No comments about The Anatomy of Memory: An Anthology.

5 comments about Super-Learning.

1. someone that reviewed it said that it doesnt work, thats why its not used. that is not true, not everything that works is used. as an example, i will talk about something that is not in this book:

   there are time tested methods of memorizing, which have been used for millenia. one such method is the method that was used by roman orators to remember speaches. this has been time tested, and nobody disputes their effectiveness; basically, it is a sort of advanced mnemonic, that is easy to use. read "the memory book" by harry lorayne. the system used in that book is the complete opposite of superlearning, and it works, but why isnt it used? i have no idea. that system surely works; you can name ten items, and i can resite them back to you forward and backward. surely, that is a handy skill? why doesnt the american school system use it?

   they are afraid of change.

   it is well know that grading does not help the educational process, and impedes it, yet most schools use them.

   the system described in superlearning is brilliant, and works better than the system described by harry lorayne (which is nothing at all similar to that of superlearning, they are almost opposite, but i still would recommend harry lorayne). i have used a modified form of superlearning (that i devised myself), which is based on the same principles, minus the music, and the specially prepared tapes. i basically adhere to the breathing/relaxation system, and the 8 beat learning method, and i have had unbelievable results; i remember the word the first time, every time.

   i think the reason that the method didnt work for most of the people was because they werent doing it right; its all about relaxing, and breathing, and they were all talking about taking notes and keeping track of the stories. the stories were just to convince you, not to be studied! they missed the point, and are they were being superficial.




2. Superlearning is a compendium of advanced learning techniques
   aimed at facilitating the learning process. The work shows how
   to break down complicated assignments into smaller segments.
   The author reviews relaxing techniques in learning and
   reinforcement. These techniques include breathing and
   telepathic beats explained by the author. The author emphasizes
   that children learn better if they are well-schooled in
   relaxing and breathing techniques. The work explains how to
   operate the mind and body in unison. The work extends the
   learning process into dreams and the quantification of
   what is experienced in a dream. This is a worthy investment
   for readers willing to commit the time necessary to learn the
   cited techniques.



3. It is not that this book does not stretch your limits of thinking. It is not that this book does not have some great ideas.
   You will have to have an open mind and the methods here slap against the face of conventional wisdom, which I really liked. I will try these methods one day as they make sense. Yet I felt as if something was missing from this book and I could not quite put my finger on it.
   Its doubtful its simplicity will ever be incorporated into the US educational system, which means of course that test scores in the US will continue to decline



4. Before reading this review I will give you some idea of my background so you can judge my review on the basis of my experience. I am a multilingual language teacher and writer with a keen interest in accelerated learning techniques, and have been such for several years. I first became interested in Superlearning several years ago as a possible method for increaing both my own language learning rate, which is considerable, and that of my students. Superleaning looked like something really new and innovative, and, having read the original Superlearning book, I decided to buy several Superlearning products from their website, including the audio course, special learning cassettes and a language course produced by the authors and based on the exact procedures laid out in their books. I wanted to be sure I was doing it properly. I also wish to point out that the products are not cheap by any means, well, not in price anyway. In terms of quality of the materials, recording and presentatiom, I have never encountered anything so cheap and shoddy!

   Five years later, and after even more extensive research and experimentation with the system, both personally and in my classes, I can only say that almost all of this system is a sham. It doesn't work. I used a language course produce by them, and found no benefit whatsoever in it. The only benefit I got was to use the course, which I would also like to point out is nothing more than 3 tapes and a very thin and cheaply produced pamphlet of words and phrases and, on occasion the recording did not match the transcript, was to use the tapes without the highly distracting breathing exercises and do it the old-fashioned way. I made my own tapes too, as per the instructiosn in the course, which was a vastly time-consuming process, and had the same lack of result as the "professionally" produced languages tapes by the authors themselves!

   There is no doubt that proper relaxation, relaxed breathing, positive suggestions and classical music can have varying degrees of benefit on the students, but the method you will find in ALL the books and programmes produced by Superlearning leaves a great deal to be desired!

   I was interested by another reviewer's reference to a researcher from Monash univerity and her work into Lozanov and Superlearning. As I don't think a text link is allowed ina review, you might like to do a web search for "The personal website of Uschi Felix" at Monash University for a lot more information about Superleaning and the validity of some of the claims made before you are tempted to part with your hard earned and get a disappointment.

   Having tried to contact Superlearning with questions and complaints, I can only attribute the lack of service and, indeed, acknowledgement I encountered to the fact that they must get a lot of commenst from some very dissatisfied people! I urge you not to buy into this scam. You are being taken for a ride.

   To those reviewers who are getting so excited by the promises in the Superlearning products, all I can say is try it and see. Remember - I was just like you a few years ago!




5. I first read superlearning in 1984 and have had a look at this recent publication. As a teenager, it did inspire me to wonder about my own mind's potential. It also gave me some good excuses not to study so much, and some great excuses for why I didn't do so well in exams etc.
   
   The one thing I kind of like about it, is that it talks about many different tricks. It is an exploration of methods, and really doesn't give enough away about any particular method. I have read other similar books that give detailed steps that seem tailored to leading you off an examination cliff.
   
   The way it is written is unbelievable, and since maturing and learning about real learning strategies, I realize this book is mostly harmless.
   
   If you want something more workable, go for Kenneth Higbee instead.
   
   Browse through it at a library somewhere.

2 comments about The Great Memory Book.

1. Almost nothing can unsettle an aging baby boomer so much as the question, "Don't you remember? We discussed this last night." We did? "The Great Memory Book" is a wonderfully expressed, beautifully put-together primer on how memory works--and sometimes doesn't, and why. Everything's here: memory types and oddities, memory strategies, and the role of lifestyle on memory. There are journal exercises and brain games (great fun to do with the person who asked the foregoing annoying question), and fascinating case studies of extraordinary memory "experiences." This is an excellent interactive book; well-researched and written, informative and, in the end, ultimately reassuring to this reader, whose informed response to her questioner was, "If information is not deemed meaningful, it will not be stored in long-term memory."



2. This is one of the best introductions to understanding memory today. It is comprehensive in coverage, interesting, practical and informative. You get an easy digest of current brain studies on different kinds of memory, the relevance of diet and nutrients, the influence of lifestyle, stress and pollution. Two chapters are devoted to mnemonics and there are numerous tips and strategies for improving memory. The format of the book with numerous pictures and sketches is very helpful. Once you master the foundation and the interest is aroused, people can go on to delve more deeply into related areas, such as the more recent books by Rupert Sheldrake, or the applications of NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming), esp. the submodalities, in enhancing meaning-making, learning and memory... I highly recommend this book and Jensen's Brain-based Learning to anyone interested in tapping into the treasures of "the decade of the brain".

1 comments about Quantum Memory : Working Magic with Your Memory.

1. This is a well written guide for improving memory skills while reminding us of the skills we already know. The format allows the reader to scan the information quickly and yet provides enough information for the suggestions to make sense. I used it as a resource for a study skills group. I plan to use it again in the future as well as other guides written by this author.

1 comments about Memory and Brain.

1. Squire is a formidable name in this area and this is a work of essential knowledge for all those that are involved in memory research and understanding brain functioning.

5 comments about Ignite Your Intuition: Improve Your Memory, Make Better Decisions, Be More Creative and Achieve Your Full Potential.

1. I was given Ignite Your Intuition as a gift, and what a great gift it was. In fact, I purchased it for my boss and from that point, the giving of this book was like a chain reaction. He enjoyed the book so tremendously, that he purchased it for his entire wedding party, and according to him, many of them purchased it for their friends and family. His words, "It was the perfect gift." Now, I have decided this book is the perfect gift for my brother-in-law for Christmas, so I'm ordering a copy for him. I've always been interested in the idea of intuition,
   but so many of the books I tried to read were so hard to get through. In all honesty, Ignite Your Intuition is the first book of this type I've been able to read cover to cover. It made sense to both my rational mind and my intuitive mind. The author's writing is clear, upbeat and encouraging. The exercises provided were fun to do, easy to understand and effective. I can't recommend this book enough to people who are interested in developing their minds from memory to intuition to the paranormal, it's all here. Furthermore, Karges includes a four page suggested reading list, which I found extremely valuable. An inexpensive book that provides so much information in such an enjoying writing style is a rare find indeed!



2. Ignite Your Intuition delivers education and motivation in one tidy package! The book allows you to take a tour of your own mind and to expand your untapped mental abilities. Abilities you may already be aware of and some that you've probably never even considered the possibility of.

   You start with memory. We all have one - some are much better at remembering things than others. However, whatever your natural abilities are you can increase them to an amazing degree and the book shows you how.

   From memory, the book goes into the concept of intuition. There is no ambiguity here, very little new age verbiage. Just sound practical advice and a rational and scientific approach to what intuition is and just how it works. You get the opportunity to test your own intuitive abilities and then are given fun and entertaining excercises to help you perfect your intuitive "powers" so that you can make better decisions and become more effective in your life. As the book points out - your life is a result of the decisions you make and you owe it to yourself to use your whole mind in your decision making process not just your analytical mind.

   The book spends some time with the "pendulum." Truly a fascinating device for tapping into your intuition. It amazes me to this day! Not Ouija board spookiness but a scientific way of measuring and revealing what your intuitive mind has to say.

   Then things start to get stranger ... the book takes you into the world of the paranormal, ESP, anomalous perception and the psychic realm. The book doesn't ask you to believe, only to experiment and then decide for yourself. I like this approach. The book isn't telling you what to believe in but rather it allows you to make up your own mind via experience. Many areas are explored. Some I have a natural affinity for, others I don't. The variety of talents explored should guarantee that you find some area that you can excel in. This section is filled with fun exercises as well.

   Speaking of fun, the last chapter is all about combining your new found talents with fun games. As you have fun playing these games (you will be amazed ... you will be amused!!) you are also strengthening your intuitive and ESP abilities.

   The book also contains a 4 page suggested reading list which will show you where to go next.

   Written in an encouraging, upbeat and conversational style, I predict you will love Ignite Your Intuition!




3. A fun and interesting book which allows you to explore your mind and all of it's possibilities. From the more normal subjects such as memory to the intriguing world of physcic ability he covers it in a way that is meaningful and insightful. This book will help you delve into the areas of your brain that need to be brought back to life. An easy read with a big impact.



4. I guess some people are attracted to this book from the standpoint of learning secrets and gaining power. Ignite Your Intuition does that but in a most surprising way.
   
   The book's most valuable aspect to me is the revelation that you can design the life you want to live, that your mind can attract the things you want in life and that you can program your very own supercomputer (your brain) for success. Intuition and your subconscious mind can make your dreams your reality and this book shows you how.
   
   The writing is so encouraging and the subject matter so interesting that I found it hard to put down. I finished it in no time and put the techniques to work right away to amazing results in both my business and my personal life.
   
   Each chapter begins with a famous (or not quite so famous but no less profound) quote. I oftentimes open the book to a chapter and just reflect on the quote presented.
   
   The book is filled with real life accounts of people who used their intuitive minds in amazing ways. These people run the gamut from pragmatic scientists to crafty businessmen to lofty artists. All the stories are inspiring.
   
   The book touches on many subjects including the power of the brain, dream interpretation, intuition, memory and the paranormal. I can't imagine anyone not getting something from this book and at such a low price! What is there not to like?



5. I have owned this book since its first day in stores. Being a long-time fan of Craig Karges's stage show, I couldn't wait for it to hit the shelves nearly ten years ago. When I bought the book, I read it in its entirety the first night I had it in my hands. Since that day, every time that I look at my bookshelf, there is something that draws me to this book. Many times I pick it up and flip through it, reading a chapter or section that catches my eye. Recently, I read the entire book once again and am simply amazed at Mr. Karges's insightful thoughts and suggestions. I work in an environment where I supervise individuals who are in their early twenties. Every once in a great while I will incorporate an exercise from this book as a fun team-builder or a way to get these individuals to focus on their inner-selves. They truly enjoy these activities and find them invigorating due to their "mysterious" nature. It gives an exciting alternative to the average team-building activity. I recently purchased a second copy of the book because friends and co-workers have asked to borrow it time and time again. My original was signed by Mr. Karges and I won't let it out of my hands! I now keep the second copy in my office for others to flip through. Personally, this book has helped me with little things that are simply invaluable. One of the most helpful things was his memorization technique. In a world where we are constantly on the go with little time to keep hand-written lists, his memorization technique helps me to remember things in a way that is not only effective, but makes me laugh when I finally get a chance to write things down, thus reducing the stress of an overactive lifestyle. The book is well-written and is fun and enjoyable to read. Reading this book truly is like "experiencing the extraordinary."

5 comments about The Wisdom Paradox: How Your Mind Can Grow Stronger As Your Brain Grows Older.

1. This is the book that got me interested, once again, in neuropsychology and neuroanatomy. Yes, the immediate interest is that business of not wanting "to go gently into that good night." as Dylan Thomas wrote. How much will cognitive delcine affect me as I age (something we are all doing since birth - it isn't only the old who are aging).
   
   I think Goldberg, motivated by his own need to "rage, rage against the dying of the light," used his enormous knowledge of neuropsychology to create a work that should benefit all who want to know what their chances are (or of relatives/friends) of continuing to lead a useful life despite the inevitable (and many) ways we decline in capacity as we age.
   
   This book is not necessarily an easy read for a generation used to soundbites, e-mail abreviations, evening news pseudo-profundity, or dumbed-down magazine articles. One has to realize that neurology is the subject medical students fear most. And with good reason. The human brain has been described as the most complex thing we know of. Somehow, in a way not yet fully understood, consciousness emerges from the healthy, mature human brain to give us (finally in human evolution) the ability to study effectively with recent functional brain scanning techniques the very organ system that allows us to smell a perfume and recall a long ago romance, to see a face in the crowd and recognize someone we have not seen for ten years (or fifty years), to freeze with terror as the amygdala (as close as we can come to Freud's Id) brings to mind a terrible incident from childhood, to meditate and find a place of peace where some of our systems shut down like that scene in the film "2001" in which HAL, the space ship's computer, gets his memory modules unpluged after trying to kill the crew.
   
   Frankly, I liked Goldberg's making the book not a text, but a personal exploration. Textbooks are the most boring article ever devised by the human mind - but necessary until in some new century slouching up towards Jerusalem we get microchip implants that make us into Borgs, don't snicker, people are having chips placed subdermal just so they can wave their arm at a door and have it open. Think how willing people will be score of years hence to suffer the implant of cerebral devices that give us many terabytes of updatable data storage or like "The Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy" Marvin, the robot with a brain the size of a planet, unlimited intelligence. What Faustian deals will we make in centuries to come?
   
   Get out your magic marker and color all those amazing bits of research and speculation about how our brains age. His theory is that we will get by nicely, thank you very much, on the sheer acumulation of left brain (that's not your creative side, sorry) routines which will enable us to be useful on the job and not too dull in our personal lives. This is despite the loss of some brain capacity (literally, the brain shrinks), memory loss, lessened creativity and such. It helps to have been bright and active using the brain in one's occupation.
   
   However, we still don't know definitively what causes Alzheimer's disease or many other serious forms of cognitive decline. The good news is that we have a better chance than not of living our life to the full without disabling mental decline. It is not a 'neuropsychology for dummies' work. It is not well illustrated - see my review of Rita Carter's "Mapping the Mind" which is - but one keens at Goldberg's expertise in his field (he specializes in the frontal lobes, which, incidentally, is where the part of the mind that seems to be YOU is located - maybe).
   
   With all the babyboomers coming along worried about their senior years, I see a bright future for this book - and many others like it. There are just so many more answers to those questions the artist asked: D'ou venons nous? Que sommes nous? Ou allons nous? (Gaugauin, MFA Boston). Goldberg is one of many helping us to understand the latest discoveries and theories in this field. He has some of his own; he's more in favor of the 'distributed processing' theory of brain function, not the highly modular view which has held sway for decades. Incidentally, recent research has shown that the Broca's area and Werneicke's area are less fixed and immutable than formerly thought.
   
   I recommend this book.



2. Elkhonon Goldberg brings to fore many insights about the brain, but the overriding theme of the book is that as we age our brain shifts focus from a right-hemisphere dominated approach to a left-hemisphere dominated approach. New evidence has generally shown that, contrary to older studies, the right hemisphere is used to 'learn new things' and the left hemisphere is used for pattern recognition. As we age, we shift our brain dominance from right to left. Goldberg explains how we can take advantage of our awareness of this shift. (For example: keep our brain active so it doesn't atrophy -- especially the right hemisphere.)
   
   Just as our brain shifts focus, this book shifts focus as we read along, too. The first part of the book is generally fact and hypothesis based. Goldberg explains his theories interlaced with personal narrative. The book then shifts focus to what we can do to maintain our cognitive abilities as we age. Goldberg outlines cognitive exercises we can do to keep our brain sharp. This chapter comes immediately following a chapter summarizing recent research proposing that humans grow neurons their entire life -- how many we grow and where they migrate to is up to us (in theory).
   
   This is a positive book, bringing hope and some scientific rigor to those older folk interested in the life-cycle of their brain. Goldberg comes across as a competent scientist and, at over 50, still hasn't lost his writing ability. (If you read the book you'll learn, from a technical point of view, why this isn't so surprising. Hint: writing is a mostly left-hemisphere activity.)



3. I came across this book after I read Joe DeLoux's Synaptic Self: How Our Brains Become Who We Are, and it proved to be an enjoyable read. Elkhonon Goldberg has written quite complex information into a very comprehensible direction for the reader in his "The Wisdom Paradox."
   
   There are fifteen chapters in this book, with an addition of an epilogue. With each chapter, it is more like a personal journey than a simple or dry work. It is both personal and informative.
   
   I personally like this book because it adds to my understanding of neuropsychology and neurobiology as it would be a good resourceful book. After reading this book, I find myself feeling compelled to exercise my mind and get those synapse of mine firing. My current skills are limited and useless. However, I can increase my skills by doing what I never done before. Knowledge is indeed unlimited and so is our brain power.
   
   In my opinion, I recommend this book.



4. I recommend that you read the Scientific American review that you can find above. It contains just about everything this book has to offer. The ideas about brain hemispheres are interesting, but you won't learn much more by reading the 300+ pages.
   The Wisdom Paradox has a very promising premise and the topic is very important and the author has a mighty pedigree, but still the book leaves you emptyhanded. The most infuriating part is the last chapter that describes a program for cognitive fitness, i.e. a way of enhancing your brain power. And that's it: a description! Nothing else. The author doesn't give the reader a single exercise, but he just pats himself on the back for inventing such a wonderful program.
   You won't become any wiser from this book.



5. Coming from someone who studied with Luria, the results were expected to be very high.
   
   The most important part is the clear and interesting explanation about how the brain changes the learning process as time goes by.
   
   There are some corollaries that could be extracted from that. For instance, people with different ages could be better fitted for specific tasks than other people and why.
   
   Other important consequence should be the fact that our learning style during maturity is going to depend strongly on our learning style in earlier times.
   
   This part, that could be extremely interesting, is underdeveloped. It seeems that the author tries to give an optimistic view about the aging process forgetting the drawbacks of this same process...for instance, older people do not fit in task requiring an extensive use of short-term memory.
   
   The book is very good but the objective of showing the "nice face" of aging process could be near to the "self-help" literacy and that can be the worst part.

2 comments about The Memory Manual: 10 Simple Things You Can do to Improve Your Memory After 50 (The Best Half of Life).

1. "After 50" attracted my eyes. My memory began deteriorating at the age of 40. "Memory is the ability to register, combine, and store information from each of your senses." Senses are your own memory tools. The more senses you use, the more information you will store in your memory bank. I had never really practiced it until I read this book which reminded me in an organized way. I am going to bring this book to the next reference librarians' meeting. Most of my colleagues are getting closer to 50 or over. We need improving our memories.



2. I would recommend Your Memory: How it works and how to improve it by Kenneth Higbee instead. 10 simple things... are very, very simple. But, if you want an extremely quick read, I'd recommend it. :)

5 comments about Age-Proof Your Mind: Detect, Delay, and Prevent Memory Loss--Before It's Too Late.

1. I checked this book out of the library. I'm almost finished and I've found that it is full of good information for those concerned about memory loss. It is the only book I've read on the subject so I can't compare it to any others. It is easy to read.



2. The subject matter became an interest of our family because my mother-in-law was diagnosed with Alzheimers. My wife and I are in our mid-fifties and we wanted to get scientific data on any preventative measures.
   
   Dr. Tan did an excellent job covering this debilitating disease-in a way anyone could understand the data and preventative measures recommended.
   
   It was an excellent read and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a level of knowledge to where they can adjust their current lifestyle to better prevent this disease.



3. One night I spent a good hour frantically searching for my cell phone, which I thought I had misplaced. Eventually, I reached into my jacket pocket out of habit and guess what I found? My cell phone of course! Complete memory lapses had been happening to me a lot - more than I could attribute to just being tired - and this is what ultimately inspired me to purchase this book. After I recently "misplaced" my cell phone, a book offering to "age-proof" my mind was too much to resist.
   
   I was honestly convinced that my memory was becoming like a sieve. But, reading Tan's book I learned that memory loss is reversible and avoidable. I took the evaluation for mental fitness, got tips on healthy aging, suggestions for brain exercises and even facts on the connection between diet and memory.
   
   All in all, I found this book to be very thorough and helpful for those who think their memory is slipping. After reading this book, I discovered that online services like Agogus.com help improve memory, as they focus on enhancing mental fitness. Agogus is particularly fun, with great topics to read; I'm actually having more fun socially too. And - I haven't lost my cell phone lately, so it must be working!



4. I found this book to be full of excellent advice and tips by which I might be able to at least delay the onset of Alzheimer's, which runs in my family. I plan to utilize several of the techniques mentioned. I would recommend it to anyone who currently has ALZ in their family.



5. ...but actual nutrient and supplement advice for hanging onto your marbles a little while longer. There's also more exercises in there than the run-of-the-mill Sudoku and crossword puzzle games.

No comments about Mind Food and Smart Pills.