5 comments about Carved in Sand: When Attention Fails and Memory Fades in Midlife.

1. Carved in Sand by Cathryn Jakobson Ramin is a must read for anyone interested in how the brain functions and what happens as it ages.
   
   Chock full of valuable information and presented in a highly readable style this book will take its place on your reference shelf for frequent revisits as it has mine.
   
   What is especially extraordinary about Ramin is that she is completely honest about the results of what she calls a series of "Interventions" into the world of improving brain power. For
   instance she finds that meditation doesn't work for her. Hallelujah! It doesn't work for me either. At last someone I could identify with instead of wondering what was wrong with me.
   
   Ramin's journey through the research into the brain and the methods and drugs used today to help with problems is fascinating, educational and a great read.



2. I bought this book because of all the 5 star reviews, after seeing it at a book show last year. If you want a scattershot sampling of most of the available techniques for dealing with normal/abnormal change in memory over time this is for you. However, the author herself never sticks with any method long enough to see if it would be effective before ditching it and trying the next thing. The A.D.D. drugs are effective for her, and I can see why.



3. The middle ground between memory loss -- with normal aging and Dementia is the diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). This is the only book I have found devoted entirely to MCI. Unless you have CMI, or you know someone has CMI or Dementia, you cannot speak intelligently about cognitive problems NOT associated with the normal aging process unless you read this book. The author pursued many options to improve her cognitive functioning and documented them all. She found out she did not have AZ, and she did improve her memory using several of the options. I too have CMI. In addition to Aricept, I have had to use oxygen, alpha-lipoic-acid and other supplements reviewed by the author to maximize my brain's performance. I did extensive research on the internet, but before I tried anything, I read "Carved in Sand" as a second source for the remedies I found most recommended on the internet posts. This is an Excellent Book by someone who deals with MCI.



4. Cathryn Jakobsen Ramin's honest account of her own experience guides us through numerous interventions to stem cognitive degeneration and memory loss in middle age. It is simultaneously educational and user friendly . Ramin's self-deprecating humor keeps the subject from being too heavy and helps us to digest the significant quantity of well researched information presented. Most will welcome information about basic lifestyle changes that can enhance their mental performance as they progress through normal aging. For those facing more serious issues, the path toward diagnosis and treatment is illuminated.



5. If you can only read one book on the subject of failing memory then it should be "Carved in Sand". Written by a contributor to the New York Times, Cathryn Jakobson Ramin writes a frightening story that will keep you reading as though it were a novel.
   
   With dire predictions of the continued increase of dementia in the coming years, this is a must read. The author tells of her own struggle with the onset of memory problems in her early forties an how she deals with it. She tells us it's not just the memory loss but the axiety that comes with it. Because of her profession and contacts she was able to do the research and get the help that she needed. She writes about this search with tremendous sensitivity and insight.
   
   I continue to reread parts of this wonderful book and highly recommend it to everyone over the age of thirty, dealing with the onset of their own dementia or a caregiver for someone with this terrible desease.

5 comments about Mozart's Brain and the Fighter Pilot: Unleashing Your Brain's Potential.

1. In "Mozart's Brain and the Fighter Pilot" Dr. Richard Restak extends in his capacity of acting as an intermediate between knowledge of brain functions and the people in general. If it were not for the title it is difficult to think about how to sell the book and spread that knowledge. The book describes in simple words and in short chapters, sites of brain activity as well as its functions combined with advises as to stimulate those areas and functions in order to maintain the nervous tissue activity. This combined with personal anecdotes and experiences. I found the whole book a very nice experience although some of the advises were somewhat difficult to follow due to personal circumstances (I agree with that of writing down). A remarkable paragraph is that where Restak cites the writer Jorge Luis Borges, an Argentinian as myself, as an example of making notable associations (and Borges' erudition). Indeed, that paragraph cites a painter from Uruguay, who I did not know till that moment but for the fact that I was in the beach, in Uruguay, and had seen that name at a Hotel one day before! This is indeed an astonishing coincidence which yet is to be explained by Restak himself. This was a summer vacation reading which I really enjoyed and although I did with Mozart citation I was not able to find that referring to the "Fighter Pilot".
   Dr. Ricardo Drut
   patologi@netverk.com.ar



2. Basically a book of memory and brain exercises, with a few anecdotes thrown in. I was expecting more about brain function in diverse areas of human endeavor. The title is one of the best things about the book. The exercises are probably effective, but seem so tedious I can't imagine doing them (physical activity has shown this need not be the case with exercise).
   Worth a magazine article, perhaps, but not an entire book. Disappointing.



3. Although there were some interesting parts, this book (I had the audio-book version) ultimately disappointed as it bogged down, and got downright boring.



4. This book would be most useful to students of human anatomy,
   medicine and biology. The author begins with an exhaustive
   description of how the brain operates. He explains that we
   should not be wedded to notions of rationality or order.
   
   Three important states are described. These are the passive
   state. The passive state is conceptually similar to watching
   TV or listening to calm music. The intellectual state involves
   solving an involved puzzle, playing chess or reading. The
   physical state involves playing sports. Our brains cope with
   all three states.
   
   Another important point enunciated involves differential
   time frames to co-exist simultaneously in our brain.
   Associative links can lead to new learning by aiding recall.
   Remembering can be enhanced through exercise and practice.
   Individual thoughts are characterized by the left brain;
   whereas, images are articulated in the right brain.
   
   The author mentions unique ways to cope with uncertainty
   and ambiguity through deep concentration and reflection
   techniques. Overall, this work provides important
   perspectives on how the brain operates and how to
   enhance its current/potential functioning. There are
   important implications for Alzheimer's patients.
   The acquisition would be a worthy purchase for students
   of biology, medicine, biochemistry, psychology and anatomy.



5. Ask anyone: you're destined to end in a rocking chair with a shawl...while a 4-inch drool hangs from your lower lip and eyeballs pinwheel in their sockets--right? That's because, as everyone knows, brain cells don't reproduce and just go to brain cell heaven, leaving you with a vacuum--right?
   
   Richard says "no" to both. He says that your 3-pound brain is unlike any other organ...that it never wears out or grows old! Sure, and brain cells reproduce. In exact opposition to common belief, your brain is capable of both learning and growth in size and complexity until the day you die.
   
   
   And no, Richard is no flower-child-kook or cult leader. If you "Google" Richard Restak, you'll get 37,200 hits. He is an MD neurologist, also a neurophychiatrist, and a clinical professor of neurology at George Washington University's Medical Center. If that isn't good enough, he has written some 18 or 20 well accepted books...at least two of which were main selections of the book of the month club.
   
   Richard is the first to say that you'll acquire your 4-inch drool if you let the circuits and connections--that you took great effort to establish in younger years--atrophy from disuse. As your daddy always told you, "what you don't use, you lose".
   
   So...Richard is a head-guy, right? As such, he'd like to keep you sharp and eagle-eyed and forever becoming smarter and smarter. To do that, he offers-up a litany tasks and brain exercises that you'd easily spend 24-7 before getting started...some hard, really hard. Stuff you would hate doing...though he claims you'd love in the end. Maybe drools ain't that bad. Or, maybe you'd get a "lot of bang for the buck" by doing some of these exercises. Read his "Mozart's Brain and the Fighter Pilot" to judge for yourself.
   
   That you're not doomed to the rocker isn't his only revelation...here is a big one. You'll first need to bear with me. Learning involves establishing more and more connections...but in varying specific brain locations, depending on the type of learning. Now, the left hemisphere stores thoughtful/reasoning, analog-type stuff...like language, chess playing, results of reading or mathematics study, and etc. The right hemisphere stores digital-type stuff, as images.
   
   Here is the thing: before television, much learning resided in the logic-based left hemisphere. You played cards and told stories with your friends, or read books, or played musical instruments. So, your left hemisphere became the 900 pound thought gorilla. Television spoon-feeds your right hemisphere with digital information...MTV, sound-byte news, and etc...leaving the logic circuits of the left hemisphere with nothing to store, and undeveloped! Among the nasty results, says Richard, is runaway Attention-Deficit among children and now adults. There is developing a universal inability to focus on a given subject lasting more than a 3-minute sound-byte.
   
   Oh, and bye the way...once storage and connections are formed, they never disappear...they atrophy. Restoring atrophied connections is often accomplished quickly.
   
   I thought you'd like to know that there is hope for you.

5 comments about The Brain Trust Program: A Scientifically Based Three-Part Plan to Improve Memory, Elevate Mood, Enhance Attention, Alleviate Migraine and Menopausal Symptoms, and Boost Mental Energy.

1. If you are interested about the numerous "diet" books and health programs out there, this books helps to put it all in perspective. When you finish reading it, you'll probably want make your brain a priority. Why? Because the way we "feed" our brain by what we eat and what we do not eat, is going to affect our brain's health for the rest of our lives and no one wants to end with a "bad" brain.
   In this book you'll find awfully interesting, practical, explanations and a simple how-to help yourself guide. Dr McCleary's book is easy and enjoyable to read, so much so that I gave it to my 12 year old with the warning: "This is the most important book about your health you can ever read." A few hours later she was saying, "You know, mom? If I load myself with candy bars this is what happens to my brain..." To say I was thrilled to hear my daughter talking about the effect of sugar overload is an understatement. Dr McCleary's book might well become the key to good health to today's youth and the starting point to healing and prevention for us, the middle aged.
   Dr McCleary also has a web site with very good articles (www.drmccleary.com)



2. "The Brain Trust Program" should be required reading for those of us who have trouble remembering what we were going to say long enough to finish a sentence or where we parked the car; for anyone who suffers from hot flashes or migraines; in fact, for anyone who has a brain. Dr. McCleary's easy-to-understand articles on his Website are an additional bonus. Don't miss a single one.



3. Dr McCleary is able to review the relevant research and distill it into useful, meaningful recommendations. I urge everyone over age 40 and anyone caring for aging parents to look at this book very carefully. His advice could save years of anguish.



4. If ever there was an occasion to issue a must read recommendation, this would be it. The Brain Trust Program, by Dr. Larry McCleary, manages to provide a wealth of information on enhancing and maintaining brain function without being a boring biblically long mechanical medical treatise. Complete with supplementation (vitamin use and recommended dosages) guidelines, this book serves as an interesting read for anyone interested in retaining and preserving cognitive clarity.



5. I couldn't help but notice that Dr. McCleary's photo on the back flap of the book shows that he is a bit overweight. This is natural considering his apparent love for beacon and eggs for breakfast, and his love for red meats, butter, and cheese. In my opinion, this is the only questionable part of his book. I just cannot believe that a diet abundant in saturated fats and cholesterols is not harmful to the cardiovascular system. And what is harmful for the cardiovascular system is also harmful for the brain. Furthermore, any amount of overweight puts a strain on all internal organs - for both man and beast.
   
   Most readers may think I am some kind of fanatic. Well, maybe I am. But I believe that a calorie restricted, nutrient rich diet, leads to better health for the brain and all the other organs of the body. I also believe that calorie restriction is easy when the food served is simple and not made artificially enticing.
   
   Maybe Dr McCleary believes that most people simply will not be willing to eliminate these expensive and enticing kinds of foods. I do admit that almost everyone probably feels this way, and would greatly benefit just by doing exactly as he has written. For this reason I must bow to his judgment.
   
   I definitely agree with Dr. McCleary's recommendations for dietary supplements and mental exercises. What I'm really saying is that I plan to do as he says except that my diet is a bit more restrictive - simply steamed vegetables, whole grains, skim milk, more fish, less whole eggs, a little skinless chicken, and almost no red meat. And no candy. Candy kills more people than cigarettes.
   
   I'm a 70 year old 5'10" male weighing in at 150lbs. My goals are to reduce my weight to what it was at age 25(140lbs.), and to improve my cognitive functions as much as possible. This book is sure to help. I highly recommend it to others.

5 comments about Brain Fitness: Anti-Aging to Fight Alzheimer's Disease, Supercharge Your Memory, Sharpen Your Intelligence, De-Stress Your Mind, Control Mood Swings, and Much More.

1. This book completely changed the way I looked at nutrition for the brain. It really makes you re-think your view on your personal self and lets you know that you are capable of so much more than what you're doing. Dr. Goldman did an outstanding job relating his personal goals and the goals of other prominent people is society. He brings to life the realities of "famous people are just like ordinary people." This book definitely changed the way I look at growing old. Age is inevitable, but aging is not.



2. This book has value. It will test your IQ. If you accept it as authoritative on cognition and memory, then you may need cognitive enhancement. It appears to be more for ego enhancement. Look for the authror's contributions to the field in peer-reviewed journals.



3. The author needs to determine who his audience is. The book seems to be aimed at young people seeking to achieve and maintain 'super mind power'. The title (anti-aging) appeals to those of us who are experiencing 'brain fog' and want it to stop. While the tests will confirm or rebut our suspicions that something is wrong, the author suggests only the same-old home remedies - diet, vitamins and herbs, destress - that I have been using for years already. The mental excersizes are a bad joke - things I used to love doing when my mind was functional are now proposed as excersizes - which I couldn't do if my life depended upon it. There is nothing suggested in the way of medical treatment or what to tell a doctor to convince them that 'something is wrong'. Many things I have read about, found to be helpful and consider somewhat more cutting-edge - like oxygen therapy or the debate regarding the danger in dental fillings - are not even mentioned. Human growth hormone is dismissed in one sentance. If I believed this book, I would give up all hope.



4. As more and more research suggests, there are ways that, by altering your lifestyle and intake, as well as your basic brain activity, you can possibly curtail what we traditionally think of as an "inevitable" aging process of the brain and its function. Dr. Goldman reviews many of these tools available, a number of which in fact, (despite other reviewer comments to the contrary), DO have peer-reviewed scientific studies to back them up. May I suggest "The Care and Feeding of Your Brain" as a companion guide to Goldman's book to provide another perspective on how you can affect brain aging, and for a more general view of brain optimization right now, before aging...My congratulations to Dr. Goldman and colleagues on a book well done and easy to read!...All the best...Kenneth Giuffre'MD, author, "The Care and Feeding of Your Brain"



5. The book quality is somewhat erratic from chapter to chapter. But, there is a lot of valuable information in it. This is especially true regarding all the micro nutrients, vitamins, herbal supplements that are good to maintain your cognitive skills. Through the years I find myself referring to this book very often. Although the book was written a few years ago, it appears very current.

5 comments about The Heart's Code: Tapping the Wisdom and Power of Our Heart Energy.

1. For my entire life i have felt what the heart's code is finnaly scientifically explaining to me. People believe that it is their conscious' telling them what is going on, but i belive that it is your heart and your brain conflicting between your two options. i have felt my heart telling me what i need and i have felt my brain telling me the same and i have always followed my heart. i believe that the knowledge your brain carries will never overpower the capability of your heart. thank you for finally explaining what i have been feeling my entire life.



2. While I accept the theories presented in the book I think Pearsall worked so hard to appear completely scientific that the book became incrediblely boring. He repeated himself in an effort to appear seriously scientific and lost the humaness of his story.



3. Dr. Pearsall has hit a home run in a ballpark unfamiliar to most ordinary people who still think that the brain in your head is the mastermind of thought and behavior. What Pearsall has contributed, especially in terms of learning, creativity and memory is to reshape our foundations of perception that "love, dignity, relationships and integrity" might, after all, be the driving forces of human progress. Even if one considers "The Heart's Code" as a mere metaphor for our consciousness, without the empirical evidence of the role of the heart in human thought, Dr. Pearsall moves us closer to an integration of body, mind and spirit in a pracitical way, empowered by the heart.



4. This book covers much material that is not new, but which is interpreted in a new way. Other authors have written about forms of intelligence and learning that don't seem to depend on the brain or intellect. Larry Dossey's concept of non-local consciousness, and Rupert Sheldrake's "morphic fields" arise from the same anecdotal evidence that Pearsall presents in this book. The difference is that Pearsall attributes this unexplained knowledge source to the heart, the most powerful organ in our bodies. Pearsall believes he has found evidence that the heart (as well as other cells in our bodies) retains memories about us and possibly about other people with whom we are close (and maybe holds ancestral memories as well).

   Pearsall uses anecdotes from heart transplant patients, many of which seem to indicate that the recipient takes on some of the characteristics of the donor, and sometimes even knows things about the donor. These stories are compelling, but they do not add up to proof that the heart has memory. In my mind, they DO add up to evidence of the connectedness of life and the existence of psychic connections between people. What better way to create a connection than to transplant living tissue from one person into another? To anyone who believes there are forms of knowing that do not arise in the brain, Pearsall's stories are hardly unexpected. He cites many sources and quotes other authors in his quest to make his case, but other explanations make as much or more sense than Pearsall's.

   Organ transplants themselves are controversial. I think it possible that organ transplants could impede the spirit of the donor from moving on to the next dimension, instead remaining earth-bound because part of his/her body still lives. Pearsall has raised the question of just what is transferred (besides the organ) from donor to recipient. The heart is obviously an important part of us and is a metaphor for love, so it stands to reason that whatever essence of the donor is in the heart would have some effect on the recipient, and the recipient may have some effect on the spirit of the donor.

   The famous Dr. DeBakey says the heart is "just a pump" and perhaps he is mistaken. But does the heart possess "memory" or does its energy still contain part of the spirit of the donor, or does the donor reach out from "the other side" and communicate to the recipient? I have no answer, but I'm not inclined to accept Pearsall's arguments.

   The book also becomes tedious with repetitious points. It seems like the major ideas could be stated in far fewer words. The author also uses his own experiences as a cancer patient in forming his theory. His own story is interesting in itself, but does not supply any evidence for a "heart's code." In the end, we have highly subjective ideas based on anecdotes that can be explained by a number of other theories (which the author is fair enough to summarize in this book).

   Personally, I do not support organ transplants because of the grossly unfair so-called health care system in the US. Only people with a lot of money or fabulous health insurance go on lists to get a transplant. Once they get the new organ, they must take very expensive drugs every month for the rest of their lives. If they miss taking their drugs for even a month, their body will reject the transplant and they will die. I would not want to live with that pressure, knowing any month I was unable to come up with a large sum of money for drugs, I would die (and just try getting health insurance if you've had an organ transplant!!). People may see transplants as a life-saving technique, but they are also a big money-making industry driven by highly-paid specialists and unwarranted drug company profits. Only the rich and the lucky benefit, and there will never be enough donated hearts for all the potential recipients.




5. The author poses an entirely false dichotomy between "heart" wisdom and "brain" knowledge. I have news for him -- if he did not have a positive brain he could not have written this or other books and could not communicate period. The brain is NOT, repeat NOT a negative hostile entity, as he posits. Having integrated body wisdom is important. People cannot function adequately and positively -- they cannot think, act or anything else -- unless they utilize both brain and heart. I am sorry that Paul Pearsall's docs missed the clues of his lymphoma for so long -- but that does not make their brains -- nor his -- nor the brains of others - hostile and negative entities. I was going to sell my copy to a used book store but I think I will just put it in my recycle bin to reduce the risk that someone who knows little would be misled by it. Oh, and Chinese medicine does not refer to "chakras" - never! That is a Hindu concept. How ignorant can he be?

1 comments about Archive Fever: A Freudian Impression (Religion and Postmodernism Series).

1. Anyone who keeps a blog or produces any type of content will find value in understanding the archive. Where does this desire, this passionate fever for remembering arise and what sustains it? The archive has now become an accessible tool that changes the nature of the "event". That is to say that the archive is a door to the future which is waiting to be uncovered or rearranged to create a new logic. It is receptive and passive in the way that its original authors are now capable of answering to the future. The archive isn't an ultimate pronouncement as hidden archives offer archeological evidence for counter-arguments that answer lingering or unasked questions. As personal archivists in our own lives we become aware of the way meaning can be interpreted through our methods of archivation. If you are an archivist and like to record things in order to remember or make permanent the past, you may find Derrida's theories interesting.

5 comments about Becoming A Person Of Influence.

1. This was one of the most enjoyable Maxwell books I've read to date. It really hit home for me about how to be the kind of person that naturally influences those people around you. This is a book that is good for any person in any life situation, not just business leaders.
   
   Becoming a person of influence, as outlined in Influence is all about who you are as a person and how you treat those around you. People can be influenced by all kinds of traits and personalities, but a true person of influence does so by meeting the needs of those people around them.
   
   Each chapter outlines a different function a person of influence has with those which they come into contact with
   
   Integrity with people
   Nurtures other people
   Faith in people
   Listens to people
   Understands people
   Enlarges people
   Negates for other people
   Connects with people
   Empowers people
   Reproduces other influencers
   
   The information provided in each chapter breaks down the larger concept into easy to understand and implement headings. There certainly was not a chapter in this book in which I did not gain some valuable insight.



2. This book addresses impact, how to measure your potential contribution and how to plan your efforts to achieve those things that you are uniquely created to do. Here are few of my favorite quotes:
   --In most cases, those who want power probably shouldn't have it, those who enjoy it probably do so for the wrong reasons, and those who want most to hold on to it don't understand that it's only temporary.
   
   --Each day do what you should do before what you want to do.
   
   --And like animals, people need to be cared for, not just physically, but emotionally. If you look around, you'll discover that there are people in your life who want to be fed--with encouragement, recognition, security, and hope. That process is called nurturing, and it's a need of every human being. If you desire to become an influencer in others' lives.
   Start by nurturing them.
   
   Reinforce what you already know to be true: seek to serve and stay focused on what you do best.



3. This book holds a wealth of practical knowledge for those who want to move up the corporate food chain. But even if you don't have professional ambitions and simply want to be a better human being, you've come to the right place. John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan start with the basics, teaching that honesty, integrity, unselfishness, kindness and understanding are crucial components of any relationship, business or personal. They believe that as you strengthen your character, you will enjoy a more fulfilling and productive life, at home and at work. Since they reframed some concepts to fit chapter themes, the material is repetitive at times, but it is spiced with entertaining anecdotes and glimpses of business celebrities (such as Sam Walton). We think up-and-coming leaders will want this on their reading lists, along with Maxwell's other boosters.



4. Excellent book. I think it's Maxwell's finest work. The book has depth and appears to be a combination of notes from his speeches as well as notes from seminars and lectures he's delivered.



5. As an admirer and student of John Maxwell, I was a bit disappointed with this one. I might offer this book as a primer on leadership for those with absolutely no knowledge, as its ideas are very general and paint a vague picture of how to deal with people. The advice in the book often resorts to truisms and cliches (the equivalent of "treat people like they're important and you'll be important to them.") I usually highlight my books to death, but I honestly found very little new information aside from the occasional thought provoking rephrase or summary. A majority of the book is comprised of Jim Dornan's personal stories and miscellaneous oft cited quotes. For newcomers to the self-improvement/leadership topic I would offer "The Magic Of Thinking Big" or "How To Have Power And Confidence In Dealing With People." Seasoned leaders will most likely find nothing new here. Sure, you could find a lot worse things to read, but there are more helpful books out there as well.

5 comments about Use Your Perfect Memory: Dramatic New Techniques for Improving Your Memory; Third Edition.

1. "Use Your Perfect Memory" is one of a whole slew of brainpower books written by Tony Buzan. All these books repeat material found in other books, to a greater or lesser degree...he recycles the same information over and over and over again, and his various books are, it seems, often little more than an expansion upon a core idea presented elsewhere.

   Be that as it may, the information and techniques he presents are generally fairly sound. I have yet to buy one of his books and to feel ripped off having done so...which is not something I can say about all the brainpower (or accelerated learning) books I've bought. One thing I like about Buzan's books is that they don't promise the sky, which SOOOOOO many other books in this genre do.

   This books presents 5 simple memory enhancement techniques, devices that can be used to memorize relatively short lists of information (under 20, generally). There is also a "Master System" which can be used to memorize 1,000 or more pieces of information. (Annoyingly, if you want to further develop this system, Buzan refers you to one of his other books--in fact, he refers you to his other books througout.) The systems can be modified to accomodate different types of information, and for different purposes. There is instruction on remember names and face, phone numbers, poems, dramatic parts, and exam information.

   Does it work? Actually, yes. There is nothing groundbreaking here, and nothing magical, but with minimal practice, you will enjoy noticeable results. I haven't used the Master System, so I cannot comment from experience on it, but the principles that it uses are the same as those used in the "smaller" systems, so there is no reason it shouldn't work. This stuff does take an effort, though, and in some cases it is probably better simply to *write* a list, rather than spend the time committing it to memory using even a minor system.




2. Tony Buzan's "Use Your Perfect Memory" introduces all of the usual memory pegging techniques, plus a few suggestions for improving your study habits.

   I read this book and 4 other memory books in quick sucession intending to compare them. The others were (in order of my preference) "Your Memory : How It Works & How to Improve It" by Kenneth Higbee, "The Memory Book" by Lorayne and Lucas, Buzan's "Use You Perfect Memory", "How to Develop a Superpower Memory" also by Lorayne and finally Kevin Trudeau's "Mega-Memory".

   The techniques are organized a little differently from most books and he separates them into minor and major systems. The minor systems are the simple pegging systems, which associate the numbers 1-10 (or letters A-Z) with what you want to rememeber.

   The major system is usually called the phonetic system or numbers to letters. It is a phonetic substitution for numbers that let you turn a number into letters and words. Most memory books also include this system.

   Of course, all of the books have chapters on remembering names from faces, the most common memory trouble that people have. They all give the same suggestions with little variation and all of them work very well.

   Overall, I liked Buzan, but thought Higbee's book was much better. If you only want the techniques and don't care about background and research results, this book is as good as any (Lorayne and Lucas's "The Memory Book" is very comparable to this one). If you want more depth and information, I suggest "Your Memory" by Ken Higbee, which is a much more complete reference to memnonics and memory in general.




3. As the mnemonic realtor said: "It's all about loci, loci, loci.."
   
   
4. This is THE book that started me on the road to becoming a United States Memory Champion. The book is very well laid out, explains the systems clearly, and your improvement in memory is immediate.



5. I've always been partial to the works of Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas in the field of memory, but this one is every bit as high quality. I like to call it "just like it only different."
   
   Lorayne and Lucas' books contain the link, substitute words, and mnemonic systems for changing numbers to words. Buzan does this also, and in some places has more detailed information. He even gives the numbers from 100-1000 with substitute name suggestions for all of them. Especially valuable is chapter 11 entitled "Your memory's rhythms" in which he shows a time unit maximum recall graph.
   
   He also refers to left/right brain theories, which some people agree with and others don't. However, I believe that whatever your theory of right/left brain, you will still be greatly helped by using the visual suggestions he gives. It certainly does help the reader use the whole brain.
   
   As with all techniques, memory training requires effort. Studying is always a lot of work regardless of IQ and/or mental discipline. But books like this one make the process a lot more enjoyable, and I can truthfully say that the money I spent on it was more than worth it.

5 comments about Page-a-Minute Memory Book.

1. Harry Lorayne, the master of `Memory Power' says : Memory is an essential food for success. Memory boost the confidence for success. And at the age seventy plus, Harry has superb memory powers and those who have seen him on televion in action or read his books are sure to exclaim "Oh gosh! This is the Something! Memorising the names of a hundred strangers and than recognizing their faces and telling them their names just perfectly is real cool Memory! Who says "When you become old, you start losing memory" Harry just proves it wrong.Harry Lorayne's techniques increase performances as he says that every moment is precious and it counts. Sometimes, you don't remember the name of a person even though you sense it just beyond the grasp of your memory. You might not remember the name of a movie and such tip of the tongue which tots out incidents keep happening quite often. The best remedy for such flaws would be to stop fretting about it and take it lightly. Soon the memory is back normal again. Many times, we forget the keys and our minds go blank as we keep thinking and trying to locate it. It creates an annoying situation.Memory isn't fading but it's probably you didn't give the memory system the information it required. Harry Lorayne's techniques boost brain cells to activate, enhance powers of concentration, observation, be confident and makes a person alert and alive. You can test your Memory skills and get the tips and tricks to memorize in general, remembering names, telephone numbers, faces, classnotes, multiplication tables, music scores or just about anything. That's the Whizz Master of Memory Power Harry Lorayne with 'Page a Minute' Memory Book. Good and practically sound.



2. I have read other of Harry Lorayne's books and they have all been valuable.

   But this one is unique in that it gives a page by page plan to learn the techniques. You can go through it at your own pace and it's presented in an easy to understand way. You can spend as much time as necessary with each page. You can finish reading it understanding the mechanics of memory a lot better, and even a surface practicing of the techniques will help a lot.

   Of course, systematic practice will work even better.

   Some of Lorayne's other books present more detailed information, but this one is a good, solid presentation of memory improvement and is maybe one of the easiest ones to begin to put into practice for immediate improvement.

   It is especially good for people who have had no prior exposure to memory improvement and would like to have some practical advice that they can implement right away.

   Try it! You won't be disappointed.




3. What can I say in simple words?
   Another unique step by step guide which helps you to start use your memory. The great memory you already have. Harry proves that by teaching you how to take advantage of it.
   Easy to understand techniques and explanations in this unique... Harry's style.
   You work at your own pace. Author (like in other books) gives you a chance to work the way you like.
   As a memory developmnent specialist I can say, that what Harry teaches is nuts and bolts of what you really need to improve your memory. Even single technique from this book can help you a lot.
   But to be honest- you have to start and pracice!
   I love that book and other books of this great author.



4. I originally read this book many (many) years ago and had lost track of it and wanted to re-read. So, I did the most natural thing to do -- find it on Amazon. And, as they say, the rest is history. Received it and enjoyed it the second time around. Amazon and their partners in products have not disappointed me yet -- (knock on wood).



5. This book is filled with a good number of memory improvement tricks and techniques that are presented in a conversational style and kept to roughly a single page in length.
   
   In addition to showing you various techniques, the author subtly weaves in ways that improve your observation skills, helps you form creative associations, and that causes you to remember.
   
   There are little exercises through out the book, but they are just that - samples. There's nothing boring or done by rote. As you're reading along, several pages later (which could days later), the author indirectly tests you, validating that if you even try the technique, you get high return with minimal effort. Simply practicing seems to improve your memory even more.
   
   Instead of spending money on all those mega-memory courses, this book will get you there in shorter time and in a much more entertaining manner.

5 comments about Memory Power: You Can Develop a Great Memory--America's Grand Master Shows You How.

1. I had found this book after being interested in memory, and I was very glad I bought it. It doesn't get much into mastering the techniques until later in the book.
   
   The book is VERY easy to follow, and is organized well. I had a hard time putting down the book, as it's really interesting and doesn't discourage you with the too much information at once. I've bought a few books on memory, and I would definitely recommend this as a starter.
   
   The only complaint I have with the book is how he doesn't show all of the techniques used by the memory champions in great detail. He seems to much prefer the 'Roman Room' method, than the 'Journey Method'. There isn't anything wrong with this, but he didn't seem to mention the 'Journey Method' much, if it all.
   
   If you're looking for a beginner book getting you into having a better memory, I would highly recommend this book. Though, if you've had an advanced background on mnemonics and memory, most of the information in this book will not be very beneficial to you.
   
   I hope you too will find this book a great starter to your new memory.



2. I went to highschool with Scott, and have been kept up to date on his memory powers. This book is very easy to read. Scott has a gift for narrative writing. As for the effectiveness of his techniques, I can't really say if they work for me or not. I have a very good memory, so a lot of his suggestions were not really useful to me. The Roman Room did not help me, as I have a great eye for detail. Scott provides a lot of charts and a way for the reader to implement the techniques. But since he is an engineer and thinks with the mind of a scientist/mathmetician, they were a little too technical for me and made me stress!



3. I've read other books describing The Roman Room and other techniques. This book made it make sense to me and practical. I think that is the big plus of this book; the author provides practical applications.



4. If you have a chance to read this book, then you will find the way how to improve your memory. And also bring you to the place that you have never been through. This book is the one that you should make it through your eyes.



5. This book really does address issues specific to aging and memory loss from a lay persons perspective. In addition, the author gives many pointers on compensation techniques to improve or enhance individual memory issues. I have enjoyed the book and as an educator and geriatric social worker working with clients dealing with cognitive issues and dementia, I have learned some new techniques to offer both my students and my clients in the field. A very good book indeed.