Moonwalking

(post by our Fineprinter from New York)

Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer is a delightful read on memory as a special aspect of our humanity. Indeed, in a world where online information, digital reminders, sophisticated organizers, and customized post-it notes abound, who needs to remember a thing? Yet the author took memory to a level most of us have either forgotten or simply taken for granted. He reminded us that it is through our memory that we transmit virtues and values, and partake of a shared culture. The more we remember, the better we are at processing the world.

In his eagerness to know how so-called “mental athletes” can effortlessly memorize seemingly improbable tasks—99 random faces and names in 15 mins, deck of cards in less than 2 mins, random numbers, and long poetry among others, he himself trained for the US Memory Championship. What started out as a mere curiosity led him to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the human memory. In his journey, he met a man who remembered too much, the most forgetful man in the world, a savant who claims to have memorized more than 9000 books, and a high school teacher who still employs ancient memory techniques used in Cicero’s time. Foer’s exploration made him more mindful of paying attention to the world. In his words,

“there is something to be said for the value of not merely passing through the world but also making some effort to capture it—if only because in trying to capture it, one gets in the habit of noticing and appreciating. Our memories make us who we are. They are the seat of our values and the source of our character.” He saw memory training not just for the sake of performing party tricks but nurturing something profoundly real and essentially human.”

In addition to the memory techniques and a deeper appreciation of our human memory that the book conveyed, the author also showed in a very clear and practical way the vast capability of our brain. He learned first hand that with focus, motivation, and above all, time, the mind can be trained to do extraordinary things. With deliberate practice and staying goal-oriented, one is surely bound to become an expert. There are no limits, only plateaus—which must not be dwelled on. Going beyond, which exactly what Josh Foer did, garnered him the 2006 US Memory Champion title.

This quote from the book can’t be more fitting: