Moonwalking with Einstein

The Art and Science of Remembering Everything

By: Joshua Foer

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

The blockbuster phenomenon that charts an amazing journey of the mind while revolutionizing our concept of memory.

An instant best seller that is poised to become a classic, Moonwalking with Einstein recounts Joshua Foer's yearlong quest to improve his memory under the tutelage of top "mental athletes". He draws on cutting-edge research, a surprising cultural history of remembering, and venerable tricks of the mentalist's trade to transform our understanding of human memory. From the United States Memory Championship to deep within the author's own mind, this is an electrifying work of journalism that reminds us that, in every way that matters, we are the sum of our memories.

©2011 Joshua Foer (P)2011 Penguin

Critic reviews

“Highly entertaining.” (Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker)

“Funny, curious, erudite, and full of useful details about ancient techniques of training memory.” (The Boston Globe)

"His passionate and deeply engrossing book...is a resounding tribute to the muscularity of the mind.... In the end, Moonwalking with Einstein reminds us that though brain science is a wild frontier and the mechanics of memory little understood, our minds are capable of epic achievements." (The Washington Post)

Very interesting

This is a great book and I really want to learn more about our brains now.

Good presentation of classic material

Very good presentation of material that has been around since the classical age. I took a memory course 40 years ago and it was the same material. I should have done it then and I will do it now. The book reads like a novel and it is perhaps the most useful information that you have ever been exposed to.

good insights into the world of memory

First if all the author's style of writing was very enjoyable even though the subject matter could be some what boring. secondly, as far as i gathered the book is not supposed to be a step by step or how to litrture on memory teachniques like POA, memory palace etc... However it does give specific instructions on those teachniques. Finally, what i come out with from the book a very solid overall understanding on the world of memory training and competition and i imagine any one interested in the subject of memory improvment will find the book an excellent introduction as the author provides many more sources plus he gives an excellent over view.

Interesting

This was an interesting book. I guess I'm damning it with faint praise. The reader put me off. He was too sing song for my liking.

Interesting read

What did you love best about Moonwalking with Einstein?

This book made me wonder if the memory games would work for me.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not a favoirte

What does Mike Chamberlain bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He allows me to think more about what is being said, and not on what is in front of my eyes.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

no

Any additional comments?

This was a good listen, it is thought provoking and easy to follow

Nerdy and fun

If you’re curious about how to improve your memory, this books gives an introduction to the basic concepts used by memory champions. It also gets into the history and social aspects of the art of memorizing large amounts of stuff. But what this book really does is introduce the quirky cool world of memory champions as characters and their role as celebs in this subculture of memory nerds. While an occasional female is mentioned for her wins, this book clearly shows a tight-knit fraternity of white males helping one another and even forming their own little club (typical$. If it were more inclusive, I would be more intrigued. That this book inspired one of the world’s top current champs who’s also female (Yanjaa) may redeem it from its blatant sausage-party feel.

I did not know this world existed

If you could sum up Moonwalking with Einstein in three words, what would they be?

Unusual. Interesting. Engaging.

What other book might you compare Moonwalking with Einstein to and why?

The feeling I got from this book was similar to how I have felt in the past when reading some of Mary Roach's books - I feel like I've been exposed to a topic that I knew nothing about and got a bit of an insider's view into that world. (This author is good, but is not in the same league as Mary Roach, so I don't intend any disrespect to her by making the comparison)

Engaging

moonwalking with Einstein is a very engaging book that will suck you in by the story and the curious possibility of achieving such a goal.

So interesting

It was like working out for me. Dreaded it, but really got something out of it when i made myself listen. There's so much about the brain we don't understand and its fascinating to hear about how we try to.

I enjoyed this way more than I expected!

What made the experience of listening to Moonwalking with Einstein the most enjoyable?

I heard about the Memory Palace and wanted learn more about it. Josh's story made it far more interesting than a How To book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Moonwalking with Einstein?

Hearing his examples, his struggles, and how an average person can become so strong, so fast, was really engaging.

Which scene was your favorite?

Gotta love the end.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A comedy about the secrets of the mind

Any additional comments?

Great narration