Moonwalking with Einstein Review

Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer is an accessible guide to all things memory. The author is quick to point out that this is not a self-help book. However, there is enough practical information in the book that the interested reader will easily find usable tips for enhancing memory skills.

Initially, Foer becomes involved in the eccentric world of mental athletics. Mental athletes participate in what amounts to memorization track meets. They compete by memorizing the order of playing cards, recalling long lists of random words, and so on.  This soon becomes Foer’s obsession.

While Foer is immersing himself in this culture, this journalist is also doing some impressive research into what memory is and how it has served mankind. With this blend of science, history, and autobiographical experience, there is something here for everybody. Foer constantly changes the focus throughout the book so that the reader never has a chance to feel bogged down in either history, science, or the author's personal experiences. He spices things up with both amazing case studies and face-to-face meetings with those who have memory abnormalities such as the famous Kim Peek who inspired the title character in the movie, Rain Man.

One of the most practical parts of the book is the description of the “memory palace”. The memory palace is a technique that is the central method of memory athletes. Foer explains that the mind is more likely to retain things that are spatial, concrete, and unusual. A “palace” is a familiar place where one can “hang” memories. For example, to remember a shopping list of eggs, butter, and milk, someone who spends a lot of time at the Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh might imagine memorable people in absurd situations in locations throughout the mall. He might have Governor Perdue outside of Belks pulling eggs out of her mouth like a magician, Coach K outside of Ambercrombe and Fitch carving model ships out of butter, and Lady Gaga pouring milk from a hiking book over her head in front of The Limited.  In the grocery store, the shopper just has to walk through the mall in his mind and he remembers.  In the book, Foer provides many better and more bizarre examples along with the reasons that this works.

As a bonus, Foer includes some valuable insight into performance psychology. He explores research concerning plateaus and how to overcome them. This includes a very quirky study of the Japanese art of chicken sexing in the context of acquiring proficiency.

Memory is an issue throughout life. It matters to a student learning in school. It matters to a senior citizen remembering which medicines to take. On a wider scale, it helps us define our very being. Memory is essential to who we are. We are made up of our history and memory is the constant recorder of that history. As E.M. Forster said, “Unless we remember we cannot understand.” Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer is an outstanding tribute and guide to this amazing function of the mind.

Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer, Penguin Press HC, 2011, 320 pages. Available at bookstores throughout the Raleigh Area.