Moonwalking With Einstein
The more you know, the easier it is to know more.
SPOILER ALERT! - To the guest reader, the following will reveal all sorts of plot details. If you wish to remain blissfully ignorant, leave now.
Average rating: 5.4
Sandy 6/6
Picked this because the author was a guest at a recent Livewire show and he listened to several couples phone-in an account of their lives and then he repeated almost all of it back. Much of it felt like a parlor trick, but she was intrigued. She was struck by the line, "If I didn't forget all the dumb things I've done, I'd be neurotic." The technique of memory palaces was particularly amazing when you considered that the competitors would occasionally have to clean them out in order to make room for new stuff.
Maggie 7/7
Found this an occasional slog, but the subject on the whole was interesting. It baffled her that a roomful of images would be easy to remember. Seems like you're just adding more things to keep track of. She was watching a Finnish detective show that referenced these very techniques! Brought up that we aren't learning the way we used to and wondered what that means for us. Liked the description of creativity as the ability to form connections between subjects and relate to them in new ways, and so the more you're able to remember, the more, supposedly, your potential for creativity. She was annoyed by his line of questioning with Born on a Blue Day author, Daniel Tammet, and saw it as badgering.
Found this an occasional slog, but the subject on the whole was interesting. It baffled her that a roomful of images would be easy to remember. Seems like you're just adding more things to keep track of. She was watching a Finnish detective show that referenced these very techniques! Brought up that we aren't learning the way we used to and wondered what that means for us. Liked the description of creativity as the ability to form connections between subjects and relate to them in new ways, and so the more you're able to remember, the more, supposedly, your potential for creativity. She was annoyed by his line of questioning with Born on a Blue Day author, Daniel Tammet, and saw it as badgering.
Carolyn 5/5
Thought that she might have her students learn their multiplication facts differently and shared the phrase, 'You have to be 16 to drive a 4X4', as an example. She mentioned that 'Mindmaps' used to be a very popular teaching tool to help students organize their thoughts. Liked the idea that places hold memories, and hands-on learning experiences are more memorable than just book learning, sharing how a teacher dissected a trout when she was young. The book was okay and made her think a lot about what she could do with memorization techniques as a teacher.
Thought that she might have her students learn their multiplication facts differently and shared the phrase, 'You have to be 16 to drive a 4X4', as an example. She mentioned that 'Mindmaps' used to be a very popular teaching tool to help students organize their thoughts. Liked the idea that places hold memories, and hands-on learning experiences are more memorable than just book learning, sharing how a teacher dissected a trout when she was young. The book was okay and made her think a lot about what she could do with memorization techniques as a teacher.
Letitia 4.5/4.5
"Your parents are alive when you read their handwriting," this brought Sandy to tears. Letitia wrote her own notes - So did K'Lynn, but I forgot to get them! - here they are:
I liked the premise of the book. We all think about memory loss as we age, at least I do! The book brought up a lot of interesting ideas about the use of memory and how it has evolved through the years, but it lost me when it talked in depth about some of the various techniques, though I had to laugh about the erotic images and having to remove his mother from one of them! As the author described his method of attaching images as well as color as memory triggers, I thought of Born on a Blue Day. I found that it did not hold my interest in parts despite that fact that I enjoyed the author's voice and self-deprecating humor.
Things that interested me: Internal memory vs. external memory and the change through the development of the written word, the printing press, and now the Internet. We don't have the need to use our memory as they did in the past. Are we actually losing our memories? That is one big plus for scrapbooking.
Pat 6/6
I enjoyed this and can still see the jar of pickled garlic at the edge of the parking strip at our house circa 1975. I can picture each room clearly and haven't been there for over 35 years. The book was well written and kept my attention although it dragged here and there. I guess that's to be expected with such a cerebral topic. My take-away is outside of memorizing lists, so what? My memory can surprise me with a name or event, but is overall fickle. I love that our memory champion forgot his car at a restaurant! I can second Letitia's statement that parents come alive when you read their handwriting. My grandfather wrote a memoir of his time owning the Shelburne Inn in Seaview, Washington. I typed it up for my mom and she was of course flooded with memories. She had had it for years, but had never read it! It was such a gift from my grandfather, and I think I will try to do something similar.
"Your parents are alive when you read their handwriting," this brought Sandy to tears. Letitia wrote her own notes - So did K'Lynn, but I forgot to get them! - here they are:
I liked the premise of the book. We all think about memory loss as we age, at least I do! The book brought up a lot of interesting ideas about the use of memory and how it has evolved through the years, but it lost me when it talked in depth about some of the various techniques, though I had to laugh about the erotic images and having to remove his mother from one of them! As the author described his method of attaching images as well as color as memory triggers, I thought of Born on a Blue Day. I found that it did not hold my interest in parts despite that fact that I enjoyed the author's voice and self-deprecating humor.
Things that interested me: Internal memory vs. external memory and the change through the development of the written word, the printing press, and now the Internet. We don't have the need to use our memory as they did in the past. Are we actually losing our memories? That is one big plus for scrapbooking.
Pat 6/6
I enjoyed this and can still see the jar of pickled garlic at the edge of the parking strip at our house circa 1975. I can picture each room clearly and haven't been there for over 35 years. The book was well written and kept my attention although it dragged here and there. I guess that's to be expected with such a cerebral topic. My take-away is outside of memorizing lists, so what? My memory can surprise me with a name or event, but is overall fickle. I love that our memory champion forgot his car at a restaurant! I can second Letitia's statement that parents come alive when you read their handwriting. My grandfather wrote a memoir of his time owning the Shelburne Inn in Seaview, Washington. I typed it up for my mom and she was of course flooded with memories. She had had it for years, but had never read it! It was such a gift from my grandfather, and I think I will try to do something similar.
Becky 4.75/4.75
Her interest waxed and waned. She was waiting for more practical memory techniques, something that went just beyond his training and competition. Given that our visual memory evolved in part as a survival trait in order to find our way back to camp after a hunt, it made sense to her that a scroll of text could be visualized spatially. She shared that actress Marilu Henner has complete recall of her life, down to what clothes she was wearing on what day, but can't let go of any emotions associated with the memories. For example, if she recalls the day her dog died her emotions are just as strong now as they were then. She didn't see Foer's questioning of Tammet as harsh, but an honest line of questioning to determine whether what he does is due to genius or technique. She suspects technique is used.
Her interest waxed and waned. She was waiting for more practical memory techniques, something that went just beyond his training and competition. Given that our visual memory evolved in part as a survival trait in order to find our way back to camp after a hunt, it made sense to her that a scroll of text could be visualized spatially. She shared that actress Marilu Henner has complete recall of her life, down to what clothes she was wearing on what day, but can't let go of any emotions associated with the memories. For example, if she recalls the day her dog died her emotions are just as strong now as they were then. She didn't see Foer's questioning of Tammet as harsh, but an honest line of questioning to determine whether what he does is due to genius or technique. She suspects technique is used.
Miles 5/5
Admitted that he raced to finish the book. In general he prefers the escapism of fiction to non-fiction. Thought it was a great premise and got hooked early on. Doesn't like it when non-fiction writers tell a story via recounting, and this avoided that. We learned that Miles was a spelling bee champ in his youth, but he wishes that he could put that skill set to more practical purposes like remembering people's names at business conferences. Good pick.
Admitted that he raced to finish the book. In general he prefers the escapism of fiction to non-fiction. Thought it was a great premise and got hooked early on. Doesn't like it when non-fiction writers tell a story via recounting, and this avoided that. We learned that Miles was a spelling bee champ in his youth, but he wishes that he could put that skill set to more practical purposes like remembering people's names at business conferences. Good pick.
K-Lynn 5/5
Thinks of herself as having a bad memory. Always keeps her keys in the same place so she doesn't have to remember where they are. Can't remember how long she's been married, has to do the math every time. Struggles to remember which stories she has told to people. For example, she once traveled several weeks with the Counting Crows on tour! But she's told Sandy that story at least twice. She can remember lyrics to songs, however. She found the book much more interesting when he was talking about others, rather than recounting his experiences. Shared the image of Luke Skywalker riding a mule. Unfortunately, I don't remember what this is in reference to. How ironic! Care to share? As always if you send me your notes I can post them or you can do it yourself at the bottom of the page.
Next book: The Book That Matters Most by Ann Hood
Thinks of herself as having a bad memory. Always keeps her keys in the same place so she doesn't have to remember where they are. Can't remember how long she's been married, has to do the math every time. Struggles to remember which stories she has told to people. For example, she once traveled several weeks with the Counting Crows on tour! But she's told Sandy that story at least twice. She can remember lyrics to songs, however. She found the book much more interesting when he was talking about others, rather than recounting his experiences. Shared the image of Luke Skywalker riding a mule. Unfortunately, I don't remember what this is in reference to. How ironic! Care to share? As always if you send me your notes I can post them or you can do it yourself at the bottom of the page.
Next book: The Book That Matters Most by Ann Hood
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