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How to Develop a Brilliant Memory Week by Week: 50 Proven Ways to Enhance Your Memory Skills
Few would disagree that improving our memories can enrich our lives in countless little ways - from ensuring that we remember birthdays, anniversaries and appointments to having impressive facts and figures always at our fingertips; and from recalling names and faces to being able to speak in public without notes.
This book is an expert course in memory enhancement, organized in 52 key lessons, complete with self-testing. Dominic O'Brien offers us tried and tested strategies and tips that will expand your mental capacities at a realistic but impressive rate to make your memory bigger, better and sharper, week-by-week.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
741 people are currently reading
3,153 people want to read
About the author
Dominic O'Brien
49books188followersDominic O'Brien is a British mnemonist and an author of memory-related books. He is the eight time World Memory Champion.
He began developing his mnemonic techniques in 1987 when he saw Creighton Carvello memorize a pack of 52 playing cards in less than three minutes on the BBC television programme Record Breakers. In order to memorize numbers, O'Brien developed the mnemonic Dominic system, which is similar to the Major System.
He gives lectures, and has been seen on television programmes such as The Human Body.
Dominic O'Brien had an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for his 1 May 2002 feat of committing to memory a random sequence of 2808 playing cards (54 packs) after looking at each card only once. He was able to correctly recite their order, making only eight errors, four of which he immediately corrected when told he was wrong.
He began developing his mnemonic techniques in 1987 when he saw Creighton Carvello memorize a pack of 52 playing cards in less than three minutes on the BBC television programme Record Breakers. In order to memorize numbers, O'Brien developed the mnemonic Dominic system, which is similar to the Major System.
He gives lectures, and has been seen on television programmes such as The Human Body.
Dominic O'Brien had an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for his 1 May 2002 feat of committing to memory a random sequence of 2808 playing cards (54 packs) after looking at each card only once. He was able to correctly recite their order, making only eight errors, four of which he immediately corrected when told he was wrong.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 9, 2020
Ever wanted to become a Human Calendar? Fancy memorizing dictionaries for fun?
An unexpectedly brilliant book describing lots of memorization techniques in a readily accessible way. I started on it with the expectation that it's going to be a yet another volume telling me to buckle up and just make sure I remember stuff or make up some weird shit and wind up remembering both this made up stuff and the things I started with in the first place. Boy, was I wrong...
Spoiler: this one doesn't just tell the reader to put on an adult's pants and just go about building a castle in one's head and populating it with nuclear physics concepts in otder to remember all this stuff better.
Extra bonus: it actually goes into detail of HOW one goes about all those weirdybumbles.
Takeouts:
- Visualization through observation.
- The link method.
- The language of numbers.
- The number-rhyme system.
- Memory within memory.
- The Dominic System.
- Mind maps.
- The journey method.
An unexpectedly brilliant book describing lots of memorization techniques in a readily accessible way. I started on it with the expectation that it's going to be a yet another volume telling me to buckle up and just make sure I remember stuff or make up some weird shit and wind up remembering both this made up stuff and the things I started with in the first place. Boy, was I wrong...
Spoiler: this one doesn't just tell the reader to put on an adult's pants and just go about building a castle in one's head and populating it with nuclear physics concepts in otder to remember all this stuff better.
Extra bonus: it actually goes into detail of HOW one goes about all those weirdybumbles.
Takeouts:
- Visualization through observation.
- The link method.
- The language of numbers.
- The number-rhyme system.
- Memory within memory.
- The Dominic System.
- Mind maps.
- The journey method.
December 3, 2016
This volume presents various memorisation techniques with exercises that progressively become more difficult. A lot of these use the same 'logic' but applied differently, often to meet the type of data one wants to acquire. It all comes down to the three usual tenets of visualistion, association and location, but these can indeed be manipulated in a variety of ways. Some are 'easy' and can be used immediately while others require more work.
I did enjoy this, especially its practicality through the exercises. I haven't done all of them yet (taking time with my PAO pairs) but shall keep coming back and continue my journey :0)
I did enjoy this, especially its practicality through the exercises. I haven't done all of them yet (taking time with my PAO pairs) but shall keep coming back and continue my journey :0)
April 4, 2015
Several techniques are presented. What I would have loved is that these techniques were made easier to understand and memorize. For example, to use the so called "Dominic Systems", one has to memorize the names of a hundred people. This in itself is a huge task. Most of the names that appear in the book are unfamiliar to me.
What I can take away from the book is the following:
- Memory is a muscle that can be trained
- We can best memorize through images and association
- Our brain can really remember an incredible amount of information!
What I can take away from the book is the following:
- Memory is a muscle that can be trained
- We can best memorize through images and association
- Our brain can really remember an incredible amount of information!
March 13, 2015
If you do not do the exercises, you lose the better half of the content in this book (so do them!); the same memory techniques are explained at least as well i other books. I read it AND did the exercises; I now have a memory out of this world. The bottleneck from-short term memory to long-term kind of vanishes. It is hard to understand why, but location, association and imagination when memorizing does the trick. Anyone should at least be aware that there really are working techniques to enhance memory is all its aspects, and this book is a good place to start. It's short as well.
March 29, 2015
This book was full of fun, effective strategies to help memorize everything from items on your grocery list to long strings of numbers, to the names of a roomful of people. Some of it is pure fun and not terribly useful - for instance, I don't think it is necessary to know what day of the week any given date from the past 100 years is, but that would be a cool party trick. I plan to teach my kids some of these strategies, such as the Journey Method and Mind Maps to help them with their homework as they get older. I also like the idea of exercising my memory as I age! I highly recommend this book and think I will buy a copy of my own.
December 14, 2020
Дасгал, тест ихтэй болохоор хэвлэмээр нь уншаад хийвэл зүгээр юм бн шүү. Ер нь урьд нь сонсож байсан л техникүүд байна. Даан ч дасгалуудыг нь хийхээр ихэнхи дээр нь “мастер� оноо аваад кк. Гэтэл би уншсан юм, ном, хүний нэр, царай, шинээр сонсож байгаа зүйлсээ тогтоохдоо үнэхээр тааруу. Заавал дахин дахин сонсжийж, хэрэглэжийж тогтоодог. Энэ байдлын нөгөө талд гарах шорткат хайсан боловч олж авч чадсангүй эндээ үлдэхээр боллоо ккк.
December 30, 2017
Working on this one. Some of the tips you may have already thought of.
Memory is very tightly linked to emotions. A memory associated with a traumatic event is burnt into our memory harder than the day to day stuff that consists of the majority of our lives.
Not currently practiced as much in school the old teaching method of repetition of the same fact over and over, think addition exercises in school , does eventually burn these facts into your memory.
Has technology destroyed our need for memory ? Has a good memory been reduced as a quality required to work ? The human mind is still the most powerful computer on Earth; are we now wasting that great resource ??
Memory is very tightly linked to emotions. A memory associated with a traumatic event is burnt into our memory harder than the day to day stuff that consists of the majority of our lives.
Not currently practiced as much in school the old teaching method of repetition of the same fact over and over, think addition exercises in school , does eventually burn these facts into your memory.
Has technology destroyed our need for memory ? Has a good memory been reduced as a quality required to work ? The human mind is still the most powerful computer on Earth; are we now wasting that great resource ??
February 23, 2020
A common issue in memory books is that they don't provide enough exercices to actually practice the concepts explained. This book, however, perfectly combines both theory and practice, letting you work through increasingly difficult problems and witness your own progress. Another interesting point is that exercices are specifically designed to let you create your own simply by switiching variables. You end up with infinite practise sets.
August 8, 2014
I liked the book, but it is just a repetition of the same techniques Mr. O'brien explained in his other books.
You don't need to read this if you have read any of them
You don't need to read this if you have read any of them
March 10, 2019
great book in it’s entirety, but some methods are outdated.....meaning more advanced techniques are available now. But if u are a beginner, go for it.
May 2, 2023
Explanation of useful tricks/methods for case by case context and lots of drills to exercise and learn to apply them.
July 13, 2015
Warmly recommended in small daily doses, the way most improvements are wont to happen.
If anything, it's better to start the book with an open mind. This one relies strongly on mnemotechniques, connections to things one already remembers. Since everyone's memories are not only personal, but regarded through a unique cultural perspective, it is not hard imagine why some steps might not go as smoothly as others.
Actually, most are likely to encounter one or more points where the author's suggestions are bound to outright clash with the reader's own way of remembering ("which has worked just fine so far, thank you very much".) In my case, that is anything number-related. I remember numbers by assigning personalities to the primes and letting multiplication do it for the others (0 is the apathetic assassin, obviously) Thus, thinking about 16 as Arnold Schwartzeneger flexing is not going to work for me, when 16 is clearly a very baroque, younger Aunt Petunia, doing pirouettes, if anything.
There's no denying, though, that the guy has the right of what he's teaching, so the point would be to go one step further and personalize the principles to find a method that sticks with the way each reader is wired.
If anything, it's better to start the book with an open mind. This one relies strongly on mnemotechniques, connections to things one already remembers. Since everyone's memories are not only personal, but regarded through a unique cultural perspective, it is not hard imagine why some steps might not go as smoothly as others.
Actually, most are likely to encounter one or more points where the author's suggestions are bound to outright clash with the reader's own way of remembering ("which has worked just fine so far, thank you very much".) In my case, that is anything number-related. I remember numbers by assigning personalities to the primes and letting multiplication do it for the others (0 is the apathetic assassin, obviously) Thus, thinking about 16 as Arnold Schwartzeneger flexing is not going to work for me, when 16 is clearly a very baroque, younger Aunt Petunia, doing pirouettes, if anything.
There's no denying, though, that the guy has the right of what he's teaching, so the point would be to go one step further and personalize the principles to find a method that sticks with the way each reader is wired.
February 18, 2020
"read" is a bit of an overstatement. I've flipped through a borrowed copy quickly looking for wisdom with the intent to apply it. This is really more of a work book, and since the copy is not mine, I don't intend to keep it for the year it would take to work through. Still, I like the general structure of self-analysis to give us a glimpse into our own memory, combined with tricks to improve in certain ways for certain tasks. Most of the tips and techniques boil down to creating vivid, easy to remember imagery that is closely linked with the thing we want to recall. There are a few other ideas, but that's the gist. The rest is mostly just practice. A few of the "steps" seem a little weak to me, and I wish they were a bit more in depth, but perhaps going through it diligently a week at a time helps them feel a little more substantial.
August 26, 2016
I believe I've read a book very similar to this one. The book introduces well-known memory tricks such as Roman Rooms, matching alphabets with numbers, making toon-like images with colors and smells etc. Roman Rooms are time-proven method I think, because it survived more than 2000 years. But what about others? Most tricks make sense, but the tricks are hard to learn. You understand what the tricks are about, and how it works, but to master them is a totally different story. Those tricks are not easy to teach, even harder through a book.
And of course, there are no "52" ways, as you can imagine. Just 52 articles. Mostly repetitive.
I am giving three stars, because I believe this book will work for some people.
And of course, there are no "52" ways, as you can imagine. Just 52 articles. Mostly repetitive.
I am giving three stars, because I believe this book will work for some people.
February 25, 2021
Dominic is well known in memory circles and this book covers the principles of retaining and retrieving information--linking, location, and imaginative visualization. He provides several methods for remembering numbers and introduces the all-important memory journey (memory palace) technique.
The second half of the book is devoted to specific techniques for basic daily memory tasks (names and faces, directions, etc.) and more advanced applications including the order of playing cards in a deck, long number sequences, and other tasks common to memory competitions.
The presentation is practical and I have already begun successfully applying the techniques with good results.
The second half of the book is devoted to specific techniques for basic daily memory tasks (names and faces, directions, etc.) and more advanced applications including the order of playing cards in a deck, long number sequences, and other tasks common to memory competitions.
The presentation is practical and I have already begun successfully applying the techniques with good results.
September 14, 2018
It is excellent book. Because unless we practice i can not feel the learning experience. In this book the author has given good exercises for every topic. Instantly i got good feeling that i could get good score.
This is excellent book. I energised my memory power after reading this book. The best thing I liked is very short matter and small chapters.
Just if I open the book I easily finish 2 or 3 steps out of 52 without any boring. Thanks to the author for providing your experience with me through this book.
This is excellent book. I energised my memory power after reading this book. The best thing I liked is very short matter and small chapters.
Just if I open the book I easily finish 2 or 3 steps out of 52 without any boring. Thanks to the author for providing your experience with me through this book.
February 16, 2020
This is a wonderful book with tols to sharpen your memory with practice and familiarization. A lot of these techniques like map building, and linking were so helpful. I loved how he broke the steps for learning a language, people's names and phone numbers etc. Each has a separate chapter. It's a fantastic tool for those wanting to increase memory power.
November 23, 2020
I read this book right after "Unlimited Memory" by Kevin Horsley with the same topic. Lots of techniques were identical (so maybe we can tell that they really works then), but the main difference with this book was the practical exercises in the end of every chapter. So you can test your newly adopted skills right away.
Of course, not every chapter seemed to me like completely practical in (today's) daily life (like remembering phone numbers or even binary code) but of course as a memory training it can serve its purpose.
Anyway I can tell that most important principle to memorize information - association, location and imagination - with alongside "Journey method" really works and it is definitely to worth of study and incorporate it as your learning habit.
Also very interesting idea what I will incorporate to any of my future studying will be very easy concept of "Memory Map". And another one what I want to invest my time into would be "Dominic System" (this one really requires some time to personalization) even I'm in here little bit sceptic too about practical usage.
I would recommend this book mainly for those who wants to really learn those methods and are willing to spend some time with learning and practical testing.
One bigger "minus" for this book is not the best adaptation for Kindle (some terribly or not at all visible pictures, bad pages layout) but the purpose was done. I can only recommend this book as you can be only another bit smarter after you finish it. Try.
Of course, not every chapter seemed to me like completely practical in (today's) daily life (like remembering phone numbers or even binary code) but of course as a memory training it can serve its purpose.
Anyway I can tell that most important principle to memorize information - association, location and imagination - with alongside "Journey method" really works and it is definitely to worth of study and incorporate it as your learning habit.
Also very interesting idea what I will incorporate to any of my future studying will be very easy concept of "Memory Map". And another one what I want to invest my time into would be "Dominic System" (this one really requires some time to personalization) even I'm in here little bit sceptic too about practical usage.
I would recommend this book mainly for those who wants to really learn those methods and are willing to spend some time with learning and practical testing.
One bigger "minus" for this book is not the best adaptation for Kindle (some terribly or not at all visible pictures, bad pages layout) but the purpose was done. I can only recommend this book as you can be only another bit smarter after you finish it. Try.
July 8, 2020
This was better than I thought it was going to be. It is brief and concise and gives 50 different types of exercises with detail for improving memory and strengthening your brain. I enjoyed some of these more than others, like how to remember country capitals rather than staring at 12 words for 3 min then writing down what you remember. Who doesn't enjoy these types of things? I still remember my first phone number, do you?
With any book like this. and you can use what you want but the author recommends some daily practice using exercises like this. Not too bad and the length of this was good for what it was.
With any book like this. and you can use what you want but the author recommends some daily practice using exercises like this. Not too bad and the length of this was good for what it was.
October 24, 2021
I tried all the beginning exercises, finding them useful and enjoyable. However, about halfway through the book, I realized that just the thought of developing these memorizing techniques hurt my brain. I don't think I have the needed desire nor motivation to attempt to remember long strings of numbers, historical dates, card decks, poems, detailed lectures and conversations, etc. so I didn't try any of the exercises in the second half of the book. However, I enjoyed the author's teaching methods and exercises, and believe that even novices, like me, can benefit from some of this information.
October 8, 2023
As someone just starting on it's path of memory improvement, "How to Develop a Brilliant Memory Week by Week" by Dominic O'Brien was everything I hoped the book would be. This structured, highly practical guide breaks down memory enhancement into 52 weekly chapters, each introducing essential principles and techniques like mnemonics and visualization. I appreciated the clarity of instructions and real-life examples, and it reinforced the importance of consistent practice for substantial, long-term improvement.
If you share my interest in memory enhancement and are committed to sharpening your memory skills, this is the one to start with.
If you share my interest in memory enhancement and are committed to sharpening your memory skills, this is the one to start with.
September 13, 2021
Dominic O'Brien's How To Develop a Brilliant Memory is yet another entry for memory enhancement that I happen to have. It utilizes the same techniques as all of the other books and doesn't differentiate itself.
Furthermore, the book's pages have this weird shading that makes it hard to read sometimes.
On the other hand, the book is slightly newer than the books by Harry Lorayne. It modifies the systems slightly to account for this. Overall, O'Brien treats the book like a game. He provides tests for you to check your memory and grades you with a numerical score.
Furthermore, the book's pages have this weird shading that makes it hard to read sometimes.
On the other hand, the book is slightly newer than the books by Harry Lorayne. It modifies the systems slightly to account for this. Overall, O'Brien treats the book like a game. He provides tests for you to check your memory and grades you with a numerical score.
April 2, 2023
Saw how fast I was at creating memory palaces of objects without association. Saw a logical framework explaining the progression to how I already build and manage my memory palaces. Tested out memory strings of numbers by basic mapping and palace techniques using what was most exciting to me.
Saw how fast I could associate and visualise also.
The small exercises in the book were really the highlight.
The chapters from the 3rd section onwards weren't useful. And not all the chapters in the first 2 sections were of utility.
Saw how fast I could associate and visualise also.
The small exercises in the book were really the highlight.
The chapters from the 3rd section onwards weren't useful. And not all the chapters in the first 2 sections were of utility.
April 5, 2023
This is a game changer in unlocking your memory. With only one of these techniques, anyone can easily remember a list of 20 words in under 5 minutes. I’ve tought a bunch of friends the journey method and every single one of them was fascinated about their ability to recall lists of words.
My memory has improved a hole lot and it helps me in every day life and academically.
I like the Dominic system over the other systems out there.
Anyone interested in improving their Cognitive abilities should read this.
My memory has improved a hole lot and it helps me in every day life and academically.
I like the Dominic system over the other systems out there.
Anyone interested in improving their Cognitive abilities should read this.
September 22, 2021
Little new here from other memory books and just a rehash of 1970’s tricks of the trade. Who really needs to memorize binary numbers anymore? And phone numbers even. Good reminder if the journey and peg method. Better off reading Buzan for mind maps and even the Evelyn Wood method for speed reading is better. The Dominic Method is a good one, but I think Harry Lorayne’s methods are easier, quicker, and more useful…but that’s just my preference.
May 24, 2020
Great book
This is a great book with some really advanced techniques. Probably too much to take in all at once. I’d recommend Dominic’s other book “You can have an amazing memory� first before tackling this one. But nevertheless a great book which goes further than other similar books.
This is a great book with some really advanced techniques. Probably too much to take in all at once. I’d recommend Dominic’s other book “You can have an amazing memory� first before tackling this one. But nevertheless a great book which goes further than other similar books.
March 19, 2020
This is a great book full of techniques and tips to developing a brilliant memory. But, in order to get the most of it I recommend that you perform the exercises and tests which are contained in most steps.
December 26, 2021
I feel like if I did the exercises I would be a genius. This was definitely a great book that I should have access to, later on, to improve my memory. The last part of the book was a bit ridiculous - like I don't want to memorise multiple decks of cards but I can see how it "extends" your memory.
January 27, 2024
A book for practicioners. No unnecessary descriptions, no beating about the bush, only practical excercises and advice how to improve your memory in various situations. This should be mandatory study for everyone, starting from kindergarden.
October 7, 2024
fue bknn pero no tan bkn porque no desarrolla tanto como ocupar cada tecnica supongo que eso lo hace en otros libros.
Y el capitulo de memorizar diccionarios es falso no lo enseña en verdad solo menciona que alguien lo hace ni si quiera dice como lo podría haber hecho así que no tan bien.
Y el capitulo de memorizar diccionarios es falso no lo enseña en verdad solo menciona que alguien lo hace ni si quiera dice como lo podría haber hecho así que no tan bien.
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