How to Remember Everything: Proven Techniques of the Memory Masters
by Jacob Sager Weinstein, Barbara MalleyPublished by: Odd Dot on October 13, 2020
Genres: Nonfiction, Middle Grade
Pages: 144
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
How to Remember Everything is the ultimate guide to unlocking the power of your brain!
Kids will learn how to ace history tests by memorizing dates, feel confident about remembering people's names, win cards games by mastering entire decks, and hang on to happy memories for a lifetime.
This invaluable memory guide for children is full of recall-building techniques, fun challenges, and hilarious art.
Perfect for readers who want:
- Super cute illustrations that give examples of how to picture things!
- Fool-proof memory techniques to improve your remembering abilities.
- Tips and tricks for all different brain types.
- Fun practice sections to put what you’ve learned to action.
- A really funny voice that makes learning enjoyable.
Many thanks to Odd Dot and Turn the Page Tours for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review and for inclusion on this blog tour.
I decided to read this book on a total whim. After all, I have really bad memory. Minion has really bad memory (obviously, I got it from her. Pretty sure that’s how it works). So why not read something that might help fix that?!
How to Remember Everything is a really cute, informative book on memory recall practices, filled with super adorable illustrations and a narrative that’s funny. Plus, there are tons of examples to practice with!
I knew the general basics of some of the memory recall techniques, but the way Weinstein explains them makes it easier to actually apply the technique, rather than just knowing it. When I hit the first example, I thought for sure this is silly, but I gave it a go in good faith, and guess what? I remember all the word pairs! Which is huge for me!
Even though this book is technically geared towards children, I’d recommend it for any age. It breaks down the techniques and ideas in an easy, entertaining way that I think would appeal to any and all audiences looking to master memorization techniques … or, you know, at least start learning about them! The mastering thing might take a little more time.
I don’t actually review nonfiction books that often, so this review structure is going to look a little different than it normally does!
The big principles of this book are actually the three rules of memory, understanding those, and then breaking down the memory techniques with fun examples.
So what exactly are the three rules of memory?
The First Rule of Memory
“The easiest way to remember something is to remember something easy.”
Which means to always break down the things you want to remember into something more memorable. Seems a little straightforward, right? But would you have ever thought that if you had to memorize a random pairing of words, such as bee and cannon, you might have a better time remembering it as a cannon made of bees or a cannon that shoots bees? It sounds a little silly at first, but little old me, who has the memory of a goldfish, actually remembered all the pairs in this exercise! Even a couple days later, I still remember almost all of the pairings, which is monumental!
The Second Rule of Memory
“Everybody’s brain is different.”
I feel like this is something we know inherently but that we sometimes forget. My brain doesn’t work quite like anyone else’s (and trust me, you should all be thankful for small miracles like that!).
Whether you’re a visual learner or auditory, whether you like remembering using mnemonics or singing songs, Weinstein has you covered with some memory tricks that are sure to help you remember things! Not all the tricks worked well for my brain, and I think that’s to be expected, because Weinstein tries to offer enough tricks where everyone should be able to find something that works for them.
The Third Rule of Memory
“The best way to keep stuff in your brain is to test yourself on it with spaced repetition.”
If you see the phrase “spaced repetition” and immediately shut down … fear not! Weinstein actually defines and explains all these concepts. Basically, it means quiz yourself about the information on regular intervals so you don’t forget, which is pretty good advice for just about everything, I think.
Handy and Easy-to-Digest Definitions
Since this book is geared towards children, it may be helpful to know that the definitions in the book are really easy to understand, especially because Weinstein provides handy examples to help wrap your mind around them! This is also really nicely exemplary of the sort of humor that’s worked into the book. It’s been a while since I’ve had so much fun with a nonfiction book, honestly, but the humor had me giggling as I read.
Not only are definitions provided, but Weinstein touches a little bit on the science behind some of the techniques, too! So if you’re the sort of person who doesn’t just want to know how to do something but why it works, this book will teach you a bit of that, too!
Super Cute Illustrations
I know I’ve talked a lot about Weinstein, but let’s not forget Barbara Malley, the lovely illustrator. The words in this book are really only half the equation, and they wouldn’t be nearly as effective without the illustrations! Of course kids love illustrations, but hey, adults like pictures just as much, if you’re being honest with yourself! As with the example I mentioned before, it’s one thing to think of a bee cannon, but it takes it to a whole other level to get to see one drawn in a book.
If you’re a particularly visual person, the illustrations make a nice complement to the text because they give you some pretty solid examples of what to imagine. Plus, they’re just plain fun, either way!
Examples at the End of Every Chapter
Just in case you need a chance to flex your new memory muscles before putting them to use in the real world … try the end-of-chapter examples! I went in super doubtful that I would be able to remember anything. I mean, heck, the other day, hubby asked me to grab him a towel … which, FYI, the rack is right outside our bathroom and to the right. I know because I immediately turned to the left and disappeared into the kitchen, until he sent me an annoyed text five minutes later telling me to focus. Oops?
I really appreciated the examples and tests at the end, because they allowed the doubter in me to see that, hey, these things actually can work. Talk about a bit of a confidence booster!
About Jacob Sager Weinstein
Jacob Sager Weinstein’s work has appeared in The New Yorker and The Onion, and he has written for HBO and the BBC as well. He lives in London with his wife and children. His latest book is HOW TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING: TIPS AND TRICKS OF THE MEMORY MASTERS.
About Barbara Malley
BARBARA MALLEY is an illustrator from Southern California. She earned a BFA from the Laguna College of Art + Design and an MFA from California State University Fullerton. Barbara has worked professionally as an animation character designer, a product designer, and as a cartoonist. Her artwork has been published in books and magazines, exhibited in several group and solo gallery shows, and was sported on the mask of a professional hockey goalie. Currently, she is working as an adjunct instructor at CSUF and LCAD and is freelancing as an illustrator and character designer.
When she’s not obsessively drawing in her sketchbook, Barbara loves to watch ice hockey, collect rocks, memorize star catalogs, read comic books, and travel by train. She lives with her cat, Gremlin, and parakeets, Pea and Poop.
(1) physical copy of How to Remember Everything
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I love this! Everyday I find it’s harder and harder to recall certain things and it scares the crap out of me.
I’ve been telling myself to get into some brain exercising soon to combat it, so this post is right on time!
That is so interesting!! I like that they give you little exercises to practice with so that you can see if their methods are working. And I’m glad that they point out that everyone’s brains are different so that people don’t feel bad if one method doesn’t work the way that it works for someone else. This book sounds super great.
I have recently noticed that there’s not enough illustrated non-fiction out there. It makes potentially dry topics (and even interesting ones!) so much more enjoyable.
Nicole @ BookWyrm Knits recently posted…Reading Wrap-Up: October 2020
I so agree! I think the few non-fiction I’ve read in the past year that I’ve enjoyed the most include some sort of illustrations. I also tend to remember the non-fiction better when there’s a visual aspect tied to it, I’ve found.
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