Moonwalking with Einstein

A very interesting listen

This book follows Joshua Foer through his journey from average guy to memory champ challenger, and while it skims over the various memory methods, if you want to use them, you have to research the information yourself

What is amazing is the amount of people in the memory game who limit themselves to certain types, while Josh, in a year, manages to out-do the "professionals" who have been doing it for years, let alone the "memory freaks" (or false ones) who just have remarkable minds, or don't

If you're interested in your mind and how to expand it, then this is an interesting listen, but it won't teach you, it will just set you on the way, and show you about the memory championships

The narrator is good, almost making you think that it's the voice of Josh Foer, which makes it all the more interesting - a very well read book, and I can't wait to listen to more ready by Mike Chamberlain!

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Not quite what I was expecting

Would you listen to Moonwalking with Einstein again? Why?

probably not

Any additional comments?

I was expecting a guide on memory techniques but this is more of one man's story of learning the techniques himself.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A good relaxed read

This is a good book which touches on some of the techniques used for memory training but mainly follows the author through being a memory novice to competing in the US memory championship. Its not a memory training aid but a relaxed, light hearted take on the people who commit themselves to memorising infeasible amounts of data, and the so called savants who can do this effortlessly.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Enlightening!!

if you are interested in how your mind and memory works i would recommend this book, well structured and informative and certainly gets you thinking

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

An interesting view into memory

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I enjoyed it greatly. It is an interesting take on memory from the point of view of the non- specialist. It provides a view of the subject and the community of specialist competitors

Who was your favorite character and why?

It is pretty much autobiographical so that Josh is the main vehicle for the narrative.

Have you listened to any of Mike Chamberlain’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No but I think he does an excellent job on this book.

Any additional comments?

This is not an instruction book on how to develop your memory but an insight into the subject written in a clear way by a journalist who explores the path of memory enhancement from the inside.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Seriously memorable!

A journalist covers a memory contest and decides to go in for one himself, getting hooked, in the process on the art and science of memory-training. A fascinating book which explores the subject of memory and memory training from its early history. The most exciting thing is that it demystifies feats of memory and makes you realise that, with a little effort and perseverance, you could manage to remember massively more than you do at the moment!

Mike Chamberlains reading contributes a faint hint of Woody Allen about the whole thing, particularly when it comes to the tradition of memory experts in resorting to bawdy humour to get things to stick in their minds.

A highly diverging and entertaining – as well as instructive book!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

changed my view on life

there are a few books which at first glance you think to yourself.. "really, another self help book?". with this book you could not be more wrong, or at least... i couldn't. i found my self very surprised at the level of interest in mnemonics this book has ignited within me. the story was told through a very engaging narrative, with which i constantly found myself chuckling aloud.. and at one point even, shedding tears. yes i admit it, i cried. at a certain point in this book i came across a realization about the absence of memory that was sadder than anything i could imagine. but alas, i fear i have already said too much. now.. go forth and listen to one of the books that i'm proud to call my favorites.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Worth a read

This is a great story with an interesting end but there are a few little annoyances I had with the Audiobook. The narrators American accent I found to be a bit annoying especially when describing places in England (of which he names a few) - pronouncing Derby as 'duhby'; and there were a few periods of what seemed to be getting the word count up by citing psychology research of which is vaguely relevant, yet not that interesting.
Overall I would be lying if I said I wasn't entertained by this book and I did finish it with a smile on my face, but may I suggest Surely You Must Be Joking Mr Feynman for more balanced, science based inspirational non fiction(!)

5 of 8 people found this review helpful

Very fun to listen to, very interesting

I found this a very interesting book regarding the history of memory techniques, the improvement one can make to the memory by rigorous training, and the isolated usefulness of such techniques in memory competitions in this world of externalised memory.

Good book

This is mostly about memory techniques, so if you want to put time into remembering facts and numbers this would be the book for you.