t understanding.

It’s just that polymaths typically go far beyond learning just enough to implement. There’s usually mastery involved a depth of learning that is refined over decades.

In my experience, for example, I studied and taught for years before earning a Mercator guest professor grant. I played in multiple bands before being good enough to go on tour with The Outside. And I wrote multiple full-length books, a dissertation and several journal articles before a single one of my titles stood a chance on the market.

Then there’s the countless hours I’ve poured into learning how to run a website. That skill is related to my success on YouTube, but video is its own realm of speciality and I’ve spent years on everything related to crafting presentations and delivering specifically for the screen.

In other words, polymathic learning is iterative and expertise compounds based on foundations that are established in multiple foundations and built thoroughly.

So although a multipotenialite might code a website on the same day they produce a some graphics, a polymath might have the depth of knowledge needed to innovate a completely new programming paradigm – and the entrepreneurial skills enough to start a completely new business around it.

Interests

Wapnick argues that multipotentialites shift their multiple interests around based on opportunities as they arise. For this reason, I wonder why Wapnick hasn’t been drawn to the term autodidact as an alternative to polymath.

After all, Wapnick is talking about how lots of people operate in the current gig-economy. Side-hustles and short-term projects aren’t necessarily interests, though I suppose it helps if a person can make themselves interested enough to get something done to a reasonable standard.

Mastery drives the polymath, however. There’s typically long-term strategy involved, particularly aimed at solving specific problems.