The Memory Code
by Lynne Kelly · first published 2017
60% recommend40% neutral
"In ancient, pre-literate cultures across the globe, tribal elders had encyclopedic memories. They could name all the animals and plants across a landscape, identify the stars in the sky, and recite the history of their people. Yet today, most of us struggle to memorize more than a short poem. Using traditional Aboriginal Australian song lines as a starting point, Dr. Lynne Kelly has identified the powerful memory technique used by our ancestors and indigenous people around the world. In turn, she has then discovered that this ancient memory technique is the secret purpose behind the great pre
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2020–2026Memory Craft
Lynne Kelly
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 85 recommend · 8 mention5 recommend · 85 recommend
2008–2025The art of memory
Frances Amelia Yates
Recommended by 17 · mentioned by 2417 recommend · 24 mention17 recommend · 2417 recommend
2009–2026The memory book
Harry Lorayne, Jerry Lucas
Recommended by 11 · mentioned by 1611 recommend · 16 mention11 recommend · 1611 recommend
2011–2026Moonwalking with Einstein
Joshua Foer, Mike Chamberlain (Narrator) Joshua Foer
Recommended by 98 · mentioned by 13798 recommend · 137 mention98 recommend · 13798 recommend
…that allow one to remember information like that, but it still requires effort. Here are two great books on that subject: - The Art of Memory by Frances Yates (covers Greece, Rome, and Europe) - The Memory Code by Lynne Kelly (goes back further into prehistory) And two quick articles about memory feats in ancient Greece[1] and Rome[2]. [1] http://blog.artofmemory.com/simonides-of-ceos-81.html [2] http://blog.artofmemory.com/pliny-the-elder-on-memory-5824.h...
on “The Presence of One’s Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity” ↗It is likely that they are mnemonic devices that encode information. Read The Memory Code by Lynne Kelly for more information. It's one of the most interesting books I've read, right up there with The Art of Memory by Frances Yates. http://www.lynnekelly.com.au/the-memory-code/
on “Twisted textile cords may contain clues to Inca messages” ↗If you liked Frances Yates, look up Lynne Kelly. She has two books (The Memory Code and Memory Craft) that trace the techniques back into prehistory, long before Ancient Greece. The Memory Code contains interesting ideas about the history. Memory Craft is about how to apply the techniques.
on “The Method of Loci” ↗A book that gives a nice view of these some of these memory technologies is The Memory Code by Lynne Kelly I can't get myself to link to the marketing blurb inspired summaries, but I love the book. This wikipedia heading gives a less breathless overview: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynne_Kelly_(science_writer)#R...
on “Evidence of oldest known alphabetic writing unearthed in ancient Syrian city” ↗Thanks, I'll check that one out. The Memory Code is one of the best books I've read. Highly recommended.
on “The Presence of One’s Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity” ↗Spaced repetition definitely works (and is much better than nothing), but I found it to be quite dull. Recently, I've been reading "The memory code" by Lynne Kelly and found that most of the ancient cultures faced the problem of memory and used memory spaces (aka "method of loci"). I tried it out recently to memorize the timeline of evolutionary…
on “How I remember what I learn” ↗Thanks for the tip! Dr. Lynne Kelly also has a related book "The Memory Code". Reading that currently.
on “An ultimate guide to memory palaces” ↗Dr. Lynne Kelley the author of The Memory Code and Memory Craft has it. She uses memory palaces. With aphantasia you still have a hippocampus so thinking about the concept of space to encode info works just the same. :)
on “An ultimate guide to memory palaces” ↗