Memorisation is a hidden art
I believe strongly in the idea raised by Utsav Mamoria that when separate ideas overlap, new ones emerge.
I experienced this when, having ignored the same Duolingo-for-memory-training Instagram advert 9 times, I had a different mindset by the 10th time and downloaded it. My mindset has changed and I had developed new interests after gaining a personal hero: the personified Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall.
He had ‘learned memory techniques in Italy’, that allowed him to sense-check figures blindingly fast, recall important dates, contents of past meetings. I wanted to replicate my hero!
I downloaded the app and spent a month racing through the paid version.
Here are some of the things I learned in the process.
King of Birthdays
I learned a range of techniques that I apply to daily life. Tell me your birthday, and I can tell you your star sign. Meet me in a week and I’ll still remember. I have all my family and friends committed to memory now.
The key thing is the act of trying to remember itself. Since dates are usually tricky, memorisers tend to break them down through associations.
Advanced techniques (called the major system) involves replacing numbers with words.
But just making yourself a silly rhyme or something I find also works well. “April the 4th, making a Porsche”. Just pausing to commit it to memory really makes the difference.
A basic explanation is that the memory is very visual. Numbers are so abstract, but I could show you a few seconds of a film and you’d know if you had seen it. Images stick in the mind much easier.
Dame of Names
I’ve always been ok at remembering names. But it’s become a veritable party trick across these past few months of travel, randomly bumping into someone after a month and telling them their name, something we discussed etc.
The trick to this is a bit of a stack:
Don’t be afraid to get them to repeat it. “What was your name again? Ah right, I’m Joey by the way”. Do that a couple times while you commit it to memory
Remember their answer
Associate it with an idea or a rhyme. Jane’s in a plane. Shri is in a tree.
It’s easier if you have a unique aspect about someone, their hair colour or big green eyes or something. Maybe Shri’s trees are poking out of her pupils.
This kind of association sticks in the mind way more easily than just a name.
You are more likely to remember that someone works as a baker, than is named Baker.
Mastery of History
Personally, I love sense-checking every new piece of information I receive.
Someone tells me a conspiracy theory they believe in, or speaks about a period in history, or, worse, uses a superlative like “this has never happened before!”.
I like to sit there with a thoughtful look, and then ask if the Spanish sacking of Peru is a good comparison to the “things never change rapidly” point they are making.
When it comes to memorising history, memory masters use visual timelines in their head. Maybe a famous street, or a street near their home, to represent a decade or century. And going along the street they place famous events.
Beethoven’s 5th Symphony (1808) being composed exists not far from my old barbershop. And looking towards the town hall you see the Eiffel Tower being constructed (1889).
This one takes more practice, and more maintenance also. You have to revisit the street from time to time, with an idea of the things you’re supposed to be remembering.
Instead, you can just put a couple things you want to remember in your notes app, and set an alarm to try and recall them tomorrow. Maybe a piece of information you were really moved by.
If it’s a complicated name or date, don’t be daunted, just try and break it down. n
There are a few more principles that I might save for a follow-up post.
If you’re interested in trying the app that inspired this journey, it’s called MemoryOS. I found the instruction really helpful, and support the project.
If you want to go head-to-head in a memory challenge, message me. It’s kinda fun.