I own the 1963 New English Library version of this classic memory book and Like all of the Harry Lorayne books that I have read, I describe it as punchy, conversational, and matter of fact. Harry Lorayne does not write theory, he just writes what to do.
After 40 pages or so of describing memory as a learned skill, comparing it to a muscle and to a habit, providing a few quick examples of association to demonstrate memory skill potency and showing the reader that they can improve their memory. Harry dives into the first Memory technique that people tend to learn - the Link System.
Harry suggests that the items in the link system should be:
- Out of proportion - 'gigantic'
- In action
- Exaggerate the amount of items
- Substitute items e.g. smoking a nail instead of a cigarette
Harry then follows the standard practice in memory books and moves on to the Peg system. Harry presents the peg system as a phonic letter system. Most books don't present this type of system so early in their presentation of memory techniques. Harry provides words for 0-100 throughout the book although I suggest you make up your own words to make them relevant to you.
Harry suggests that the link system is for remembering lists in sequence and the peg system for remembering things in and out of order. Phonic systems are very good for remembering numbers as you get an instant set of sounds to turn into a story (this is the technique Harry uses to remember long numbers in Chapter 11).
Suggestions for remembering speeches include:
- Take each 'thought' in the speech and find a Keyword which brings the whole 'thought' to mind.
- Use the link system to link the keywords
The principle that Association leads to effective memory gets stressed throughout the book.
The more intelligible a things is, the more easily it is retained in the memory, and contrariwise, the less intelligible it is, the more easily we forget it. - Benedict Spinoza
To memorize the keypoints from a book? Use a peg system and associate the keyword for each page in the book with the peg word for that page.
Over the course of 4 chapters Harry has you memorise peg words up to 100.
To remember a pack of playing cards? Use a word where the first letter represents the Suite and the last letter represents the card. To remember Jack, King, Queen you use an exception to this rule. Jack - use the name of the suit. King and Queen use words that rhyme with King or Queen. Associate each card word, with a peg word for position.
Harry moves on to present more typical peg systems:
- Rooms in a house
- Locations on a well known Route
- 'things' that resemble the numbers e.g. pencil for 1
I also use words that rhyme with the numbers e.g. 1 = gun, 2 = shoe, etc.
Harry pulls no punches and starts with the phonic peg system rather than the easier to use and remember: rooms, rhymes, similarity approaches.
Harry presents ways to 'know' what day each date maps on to, and how to remember dates, foreign language words.
To remember names?
- Hear the name correctly
- Ask about the spelling
- Use their name during the conversation
- Create a picture of the person associated with what their name 'sounds' like.
- Associate the sound with a 'feature' of the person's appearance - hint: use a permanent feature rather than something potentially temporary like a beard.
The book then ends with various memory tricks and how to memorise schedules, and birthdays.
Although out of print, if you can find it. I recommend it.
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