1.

Greeks had devised specific memory systems for various

tasks; and how, later, the Romans applied these techniques
to enable themselves to remember whole books of
mythology and to
impress their audiences during senatorial speeches and
debates.

2. basic systems need not be used only for 'rote' or

parrotlike memory, but could be used as
gigantic filing systems for the mind, enabling extraordinarily
fast and efficient access, and enormously enhancing general
understanding

3. The explosion of brain research during the last decade has

confirmed what the Memory theorists, gamesters, mnemonic
technicians and magicians have always known: that the
holding capacity of our brains and the ability to recall what is
stored there
are far and deliciously beyond normal expectations

4. Your memory is phenomenal. This statement is made

despite the following counterarguments:

 Most people remember fewer than 10 per cent of the

names of those whom they meet.

 Most people forget more than 99 per cent of the phone

numbers given to them.

 Memory is supposed to decline rapidly with age.

 Many people drink, and alcohol is reputed to destroy

1000 brain cells per drink.

 Internationally, across races, cultures, ages and

education levels, there is a common experience, and
fear of, having an inadequate or bad memory.
  Our failures in general, and especially in remembering,
are attributed to the fact that we are 'only human', a
statement that implies that our skills are inherently
inadequate.

5. Your memory does decline with age, but only if it is not

used. Conversely, if it is used, it will continue to improve
throughout your lifetime

6. Across cultural and international boundaries 'negative

experience' with memory can be traced not to our being
'only human' or in anyway innately inadequate but to two
simple, easily changeable factors:

(1) Negative mental set

2) Lack of knowledge

7. This negative, dangerous, incorrect mental set is based on

lack of proper training.

8. The human memory is so excellent and runs so smoothly

that most people don't even realise that every word they
speak and every word they listen to are instantaneously
produced for consideration, recalled, recognised precisely
and placed in their appropriate context. Nordo they realise
that every moment, every perception, every thought,
everything that they do throughout the entire day and
throughout their lives is a function of their memories. fact,
its ongoing accuracy is almost perfect. The few odd things
that we do forget are like odd specks on a gigantic ocean.
Ironically, the reason why we notice so dramatically the
errors that we make is
that they are so rare.