Magnetic Memory Method – How To Memorize With A Memory Palace podcast

#Podcasting Education #Magnetic Memory Method – How to Memorize With A Memory Palace

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Host Francesca Amiker sits down with directors Joe and Anthony Russo, producer Angela Russo-Otstot, stars Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, and more to uncover how family was the key to building the emotional core of The Electric State . From the Russos’ own experiences growing up in a large Italian family to the film’s central relationship between Michelle and her robot brother Kid Cosmo, family relationships both on and off of the set were the key to bringing The Electric State to life. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts . State Secrets: Inside the Making of The Electric State is produced by Netflix and Treefort Media.…

Magnetic Memory Method – How to Memorize With A Memory Palace

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Learn, Memorize And Recall Anything Using Memory Techniques, Mnemonics And A Memory Palace Fast

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Magnetic Memory Method – How to Memorize With A Memory Palace

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updated 4 days ago

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Learn, Memorize And Recall Anything Using Memory Techniques, Mnemonics And A Memory Palace Fast

21 episodes

#Podcasting Education #Magnetic Memory Method – How to Memorize With A Memory Palace

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Top 22 Books On Learning for 2025: Master Skills, Memory & More 37:32

4 days ago37:32

37:32

Sure, some books on learning are good. But good isn’t enough in our era. At least not if you want real results. In a time when AI, remote education and cognitive breakthroughs are reshaping how we grow, you need exceptional learning guides. I’m talking about books that go beyond theory and actually rewire how you think, remember and master new skills. That’s exactly why I put together this list. But why should you care about my suggestions? As an author of multiple educational guides, I’ve spent decades refining the strategies that helped me get my Phd and later help thousands of learners. I must be doing something right because thousands of people have sought the lessons I’ve learned through my podcast, videos, courses and one-on-one coaching. And during the fifteen years I’ve been teaching accelerated learning skills, I’ve seen firsthand what works, what doesn’t and how different approaches resonate depending on what you’re at with your learning journey now. That’s why I’m not going to dump a generic list on you. I’ve carefully categorized these books based on specific learning goals. But I’m only human, and obviously not every book I list is going to resonate with everyone. So before we get into the various suggestions, let me give you a quick quiz that will help you determine where to start. It should also give you a solid framework for thinking about the kinds of books most likely to serve you. Which Learning Book Is Right For You? (A Learning Professor’s Quiz) I’m excited to give you my suggestions, but please first use your current reflective thinking skills to answer the following questions. Grab a notebook to jot down your thoughts in writing to these simple questions. There’s no pressure to come up with the “right” answer. All you have to do is be honest. When you tell it like it is, your answers will help point you to the perfect book for where you are right now as a lifelong learner. What’s your biggest frustration with learning something new? Here are some example answers to help prompt your reflections. I start strong but quickly lose motivation. I forget everything I study. I don’t know where to begin. I struggle to find the main points when I read. Answer this question will help pinpoint the exact issue you’re facing. Is it memory? Discipline? Overwhelm? These are all interrelated, but distinct issues. It’s worth figuring out which of them takes top priority as you look through the books below. How much do you know about how learning actually works? Your answers might look like: Barely anything. I just throw mud at the wall and see what sticks. I’ve heard a bit about spaced repetition and active recall . I’ve read a lot about memory science . Assessing your foundational knowledge will help point you toward introductory overviews if you need them. Or, you can take a deeper dive into something more advanced. It pays to when you’re on the hunt for the best books on learning. How much time do you realistically have to learn each week? Here are some sample answers I’ve received from my private coaching clients to whom I’ve given this quiz: 10 minutes a day. A few hours on the weekend. I feel so swamped, it’s as if I have no time at all. When you get more clarity on your scheduling constraints, you’ll find itself easier to match yourself to books that offer quick tips or long-term strategies. What’s one thing you’ve learned successfully in the past and how did you do it? Here are some possible answers to get you started: I learned to stretch properly by watching YouTube. I memorized medical terminology using flashcards . I winged a big exam and just got lucky… I guess. Really take your time on these questions. By uncovering your existing strength and previous wins, you can select books that will help you build on what’s already working. How confident are you in your current approach to learning? For this question, you can give yourself a numbered rating, i.e.: 1/10 because I’m just winging it. 6/10 because I’ve got a system, but it’s still hit or miss. 9/10 and I’m ready to level up. Gauging your self-awareness and current state of readiness using hard numbers is helpful because it will direct you to either beginner, intermediate or advanced learning books. What’s your endgame? Why do you want to get better at learning? Although all of the previous questions matter, this one is the most important. For example, you might answer: To switch careers. To help my kids. To enjoy a hobby better. To feel more mentally sharp. To master a new language . To pass an exam. Everyone’s priorities are unique, so make sure you clarify your personal motivations. It’s okay to have more than one. In fact, it’s ideal. That was you can interleave between more than one book about learning tactics without confusing matters. Now that you’ve spent some time answering these questions, let’s get into my recommendations. Books By Learning Goal There are many books that address different goals. That’s why this list is split up in categories. I hope you find this particular arrangement useful. I’m also giving each book a 1-10 rating. They’re all on this list because they deserve to be, but the numbered rating specifically indicates how many gems I think you can expect to find. However, when it comes to expectations, keep this important point in mind: I am expecting you to complete all of the reflection questions before looking at any of these suggested books. Please make sure that you’ve maximized your clarity by completing the initial exercises above. That will boost up the value of not only my book list, but every other book list you encounter going forward. Books for Studying & Learning Faster When it comes to learning faster, there’s one thing to keep in mind: Efficiency comes from having the most effective foundations possible. When your foundations are in place, that will make greater learning speed happen almost on its own. One: How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost Writing Learning and Thinking by Sönke Ahrens Rating: 7/10 Learning goal: note taking Short summary: As the title promises, you’ll learn a simple technique that improves how your learn Standout quote: “If you encounter resistance or an opposing force, you should not push against it, but redirect it towards another important goal.” There are quite a few books about the Zettelkasten technique available. But what makes Ahrens’ book unique is that he walks you through multiple aspects of Niklas Luhmann ‘s learning and writing routine. Although I personally use Zettelkasten in a much more fluid way than Luhmann, Ahrens does well to stress the need for flexibility. So if you find yourself wallowing though books with a slow and ineffective study method, this book will give you not just any old protocol. You’re getting a glimpse into how one of the fastest and most productive learners organized the knowledge he was studying, remembered it and used it to create unique insights. Two: How to Study by George Fillmore Swain Rating: 8/10 Learning goal: Study habits Short summary: As an engineering professor, Swain presents a systematic approach to studying. Standout quote: “Learn where to go to find out what you do not know.” Although it’s from way back in 1917, Swain’s How to Study is packed with practical advice. He’s not just lecturing at you, either. He forwards the wisdom of giants of learning like Pascal and Berkeley. One way I ensure I do not fall asleep while reading is to build what I call a “Magnetic Index.” For me, the most powerful tip in his book is the idea of creating your own index. Although he doesn’t quite say how, I interpreted this in a few ways. One is the Zettelkasten technique. The other is a tactic you can see above. It basically involves writing the page number of an idea and then my key reflections at the beginning of the book. Much of Swain’s advice is repeated by other books on learning, so if you want a short read that gives you the foundations, please don’t miss this book. Three: Learning How to Learn by Barbara Oakley and Terrence Seynowski Rating: 10/10 Learning goal: Scholastic success Short summary: Although directed at kids, this science-backed book is also fantastic for adult learners. Standout quote: “Doing the ‘hard start’ technique allows you to use your brain as a sort of double processor. Your diffuse mode can take over the hard problem as soon as you drop your focus on it.” As is well known, Barbara Oakley in particular is legendary for making learning fun. What I love about this book above all is how it doesn’t shy away from teaching you why the learning techniques you’ll discover within work. You can see that excellent feature these authors bring in the standout quote above. In my view, that’s incredibly valuable because they never advise you to do something that admittedly feels counterintuitive without a clear reason for implementing that action. Four: Ultralearning by Scott Young Rating: 8/10 Learning goal: Mindfully directing yourself towards skills mastery. Short summary: Young shares the background behind Scott Young ‘s many learning feats, from drawing to completing degrees. Standout quote: “When you see yourself as lacking the potential to be good at something or believe that you’ll always be behind everyone else no matter how hard you work, it robs you of the motivation to work hard.” As with Barbara Oakley, Young is good at making sure you know why the techniques he’s sharing work. Personally, I found that the number of stories used to illustrate various tactics dragged the book down. But Young definitely serves as proof of concept. In his follow-up, Get Better at Anything , you can instantly see how Young has improved at integrating stories with the lessons and their takeaways. That said, I think Ultralearning is definitely the book from Young to start with if your goal is strictly to study and learn faster. Five: Didascalicon by Hugh of St. Victor Rating: 8/10 Learning goal: Developing a structured framework for learning in ways that lead to wisdom. Short summary: Aimed at students, this book stresses the importance of going beyond merely accumulating facts. It’s about using what you learn to help order your mind. Standout quote: “ I know there are certain fellows who want to play the philosopher right away. They say that stories should be left to pseudo apostles. The knowledge of these fellows is like that of an ass. Don’t imitate persons of this kind.” This book is not just any blast from the past. Hugh of St. Victor was a major innovator in helping students read well during a time of transition. Although writing during the medieval era, his students were nearly as distracted then as they are today. And they were just as starved for meaning in their lives. Hugh also helps you develop persistence, humility and the kind of mindset that pushes through obstacles. Speaking of mindset, that’s the category of learning books we’re examining next. Books on Developing a Learning Mindset Dealing with doubt is one of the biggest struggles learners face. I’ve felt it myself many times. And every extraordinary learner I know has had to learn how to keep showing up when the going gets tough. Not just show up, though. They need to keep coming at it with lessons learned from thinking reflectively about why their brains were tempted by doubt and other objections. The books we’re about to look at will give you the mental strength needed to show up armed with self-analysis. That way, you avoid repeating the same mistakes. Six: Striking Thoughts: Wisdom for Daily Living by Bruce Lee Rating: 9/10 Learning goal: Learning in ways that lead you to the highest possible levels of success. Short summary: This book combines short passages with various definitions, such as how exactly to think about analysis and abstract thinking in Lee’s view. In addition to mindsets for learning, you will learn a lot about the role of the teacher as part of your journey. Standout quote: “If you learn concepts, if you work for information, then you don’t understand. You can only explain.” One of Lee’s main concerns is that you learn to divide how your mind categories everything from how reality actually works. His various thoughts point constantly to seeing the big picture, or as much of totality as your brain can possibly perceive. Although there are no exercises as such, having this book on your shelf will let you dip into his philosophy when you need a mindset shift. I consult it often myself. Even though I don’t agree with everything Lee says, this book always helps me return my focus to what really matters. Seven: The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery by Adam Gopnik Rating: 10/10 Learning goal: Understanding the truth about mastery and achieving it. Short summary: Gopnik immerses you in various learning goals he gives himself. You’ll meet a variety of mentors and discover what the real work is all about as he learns a variety of new skills. Standout quote: “ Almost all of our useful knowledge is potential knowledge.” We often throw around the word “mastery.” But what does it really mean? Gopnik takes us deep into the mystery and provides many ways of looking at the question as you learn along with him. One of the key points is that even if you don’t use certain skills and topics you study, their potential is empowering. Throughout the book is a theme of learning’s hiddenness and a kind of vicious circle. We often can’t understand how to learn things because we never get started. And because we never get started, we never understand the process. Added to this is the fact that so many skills lead to situations where we can’t even experience the skills we learn. It’s an abstract point, but I think you’ll know what I mean when you come across it in the book. Eight: Mindshift by Barbara Oakley Rating: 9/10 Learning goal: Break through your obstacles. Short summary: Drawing on her understanding of the science of learning, Oakley helps you experience a mindshift through stories, research and exercises. Standout quote: “Practice and repeat little chunks of learning over the course of several days. This will create the neural patterns that underlie your gradually growing expertise. The more difficult the little chunks are to learn, and the more deeply you learn them, the more rapidly your expertise will grow.” You know that you have to explore alternatives to the way things are going in your learning life. But what if you can’t change your mind and move yourself in a new direction? In this book, Oakley explains the reasons why you get stuck. And as the quote above shows, a chunking memory strategy is a big part of what will help you start to transform. As with her Learning How to Learn book and course, Oakley explains the science behind why it’s possible for you to rewire even the most stubborn brain . This book helped me understand why so many people resist some of the simplest learning steps involved with memory techniques . I’ve improved as a teacher thanks to this book, and understood my own resistances better. Nine: Changing Minds: The Art and Science of Changing Our Own and Other People’s Minds by Howard Gardner Rating: 7/10 Learning goal: Develop deeper and more intellectually rich standards for yourself. Short summary: Gardner analyzes various examples of how people used analysis to create personal and group change. Standout quote: “Avoid egocentrism – becoming ensnared in one’s own construal of events.” Whereas Oakley’s Mindshift focuses on science, Gardner is more concerned with research and implementation. For example, he suggests the following basic model for learning how you can change yourself or others: Research widely (both books and the content of your own mind) Find and challenge resistances Know the available resources Know the rewards that come from change Find non-threatening ways to “test” your new identity Use “representational redescription” The book has some abstract elements to it. But overall, the stories provide many examples of individual and organizational change. Every serious learner will find plenty of food for thought in this title. Ten: The Sword and the Mind: The Classic Japanese Treatise on Swordsmanship and Tactics by Munenori Yagyū Rating: 9/10 Learning goal: Freeing your mind of distractions. Short summary: The second part of the book is most useful for helping you perceive situations correctly and react appropriately. Standout quote: “If you constrain your mind, you will be unfree. You put your mind on a tight rein only while you are a beginner. If you continue to do so all your life, you will never reach the advanced stage, but end of remaining at a low stage.” For Yagyū true mastery requires a mind free from distractions, preconceived thoughts and hesitation. Although there’s a lot of talk about creating a unity between your sword and your mind, you can apply the ideas to whatever you’re learning as a topic or training to use as a tool. That’s because ultimately, the sword in this learning manual represents your will. That’s why technique alone will never be sufficient. You need to develop mental clarity. For that reason, the stronger your mind, the better your ability to avoid fear and cloud your mind with unnecessary judgement. Whether it’s books for school or paint brushes and guitars, master your topic or tool and you will master yourself. Books on How the Brain Learns Even if you’re not interested in the science of learning, you will pick up many clues for what to do and how to do it from them. In this section of the list, I’m sharing with you some of my favorite and the practical tips I’ve taken from them. Eleven: The Web of Life: A New Synthesis of Mind and Matter by Fritjof Capra Rating: 7/10 Learning goal: Metacognition about how learning takes place. Short summary: Essentially a study in systems thinking, you’ll know about how we humans can be certain about what we know. Standout quote: “The brain is, of course, not the only structure through which the process of cognition operates. The entire dissipative structure of the organism participates in the process of cognition, whether or not the organism has a brain and a higher nervous system.” Although dates, this book remains worth reading to help understand the big picture of how, not just humans, but all organisms learn. As Capra shows, communication is not as simple as words flowing between us. It is a coordination of multiple behaviors. This means that we’re not always aware of our true motivations. This fact means that our relationship to science is more complex than it seems. Capra’s theory of “approximate knowledge” and how we fill in our blind spots will get you asking much more subtle questions about how you learn. Twelve: The Experience Machine by Andy Clark Rating: 10/10 Learning goal: Understand why your brain succeeds or fails due to predictive processing. Short summary: Clark shows how and why your mind deals fails to learn in so many situations where the solutions are “obvious.” Standout quote: “One important and consistent finding in this area is that chronic depression involves a resistance to updating our negative expectations when confronted with what ought to be good evidence of positive outcomes.” This book struck a nerve with me. As I shared in one of my own books, I was once my worst enemy in therapy I desperately needed. No matter what I was told, I could not learn to do things a better way. The Experience Machine explains why this happens to even the smartest people who “should” know better. Although slim on practical exercises, it does have a few suggestions at the end. But even just realizing that there’s a reason behind certain learning struggles can help shake you out of your situation. Insight is an asset. Books on Language Learning I’ve been learning languages for a long time and have read many books on the topic of reaching fluency . The tips all tend to repeat themselves, and boil down to what I call “The Big Five of Language Learning.” If you begin nowhere else, start with my first pick in this category. Thirteen: Fluent Forever by Gabriel Wyner Rating: 10/10 Learning goal: Develop fluency in a language. Short summary: Wyner explains language learning strategies from his experiences picking them up as a professional opera singer. Standout quote: “Fluency, after all, isn’t the ability to know every word and grammatical pattern in a language; it’s the ability to communicate your thoughts without stopping every time you run into a problem.” Although now Wyner is probably better known for the Fluent Forever app , this book not only started it all. It remains an incredibly valuable guide. One of my favorite aspects involves Wyner’s take on making your own flashcards. Getting my hands involved with a variety of colors helped me get more results from mnemonics. All the more so because as much as I love memory techniques, sometimes health issues make them harder to use. Having his alternative approaches has been golden. Fourteen: The Story Learning Books by Olly Richards Rating: 10/10 Learning goal: Guidance for reading daily in the language you’re studying. Short summary: Although these books are more about implementation, they give fantastic guidance on how to use reading to develop fluency. Standout quote: “Make a note of the unknown word in a notebook and check the meaning later.” That quote might not sound epic to you, but it is. So many go back and forth to the dictionary, harming their progress. In reality, you will do better by batching the various parts of the Big Five. When it comes to reading, read. The only finesse I would add is that you don’t have to write out words in a notebook. That is a good thing to do. But when I read foreign language books, I use what I call the “Marginalia dot.” It’s just a small dot next to the line where I’ve found a word or phrase I want to memorize later. I limit myself to three new words per page, thereby avoiding overwhelm. Then, when reviewing the page, I have a nice target-scanning test while reminding myself of the word I was interested in learning. And I’ve batched the gathering of the new vocabulary into its own task, followed by looking in the dictionary. In other words, the process is: Read and leave small dots to help quickly find the interesting words and phrases later. Collect those words and phrases. Looking them up. Memorize them. Richards’ Story Learning books have been golden for helping me keep consistent with this process. Books on Creative Learning Just as using the Marginalia dot and creating your own flashcards get your hands involved in the learning process, our next book involves paper and pen. Fifteen: Mind Map Mastery by Tony Buzan Rating: 9/10 Learning goal: Creatively solving problems and learning by using a variety of types of mind maps. Short summary: You’ll learn about several kinds of mind maps for everything from understanding your notes to mind mapping for business development . Standout quote: “A Mind Map relies on the power of Radiant Thinking rather than on deduction and reduction. As an open-minded thinking tool, a Mind Map charts the process of the brain in action instead of fixating on conclusions and outcomes.” Mind Map Mastery was one of Tony Buzan’s last books. It is a fitting culmination of all his ideas, many of which I have used in everything from language learning to planning. Although he mentions the Memory Palace technique, Buzan ultimately abandoned fusing this technique with mind mapping. I believe that was premature and eventually I will bring the two closely together. In the meantime, Mind Map Mastery is well worth your time. Sixteen: Thinking in Systems by Donella H. Meadows Rating: 10/10 Learning goal: Learning to better bridge your rational mind with your intuition as a student of how humans use systems in a wide variety of fields. Short summary: Meadows explains what systems are and what makes them function well. You’ll learn how to be more productive as a learner by understanding different kinds of systems, including your own current ways of operating in the world. Standout quote: “Penetrate their jargons, integrate what the tell you, recognize what they can honestly see through their particular lenses, and discard the distortions that come from the narrowness and incompleteness of their lenses. They won’t make it easy for you.” Although systems thinking might not seem like a form of creativity, being able to reverse-engineer your own current learning process is the key to improving it. As you study other proposed learning systems, you’ll also want to do as Meadows suggests in the standout quote I’ve provided: see the limits of everything you learn from. This simple (and systematic) way of learning will help you avoid blindspots as a learner. Books on Focus for Learning Distraction is a major problem for all learners. To help with that, let’s look at a few books that provide tips for focus that will help you out. Book Seventeen: How to Be a Knowledge Ninja by Graham Allcott Rating: 10/10 Learning goal: Getting focused and organized while studying. Short summary: Allcott teaches you how to calm your nerves and love learning. Standout quote: “The other thing about the lizard brain, which works for any kind of stress, is that if you convince your body that you’re not stressed, you can actually reduce your stress.” I’ve long loved this book and dip into it frequently for its concise set of science-backed learning tips. We often don’t think about how as physical creatures, the quality of our minds is dictated by where we study and how fit we keep ourselves. Book Eighteen: The Wandering Mind: What Medieval Monks Tell Us About Distraction by Jamie Kreiner Rating: 9/10 Learning goal: To understand how medieval monks dealt with distraction so you can try their techniques. Short summary: This fascinating account shows the lengths to which monks went to focus their minds. Although you’ll learn more about what not to do, it’s instructive to discover that people living that long ago faced nearly all the same focus and concentration issues. Standout quote: “We often blame our memories for blanking, but monks were likelier to accuse theirs of being hyperactive – and this was an additional threat to their attention.” I learned about this book by reading Kreiner’s translation of John Cassian in How to Focus . In addition to discovering the many interesting ways monks tried to reduce distraction from their learning lives, you’ll also find interesting notes on how they used the art of memory. That is the set of books to which we turn next. Books for Memory Mastery When it comes to books on the Memory Palace technique and related mnemonics, it’s hard for me to pick. That’s because ultimately the “best” books in this field are the ones you’re going to actually use. To that end, I feel that given the vast number of memory improvement books out there, those that focus on specific outcomes probably provide you with the most bang for your buck. Give these a try. Book Nineteen: Memorize the Stoics by Kevin Vost Rating: 8/10 Learning goal: To commit Stoic wisdom to memory. Short summary: Vost provides guidance and exercises on applying the Memory Palace technique to quotes and concepts from Stoicism. Standout quote: “…viewed from a Stoic perspective, such memory methods could entail a revised impression of our own memory capacities, moving them from what we might have considered outside of our control to something within our control, for some to a surprising extent.” At times, I have been critical of how Vost creates imaginary Memory Palaces for his readers. Although I still urge caution around this aspect of his teaching, that doesn’t mean he isn’t one of the clearest instructors on how to use these tools to commit information to memory. Plus, I find one of my favorite Seneca quotes in Latin in this book. For that, I will remain grateful and his standout quote about coming to surprise yourself by controlling your memory is exactly my experience as an author of memory books designed for specific outcomes. Book Twenty: The Victorious Mind by Anthony Metivier Rating: N/A Learning goal: To combine memory techniques with meditation by learning Sanskrit phrases . Short summary: In The Victorious Mind, Anthony Metivier brings his terrifying experience of mental illness together with his depth of knowledge of memory systems to show how using mnemonics systematically can ease a troubled mind and replace terror with joy. Standout quote: “The techniques that help us accurately lock down useful types of information can override the stories we tell about ourselves, leading to incorruptible recall of simple things that set you free – on demand. Some of the best is both ancient and new every time you use it, but always the same.” Although I’m wary of including one of my own books, The Victorious Mind has helped quite a few folks achieve better memory along with greater focus and calm. Its focus on bringing memory techniques together with meditation brings also helps you with language learning goals. Even if you don’t want to commit any of the Sanskrit to memory, you’ll learn mnemonic strategies that apply to all languages you might want to learn. Miscellaneous Books On Learning and Memory I would be remiss if I didn’t include a few books that don’t easily fit into any particular category. Book Twenty-One: Guitar Zero: The Science of Learning to be Musical by Gary Marcus Rating: 10/10 Learning goal: Overcoming the challenges involved in learning a musical instrument. Short summary: Bringing together the science of musical cognition with his own adventure in learning to play the guitar, Marcus will help you understand how to develop musical ability. Standout quote: “…playing guitar won’t increase how many babies I have, nor will it make them healthier. But maybe, just maybe, the art of reinvention and acquiring new skills can give us a sense of a life well lived.” As someone who has been a touring musician, Marcus is right. You will have a sense of living a better life by coming to learn at least a little about playing music. This guide comes at the many barriers people place between themselves and picking up an instrument. Read it and you will help tip yourself in the direction of musical mastery. Book Twenty-Two: The Knowledge Gene by Lynne Kelly Rating: 10/10 Learning goal: To understand the genetic basis of how and why you learn. Short summary: Lynne Kelly continues her epic explanation of how indigenous and pre-historical people learned, providing many clues for how you can improve your learning game. Standout quote: “Oral traditions the world over link knowledge to streams, rivers, rocks, lakes, cliffs, hills, trees and other features in their natural memory palaces. The songs, stories and associated knowledge are recalled whenever the landscape is walked, either in reality or in imagination.” Although less focused on teaching memory techniques as Kelly does marvellously in Memory Craft , the book gets you thinking genetically about everything from music to language learning. Supplement this one with The Memory Code and you will have a solid basis for understanding learning both historically and scientifically. Along with many ideas for practical applications that get your hands involved along with your imagination. How to Keep Finding Good Learning Books I want to conclude this curated list of books tailored to your learning goals with a suggestion. Most of the books I’ve listed include works cited or bibliographies. Follow up with some of the books the authors you read reference. This will ensure that you continue learning about the art of educating yourself . Also, please remember that reading alone won’t transform your mind. But action will. The real learning almost always begins when you take the learning strategies you discover and apply them. Please always do so in a spirit of experimentation. That will help you push your limits without needing a particular outcome. Also, reflect frequently on what happens when you implement. A few simple moments spent putting what happened in writing will help you develop metacognition that leads to even more value. When it comes to some of the memory techniques we discussed today, grab my free course if you’d like more help: It gives you four video lessons and three worksheets. Even better, it will take you on an adventure. One that never has to be a solo journey. Because like I said, I’ve written lots of books about learning myself. And as a lifelong learner, I’ll always share with you new books that I discover. We just need to be on this road together. So what do you say? Are you ready to go, read, apply and grow? I hope so, because the future belongs to those who never stop learning. The post Top 22 Books On Learning for 2025: Master Skills, Memory & More appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace .…

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How to Study Effectively: 28 Tactics & Techniques 44:19

8 days ago44:19

44:19

If you want to know how to study effectively, please use the tips I’ve got for you on this page. As a PhD with two MAs and tenure as a Mercator guest professor, I’ve had to study a lot of things quickly. And remember them well. Using my suggestions, you’ll never feel like you’ve got exams breathing down your neck again. Instead, you’ll always be prepared. Quite the opposite. You’ll look forward to acing them. Better: Studying for long hours will be long gone. You’ll be able to retain information quickly and efficiently. And you’ll do it in a way that also helps you enjoy life as a happy and healthy human. To that end, on this page you’ll discover how to study and remember — and how to get all those books in your head, without all the stress. Here’s what this post will cover: 9 Strategies for How to Remember What You Study How to Study and Remember: 5 Mindset Techniques Study Effectively: The Mind-Body Connection 6 Environmental Factors of Effective Study Techniques Frequently Asked Questions How to Study Effectively, Right Now Ready to study effectively? Let’s get started. 9 Strategies for How to Remember What You Study I used to be president of the English Undergraduate Student Association at York University, so I had an office while I was in undergrad. I used to stay until the library was closed, and then I would take huge piles of books to my office. I would read, I would study, and I would read and study some more. And then I would sleep in my office. And I remember waking up many times, laid out on a desk in that office with books everywhere… and feeling pure happiness. To study until the end of all time, until you couldn’t open your eyelids anymore, and fall asleep , and then wake up and study some more… it was bliss. But I know not everyone feels this way about studying. And studying for long hours is often frowned upon — people say you have to take breaks and you can’t extend it too long. And while there’s truth to that, I have also figured out how to study effectively for long hours over the course of many years. I absolutely love studying for long hours. The key to studying for long hours was having strategies and techniques in order to get the most out of it. Let’s take a look at 9 of the most important strategies I discovered, so you can learn to study effectively, too! 1. Schedule Everything The first strategy is simple: schedule your study hours. The technique I recommend is to make a spreadsheet. Create a schedule and include the date, topic, book you’re studying, and the memory palace you plan to use. Here’s an example of how you might build out your schedule spreadsheet: One thing I find incredibly powerful when using a schedule like this is to write down my start and end times. For example, when I was a student I used this technique to record when (and for how long) I studied each of my subjects. Instead of wondering where my time went at the end of the day, I had a written record of everything. This approach does take time and effort, but the results will speak for themselves. To build this into a habit, invest in a nice physical journal so you can track time in your spreadsheet and on paper. Before you know it, you’ll build a habit and have a record of exactly how you spend your time. 2. Take Better Notes What do you do when you read? Do you just zip through a book or textbook and then have a hard time remembering what you just read? Instead of stumbling through your reading with nothing to show for it, use a note-taking strategy. To help you figure out what strategy will work best for you, watch this video: Will this help you find the absolute perfect note-taking strategy for you? Perhaps. What I do know is that the video will be very useful to you. It’s up to you to pick a strategy, test it out, and see what works for you. For this step, watch the YouTube video above and decide on a note-taking strategy to implement. 3. Use Memory Palaces Here at the Magnetic Memory Method Headquarters, I’m partial to the Memory Palace technique — not because I’m deranged, but because it’s the most effective and exciting learning tool in the world. You don’t have to take my word for it, either. This study from the journal Neuron is just one of hundreds that show why and how this technique succeeds for learners. Once you learn what a memory palace is, take the time to create your own, and fully use your memory palace(s) from top to bottom, they become a key part of your effective study techniques. In brief, this technique involves simply crafting a journey throughout a familiar location. You then place the information your want to remember on spots like your desk, bed, kitchen counter, etc. You can literally master this technique overnight. But a lot of people miss out on the benefits of using a Memory Palace for one tragic reason: They don’t schedule in how they’re going to use it. Or they think, “Oh, I don’t have time…” and never make any progress because they give up before they even begin. Instead, use the scheduling strategy I shared above to carve out time in your schedule. Make time to learn about memory palaces, create your first memory palace, and start to use it. The ultimate reason this technique saves you time while establishing long term memories? The Memory Palace technique lets you perform an advanced version of spaced repetition . In combination with everything else you’ll learn on this page, it is perhaps the most powerful memory strategy that exists. 4. Incorporate Priming Priming is one of the biggest and most powerful ways to study effectively. Your experiences form priming memory — when you encounter an object, you subconsciously grow your ability to recall the same item (perceptual priming) or a similar or related item (semantic or conceptual priming). In some cases, you are also “primed” by the things you most recently heard or read (or the things you hear or read often). To help you learn more about priming and how to apply it to study effectively, watch this video on how to memorize a textbook: If you want to learn how to study effectively for long hours, priming is a key component. 5. Apply the “Big 5” A robust study strategy includes the Big Five language skills. What’s the Big Five? Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, and Memory. This means you study information so it goes into memory and out of memory. While a lot of my focus on the Big 5 has been around language learning, you can also use these for studying any subject. Let’s look in more depth at 3 techniques involved in the “writing” component of the Big 5. Summaries One of the things you can do to make sure you’re studying effectively is to write little summaries of what you’ve studied. It might be as short as 100 or 200 words, or just enough to get the information out of your head. This approach is beneficial because it helps you test that you actually understand what you’re reading. Writing out a summary helps you engage with the information on a different level (see the 1972 Craik & Lockhart levels of processing model ). Self-Testing Writing up a summary also helps you test your knowledge. You not only have the opportunity to figure out where you have weaknesses – what you are forgetting – but also think about solutions. Rather than studying nonstop and hoping the information sticks in your brain, self-testing allows you to systematically go back and check that you retain the information you need . Feynman Technique The Feynman Technique is a teaching method that can also be applied to learning and studying. The four steps involve: Write down everything you know about a topic, Teach it as you would to a child — as simply as possible, Identify any gaps in your knowledge, and Review the material again to simplify your understanding. Any time you run into a concept or information you don’t fully understand, you can apply the Feynman Technique. Write out your ideas about where the gaps are and how you might solve the problem. 6. Create Drawings & Illustrations Another thing we don’t talk about enough is drawing — these types of effective study techniques include diagrams, illustrations, and mind maps. Let’s break each one down. Diagrammatic Thinking To be honest, I often look at charts and graphs and think, “I can’t really follow this!” But instead of rejecting the information, I now redraw them to figure out what they’re telling me. This is part of the levels of processing effect. You can even take notes while you’re doing it. Because I integrated and assembled with these graphs and charts that used to confuse me, I now understand them better. Instead of immediately dismissing them and thinking I can’t understand, I start to imagine: what if I could? Useful Illustrations The same thing goes with illustrations. If you’re not in the mood for memory techniques and just can’t seem to find the motivation to create magnetic imagery, how do you get yourself to do it? In cases like this, I like to just make illustrations. Even when I was depressed or hungover, I still used illustrations to study my German . I didn’t really feel like creating Magnetic Imagery solo… so I just picked up a pencil and drew. And this mnemonic strategy doesn’t just apply to language learning. It can be for anything you don’t understand or facts you want to commit to memory. I’ve even used it during lectures to get information to stick. It’s not about artistry — I’m certainly not an artist. It’s just about illustrating things to help get information into your brain so you can move forward. Mind Mapping Mind mapping is a bit different than using illustrations. Although it can include making illustrations, it’s more about placing things in space and teasing them out. It’s about generating new ideas. And if you plan to use your mind map for memory, use Phil Chambers’ tip to use Roman numerals in the corner to track how many times you’ve reviewed it. 7. Give Your Brain a Break Taking breaks is important for both the health of your brain and your ability to focus. However! There are people – like me – who don’t enjoy taking breaks. So how can you take a break without really taking a break? There are a few approaches. The first is to take a walk. Walking is great, because while you’re walking you can reflect on what you just finished studying. Your mind can keep going while your body gets the movement and stretch break. And it’s diffuse thinking — it’s all the little things. Alex Pang’s book Rest has great ideas about walking. To make sure you fit your walks in, schedule them. Rather than relying on an app, alarm, or timer you might just ignore, you’re more likely to obey things that are deep in your procedural memory . (That’s the type of memory where you just do things.) There’s this crazy internal desire to, for example, go to the gym simply because this is the time of day I usually go to the gym. Ideally, you will get this way with taking breaks so your body almost forces you to take a break when it’s time. The second is to alternate skills. This is one of my favorite things to do, and it’s scientifically confirmed in Rest . The basic idea is this: if you’re nonstop studying and reading, one of the things you can do to rest (aka: take a break) is to read something else. So you don’t have to stop reading. You just switch up what you’re reading. I find that while I’m reading other things my brain starts to make connections. And those connections are formative to remembering more and understanding on a deeper level. In simple terms, you’re alternating skills by using the same skill for a different purpose. You can also alternate skills by doing something completely different — perhaps pursuing more of your life and interests in the in-between and getting better at your core skills. For example, when I was in university I was not only reading a lot of books, but I also wrote them. I started a small press to publish my work, which allowed me to alternate skills while keeping up with my memory training work. The third is to use cognitive shifting. You want to focus, but you want to do so in a way that’s not task switching or multitasking. The more you train yourself to be able to cognitive shift, the longer you can study effectively for long hours. In Rest , the author teaches how to do cognitive shifting in a way that promotes rest. It’s beautiful. 8. Practice Strategization Here’s the truth about having a strategic approach to studying: Planning is often more important and powerful than the plans themselves. I spend a lot of time planning and replanning… and things rarely work out exactly as they seem like they might. But even if things don’t go the way you planned, that doesn’t mean planning isn’t important. But how do you get the practice of “strategization” into your system? Practice scheduling, and practice all the things this post has already covered, so you can get them into your system. Learn how to plan by planning to plan, and planning to practice and practicing planning — a perfect circle. When in doubt: plan, plan, and plan some more. 9. Learn How to Learn The final strategy is to have a steady diet of “learning how to learn,” which is a buzzphrase from the great Barbara Oakley and Peter Sejnowski . This doesn’t mean just this or that book, but rather a steady diet of new books, new media, and new learning. It’s meta-learning in some ways — constantly exposing yourself to the skill of learning, the study of learning itself. In another book, Barbara Oakley uses the word “learnier.” But how do you become learnier? You have to schedule time in your life to practice strategization, and mind mapping or journaling can help you figure out how to do that. As we wrap up this section on strategies, I recommend getting out a pen and paper. Take notes as we go through the upcoming categories. And make a plan for how you will implement each and every one of them so you can study effectively for long hours. How to Study and Remember: 5 Mindset Techniques There is a widely believed misconception around mindset. Namely, that it has anything to do with your mind or your ego. But it doesn’t have anything to do with you. You don’t exist. Get over it, and stop thinking you actually exist. Because if you can find yourself you’re gonna win the prize. You already are what you are seeking. You already are “self” itself, so to speak. But that doesn’t mean you won’t have challenges in life. It doesn’t mean you won’t get frustrated. We all do. It’s part of the human experience. So how do we deal with these challenges and frustrations? 1. The Challenge / Frustration Curve Here’s the thing: “you” have an existing level of competence. And that’s just the way it is. You can’t snap your fingers and immediately change it. Instead of getting frustrated, it’s helpful to identify where you are now. Think back to the “Big 5” strategy of summarizing and write out a summary to help you identify where you stand. Use the Feynman Technique to identify where you want to get. Then make a plan, allowing yourself to be challenged and grow. You don’t want to repeat the same things over and over, going on autopilot. Instead, identify what you can do to improve and head in the direction of where you want to go in order to improve. Anyone who has a brain has an insular cortex that triggers pain responses when there’s a lot of work to do. So when you encounter challenges along the way, don’t allow any frustrations to trigger the “oh, poor me” sob story. That won’t help anything. Follow the law of action – premised on competence you currently have – to get from where you are now to where you want to go. And find the balance between “challenging enough to keep you motivated” and “not difficult enough to leave you frustrated and defeated.” Again, remember that mindset isn’t really about your mind — it’s about existing competence and your willingness to strategize. 2. Self-Inquiry What is self-inquiry? And what does it have to do with how to study effectively? Simply put, it’s inquiring into the nature of the self. For example, when you feel like a task is too hard and you’re feeling down on yourself, you can simply ask, “Who is it that’s saying this? Where is that person?” And then you look around, and you can’t find the person, and so the feeling starts to dissolve. You can also ask things like: “Is this thought useful?” “How does this thought behave?” “What is its origin?” There are a lot of things you can do with self-inquiry that turns the volume down on all that mental noise. If you want to learn more about self-inquiry as a practice, I wrote a book called The Victorious Mind that cuts through a lot of the junk thinking around the practice and gives you a more secular view. And part of having a victorious mind is when you’re bored and don’t want to do stuff, you can use the practice of self-inquiry. Ask yourself, “To whom is this problem of boredom occurring?” When you look around and can’t find the person – and encounter the monkey mind yelling “Blah blah blah blah” – you can start to dissolve the boredom and enforce curiosity. 3. Enforced Curiosity There are a lot of strategies for encouraging curiosity and getting over boredom or procrastination. For example, if you get really bored with the book you have to read you could pretend that you’re the host of a late-night talk show and you have to interview the author of the book. Let’s pretend it’s a book by John P. Waterhole. “Hey, John P. Waterhole, I’m not really interested in your book, but it’s my job as the late-night TV host of this program to ask you ‘What’s in your new book, How to Build an Outhouse?’ Okay, well, I’m very, very curious about this. What’s the first step our viewers would take to build their very own outhouse?” And then you start to think this through and get really curious. It’s not a perfect strategy, but it is quite good because it can help you read and study faster . This is because you can pretend, in your mind, that you have to be prepared to have this interview with John P. Waterhole five hours from now. And so you just start reading differently. You zero in, you laser in, but in quite a different way. It might sound silly, but I used to do this in university all the time. One time, when I didn’t want to read City of God by Saint Augustine, I pretended that Frank Zappa was going to interview the Saint on the Frank Zappa Does Philosophy talk show. It got me really curious about what the conversation would be like. What would they talk about? I was so bored with the idea, the assignment, and the texts that I had to come up with a strategy for how to force my way through the information. That’s when the concept of enforced curiosity was born. The technique helped me understand what was going on in the text and develop a mental model. Another way to make yourself more curious is to zero in on things as somebody else. Assume a mask or persona that is not your own. For example, if you were Sherlock Holmes , how would you approach this subject? This textbook? This information you have to study and memorize? The other thing to note is that people enforce mental models on each other all the time. Take, for example, learned helplessness. If you are afraid of heights and you run around all the time saying you’re afraid of heights and can’t walk across a bridge, the people in your life will help you avoid bridges because you’re afraid of heights. Now that model is forced on you (by both you and your friends and family) because you trained your environment to lock you into learned helplessness. The same goes for telling yourself and others, “Oh, I can’t remember anything. My memory is terrible.” The negative thought gets reinforced and becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. 4. Motivation Motivation goes hand-in-hand with mindset. And there are two distinct kinds of motivation — intrinsic and extrinsic. Instead of taking more time here to talk about these two types of motivation, there are 2 Magnetic Memory podcasts I recommend: Olly Richards on Mastering Motivation Camilla Hallstrom on Motivation and Language Learning Olly speaks 8 different languages and Camilla is an amazing language learner. They both understand motivation very well and use it effectively in their learning. From my experience, motivation is not what it seems. It’s not the thing to hang your hat on. You need to be able to show up and do something whether you’re motivated or not. If you leave studying to the times when “you feel like it” you’re going to lose. To study effectively for long hours, motivation can’t be your primary driver. 5. Accountability The final technique to help you with mindset is accountability. It’s important to note: accountability works differently for different people. Some people do well staying accountable to themselves. Other people really need to be accountable to someone else. And there is some power to group accountability, to having deadlines and other people who expect you to deliver. Again, mindset is not about your mind — it’s about your basic brain structure and configuration in a network of other minds. And so you can tap into all kinds of powers that way. We’ve covered how mindset ties in with effective study techniques, but there’s also a physical component. Study Effectively: The Mind-Body Connection In order to make the most of your study time, you have to take care of your body. Your brain is produced as part of a well-oiled (or poorly-oiled) unit — and the more your brain is healthy, the more it’s going to produce a mind that functions properly and effectively. Let’s take a look at 8 ways you can help take care of your brain. 1. Stay Hydrated In a recent conversation with John Graham, we discussed supplementation for brain health . And guess what? The best “supplement” for a healthy brain… is staying well hydrated! Water is basically better than any memory supplement on the market. So fill up your water bottle and take sips regularly as you study. 2. Time Your Eating Nutrition is another key component to keeping your body and brain healthy. But did you know that when you eat can be just as important as what you eat? If you want to study effectively (and for longer hours) pay attention to how different foods affect you. Keep a food journal and pay attention to how you feel after you eat. Not just right after, but also for the rest of the day and into the next. This helps you figure out what works for you. You might also consider rotation or elimination diets to help you weed out problem foods from your diet. When you know how the food you eat will make you feel, you can become a lean mean focus machine. If you get really clear about this you’ll learn that you have a 72-hour (or so) digestion cycle. For the 3 days before your big exam, avoid any foods that could have a negative physical effect. And instead, stick to the foods you know make you feel (and your brain work) great. It takes time, but it’s super helpful to dig your wells before you’re thirsty. There are so many people who come to me with just a few days until their exams looking for a last-minute silver bullet. And I have to tell them, next time make sure you take the time to prepare in advance! 3. Get Light-Tight Sleep Sleep hygiene is important for brain health. But what’s involved in having good sleep hygiene ? It’s having daily routines and a sleep environment that promote uninterrupted, steady sleep. My best years were when I had this bedroom with window blinds (jalousie) that were made out of metal. My bedroom was as dark as dark could get. And I never slept so well in my life. I can say from personal experience that when you don’t have any light or devices, that level of darkness helps you get great sleep — which leads to better focus. This is what happens when you don’t get enough quality sleep before your exams. 4. Meditate and Move Your Body When it comes to keeping your physical body healthy, a daily dose of mindfulness and movement is very important. If you don’t meditate at least four times a week, you’re not going to get the benefits. Ideally, you’ll meditate every day. There are certain meditation patterns I follow — I highly recommend them, but also recognize there are many different types out there. Remember, your meditation practice is not a destination. It’s a journey. Every day you sit, you keep going, learning new things, trying new things, adding new things. There’s no be-all-end-all of meditation. The same thing goes with movement. Get some kind of exercise every day if you can. Mix it up. Try yoga to boost your concentration and memory , walking, swimming, biking… whatever gets you excited to stretch your muscles. There’s no one “best” exercise for every single person. 5. Wear Loose Clothing Many people dress for failure — with clothing choices that restrict their circulation, make them uncomfortable, or otherwise distract them. Instead, undo your belt, wear nice socks, and have loose-fitting pants and shirts that can breathe. You can be both stylish and comfortable. When I was in university I wore linen a lot, especially in the summer. This style of clothing let my clothes breathe so my skin could get some air. When making your clothing choice for studying (and taking your exams ), choose comfort so you’re not distracted from your studies. 6. Alternate Hot and Cold Showers There are a number of people these days who recommend hot and/or cold hydrotherapy (or contrast water therapy). Some of them say it helps open up the vagus nerve, sending all kinds of chemicals up to your brain. I personally enjoy cold showers because they help build mental toughness and discipline. For example, if your mind starts to think, “Oh, I don’t want to show up. I don’t want to study. I’m too tired,” the mental toughness you develop through a consistent practice of cold showers will bleed over into other aspects of your life. If nothing else, a cold shower will help wake you up if you feel groggy from studying for long hours. 7. Employ Strategic Socialization It may not seem like it’s related to your body, but spending time with other people creates chemicals in your brain. We talked about accountability as a strategy for studying effectively over long hours — and I can attest to the power of study groups. At university, I took part in a number of study groups that were very powerful and important to my success. We: Used the levels of processing effect, Shared our writing with each other, Shared our thoughts verbally, and Heard the thoughts of other people. This was all very important to help me remember more and build the duration of how long I could study. If you’re in groups, you can accelerate your practice. The more you discuss, process, and interact with other people the more the neural networks in your brain grow. So how can you get more strategic about how you socialize? Especially when we’re all limited in how we can interact in person, how can you make the most of your fellow students? 8. Exercise Your Brain with Neurobics Neurobics are exercises and cognitive activities that stimulate the brain and improve your memory recall . As you employ your effective study techniques, you can also become a student of neurobics. Here are a few ways to mentally exercise your brain: Unlock your door with your non-dominant hand (with your eyes closed) Eat things with chopsticks you would normally eat with a fork Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand There are also mental neurobics, which involve challenging yourself to learn topics you already know from a different angle. Finally, let’s examine how things like your study location can impact your ability to study and remember . 6 Environmental Factors of Effective Study Techniques It’s not just your physical body that allows you to study effectively. To get the most out of your study time, it’s also important to pay attention to the environment around you. Let’s look at 6 elements of the ideal study environment. 1. Illuminate Your Studies One huge mistake I made when I was a student was studying in the dark. All of the offices I had as a grad student were either in the basement or central in the building, and there was no natural light. When I was in the depths of my darkest years of mental illness, I even boarded up a window that would have brought so much light into my study area. I didn’t know at the time how harmful it was to work in the dark all the time. Studying in the dark is no good — you need lots of light to take advantage of your study time. 2. Surround Yourself With Green I have always loved the idea of green — and not just any green, but the green from plants. Studies show that you’ll be stronger in your creative thinking and problem solving when you have adequate exposure to nature. The American Society for Horticultural Science even studied the impact of plants in university classrooms , finding that plants have value beyond their aesthetics. I’ll admit that I’m just not a caring plant person, but I can take care of plants in a basic enough way to keep them around and alive. But I’m not quite at the same level as the roommate I had in Berlin who told me that the many plants he kept helped him stay focused and concentrate for long hours. 3. Study in Multiple Locations This step is simple: study in a location for a set period of time, then move to another location. Repeat for as long as you’re studying. I’ve read some memory science that seems to indicate norepinephrine is triggered when you’re in new or novel locations. That might be part of why it helps with remembering more. I used this a lot while I was in university, but didn’t hear the term “road work” associated with it until later. For example, I loved to go from floor to floor in the library. I would study for a while and then move down one floor — and during that break, I would reconfigure things. I would also move from cafe to cafe when I wasn’t in the library. Now, as a writer, I use the term because I heard Gary Halbert talking about how he likes to walk a certain amount when he goes from place to place. So just about anything you’ve read from me (blog posts, books, etc), I write for about 40 minutes at a time and then I go somewhere else and write some more. I also get the benefits of exercise when I do this. As you plan out your study strategy, can you plan in different places to study ? 4. Develop Study Triggers There’s a second way to use locations as part of your effective study techniques: have locations that trigger study habits. I keep a large physical journal on my desk, not because I don’t like to use online journals but because the habit of journaling is much more likely to get done when you can’t ignore it. The journal is big. It takes up space. And because I keep knocking into it, I can’t ignore it. One of the things you can do to trigger study habits is to have whatever pile of books you’re reading or studying in a place where you just can’t miss them. When I take a new course, I often create a physical mind map and keep it visible in my space. It helps me keep on track because it’s there, and it doesn’t leave until it’s done. 5. Set Morning Ritual Locations How does morning meditation get done? By encoding it in space. You go and you sit and you do the things you need to get done in that space. You have a dedicated pillow you use for sitting, and you walk past that pillow every morning, reminding you to sit. You decided to read this post so you can study effectively for long hours, right? If you want to accomplish your goal, you have to train yourself to be able to do the long hours. And one of the best things you can do to train for long hours is to have a meditation ritual that is focus-oriented . Think of the congruency between your meditation practice and your study goals: Are you sitting for a twitchy 2 minutes, just hoping to get it over with? Or are you sitting for longer, focused periods of time? If you can only sit for two minutes – and then your mind starts to wander after two minutes of reading – there might be a connection there. Instead, how can you train yourself to meditate longer and longer? The way I’ve trained myself to meditate for longer periods of time is to memorize Sanskrit. 6. Invest in Coaching Our final environmental point is to consider getting some coaching. Many people won’t – or can’t – invest in themselves in this way. But coaching has been huge for me, and I believe a lot of people would benefit from hiring a coach. Having a personal coach who is devoted to you and 100% focused on your stuff can really help. And if you are working with a coach and you’re not seeing progress… they’re not the right coach. Sometimes you have to try a couple of different people to find that coach who will help you stay committed (and who you also gel with). And here’s something to consider: showing up and doing what needs to be done has one word. Maturity. If you can’t get yourself to “do it” – whatever it is – then maturity dictates that you need help. And so you should invest in a coach. And, of course, you can be coached by books, programs, accountability meetings in a group, etc., but there’s something special about having one person really focused on your progress. Finally, let’s take a look at some of the questions I get asked the most. Frequently Asked Questions People don’t just ask me how to study effectively — they also ask several more nuanced questions, so let’s get into the specifics. How can I study for long hours without getting bored? Here’s the simple answer: Check your head, Have a strategy, Get your ego out of the way, and Do it for others. Now for the slightly longer answer. We talked about this earlier in the post, but I’ll repeat myself: if you’re getting bored, the warning sign is that your mindset is off. A lot of people are happy to leave their bed messy all day and then crawl into the same dirty old bed at night. And it turns out that’s how they treat their minds as well — they wake up and their minds are messy. They’re happy to just live in that mess all day, go to sleep with a messy mind, and do it all over again. But if you work on your mindset, you won’t be bored because you’ll be grateful. You have books to read, courses to complete, and exams to pass. There are so many people in the world who wish they had completed high school, gone to university… remind yourself how lucky you are to have the “problem” of needing to figure out how to study effectively for long hours. Instead of being bored, you have to create your own recipes for injecting excitement into your life, which is what a lot of the strategy we talked about today is all about. Finally, look for the parts that do interest you. If interest doesn’t just spontaneously erupt – and we all have things we have to study that we don’t necessarily love – then find one small thing to pique your interest and expand from there. And even if the topic you’re studying doesn’t thrill you, maybe you can find joy socializing with other people or spending time with your study buddies or accountability group, or any of the other techniques you learned today. How many hours a day can I study? The answer is: it depends. It’s up to you, how much information you need to remember, and how prepared your body, mind, and environment are. Remember, I used to study for hours and hours at a time, for as many hours as I could. Yes, I do meditate. And yes, I learned how to turn off my thoughts completely for short periods of time. But really, you should be asking a different set of questions: What is your study goal? What are you trying to accomplish? How can you minimize time spent and maximize your results? To do that, learn the 80/20 rule , learn the strategies in this post, and get it sorted. How long should you study in a single sitting? The answer to this question is: it depends. Sound familiar? It’s very personal as to what will work for each person. For example, podcast guest Dave Farrow likes to study in 5- or 10-minute blasts. But I like long reading and focus sessions between 45 minutes and an hour. You need to experiment and find out what works for you. Split test. How long can you effectively focus at a stretch? What time of day do you focus best? What tools help you focus? How can I study for long hours at night? For better study at night, use the techniques you learned today to help you stay focused: Get up and stretch Go for a walk Change location Use a well-lit location Studying at night will also depend on what time of day is best for you. If you’re a night owl, studying for long hours will work better than for the folks who do their best focusing early in the morning. How can I study consistently using these techniques? To study consistently, it’s important to make a plan and stick to it. Commit to at least a 90-day sprint to build the tools of consistency. Get your brain chemicals (dopamine and myelin) firing on autopilot to engage your procedural memory. The other techniques you learned in this post will also be helpful: have things in space so you can’t avoid them, scheduling so you don’t miss sessions, etc. You also have to have a vision for yourself . And you need to spend some time strategically building your consistency. Rome wasn’t built in a day. How do I avoid getting distracted? First, acknowledge that the world is distracting. Then use the tools at your disposal to minimize or eliminate those distractions you have control over: Turn off your devices Don’t bring devices with you Turn off all notifications Delete any apps that distract you Turn your phone on airplane mode Use apps that limit the amount of time you spend You can also control your environment by closing your door, using noise-canceling headphones, removing any potentially distracting objects from the room, etc. Now you have 8 simple techniques you can use to help you study effectively — plus the mind, body, and environmental factors that can boost your focus and concentration. But what are your next steps? How to Study Effectively, Right Now Now it’s time to put your newfound knowledge into practice! Because here’s the thing: you can read and learn everything in the world, but it won’t do you any good if you don’t do something with it. So take what you learned today and make a plan. Sit down now and schedule out the time you have before you have to take your exam. And then get ready to study effectively for long hours. And remember, everything you learned today ties together. You need to understand the whole picture. Environment ties into strategy, because you are devoted to the art, craft, and science of the memory palace. You use your memory palace – which has to do with your mind – so everything has to do with mindset. If you want to keep ahead of the competition, this post will put you in good stead. But if you really want to shine, you’ll want to become a memory master. And for that, the Memory Palace technique is essential. Make sure to sign up for this Free Memory Training Kit so I can walk you through this technique step-by-step. It’s one of the best ways to completely eliminate the stress as you stop studying for so long and refine the process for maximum effectiveness in minimum time. The post How to Study Effectively: 28 Tactics & Techniques appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace .…

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The Flynn Effect: Why Rising IQ Scores Have Started To Decline 27:52

14 days ago27:52

27:52

It’s almost like something out of a Sci-fi movie. IQ scores across the globe started skyrocketing, an upward trend called the Flynn Effect. The scholar who first brought attention to the phenomenon was the IQ researcher James Robert Flynn. His work on the Flynn Effect reveals incredible insights about human intelligence and how it is truly possible for societies around the world to progress. However, the upward trajectory has slowed. Worse, in some regions, the trend has reversed. Now, shockingly, we’re faced with a new phenomenon. Not surprisingly, people are calling it “The Reverse Flynn Effect.” They’re fiercely debating both the rise and fall of IQs around the world too. The question is: What does the decline in IQ around the world mean for you? To help make sure you escape this downward trend (and your kids too), let’s explore the scientific research, causes and exactly what you need to do. What Is The Flynn Effect? By definition, the Flynn Effect refers to James Flynn’s observations that IQ scores rose over a short period of time. As you can see in this graph, IQ scores grew by approximately 3 points per decade from 1940 to 2010: More specifically, the Flynn Effect suggested that many people living in industrialized nations enjoyed higher IQ than their parents. Originally, Flynn argued that genetics did not cause IQ scores to rise over generations. He thought it mostly reflected environmental pressures and factors related to the measurement of IQ. However, as this meta-analysis shows, other researchers did believe genetics played a role. For example, this researcher argued that more randomness in people from around the world mating with each other. Ultimately, this thesis was rejected. At the end of the day, it’s important to understand exactly what Flynn observed. Not all areas of intelligence improved equally. The most dramatic improvements were seen in fluid intelligence, which is often confused with crystal intelligence . What Causes The Flynn Effect? If it’s not genetics, and researchers still don’t agree on why people like these have such high IQs, what else might have caused this upward swing. Although researchers continue to debate the exact causes and how more knowledge could be used to help people , some of the possible causes include: One: Improvements in Education Without a doubt, access to education has increased over the last 100 years. People have improved their critical thinking and developed more problem-solving models than ever before as a result. As this study shows, IQ gains in Korea have been especially high in ways that tie to education improvements. Two: Better Nutrition Access to memory boosting foods , especially during childhood, have helped many people develop healthier brains. Access to better food not only leads to stronger cognitive development. It means fewer incidents of malnutrition. As these researchers have found, malnutrition leads to lower intelligence. Three: Technological Advances Many people fear new technologies. But as AI expert Andrew Mayne has shown, things are getting better thanks to software programs like Chat-GPT. Long before the artificial intelligence revolution started ramping up, people speculated that video games were boosting intelligence. Researchers later validated the hunch in studies like this one . Four: Smaller Families Living in Cities Although many are concerned by plummeting fertility rates, studies like this one show that your emotional intelligence will be higher if you come from a smaller family. This effect likely happens because parents can pour more resources into the development of their children when they have more to go around. Although you might think that living in a city raises IQ because you have greater access to libraries and museums, it’s not that simple. Cities are more complex to navigate. This leads to many more cognitive demands which leads to stronger spatial intelligence and problem solving. What To Make Of The New “Reverse Flynn Effect” As time has passed and more researchers study the Flynn Effect, decline has been observed. In places like the USA, these researchers have found a shocking drop. Compare this graph the one showing a dramatic rise I shared with you above: The key factors behind the decline? Again, researchers are divided, but some reasons probably include: Stagnation as advancements in both education and technology slow or become harder for many people to access Growing income disparity as “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer” Disruptive policy changes in a large number of governments around the world Increased screen time causing digital amnesia and less engagement with meaningful reading materials Poor diet as people have started eating foods that are very bad for memory Rising anti-intellectual sentiments The various learning and memory trends I shared in my predictions for 2025 In addition, how IQ tests are conducted has been challenged for bias over the years. Some researchers have argued that intelligence assessments have historically not been fair. As changes to how IQ is measured change, the results change. What This Means For You And How To Buck The Trend Although the downward trend certainly appears shocking when you see it on a graph, keep hope. There are a number of things you can do. One: Prioritize Learning One of the best ways to keep your mind sharp is to commit to being a lifelong learner . By engaging your mind in continue education by taking classes, reading daily and continually building new skills, you will protect your brain. You can shield it even further by learning a new language . There are too many cognitive improvement studies to share about this. But if I had to pick just one, this one about the advantages of bilingualism would be it. Two: Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle We all know that eating a healthy diet is key. Focus on omega-3s, antioxidants and vitamins known to help with memory . In addition, get proper sleep. I’ve been a bit of an insomniac from time to time, but I always enjoy better fluid intelligence when I get memory-friendly rest in ample doses. Three: Limit Screen Time and Boost Mental Engagement It’s critical to balance the time you spend in passive consumption with active engagement. As I discuss in my post on how to teach yourself , researchers have found that we learn best when we actively take on challenges. A large number of these challenges should involve handwriting. As this study shows, getting your hands involved in the learning process produces several benefits for your brain. Four: Exercise Your Memory One reason people forget information and wind up feeling like they have a low IQ is simply that they don’t do any kind of memory training . My go-to exercises include: Memorizing poetry Committing scripture to memory Finding the main points in books and articles and using reflective thinking for memory exercise You can also learn ancient memory techniques like the Memory Palace . If you’d like more help with this particular skill, grab my free memory improvement course here: In four detailed tutorial videos, you’ll learn how to use one of the most powerful mental training techniques in history. You’ll get engaging worksheets too that will help you on your question to avoid the Reverse Flynn Effect. This is important because as we’ve seen, intelligence is not fixed . We humans do have a capacity for growth and adaptation. But we now know that constant growth is not guaranteed. Far from it. Take proactive steps that grow both memory and intelligence and you’ll be able to contribute to the next chapter of human development. So what do you say? Are you ready to prioritize lifelong learning and engage with the world around you with greater curiosity? The potential of your mind is waiting to grow! The post The Flynn Effect: Why Rising IQ Scores Have Started To Decline appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace .…

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Why Elon Musk is a Polymath & How You Can Become One Too 46:57

21 days ago46:57

46:57

At age 12, Elon Musk coded a game in a weekend and sold it, all while navigating family chaos and international moves. Since this is just for starters from a man who has learned enough to found, co-found and outright purchase multiple companies, the answer to the question, is Elon Musk a polymath is absolutely yes. Although some people find Musk’s learning to be enigmatic, I believe that a combination of scientific analysis and historical study clarifies precisely how so much learning can take place in one person’s life. Just as Leonardo Da Vinci sketched flying machines while living in war torn Italy and Nikola Tesla imagined incredible inventions while facing a whole host of problems, Musk has proven he can learn substantially despite many challenges. Using strategies. Not luck. Not genetics. But the implementation of various procedures that lend themselves to learning. Of course, like most innovators, Musk is divisive. Loved by some and despised during certain political climates, his polymathic accomplishments can teach us a lot despite the latest headlines. In this post, we’re stripping away the noise to reveal lessons about learning from which anyone can benefit. So whether you’re friend or foe, let’s dive into the factors that will help you thrive as a learner, no matter what turbulence you face. I’m going to introduce some concepts and comparable figures you’ve likely never encountered before, so buckle up, dear reader. You’re about to learn what it really takes to develop mastery across multiple fields. What is a Polymath & What Makes Elon Musk Part of the Club? Actually, there is no club. And although there are aspects to consider, such as a variety of polymath personality traits , nothing quite explains the ability to dream big and fulfil ambitious ideas that require learning the way we’re about to do. At its core, “polymath” simply means many + learning at the etymological level . In order to become a polymath , you need only do what other polymaths do. That way, you’ll easily fulfil the modern definition and be a “person of various learning.” To do this, you have to go beyond the cliche definitions found elsewhere on the Internet. Often you hear that polymaths need to be intellectually open. However, as Walter Isaascson’s biography of Musk shows , learning to being closed to a variety of options has been a massive driver of Musk’s success. This factor directly contradicts scientific findings regarding the benefits of openness to challenge . If anything, stripping away unnecessary challenge is one of the major things Musk has learned and applied to great success. Apart from that, Musk ticks just about every box that scientists have studied when it comes to polymathy. Cognitive flexibility Creativity, which scientists have demonstrated can be trained Divergent thinking and other forms of critical thinking High working memory capacity Analogical reasoning skills Strategies for handling ambiguity and uncertainty Intrinsic motivation Self-discipline and mental strength Consistency Mastery of accelerated learning techniques Breadth and depth of learning Creative problem-solving using what some scientists call stochastic behavior Genius or Chaos Agent? Let’s examine this point about stochastic behavior for clues. It reveals clues that will help you break out of learning ruts that you might find yourself in. Stochastic behavior refers to introducing randomness and uncertainty on purpose. Here’s a concrete example. Musk did reasonably well in school when it comes to mathematics. But he took an autodidactic approach to learning rocket science on his way to founding SpaceX. Rather than follow a linear and traditional path, he created his own self-education program. More than merely read books, he learned to fly to help himself visualize aerodynamics better. When it comes to the books he read, he didn’t rely on libraries alone. He picked up the phone and asked the best experts to lend him their old engine manuals. These primary documents introduced information to his learning that likely could not have been accessed any other way. The “Chaotic” Benefit of Holding a Personal Philosophy for Learning And because Musk’s philosophy involves the conviction that progress is not inevitable, taking these actions make his practice of “first order thinking” faster and more actionable. The breadth and depth of learning has made Musk’s various arguments and persuasion tactics more successful because he’s able to converse deeply with the best experts in a variety of fields. As a result, what seems to others as Musk making erratic bets really isn’t anything like that at all. Rather, Musk deliberately makes stochastic gambles in order to ensure new results lead to new learning. For example, Musk pressed through several Falcon 1 failures and studied them. Without allowing for these unpredictable setbacks to happen, Musk and SpaceX would not have been able to refine their knowledge or establish what ultimately became a pattern of success. Nor, as scientists have demonstrated , would his brain have been able to generate the best creative solutions to problems either. Elon Musk’s Diverse Skill Set: The Top Eight Supporting the mental resilience needed to deal with the near-collapse of Tesla and many other issues, Musk’s skill set has proven fundamental across his career. When it comes to our focus on polymathy and the learning needed to become polymathic, I believe these six skills are the most important for all of us to develop. One: First-Principles Thinking This form of problem-solving involves breaking complex issues down to their most basic elements. Musk’s experience with teaching himself BASIC and coding Blastar (which you can play using this HTML5 version ) required stripped down logical thinking. Using a Commodore VIC-20 with no formal training apart from completing BASIC’s training and a conference his parents helped him attend, Musk simply asked a simple question. How can computer bits become a game? Later, he would ask similar questions about rockets, populating mars, electric cars, boring tunnels and the role of social media platforms. Clearly, not everyone agrees with or likes the answers Musk’s approach to first-principles thinking produces. But we would do well to remember that many people didn’t agree with the physicist Richard Feynman’s use of first-principles thinking either. Nor with Einstein’s. And to this day some people still disagree with their results, none of which changes the process by which these movers and shakers used their skills with first-principles thinking to shake things up and drive innovation. Two: Interdisciplinary Knowledge Generation & Integration The ability to fuse insights from multiple fields is priceless. Although much of Musk’s learning comes from autodidactic programs he created for himself, his dual-major in physics and economics at the University of Pennsylvania blended hard science with business. According to Isaacson’s biography, Musk wrote papers on solar power and ultracapacitors. He continued fusing fields while interning at places like Pinnacle Research Institute. Combined, these experiences helped fuel (if you’ll forgive the pun), the development of Tesla’s energy software . Three: Mastery of Memory Techniques As Musk has shared in a number of interviews, he uses a variety of memory techniques . I couldn’t find in my research when exactly Musk first discovered mnemonics. But it must have been when he was young. As his mother, Maye Musk, says in her book, A Woman Makes a Plan : “We called Elon ‘The Encyclopedia’ because he had read the Encyclopaedia Britannica and Collier’s Encyclopedia, and remembered everything. That’s also why we called him ‘Genius Boy’. We could ask him anything. Remember, this was before the internet. I guess now we would call him ‘The Internet.’” Musk describes the basics of the techniques he uses in this interview clip: Technically, Musk is referring to techniques called: The Memory Palace Pegword method Elaborative encoding The chunking memory strategy Practically speaking, Musk’s memory is at the core of his ability to challenge engineers in a variety of fields. He genuinely knows his stuff. And that kind of knowledge, although perhaps possible without memory hacks , is quite unlikely. Four: Relentless Research & Reflection Memory technique are great. I use them all the time myself. But they’re not going to do nearly as much as they could for you without research and reflective thinking . Introspection is key, and everyone can take a huge lesson from this episode in Musk’s biography: After moving to Canada, Musk worked odd jobs. In one case, he cleaned boilers in what sounds like an extremely risky environment. Nonetheless, Musk used the opportunity to reflect on energy systems. But how often do we find ourselves thinking about the jobs we don’t really like? Instead of directing our thoughts at positive solutions to big problems? The lesson here is simple: No matter what situation you find yourself in, keep your mind focused on solutions. The ability to direct your thoughts away from problems and towards solutions is a skill, one that can be developed through deliberate practice . Five: Visualization & Mental Rotation As we know from studies in mental imagery , it’s difficult to assess how other people visualize. In fact, there’s still no consensus on exactly how to define visualization. Nonetheless, Musk, like Einstein, seems to go through a process of “mental rotation.” For example, he came up with The Boring Company after creating the mental image that cities are dominated by 2D streets. This led him to conceiving the notion of making city traffic three dimensional. What many people don’t add to the equation is that Musk’s visualization emerged from spending a lot of time in traffic. He was in the field where the problems existed. Similarly, his learning to fly helped him visualization the first principles needed to improve rocket development and deployment. You can tie this back to Einstein’s use of trains in his thought experiments to demonstrate principles related to his theory of relativity. The common use of trains during his era almost certainly shaped Einstein’s choice of mental image. Had he been stuck in traffic on contemporary roads or a frequent flyer, he might have used those forms of transport instead. When it comes to mental rotation, this can involve mentally inspecting an object from all angles. But we know that Musk is very hands-on. When stripping away unnecessary robots from Tesla’s factory, he literally sealed windows himself to determine that the task would be more efficiently performed by people. As he put it, “Humans are underrated.” Finally, Musk uses mental metaphors like “the algorithm.” It’s not really an algorithm, but a rotational list of rules and what Isaacson calls “corollaries.” One of the most important involves a prompt to imagine the proper role of placing conditions upon progress: “The only rules are the ones dictated by the laws of physics. Everything else is a recommendation.” Mentally rotating through all the laws of physics you’re aware of will be a brilliant strategy if you’re developing as a polymath in fields involving design, technology and… just about everything. The laws of physics may even be shown to apply to memory itself in the end. Although some people consider the idea fringe, Sir Roger Penrose has proposed something much like this with his Orchestrated Objective Reduction – a concept that will stretch your mental rotation and visualization abilities to the nth degree. Six: Teleological ‘Pataphysics Just as Musk believes that technological progress is not inevitable, he assumes that human consciousness is under constant threat of extinction. For this reason, he works hard on developing rockets that will helps us become an interplanetary species and AI tools like Grok to help ensure alignment and compliance. In other words, he’s making the effort to imagine the end game and imagine solutions that potentially prevent an end to human consciousness taking place at all. If you’ll allow me to mash together two terms that illustrate my own polymathic efforts, I believe Musk is a teleological ‘pataphysisist. Huh? Stick with me. I’ll explain. In a general way, teleological refers to thinking about the end of things, such as the end of a goal or the result of a process. By imagining the possibility of human consciousness flourishing – or at least existing – forever, Musk is engaged in teleological thinking. ‘Pataphysics is a big topic, but I mean it in the sense of “imaginary solutions in response to imaginary problems.” In this case, “imaginary” does not mean fake, or anything less than real. Your brain and its neurochemicals are real, which means that your ideas are material. So when people imagine problems and imagine solutions to them, they are engaged in ‘pataphysics. And many products we now use on a regular basis come from this kind of problem solving. When people imagined tablets and communicators for the Star Trek television series, they didn’t imagine them fusing to create the modern cellphone. But would we, as a species, have been inspired to bring them together without first imagining them in fiction? I don’t know for sure, but this philosophical question is worth asking, especially when we consider the following interesting example who I hope will make this polymathic skill more clear. Musk’s Most Interesting Contemporary Polymath Christian Bök is a polymathic poet with a vast scholarly background. Like Musk, he puts parts of his talents to use by working to help human consciousness survive the death of our sun. In Bök’s case, he has worked on getting human consciousness into space via The Xenotext project . As part of the project, Bök has literally placed poetry inside a deathless bacterium called Deinococcus radiodurans . If I understand the project correctly, eventually an annihilation-proof poem written by Bök will be sent into space. Possibly even one that can reproduce itself to create new poems. The idea of sending poetry into space might sound outlandish, but it’s not. It’s ‘pataphysical. Plus, it’s already happened. The satellite EIRSAT-1 carries a poem called All Ways Home . It was launched on December 2023. Projects like these come about when people: Allow themselves to dream wildly (even absurdly) Invest in integrating multiple disciplines Push through obstacles and barriers to implementation Musk’s ability to dream absurdly big, from the Hyperloop to establishing a colony on Mars is not whimsy. Exercising this kind of imagination is part of the open secret of genius and Musk is far from alone in thinking at massive scales like these. Including the ultimate scale, which is seeing consciousness witness eternity. Seven: Time Management Multiple sources describe Musk tough on employees and partners, even cruel in his quest for epic goal achievement. Isaacson lists multiple insults Musk has cast. Let’s put that aside to focus on the strategies that have allowed Musk and others on his team to maximize their learning. First, Musk splits his days between companies. The scheduling itself must require a lot of cognitive shifting and cognitive flexibility to switch between disciplines. According to this study , the prefrontal cortex and parietal regions of the brain experience high levels of activity when handling task-based decisions. Although Musk’s habit of time blocking his life in granular increments and holding regular meetings in a disciplined manner might seem rigid, this kind of study tells a different story. His quick problem-solving and adaptability (in some cases) may stem from his strict time management habits.. Of course, Musk has admitted to making many mistakes nonetheless. But I mentioned time management because he’s also shown how he learned to prioritize high-impact work early. You could consider this protocol macro-time management compared to the micro-time management of daily meetings. Eight: Installing Feedback Loops Related to the skill of time management for learning while implementing various projects, consider how quickly Musk has his teams dissect test failures. Following the SN8 explosion, they immediately adjusted their schedules to address fixes. By moving constantly between iteration and analysis, Musk keeps his projects moving quickly. Although other companies and individuals are not necessarily bogging themselves down by prolonged deliberation, the proof is in the pudding. Having a deliberate system for focusing on problems and prioritizing the discovery of solutions leads to better results. Although many have criticized Musk’s habit of working long hours, I suspect that it’s the structure behind the time he spends that does most of the heavy lifting. Unlocking Your Polymathic Constellation of Skills From integrating multiple disciplines to sharing signs of genius with people like Einstein and Bök, Musk exemplifies extensive research, memory mastery and multiple types of visualization. As I’ve suggested, we should understand Musk through the lens of ‘pataphysics. Although a lesser known concept, it places Musk in the company of defiant rebels from the past. I’m thinking specifically of the Renaissance memory master Giordano Bruno . Bruno took mental rotation so far that he re-purposed Ramon Llull’s Memory Wheels for mnemonic purposes. As a result, he was able to use his memory to envision infinity in ways that inspires and influences astronomy to this day. Bruno, unlike Musk, portrayed himself as fearless. But another skill Musk has is calling it like it is. When he’s afraid, he admits it. As a philosophical thinker, he also allows for confronting ideas like fatalism to inform him. In other words, he feels the fear and thinks through such ideas anyway. This helps Musk shoot fear down and make informed leaps. Not fearless ones. We can all learn from how his learning adventures have played out. We don’t have to cheer every move to see the roads he has traveled. But you can come to see every barrier you’ve bumped into as a call to adventure. If you’re willing to start small and work with the materials you have at hand, like coding a game using BASIC, you can dream past the noise. And if you’d like help with the memory training aspect so essential to retaining the things you learn as you develop polymathic abilities, feel free to grab my free course here: It gives you four video tutorials and three worksheets that will help you rapidly develop better retention. That way, you won’t forget the lessons in Musk’s learning life, or those found in the lives of other inspiring polymaths I’ve profiled. So what do you say? Are you ready to start taking just one of these tactics and putting it into action? Test them all one at a time. Before you know it, the turbulence in your own life will transform into triumph. The post Why Elon Musk is a Polymath & How You Can Become One Too appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace .…

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Mnemonic Devices: Top 10 Tools For Boosting Your Memory Fast 53:27

about a year ago53:27

53:27

Instantly memorizing what you need to know is the ultimate dream, isn’t it? Mnemonic devices can get you quite close to that learning goal. But let’s face it. There’s no such thing as perfect memory. What we do have are the kinds of mnemonic tools we’re going to discuss today. Including examples of people who have absorbed astonishing amounts of information using them. How do I know so much about all of these memory boosting tools? In such depth? For the past fifteen years, I’ve been operating as the host of the Magnetic Memory Method podcast. I have interviewed dozes of memory experts and memory athletes. Not only do I interview people who use these techniques. I use them myself and have written many books about them. As a result, I’ve received dozens of questions every week since 2012 from people who read my books and this blog. I share my knowledge openly, especially since mnemonic devices to help me memorize a variety of things to complete my PhD during a time of intense struggle. Later, mnemonics helped me learn German so I could teach in Germany, which I did for several years. But for many people who don’t yet understand what mnemonic devices are and how to use them, their inability to remember anything presents the ultimate nightmare. One reason people struggle to master their memory is simple: There are so memory experts out there who use different terms for the core memory techniques you need to succeed. It can be confusing. Don’t fret. on this page, I’ll help you understand everything and help you find the memorization approach that will work best for you. Here’s what this post will cover: What Is A Mnemonic Device? Mnemonic Devices Examples – Personally Created Flashcards – Acronyms – The Memory Palace Technique – Associative Imagery, Linking, and Pegwords – Story Method – Major System and Dominic System – 00-99 PAO – Mind Maps So if you’re ready to dive in, let’s get started with… What Are Mnemonic Devices? The best mnemonic device definition we can start with is this: Anything that helps you remember better is a mnemonic. Even the dictionary says that mnemonic devices are anything: “assisting or intended to assist the memory.” Many of them operate like mental snapshots. But that’s a modern metaphor. As you’re about to learn, the techniques are rooted in the ancient world. They’re perfectly validated by modern memory science too. Researchers have tested everything from Aboriginal memory techniques , to mnemonics that are science-backed for use in schools . Overall, “mnemonics” is a highly adaptable term. It’s ultimately an umbrella term that covers a wide range of tactics and strategies. As you’ll see, you can optimize in your personal practice. Mnemonic Device Types Keeping the ancient world in mind, here are the major types of mnemonic devices in use today: Personally created flashcards Acronyms Memory Palaces (sometimes called a Mind Palace, the Method of Loci, Journey Method , or Roman Room ) Associative imagery, linking, and pegwords Story method Major System or Dominic System 00-99 PAO Mind Maps … and more But here’s something to notice that might be helpful. Flashcards really are “devices.” They are objects that you create and sort through using your hands. Memory techniques like the Memory Palaces, however, involve the use of mental imagery as a process. As memory expert David Berglas made clear in A Question of Memory , memory is not a unitary mechanism or a “thing.” It is a behavior. And that is how you use mnemonic devices. You understand them as processes and then you sprinkle mnemonics into your life strategically so that applying them becomes part of your learning behaviors. Of course, there’s more to it than that. Let’s have a look. How Mnemonic Devices Work In The Brain: The Neuroscience Of Memory As a technique, mnemonics leverage visual memory , auditory memory , spatial memory and other natural types of memory . At a basic level, research shows that mnemonics create stronger connections in the brain. Here’s what weak memories look like in your brain. When you use mnemonic devices to create stronger connections throughout your brain, the scans clearly paint a picture of much stronger memory: One of the most impressive mnemonic tools you can use is the Memory Palace. As this study from the brain science journal Neuron has shown, Memory Palaces helped people go from recalling an average of 30 words (from a list of 72) to remembering more than 60. In other words, using this specific mental tool helped people double the amount they could remember. A Personal Example Of How A Variety Of Mnemonic Devices Helped Me Let me make these research findings concrete for you: When I gave a TEDx presentation, I did more than merely memorize my talk. On the day I delivered the speech in Melbourne, Australia, I also became deeply familiar with the people I met using a specific technique for memorizing names . This means that I used a wide variety of techniques (see how to memorize a speech ) and chose the specific mnemonic devices based on the circumstances. This is just one of many examples where I’ve used multiple mnemonic types to accomplish incredible results in my life. And all it takes is study and practice. With deliberate practice in particular, you’ll find that using mnemonic devices happens almost on autopilot! What Mnemonics Can Help You Learn I just mentioned how I used a variety of techniques to memorize my TEDx Talk. It’s possible to memorize just about anything you want when you have the core techniques under your belt. Including: Planets Poetry Scripture Phone numbers Names Nursing , pharmacology and medical terminology Product types (which can help you get a raise or promotion at work ) Self-help tips that help you develop mental strength Dance moves There’s literally nothing I’ve seen yet that mnemonics can’t help you remember. In fact, when I was invited to moderate at the 2023 Pan-American Memory Competition, the top memory athletes used a combination of the techniques on this page to memorize cloud formations. In other words, it’s even possible to memorize abstract shapes when you use these techniques. Mnemonic Devices Examples & How to Use Mnemonic Devices For A Variety of Learning Goals Let’s dig a little deeper using our list of mnemonic examples above. One: Personally Created Flashcards My friend and language learning expert Gabriel Wyner inspired me to give these a try after reading his book, Fluent Forever . Basically, instead of downloading software put together by a stranger, get some paper and colored pens. (Obviously, you also have all the information you want to memorize organized too.) Next, use the paper and colors to help you create images. These images should remind you of the target information you want to recall . Flashcards as mnemonic devices for Chinese characters Now, there’s a whole lot more going on in this example, so please keep it in mind. I’ll go deeper into it later in this post. For now, if you’re worried about having a bunch of cards flying all over the place, don’t be. You can wrap them up in a Memory Palace drawing just like this: I used simple and elegant combinations of mnemonic devices to pass level III in Mandarin last year Next, let’s look at how abbreviations can help. Two: Acronyms Have you ever asked… what is it called when you use letters to remember words? As usual, there’s no one answer, but the first method is called an acronym. For example, when I teach memory improvement in a live setting, I usually talk about how following the rules will set you F.R.E.E. “Free” is a word that helps me remember the meta-rules students need to make learning with memory techniques easy and fun: F requent practice in a state of… R elaxation and a spirit of… E xperimentation so that you can be… E ntertained Just follow those rules as you use mnemonic devices and you will truly be free to memorize as much as you want. The best part? Because acronyms are a form of chunking , you can use this approach to lay out acronyms inside of a Memory Palace. Chunking is a memory strategy more than it is a device, but by breaking information down into smaller groups, you’re following Miller’s Law . George Miller was the psychologist who discovered chunking and noticed that our brains can hold 7±2 items in working memory at any given time. Memory athletes make use of this principle all the time, as do learners who use acronyms. Some example acronyms that people often use include: “My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nachos” (for the planets ) “Hibiscus vs. PacMan leads to victory for many, many reasons” (for remembering the vaccine schedule ) “Onward, Onward, Onward Two Travelers And Foxes Very Greedily Verified Ascending Happily” (for memorizing the cranial nerves ) Frankly, many of my students find acronyms to be the least effective mnemonic devices for learning semantic information . That said, one study has shown compelling evidence that acronyms are good for remembering the sequence of actions in a task (sometimes called procedural memory ). That’s why I sometimes use the FREE acronym model when giving simple presentations. It’s proven to work for this kind of task. I just wouldn’t use acronyms for larger speeches or long term learning goals, like developing fluency in a language. My point is this: Use acronyms with caution, or at least combine them with the most powerful mnemonic device of them all, which is the one we’re going to cover next. Three: The Memory Palace Technique The Memory Palace is an ancient technique. It uses familiar spaces as a core mnemonic device. It used to be called the method of loci because people would assign specific locations within a home or along a journey. Then they would place associations along this journey that helped remind them of various types of information. You can start the process of using this technique now by thinking about a familiar location. Next, chart out a logical journey that does not take energy from your memory. If you have to memorize the journey, it is not a good Memory Palace, so pick another location. A Memory Palace must be based on your memory of the space. Do not memorize a location to use this technique – that would be called a Memorized Palace and simply takes too much work. And don’t worry if you can’t remember each and every detail of a location. For example, I once visited a bookstore in Zamalek. This is a part of Cairo, Egypt. I don’t remember every single part of the bookstore and that’s find. As you can see in the illustration below, I used only the parts of the bookstore I remembered. To help my brain reduce the cognitive load even further, I made a quick drawing of the space as part of the planning processed: A Memory Palace drawn on an index card to maximize its value as a mnemonic device Keep in mind that I’m using the word “drawing.” But this is more like a “chicken scratch.” It’s purely for planning purposes and not meant to be high art. Notice I’ve also drawn the Memory Palace on an index card (or flashcard). I do this because it makes it easy to store many of them for quick reference if I ever need them in the future. Next, I strongly recommend that you write down the number of your stations and name them. I find this step helps me “set and forget” the Memory Palace and ensure I’ve gotten it right the first time. It also helps me make sure that I don’t overload the Memory Palaces, an issue Peter of Ravenna identified with his memory students during the medieval period. Four: Associative Imagery, Linking, and Pegwords Inside of your first Memory Palace, place a list of mnemonics you create. These will be a kind of mnemonic that are multi-sensory. For example, think back to that first image I shared above with the flashcards for Chinese . Those colorful drawings help me remember the sound and the meaning of the Mandarin words. But those mental images aren’t just on the flashcards! They’re also mentally situated on stations in the Memory Palaces I use. (Some people call these stations “loci.” It’s basically the same thing, but “Magnetic Station” is my preferred term because recent advancements make them much more powerful than the ancient teachings suggest.) To make such imagery, you will want to complete a number of exercises. For example, go through the alphabet and think of an image for each letter. The pegword method is a great way to explore this technique further. If you’re really serious about mastering the Memory Palace technique , you can explore having an image on each and every station. For example, when I memorize cards, I always have images on the stations to help me “trigger” the row of cards I’ll be placing and later recalling on a Magnetic Station. Basically, what I’m talking about is multiple levels of linking all at once. Some people talk about the linking method in a weak way. Their suggestions amount to little more than “this links to that.” I don’t find that approach is strong enough and certainly don’t use linking as superficially as other teachers tend to describe the method. What most of us need is for our association imagery to combine: Sound and meaning links at the granular level of the alphabet Multi-sensory links that are concrete and specific, not vague and abstract Tied tightly to space so that we are working from the foundations of the strongest level of memory: spatial memory Furthermore, the real trick with these associative images is that they must: Actually associate in a way that triggers what you want to memorize (for example, the barber symbol I used on the card above triggers the ‘ba’ sound). Help you get back the meaning of the content (where relevant). Have a Memory Palace so you can mentally “find” the imagery. Some people don’t need the Memory Palace, but in my experience, they are few and far between. And when you think about what mnemonic devices mean more holistically, each card is a kind of station in a Memory Palace. Five: Story Method Using a story (with or without a Memory Palace) is not much different than using, links pegs or associations. The only difference is that with the story method you’re adding the extra step of creating a narrative. Why use it at all? As Wang and Ross have demonstrated , the human brain is wired for story. Stories also cause you to create strong cause-and-effect associations. They don’t have to be logical, but adding a certain rational element to them helps make recall effortless. Anthony Metivier memorizing and recalling names at a memory demonstration in Brisbane For example, let’s take the example of a time when I memorizes a list of names at an event in Brisbane that started with: Haley Allan Sharon Andrew Edward Angela Sam If you were using pegs, you would look at “h” when seeing Haley and associate her with something like Halley’s comet or a hat. Allan could be associated with an Allen key. You can also spontaneously produce associations or have stock characters. For example, every Sharon could be Sharon Osbourne. The story method, on the other hand, requires us to add a narrative to the association, such as: Halley’s comet is crashing into an Allan key in the hands of Sharon who finds it burning hot and hands it to Andrew. The story method can possibly be used without a Memory Palace. However, stories have parts. And those parts exist somewhere in your brain which means they are inherently spatially located. I think you’ll find it a lot less mentally taxing to lay out any narrative elements you use in a Memory Palace. Another way to approach the story method is to use a movie or novel plot you know well. For example, let’s say you have mentally reduced The Matrix series down to three scenes: the hotel, the desert of the real, and Neo’s cabin on Morpheus’ ship. For the first piece of information you want to remember, you would use the first room and perhaps Trinity doing her flying kick. Then you would move on to the next location for the next piece of information. This example shows how stories are always spatial in nature… after all, if they don’t take place somewhere … how can they be stories? Six: The Rhyming Peg System (Rhyme Mnemonics) for Amplifying Your Stories Closely related to the story method is the number rhyme technique. It works through what some scientists call “phonological encoding.” To use rhyming mnemonics as part of creating supercharged recall, you need to first create your rhymes. The ones I use are: One is a bun Two is a shoe Three is a bee Four is a door Five is a hive Six is (drum) sticks Seven is my friend Evan Eight is a gate Nine is wine Ten is hen There are different ways to use number rhymes. For example, if you have to remember a list , you can associate the first item with a bun. You are essentially making a tiny story. If the first item is a carrot, you put that carrot in a bun, which is kind of weird and memorable. Likewise lettuce inside your shoes will be difficult to forget. Mnemonic Example of a number shape for 1 Seven: The Number Shape System One of my favorite approaches involves making stories from numbers that I imagine as different types of shapes. To use it, you think about what the numbers 0-9 look like. Then you associate them with those shapes. Here’s my list: 0 = a donut 1 = a candle 2 = a swan 3 = handcuffs 4 = a sailboat 5 = a seahorse 6 = a fishing hook 7 = a boomerang 8 = a snowman 9 = a golf club To make a story using this technique, you could simply have your number one item being burned by a candle. Your second item takes a ride on a swan, and so forth. Ultimately, there is no right or wrong with these techniques. You can use stories on your own or amplify them with either number rhymes or number shapes. The choice basically comes down to your level of skill, the context, and the nature of the information. When it comes to memorizing numbers themselves, there are some very powerful mnemonic devices to discuss. Let’s examine the first of them next, and I do hope you find an opportunity to learn and use it. Eight: Major System and Dominic System When it comes to associative imagery, the alphabet is a great tool. But it can also be mixed with numbers. The Major System (often called the Major Method) helps you associate a consonant with each digit from 0-9. This mnemonic device has been in use since the Katapayadi of ancient India. A more common approach that has been in use since the 1700s looks like this: A more recent innovation is the Dominic System . It has some key differences, so make sure to study both. Nine: 00-99 PAO System PAO stands for Person, Action, Object . Basically, you’re taking the Major System and using it to help you make words from numbers. Here are some examples from mine: 01 – Sad (tragedy mask) 02 – Sun (from the movie Sunshine ) 31 – Maid 86 – Fish Notice that I’ve put some concrete examples for you in parentheses. I’ve done this because “sad” is not very evocative. It’s just a concept. But when I think of a tragedy mask, it links the word based on the Major more closely to the concept of sadness. To make the mnemonic connection even more specific, I think of the tragedy mask worn by William Shatner in Oedipus Rex . As you might already be thinking, the process I’m sharing adds a layer of elaboration that works by adding in a bit of the story method. Ten: Mind Maps Tony Buzan is one of the greatest innovators of mind mapping, but he says in Mind Map Mastery that he abandoned this technique for improving memory back in the 70s. He focused more on using keywords that help with creativity, problem-solving, and planning. I feel that the conclusion to remove their use as a memorization tool was premature. If you would like to learn how to combine mind maps with Memory Palaces, for example, here’s a simple way to also add in the Major System for incredible results: As you can see, it’s fun to mix keywords with the Major Method on paper in a way that turns the mind map into a simple Memory Palace. And this is really just the beginning when it comes to learning how to remember things . It’s not just that there are a TON of mnemonic devices to choose from. It’s that we get to delight in how they can be mixed and matched in so many ways. I Love Using A Combination Of Mnemonic Strategies — How About You? We’re incredibly lucky. Although it can be confusing, the Internet has enabled dozens of memory competitors, memory athletes, and plain ol’ memory fanatics like me to create tons of free content for the world. Even though it’s easy to get lost in the intricacies, remember: Memory is not a thing. It is a behavior. Dive into each of the approaches you learned today. Really dig deep into their nuances through practice. Let me know if you found this guide helpful and comment below. If there are mnemonic devices I missed, please share it so I can update this post. All of us will be eternally grateful. And if you want to learn more about how to make the most of your new mnemonic strategies using a Memory Palace, pick up your free copy of the memory improvement kit today. Just go ahead and click this image to get started: The post Mnemonic Devices: Top 10 Tools For Boosting Your Memory Fast appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace .…

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The 8 Step Bible Memorization Plan That Leads to Success 34:52

about a year ago34:52

34:52

You absolutely can memorize Scripture. You just need a Bible memorization plan. That’s what you’ll learn to establish on this page. No matter how many times you may have tried and given up before, this approach to memorizing scripture will work. How do I know? I’ve coached verbatim memorization for fifteen years. My students have publicly recited Scripture. And I’ve interviewed people who perform entire passages of the Bible. The only difference between those who succeed and those who don’t is one word: They had a plan . Soon, you will too. And thanks to the example plans I’ll share below, this tutorial will make everything incredibly easy for you. Ready? Let’s dive in! The Step-by-Step Process to Create Your Personalized Bible Memorization Plan “Just get started.” That’s often the advice we hear. But when it comes to developing a Scripture memorization plan that works, you can’t go about it randomly. That’s why this first step is so crucial. One: Choose Your Focus Different people are drawn to various aspects of the Bible. Even if your goal is to memorize the entirety of the Bible, it’s critical that you learn how to memorize based on a strong foundation of interest. Your focus might lead you to select a set of specific verses you’ve always wanted to commit to memory. Or you might choose to focus on the Psalms, as did my successful student Matt Barclay . Perhaps you prefer to focus on the Sermons of Jesus in the Gospels. Or you want to start with one of the key epistles, like Romans or Ephesians. Don’t worry if you decide to change your mind later. That’s okay. The key is to make note of the verses, passages or Books of the Bible that stand out to you. Select from the list you’ve created. Then, later when you expand the Scripture you’ve memorized, you can build upon this deeply personal foundation. If you’d like to see the list of Bible verses I’m memorizing , you’ll see an example of how a chosen focus can be not only useful, but stimulating in several ways. Two: Set Clear Short-Term Goals Whether you work on a verse a day, or even a single word a day, the key is base your journey on a schedule to which you can stick. Although some might scoff at the idea of memorizing just one word a day from Scripture, I’ve done this myself in order to keep consistent. Over time, it adds up. And by keeping consistent, I’ve memorized and even delivered memorized Scripture from a related tradition in a TEDx Talk . Although I normally work on entire verses on a daily basis, that’s my personal short-term goal: Between one word and an entire sentence per sessions. My student Mike McKinley followed a similar pattern and quickly memorized over sixty Psalms in this consistently measured manner. Three: Write Out Your Schedule Once you’ve chosen the Scripture you’re going to focus on, make a pact in writing. Then work out when you’re going to show up to both: Encode the verses into memory Review the verses I also encourage you to schedule when you’re going to use the verses you’ve memorized. Although no one can see the future, just jot out a number of situations where you’ll have opportunities to recite Scripture. That way, when those opportunities arise, you’ll be more likely to take the chance to practice. This simple action is a form of priming that helps ready you for taking action. Four: Review Daily Start each day by reviewing the previous day’s memorization. You won’t need to do this forever with each verse. But some repetition is necessary. To reduce the needed amount of repetition, use the principles I discussed in this tutorial on spaced repetition . You can also follow the basic practice of Tom Meyer, who is often called the Bible Memory Man . His recommendation is to make sure that you review by: Reading the text aloud to help with learning and retention through hearing Writing the verses out by hand Paying attention to rhythm and structure as you recite These are good tips. However, I suggest that when writing out verses, you avoid copying the text. Memorize first, then bring the verses to mind before writing them. This process follows the findings of what scientists call active recall . It will help your memories form faster. Five: Keep a Progress Journal Each time you review, note it down in a journal. Why? As renowned memory champion Johannes Mallow shared with us in this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, keeping a Memory Journal is the secret of his success. It enabled him to see areas where he was strong and identify areas where he needed to improve. Journaling also helps eliminate that helpless feeling unstructured people often suffer. “Where has all the time gone?” When you keep a journal of your efforts, you’ll never have that feeling. Instead, you’ll have a sense of accomplishment and an inspiring record of your consistent effort. One progress journal I love is call The Freedom Journal . It has helped me complete quite a few projects. I highly recommend using it at least once. Why not for memorizing the Bible? Six: Use Memorization Techniques Meyer claims he uses no memory techniques at all. Although this it not possible, his strategy is basically the same as rote learning . Many people will have neither time nor tolerance for such an approach. As an alternative, I suggest using the Memory Palace technique (as indicated on the infographic above). If you’d like to see a discussion with examples of how I memorized some of the Book of John in Latin, watch this video tutorial . In addition to the Memory Palace technique, I suggest that you learn how to use: The Major System The Pegword Method Mnemonic Chunking Although these techniques require a bit of additional learning, they will not only make your progress with committing Scripture to memory faster. It will also make it much more fun. Enjoying yourself makes keeping committed and consistent so much more likely. You’ll be more encouraged and more likely to stick to your plan. Seven: Accountability Although memorization itself happens alone, it’s great when you can share the journey with either a partner or a group. Chances are you already have a friend who would love to help keep you accountable. If not, look around and set a time to meet at least 2-3 times per month to share your progress. Or, seek out a group. If your local church doesn’t already have one, ask your pastor to create one. You can also create one yourself. The key is to make sure that you don’t isolate yourself. Not even the actor Ashley Strand did that when he memorized the Book of Mark. And his incredible accomplishment raises another tip you won’t want to miss. Eight: Analyze and Interpret As Strand told me in an interview about how he memorized the entire Book of Mark, thinking deeply about the Scripture helped him tremendously. Since you’ll be keeping a Memory Journal, you can use reflective thinking strategies as you chart your progress. Ask yourself and answer in writing what the passages you’re memorizing mean to you personally. Also ask what they mean for others. Think about the Scripture in its historical context as well. And for best results, learn about the original languages. Even just a smattering of Hebrew, Greek or one of the other original languages will add great depth to your understanding. As a result, you’ll remember more Scripture through contextual learning. Example Plan #1: Verses for Overcoming Anxiety Let’s say that you have decided to focus on memorizing verses in order to deal with a personal issue. Since anxiety is known to induce memory loss, for many people, this kind of focus will be very effective in both the short and long-term. Here’s what your plan might look like: Step One: Find Bible Verses That Address Anxiety These days, you can search easily online for a list of verses. Here are a bunch to get you started: Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Proverbs 12:25 – “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Psalm 94:19 – “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Luke 12:25-26 – “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” Psalm 56:3 – “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Hebrews 13:6 – “So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'” Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Psalm 27:1 – “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Step Two: Narrow the List Down Next, pick the most meaningful verse to you right now. Although it can be tempting to go all in on a large number of these verses, remember that you’re following a plan. You want several verses gathered, but you’ll still work with them one by one. Once you’ve selected just one verse, write it down in your Memory Journal. Step Three: Develop a Memory Palace For best results, I strongly advise that you use the Memory Palace technique. Draw a simple representation of your home and use the method of loci to identify a number of stations where you will encode each word of the verse. Here’s an example from one of my Scripture Memory Palaces: This pre-numbered Memory Palace example shows you how I prepared to memorize the Atma Bodha in full. I know the text and the number of each verse in an ancient Sanskrit text thanks to my favorite memory technique. Step Four: Add the Verse to the Memory Palace Using memory techniques is simple. You simply pair images together with the individual words you want to memorize. For example, one thing that used to cause me a lot of anxiety was blurting out ideas during conversations. That’s where Proverbs 18:13 came in so handy for me. To memorize it, I used a Memory Palace and a number system for the verse numbers. As you can see in the illustration above, I combined a number of mnemonic images to help me recall the sound of each word in the verse. For a full explanation of how this works, please see my tutorial, How to Memorize Scripture . Step Four: Review the Memorized Verses Take time each morning to recall what you’ve memorized the day before. As a best practice, always: Speak the verses aloud Write them out by hand Check for accuracy by reading them from the source When you follow this specific pattern, you’ll help your brain enter the verse into long-term memory as quickly as possible. However, if you read the verse first, you’ll essentially be deskilling your memory. You need to challenge it in order for it to improve and to help yourself memorize the verses you’ve chosen to focus on. Step Five: Share with Your Partner or Group After a week or two, make sure to meet with others who share your goals. Share openly everything about the journey. Remember: There are no mistakes. Even if you miscall words, or drop entire clauses, these are really just opportunities to learn about memorization as a practice. Write down everything in your Memory Journal and ideas for improving will emerge. Example Plan #2: Memorizing Entire Books of the Bible When it comes to memorizing an entire book of the Bible, it is possible . And one aspect that makes it easy is that don’t have to spend time selecting the verses. You’ll simply go through it one verse at a time until you are done. In other words, using your Memory Palaces for the Bible , you’ll proceed in an order like this: Week one: John 1:1-4 Week two: John 1:5-9 Week three: John 2:1-6, etc. In this case, however, you’ll need many more Memory Palaces. You’ll also want to reserve more time for the recitation practice, both verbal and in written form. As you review, you’ll need to work out what specific strategy works for you. Due to the amount of verbatim text, you may need to repeat many of the verses more often than when working with theme-focused selections. This can tempt you to start thinking like some of my students, who have asked me about memorizing a book out of order . I have done this, but ultimately I found it creates more confusion than simply memorizing from the beginning of a book to then end. So I suggest you simply follow the book in order. Then repeat the review pattern you’ve noticed works best for you. Overall, the most challenging part of complete book memorization is that you will need to speak it aloud and write it out by hand. This requirement is not a deal-breaker. You just have to break the passages down to smaller units. And that’s where the Memory Palace technique is so powerful. If you’d like help developing multiple Memory Palaces that will help you retain Scripture en masse as fast as possible, consider completing this free course: It gives you 4 video tutorials and 3 worksheets that walk you through everything you need to know. These are the same lessons my most successful students have completed in order to achieve their Bible memory goals. And the lessons are based on the same ancient memory techniques that our ancestors used to hold Scripture in mind across the course of their lives. So what do you say? Are you ready to start following your plan and enjoying the spiritual richness available only to those who have Scripture deeply embedded in their minds? The post The 8 Step Bible Memorization Plan That Leads to Success appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace .…

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How to Become an Autodidact 30:29

about a year ago30:29

30:29

If you want to know how to become an autodidact, I suggest you start by treating the adventure like a game. Not in terms of gamification. But in terms of game theory. By that, I mean set up your learning journey is such a way that you want to keep going. No matter what obstacles arise. Because, let’s face it. There will be obstacles. And that’s why the path of the self taught learner must include detailed studies in discipline, focus and determination. Anyone can pick up these skills, even though traditional educational institutions have sadly made them harder to pick up. I say it’s sad because you need to keep up with the rapid pace of change more than ever before. As a result, autodidactic learning has never been more important. As an autodidact myself who has started businesses, written multiple books, played in bands and taught thousands of people around the world, I’m happy to share the best practices I’ve found. So if you’d like to take charge of your education, settle in. You’re about to learn how to take charge of your education and master new skills all on your own. What Is An Autodidact? An autodidact is anyone who takes steps to acquire an independent education in a topic or skill. Often, people think autodidacts do this without the guidance of formal instructors. But this belief is not strictly true. The author David Morrell , for example, became well known for his deep research projects before writing various novels. For example, he learned to fly a plane before writing The Shimmer . He has also studied interrogation tactics, how to establish a false identity and defensive driving. This makes him a great example of a modern polymath . But the fact that he hired instructors to help him learn these skills doesn’t mean he taught himself. The distinguishing factor is that he took the initiative and arranged the learning journey on his own. There was no formal way to study for all those skills. So he informally crafted his own lifelong learning journey. To do that, people like Morrell cultivate as many of the following polymathic personality traits as possible. The Most Important Characteristics of Autodidacticism In addition to taking charge of the learning journey, an autodidact is: Flexible to the exact demands required to achieve their learning goals. Research-focused in order to find the best sources of knowledge. Capable of using critical thinking to assess the reliability of their instructors and information sources. Devoted to developing a personal empowerment mindset, sometimes called mental strength . Courageous and capable of withstanding isolation. These characteristics are so important because autodidacts have to take more responsibility for their learning outcomes than a strict polymath might. There’s no formal institution to blame, after all. As for Morrell’s most famous character, Rambo, it’s a jungle out there. As a self-directed learner, you are on your own. How to Become an Autodidact As you now know, autodidacts take responsibility for their own education and do not rely on formal instruction offered by institutions. At least not the way you would attend one university to complete a degree. When I was a student, that’s what I did for many years. I completed a B.A., M.A. and PhD without a shred of that learning journey involving any autodidacticism. When I learned how to write, publish and market bestselling books, on the other hand, these skills were self taught. Taking a cue from Morrell, to prepare for writing my first “Memory Detective” novel, Flyboy , I took two courses with a detective. One on gun handling and the other on the handling of crime scenes. I also completed a forensics course. In it, I learned about Cellebrite Pathfinder,and then took a course on how detectives use this software. My knowledge of this technology become good enough that a detective who read my novel was surprised I even know about it. He told me I described the technology and its use in digital forensics very well. This is where the research-focused aspect of teaching yourself comes in handy. You need to find the best information. That requires probing skills above and beyond just searching and analyzing the first page of a search engine. You also can’t just go with what an AI text generator tells you. So, how does one accomplish massive goals without cheating oneself by studying in shallow ways when you need to dig deep? Here are the exact steps I suggest you follow. One: Develop the Basic Self-Learning Skills As Barbara Oakley puts it, you need to learn how to learn . More than simply developing discipline, curiosity and a proactive attitude, your memory needs to be sharp. To get it as fit as possible, devote yourself to learning the best memory techniques out there. My preferred stack of techniques is: The Memory Palace technique Major System PAO System Pegword System Spaced repetition You can learn more mnemonic devices and mind mapping . But those five memory systems are the ones I personally use the most. Then there’s note-taking, for which I prefer a combination of the Zettelkasten technique and Leitner boxes . Two: Make Sure The Engagement Engine Is On I’ve worked with a lot of one-on-one coaching clients over the years. Most of them don’t have a learning problem. They have a passion problem. Rather than study something they love, they focus on studying things that will make them money. I’ve been there. I once almost entered a teaching certification program so I could provide a steady income to fulfil someone else’s dream. As much as I love education, entering a formal system to do that would have been miserable. I got myself out of that downward spiral by completing a “Perfect Present” journaling exercise. I wrote my “dream day” in a journal each morning. After eleven days, the scales dropped from my eyes. I saw that there was no way for me to achieve my learning goals by trying to use formal education to make someone else happy. That’s when I turned to learning self-publishing, podcasting, using YouTube, etc. I also used mind mapping for business to help. And the rest is history. To complete this step yourself, test the truth of what it is you want to learn. Write down five reasons it’s worth pursuing that topic. Given the challenges involved in learning everything, if you can’t find five reasons the topic will help you achieve your dreams, it’s probably not worth pursuing. Three: Set Clear Goals By Adding These Words When I work with clients, they often describe murky goals. They want to learn languages, master a particular dance program and fly planes. Although each goal has a kind of clarity, they are ultimately vague. Rather than focusing on the goals as such, add “so that” followed by a clause that highlights the outcome. In this way, learning a new language becomes “learning a new language so that I can speak with my partner’s family.” It seems like a small thing to add, but I’ve found time and again that adding “so that” makes the exact planning process more focused. And that makes it easier to execute the plan. Four: Research Other Methods And Find Their Flaws Above, I gave you a several methods I use to learn at epic speeds . However, outside of the contexts for which I use them, these methods can be deeply flawed. My bookish learning goals lend themselves to these techniques. But learning carpentry or plumbing? I have no idea how I would use Memory Palaces and optimized flashcards to learn those skills. They might not involve any reading techniques at all. To put it another way, if you’re going to take advice on how to learn, choose a learning guru who has actually achieved what you want to accomplish. That way, you’re modeling the research and learning methods used by successful people. On the flip side of the coin, also study some failures. Personally, I think a lot about running a Kickstarter campaign for my forthcoming Memory Detective Jr. series. Much of my research involves examining flops on the platform. It’s as important to research what not to do, especially when learning on your own. Five: Plan Your Study Path Coming up with a learning goal is one thing. Planning how you’ll execute is another. Since no one can see the future, planning is not without the risk that you’ll miss something important. And plans often need to change. That’s why I treat planning as a skill unto itself. I plan over and over again so that I’m skilled at rapidly drafting new plans. By simply accepting that plans will need redrawing, you can release yourself to simply do your best. And as you continually plan and replan, you will develop procedural memory around the process. As this study demonstrates, strong planning skills directly determine your ability to complete your goals. That means now is the best time to get started with planning as a deliberate practice . Six: Learn To Maintain Your Commitment & Focus “Stop stopping.” It’s one of my favorite personal mantras amongst others I use to maintain focus on what matters. I use memory techniques to memorize them so these handy inspirational phrases are easy to draw upon when times get tough. But how do you actually stop the habit of stopping or giving up on your goals? First, make sure you’re in control of your dopamine. You can literally reset it . Next, maintain a good diet and physical fitness routine. Also, take care of your sleep. There are memory friendly foods you can explore, and it doesn’t take much exercise to keep your body and mind energized. The key is to understand that the mind tends to throw up mental objects that weaken us when the body is out of shape. Attending a live Tony Robbins event, I witnessed firsthand both his tremendous self-directed learning skills and consistent abundance of energy. Craft a strong body and you will almost automatically enjoy a clear and focused mind. Tony Robbins talks about this all the time. I saw him live once and if that guy doesn’t provide proof of concept, I don’t know who does. He’s not only taught himself a ton. His energy is undeniable. And it just comes down to simple things like diet, fitness, sleep and various concentration meditation routines. Seven: Refine Your Autodidact Approach & Skillset Over Time Nothing is set in stone. What works to achieve one goal might not have the same power for the next. That’s why I talked about making planning and re-planning one of your skills. But you may also need to patch in additional skills. Let’s say you’ve mastered the Memory Palace for language learning as you develop your bilingualism . Next, you might beef up on your active learning skills. Or study spaced repetition more closely to improve how you use it. Reflecting and adjusting are incredibly important skills as a self-taught individual. To do it in the best possible way, seek feedback from others and generate your own feedback by keeping a journal. Some World-Famous Autodidacts You Should Know The theory needed to teach yourself is one thing. But let’s turn now to look at a few examples of people who have taught themselves various skills. Leonardo Da Vinci Although it’s true that Da Vinci studied under others, he also learned many things on his own. He taught himself through experimentation, observation and keeping detailed notebooks. His learning spanned multiple fields, from science and engineering to art and anatomy. The detail he brought to concepts like a flying machine influenced and inspired others to realize the airplanes we now all see over our heads on a daily basis. Lynne Kelly Although she has a scholarly background, Lynne Kelly took it upon herself to learn a completely new field. She presented her findings in The Knowledge gene . How did she learn so much about genetics so quickly? As the author of Memory Craft and The Memory Code , Kelly simply drew upon the memory techniques she taught herself to use. In addition to using her memory to write incredible books, Kelly has also performed impressively at memory competition. And like several other memory champs , she has also used her memory skills to teach herself several languages. For more intriguing self-taught people, check out these examples . Learn Like An Autodidact Starting Right Now I want to encourage you to make self-taught learning a massive part of your life. Keep asking those “why” questions as you take up new projects. Focus on one major topic and set proper goals and plans around it. This is how you’ll take the first step towards meaning and mastery. If you would like help with the memory component, register here for my free memory improvement course: It gives you four video tutorials and worksheets that walk you through everything. That way, you’ll remember what you take time to study. Nothing is more valuable than retaining the knowledge you encounter. And that’s because those who seek deeper understanding can only do so by sorting, sifting and screening information they’ve embedded deeply into their memory. Now you know how to do it too. On your own, the most empowering way to learn. The post How to Become an Autodidact appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace .…

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How to Memorize Important Dates & Names Quickly & Permanently 20:18

about a year ago20:18