In this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, we discuss visuality, science and a new book on memorizing numbers and math.

Note:

If you are visiting by no later than Sunday, October 27th, then How to Learn and Memorize Math, Numbers, Equations and Simple Arithmetic is free on Kindle.

If you don’t own a Kindle, you can get a free app for most devices on the US Kindle Store.

I want to thank you kindly for visiting and look back to this page soon for a full discussion of the episode, the Method of Loci, mnemonics, creating a Memory Palace network and all of that good stuff that we tend to talk about.

Here is the correspondence I received as referred to in this episode of the podcast:

Hi Anthony,

I have a question I would like to ask. Using mnemonics what have you committed to memory?

I’m interested in using mnemonics to educate myself, to learn and be able to remember a vast sum of knowledge, that I find enjoyable, and I find it inspirational to hear, what others have achieved using such techniques.

Kind regards.

This is a great question, and answering it helps me describe just how versatile the Magnetic Memory system – and mnemonics in general – happen to be.

Over the years I have memorized:

* Foreign language vocabulary

* Musical notation

* Dates and facts

* Seat numbers on airplanes and trains

* Poetry

* Famous quotes

* Randomized decks of cards

* To-do lists (which as Derren Brown points out, Memory Palace to-do items are for more likely to get done)

* Philosophical concepts

* Names of people I meet

* Street and city names

* Addresses

* Phone numbers

* Film and book titles

* Recipes

* Call numbers at the library

* Appointment times

* … and I’m sure there’s much more.

For me, the ultimate trick has always been to use locations. Some people toss their visual associations “into the void” of their minds without locating them some place.

And for some people, that’s just fine.

But I’m an advocate for localized organization.

Why? I’ve talked about this a lot before in other editions of the Magnetic Memory newsletter, the key idea being that we have an unconscious fear of losing things (especially our minds).

Thus, when we create a visual image to help us remember something and then stick it in a clearly visualized mental location based on an actual location with which we are intimately familiar, we eliminate the fear and anxiety we naturally have a losing things and can focus on embedding that information instead.

Just a theory?

Perhaps.

But the theory is irrelevant.

This stuff works.

And there’s science behind it too.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have very limited patience for anything that can’t be empirically demonstrated in front of a council of disinterested men and women in lab coats.

That’s just the way my Magnets roll.

Further Resources:

In Praise of the Mnemonic Peg System

How to Memorize Numbers with the Major Method

Method of Loci article on Wikipedia

 

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I’ll bet you feel horrible when you procrastinate.

You do?

Good. That means that this podcast may be the most important episode you ever hear.

Look, procrastination is a reality. And falling prey to it is understandable.

Especially if you’re a doer.

Here’s what happens:

Many times when we start a new activity, we experience an initial rush. And everything seems not only possible, but nothing can go wrong. A feeling erupts that says you can conquer the world in a single day.

But before you know it, that energy drops off. And then the resolve drops off. And before you know it, you start sabotaging yourselves by finding excuses that take you away from moving forward.

Again, it’s understandable.

But it doesn’t have to be this way!

Especially not when you’re using the Magnetic Memory Method.

But even then some people fall off the path.  For example, you might come across a challenging word. But instead of popping it into a well-designed Memory Palace … it’s time to do the dishes.

Or attend to the laundry.

Or play games.

Or check email.

Anything but the work of memorization.

Yet we all know one important fact.

That fact is this:

If you want to memorize a lot of vocabulary, terminology, math equations, or whatever it is that floats your Magnetic boat …

You’ve got to actually engage in the key activity of using the Method of Loci in your Memory Palaces.

Luckily, this isn’t work as such (more like play), but it still trips a lot of people up.

The question is why.

The answer is often simple.

It’s fear.

People fear a lot of things when it comes to success. There are two in particular:

1) The fear of failing

2) The fear of succeeding

People usually address the first fear by never getting started.

Crazy, but true.

And in some ways, it’s a pretty rational approach to avoiding failure. After all, if you never take action, you cannot fail.

Only problem is that not taking action is the biggest failure of all.

Fear of success is its own kettle of fish.

It’s connected to the fear of change.

After all, if you achieve one of your goals, you’ll have power.

Great power.

And with power, as the comic books and Superhero movies tell us, comes great responsibility.

Think about it.

If you were to use the Magnetic Memory Method to gain massive boosts in French fluency, for example, you would have to use the language.

You’re not going to be fluent in a language you’re not using, after all. No matter how much you use a Memory Palace or general mnemonics.

And just imagine what would happen if you aced all your exams?

You’d be morally and ethically obliged to study even more and even teach so that others could enjoy your knowledge.

You’d have to become a superhero.

Success has consequences. And that’s why so many fear it.

Here’s another weird reason that people fear success:

They don’t believe they deserve it.

And without self-worth, even bigger negative believes sail in.

They are the seeds of weeds that start growing and distributing even more seeds.

Before you know it, no machete will get your through the jungle.

What are some of these beliefs?

That other people are:

* Faster
* Smarter
* Better

Could be true.

In fact, it will almost always be true.

But it doesn’t matter!

There’s always room for another drop in the ocean.

And the next time you’re by the shore, take a drop away and see what happens. (I’ll leave that as a riddle for you to think about.)

Finally, some people fear that success is impossible.

A lot of this comes from the fact that they haven’t defined what success means to them.

If you don’t know were to find Eden on the map …

Good luck finding it on the ground.

Look, there’s a Golden Rule when it comes to what is achievable and what isn’t. That rule is this:

If someone else can do it, you can do it too.

And if that’s the case, then there’s no reason to fear that it’s impossible.

So long as the evidence behind it having been done is solid, then it can be done.

And as I talk about in the podcast, you can even achieve impossible things without being the doer. Like if you’re a sports coach, for example. You can be the conduit, the strategist, the inspiration.

And perhaps in this case, it might be true that some things are impossible. Because without you at the helm, they would never get done.

So, now that we’ve got all these issues cleared up, make sure that you listen to the podcast episode. This will help ensure that you understand how to overcome these fears and turn procrastination into a tool.

There’s simply no reason to let procrastination get in the way of using mnemonics, your dedicated Memory Palace strategy and all the ways you approach the Method of Loci in combination with the memory techniques you know.

So be sure to check out the resources mentioned in the podcast before you memorize another single unit of the valuable information that will bring meaning, value and positive change to your life. Because if you’re going to procrastinate, these resources will be a powerful diversion indeed.

 

Talk soon!

Sincerely,

Anthony Metivier

Further Resources

BBC article on concentration and focus

Tim Ferris on “Productivity Hacks”

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Do This One Thing And Stop Procrastinating (From Psychology Today)

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In this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, I mention the Peg System as an alternative to the Method of Loci and the Memory Palace method.

Do you really need an alternative?

Probably not, but giving you options is so central to what we do here on the site and the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast.

So here’s a brief rundown of what a Peg System is and when you might want to use one.

The Peg System is just what it sounds like: the exercise of “pegging” (or linking) one thing to another. It assumes that you know the first thing, so it’s just a matter of Magnetically connecting the next in your mind.

I’m going to be giving some examples of how this works, and I want you to follow along. But here’s an important caveat:

Following my examples or the examples of any mnemonist is not the best way to learn memory techniques. As you read, treat these examples and demonstrations only. Immediately create your own images in your mind.

Only in this way will you be accomplishing two things:

1. Learning the link system
2. Exercising your imagination

Let’s get started.

 

How To Hang Information On A Number

 

Have a read through the following list of rhymes:

1 is a gun

2 is a shoe

3 is a bee

4 is a door

5 is a hive

6 is a stick

7 is heaven

8 is a gate

9 is a line

10 is Ben

11 is heaven

12 is a shelf

Etc. …

 

What On Earth Is This All About?

 

It’s about hanging one piece of information in the other. In this case, you are hanging a rhymed word onto something you already know and will probably never forget  (the numbers 1-12). You’re associating them.

There are some problems with the rhymes I just gave you, however.

Here’s the major issue:

Although all of the items that rhyme with the numbers (something that is in and of itself part of creating memorability), not all of the words I’ve given you are directly visible.

For example, what does heaven look like? Clouds? Angel wings? Fields of grass as shown in Gladiator as Maximus makes his way to Elysium?

Who can say?

And that lack of specificity can be a problem.

But not usually if you know your system and always use it … religiously.

 

Here is why:

 

What we’re going to do with these rhymes is use them to memorize more information.

For example, let’s say that you’re going to an important business meeting and you’ll be meeting twelve new people.

The 11th person you meet is named Ralph.

How are you going to associate Ralph with 11? Well, you could see him floating on a cloud (heaven).

Or you could see him with angel wings bursting from his back (heaven).

Or you could see him on the roof of the Sistine Chapel flirting with God’s finger (heaven).

The important thing is to be consistent.

And include wild, exaggerated action in a visual way. It’s great if you can make it absurd too. So instead of seeing wings bursting from Ralph’s back, you could have them bursting from his chest, perhaps even poking through the “Ralph” nametag on this chest.

 

A Concrete Alternative

 

Personally, I never use “heaven” for 11 the rare times I use the Peg System. It’s too abstract and vague and there are too many possibilities. I use my friend “Evan.” I’ve known him for years and can see what he looks like in my mind (he’s almost always got a goofy smile).  And if I were to meet a guy named Ralph and wanted to memorize him as part of a list of names, I would have him interacting with this new dude Ralph in a weird and interesting way.

Or better yet, I might include some other Ralph I already know to “peg” Ralph even deeper into the connective tissue of my mind.

For example, Ralph Macchio from The Karate Kid might show up and do some fancy footwork in a fight between Evan and my new business associate Ralph. It would be large, bright, vivid and filled with zany action.

 

Go One Step Further

 

To make this process truly Magnetic, you can add a Memory Palace component to your pegs.

In fact, as I suggested in this episode of the podcast, pegs are perfect for use within Memory Palaces as much as possible.

Why?

Because having a location increases your chances of recall and reduces that anxiety we were talking about.

Not only that, but you also use and strengthen your spatial memory.

And the more you do this, the more you’ll become a Memory Palace fanatic and get the massive results that only Memory Palaces make possible.

 

In Conclusion …

 

Let me leave you with three fuller examples from the list above, but this time with examples of names and how they could be memorized.

Again, make sure to come up with your own examples so that you can learn this method by doing instead of just running the examples through your mind.

Don’t make the mistake of hoping that they’ll work for you next time if you’ve only just read this over.

That’s activity.

Go for accomplishment.

1 is a gun.

Memory Palace station: My bed.

Target name: Kirsten.

Associative-imagery: My gun shoots a gun made from pillows and the curtains where Kirsten is standing.

Notice the similarity between “Kirsten” and “curtains” in terms of sound. This is the principle of compounding. Use it as much as you can.

2 is a shoe.

Memory Palace station: My desk.

Target name: Amir.

Amir plays a drum kit made of mirrors using shoes instead of drum sticks.

Notice the “mirror” contains the “mir’ sound of Amir. It is the most striking part of the name, so the image is centered on capturing that for decoding later.

3 is a bee.

Memory Palace station: The wall where my guitar rests.

Target name: Phil.

I see my other friend Phil swatting at a bee with my old philosophy textbook while my new associate Phil puts a filter on his camera lens before shooting the action.

Notice that I am using a friend I already have named Phil, plus a book of philosophy.

I also have Phil putting a differently spelled but similar sounding filter on his camera.

To some people, this compounding procedure might sound like overkill.

However, I recommend that you practice getting good at it. It will make the difference between memorizing material effectively just some of the time and all of the time.

And since I assume that you’re into mnemonics for total memory mastery, then you’re going to want to get started with the principle of compounding right away.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s episode of the podcast. Thanks for listening. I appreciate it!

Sincerely,

Anthony Metivier

 

Further Magnetic Resources:

 

The Only 4 Memory Improvement Systems You Need

Peg System article on Wikipedia

A Peg-esque way of Memorizing Numbers

Magnetic Memory Method Article on the Major Method

The Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass

The Original Letter That Forms The Basis Of This Podcast Episode

Just in case you aren’t able to listen to the podcast, here is a copy of the original letter I received. If you’d like to write in and have a question addressed on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, please feel free to get in touch.

Associating in the void does work although I have to admit that your loci system for storing vocabulary may have two advantages:

1. Having a location might improve fluency
2. There is something very slightly superior seemingly to the loci system versus the peg system for example.

I would like to expand a little on number two. I had used the peg system for 30 years before I started using the loci system. Once I started using the loci system I began to notice that there are actually two separate associations one makes with the loci system as contrasted with peg system. One is the interaction with the item stored there at the locus. The other is the visual image of seeing the word one is trying to remember at the locus with no real interaction except visually being there. With the peg system in contrast there is only the interaction between the word one is trying to store in memory and the peg word for the numeral.

So in conclusion I think that loci system involves an extra association with essentially two chances to recall the word or image whereas the peg system only involves the actual interaction between the peg and the word to be recalled.

Even so I would like to see the two systems compared experimentally. Keep in mind that the peg system could be used for language learning as well as simple list learning just as the loci system can.

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In this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, Jonathan Levi talks about how to become a SuperLearner using speed reading and memory techniques.

Tune in now and learn:

* Why speed reading is not snake oil and Jonathan’s amazing bucket, hose and water metaphor for understanding your memory.

* Why long term memory functionally has no limit and how to maximize what you can place inside your mind.

* The precise meaning of what a “superlearner” is and how to achieve this ability not just in your mind, but in your body too.

* Why you must change how you digest and interact with information in order to improve how you learn and memorize information.

* How to get more done in less time when it comes to learning just about anything.

* Why improving your mind is like putting advanced cabling into a house.

* The bottleneck effect that comes from using Duolingo, Spreeder and other rote repetition programs and how to use your mind to gain an advantage over those who limit themselves to these tools.

* Why the memory tool “chunking” may not be good for learning every single topic and why you need to have multiple tools.

* The relationship between driving manual transmission in your car and using your memory.

* Why adults learn differently and how to make sure that you can fulfill this requirement throughout your life.

* Why Jonathan prefers the term “Memory Temple” rather than “Memory Palace,” “Roman Room,” “House of Memory” or “Method of Loci.”

* Why Jonathan doesn’t use the word “mnemonics” and why it caused all kinds of suffering and even made him resent learning.

* The “kinesiology tape” phenomenon and how it relates to memory competitions and the culture of  memory games discussed in Joshua Foer’s Moonwalking With Einstein.

* The Daniel Tammet issue and how it relates to psychics, mentalists and magicians (and why you should never fraudulently represent your advanced memory abilities once you’ve developed them).

* Jonathan’s amazing story of demonstrating exactly how someone who thought she had a bad memory easily memorized a phone number using memory techniques – without even realizing it!

* The two dominant ways to memorize huge strings of numbers and the kind Jonathan relies upon predominantly – including the reason why the Major Method is not his go-to method.

* How to use association to memorize pronunciation (using a fatty example from Russian).

* How Jonathan used Superlearning to solve his knee pain and restoring himself to health.

*  SMART goals and why using them will help you become a Superlearner and maximize your time.

Resources Mentioned On The Podcast:

Becoming  a Supple Leopard: The Ultimate Guide to Resolving Pain, Preventing Injury and Optimizing Athletic Performance.

The Tyranny of Experts.

The Adult Learning Theory – Andragogy – of Malcolm Knowles.

About Jonathan Levi:

Jonathan Levi is an experienced entrepreneur and angel investor from Silicon Valley. After successfully selling his Inc 5,000 rated startup in April of 2011, Levi packed up for Israel, to gain experience at Rhodium, a Venture Capital Firm specializing in New Media and Mobile. While in Israel, Levi enlisted the help of speed-reading expert and university professor Anna Goldentouch, who tutored him in speed-reading, advanced memorization, and more. Levi saw incredible results while earning his MBA from INSEAD, and was overwhelmed with the amount of interest his classmates expressed in acquiring the same skill set. Since acquiring this superlearning skill, he has become a proficient lifehacker, optimizing and “hacking” such processes as travel, sleep, language learning, and fitness.

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