Feats of memory anyone can do - Joshua Foer
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I'd<00:00:16.560> like<00:00:16.760> to<00:00:17.279> invite<00:00:17.640> you<00:00:17.840> to<00:00:18.080> close<00:00:18.640> your
I'd like to invite you to close your
I'd like to invite you to close your
eyes<00:00:21.400> imagine<00:00:21.880> yourself<00:00:22.599> standing<00:00:23.599> outside
eyes imagine yourself standing outside
eyes imagine yourself standing outside
the<00:00:24.560> front<00:00:24.840> door<00:00:25.400> of<00:00:25.560> your<00:00:26.240> home<00:00:27.240> I'd<00:00:27.400> like<00:00:27.560> you
the front door of your home I'd like you
the front door of your home I'd like you
to<00:00:27.800> notice<00:00:28.640> the<00:00:28.800> color<00:00:29.080> of<00:00:29.199> the<00:00:29.359> door<00:00:30.160> material
to notice the color of the door material
to notice the color of the door material
that<00:00:31.279> it's<00:00:31.480> made<00:00:31.720> out
that it's made out
that it's made out
of<00:00:34.719> now<00:00:35.559> visualize<00:00:36.399> a<00:00:36.840> pack<00:00:37.360> of<00:00:37.960> overweight
of now visualize a pack of overweight
of now visualize a pack of overweight
nudists<00:00:39.520> on
nudists on
nudists on
bicycles<00:00:41.800> they<00:00:41.920> are<00:00:42.120> competing<00:00:42.960> in<00:00:43.120> a<00:00:43.320> naked
bicycles they are competing in a naked
bicycles they are competing in a naked
bicycle<00:00:44.239> race<00:00:44.600> and<00:00:44.719> they<00:00:44.840> are<00:00:45.000> headed
bicycle race and they are headed
bicycle race and they are headed
straight<00:00:46.239> for<00:00:46.480> your<00:00:46.680> front<00:00:47.039> door<00:00:47.840> I<00:00:47.920> need<00:00:48.120> you
straight for your front door I need you
straight for your front door I need you
to<00:00:48.520> actually<00:00:49.440> see<00:00:49.800> this<00:00:50.120> they<00:00:50.239> are<00:00:50.920> pedaling
to actually see this they are pedaling
to actually see this they are pedaling
really<00:00:51.879> hard<00:00:52.239> they're<00:00:52.680> sweaty<00:00:53.680> uh<00:00:53.800> they're
really hard they're sweaty uh they're
really hard they're sweaty uh they're
bouncing<00:00:54.480> around<00:00:55.320> a<00:00:55.760> lot<00:00:56.760> and<00:00:57.239> they<00:00:57.520> crash
bouncing around a lot and they crash
bouncing around a lot and they crash
straight<00:00:58.320> into<00:00:58.519> the<00:00:58.640> front<00:00:58.879> door<00:00:59.079> of<00:00:59.199> your
straight into the front door of your
straight into the front door of your
home
home
home
bicycles<00:01:01.359> fly<00:01:01.680> everywhere<00:01:02.160> Wheels<00:01:02.559> roll<00:01:03.039> past
bicycles fly everywhere Wheels roll past
bicycles fly everywhere Wheels roll past
you<00:01:04.080> spokes<00:01:04.760> end<00:01:04.960> up<00:01:05.199> in<00:01:05.400> awkward
you spokes end up in awkward
you spokes end up in awkward
places<00:01:07.759> step<00:01:08.200> over<00:01:09.119> the<00:01:09.280> threshold<00:01:09.759> of<00:01:09.880> your
places step over the threshold of your
places step over the threshold of your
door<00:01:10.960> into<00:01:11.200> your<00:01:11.320> foyer<00:01:11.759> your<00:01:11.880> hallway
door into your foyer your hallway
door into your foyer your hallway
whatever<00:01:12.479> is<00:01:12.600> on<00:01:12.720> the<00:01:12.840> other<00:01:13.119> side<00:01:14.119> and
whatever is on the other side and
whatever is on the other side and
appreciate<00:01:15.520> the<00:01:15.680> quality<00:01:16.080> of<00:01:16.200> the<00:01:16.560> light<00:01:17.560> the
appreciate the quality of the light the
appreciate the quality of the light the
light<00:01:18.640> is<00:01:19.159> shining<00:01:19.720> down<00:01:20.560> on<00:01:21.560> Cookie
light is shining down on Cookie
light is shining down on Cookie
Monster<00:01:24.119> Cookie<00:01:24.400> Monster<00:01:24.759> is<00:01:24.960> waving<00:01:25.320> at<00:01:25.479> you
Monster Cookie Monster is waving at you
Monster Cookie Monster is waving at you
from<00:01:26.040> his<00:01:26.280> perch<00:01:26.680> on<00:01:27.000> top<00:01:27.240> of<00:01:27.520> a<00:01:27.799> tan<00:01:28.320> horse
from his perch on top of a tan horse
from his perch on top of a tan horse
it's<00:01:28.920> a<00:01:29.119> talking<00:01:29.960> horse<00:01:30.720> you<00:01:30.880> can<00:01:31.759> practically
it's a talking horse you can practically
it's a talking horse you can practically
feel<00:01:32.759> his<00:01:32.960> blue<00:01:33.280> fur<00:01:33.920> tickling<00:01:34.560> your<00:01:34.759> nose<00:01:35.439> you
feel his blue fur tickling your nose you
feel his blue fur tickling your nose you
can<00:01:35.759> smell<00:01:36.320> the<00:01:36.439> oatmeal<00:01:36.880> raisin<00:01:37.280> cookie<00:01:37.560> that
can smell the oatmeal raisin cookie that
can smell the oatmeal raisin cookie that
he's<00:01:37.880> about<00:01:38.000> to<00:01:38.119> shovel<00:01:38.479> into<00:01:38.680> his<00:01:38.840> mouth<00:01:39.479> walk
he's about to shovel into his mouth walk
he's about to shovel into his mouth walk
past<00:01:40.159> him<00:01:41.079> walk<00:01:41.439> past<00:01:41.680> him<00:01:41.840> into<00:01:42.040> your<00:01:42.240> living
past him walk past him into your living
past him walk past him into your living
room<00:01:43.479> in<00:01:43.640> your<00:01:43.840> living<00:01:44.119> room<00:01:44.399> in<00:01:44.640> full
room in your living room in full
room in your living room in full
imaginative<00:01:45.960> Broadband<00:01:46.960> picture<00:01:47.640> Britney
imaginative Broadband picture Britney
imaginative Broadband picture Britney
Spears<00:01:49.640> she<00:01:49.880> is<00:01:50.280> scantily<00:01:50.920> clad<00:01:51.880> she's
Spears she is scantily clad she's
Spears she is scantily clad she's
dancing<00:01:53.240> on<00:01:53.399> your<00:01:53.640> coffee<00:01:54.079> table<00:01:54.960> and<00:01:55.079> she's
dancing on your coffee table and she's
dancing on your coffee table and she's
singing<00:01:55.600> hit<00:01:55.759> me<00:01:55.920> baby<00:01:56.200> one<00:01:56.360> more<00:01:56.759> time<00:01:57.759> and
singing hit me baby one more time and
singing hit me baby one more time and
then<00:01:58.479> follow<00:01:58.799> me<00:01:59.000> into<00:01:59.200> your<00:01:59.399> kitchen
then follow me into your kitchen
then follow me into your kitchen
in<00:02:00.560> your<00:02:00.799> kitchen<00:02:01.479> the<00:02:01.600> floor<00:02:02.079> has<00:02:02.240> been<00:02:02.520> paved
in your kitchen the floor has been paved
in your kitchen the floor has been paved
over<00:02:03.200> with<00:02:03.320> a<00:02:03.479> yellow<00:02:03.759> brick<00:02:04.079> road<00:02:04.960> and<00:02:05.200> out<00:02:05.439> of
over with a yellow brick road and out of
over with a yellow brick road and out of
your<00:02:05.880> oven<00:02:06.840> are<00:02:07.079> coming<00:02:07.360> towards<00:02:07.719> you<00:02:08.360> Dorothy
your oven are coming towards you Dorothy
your oven are coming towards you Dorothy
the<00:02:09.280> Tin<00:02:09.560> Man<00:02:10.360> the<00:02:10.479> Scarecrow<00:02:11.000> and<00:02:11.120> the<00:02:11.239> lion
the Tin Man the Scarecrow and the lion
the Tin Man the Scarecrow and the lion
from<00:02:11.640> The<00:02:11.760> Wizard<00:02:12.040> of<00:02:12.200> Oz<00:02:13.200> hand<00:02:13.400> in<00:02:13.640> hand
from The Wizard of Oz hand in hand
from The Wizard of Oz hand in hand
skipping<00:02:14.319> straight<00:02:14.599> towards<00:02:14.920> you<00:02:16.160> okay<00:02:17.160> open
skipping straight towards you okay open
skipping straight towards you okay open
your
your
your
eyes<00:02:20.360> I<00:02:20.440> want<00:02:20.560> to<00:02:20.720> tell<00:02:20.920> you<00:02:21.120> about<00:02:21.280> a<00:02:21.480> very
eyes I want to tell you about a very
eyes I want to tell you about a very
bizarre<00:02:22.800> contest<00:02:23.480> that<00:02:23.599> is<00:02:23.720> held<00:02:24.280> every
bizarre contest that is held every
bizarre contest that is held every
spring<00:02:25.280> in<00:02:25.440> New<00:02:25.640> York<00:02:25.920> City<00:02:26.640> it's<00:02:26.840> called<00:02:27.400> the
spring in New York City it's called the
spring in New York City it's called the
United<00:02:27.959> States<00:02:28.519> memory<00:02:28.959> championship<00:02:29.879> and<00:02:29.959> I
United States memory championship and I
United States memory championship and I
had<00:02:30.200> gone<00:02:30.319> to<00:02:30.480> cover<00:02:30.760> this<00:02:30.959> contest<00:02:31.360> a<00:02:31.480> few
had gone to cover this contest a few
had gone to cover this contest a few
years<00:02:32.040> back<00:02:32.760> as<00:02:32.840> a<00:02:33.040> science<00:02:33.760> journalist
years back as a science journalist
years back as a science journalist
expecting<00:02:35.480> I<00:02:35.680> guess<00:02:36.040> that<00:02:36.200> this<00:02:36.280> was<00:02:36.480> going<00:02:36.680> to
expecting I guess that this was going to
expecting I guess that this was going to
be<00:02:37.599> like<00:02:37.920> the<00:02:38.360> Super<00:02:38.680> Bowl<00:02:39.040> of
be like the Super Bowl of
be like the Super Bowl of
savant<00:02:40.760> this<00:02:40.959> was<00:02:41.280> a<00:02:41.400> bunch<00:02:41.599> of<00:02:41.840> guys<00:02:42.480> and<00:02:42.599> a
savant this was a bunch of guys and a
savant this was a bunch of guys and a
few<00:02:43.159> ladies<00:02:44.159> widely<00:02:44.599> varying<00:02:45.040> in<00:02:45.239> both<00:02:45.560> age
few ladies widely varying in both age
few ladies widely varying in both age
and<00:02:46.440> hygienic
upkeep<00:02:51.360> they<00:02:51.440> were<00:02:52.159> memorizing<00:02:53.159> hundreds<00:02:53.640> of
upkeep they were memorizing hundreds of
upkeep they were memorizing hundreds of
random<00:02:54.239> numbers<00:02:54.959> looking<00:02:55.200> at<00:02:55.319> them<00:02:55.519> just<00:02:55.720> once
random numbers looking at them just once
random numbers looking at them just once
they<00:02:56.200> were<00:02:56.360> memorizing<00:02:57.360> the<00:02:57.560> names<00:02:58.000> of<00:02:58.239> dozens
they were memorizing the names of dozens
they were memorizing the names of dozens
and<00:02:58.920> dozens<00:02:59.239> and<00:02:59.400> dozens<00:02:59.680> of<00:02:59.879> of<00:03:00.239> strangers
and dozens and dozens of of strangers
and dozens and dozens of of strangers
they<00:03:01.360> were<00:03:01.480> memorizing<00:03:02.000> entire<00:03:02.440> poems<00:03:02.800> in
they were memorizing entire poems in
they were memorizing entire poems in
just<00:03:03.120> a<00:03:03.239> few<00:03:03.480> minutes<00:03:04.480> they<00:03:04.560> were<00:03:04.760> competing
just a few minutes they were competing
just a few minutes they were competing
to<00:03:05.360> see<00:03:05.599> who<00:03:05.760> could<00:03:05.959> memorize<00:03:06.440> the<00:03:06.560> order<00:03:06.840> of<00:03:06.920> a
to see who could memorize the order of a
to see who could memorize the order of a
shuffled<00:03:07.560> pack<00:03:07.720> of<00:03:07.920> playing<00:03:08.280> cards<00:03:09.080> fastest
shuffled pack of playing cards fastest
shuffled pack of playing cards fastest
and<00:03:10.200> I<00:03:10.280> was<00:03:10.440> like<00:03:10.680> this<00:03:10.799> is<00:03:11.280> unbelievable
and I was like this is unbelievable
and I was like this is unbelievable
these<00:03:12.480> people<00:03:12.840> must<00:03:13.120> be<00:03:13.720> freaks<00:03:14.360> of<00:03:14.720> nature
these people must be freaks of nature
these people must be freaks of nature
and<00:03:15.879> I<00:03:15.959> started<00:03:16.319> talking<00:03:17.200> to<00:03:17.360> a<00:03:17.480> few<00:03:17.640> of<00:03:17.720> the
and I started talking to a few of the
and I started talking to a few of the
competitors<00:03:18.480> this<00:03:18.599> is<00:03:19.120> a<00:03:19.280> guy<00:03:19.480> called<00:03:19.760> Ed<00:03:20.040> cook
competitors this is a guy called Ed cook
competitors this is a guy called Ed cook
who<00:03:20.440> had<00:03:20.599> come<00:03:20.840> over<00:03:21.440> from<00:03:21.640> England<00:03:22.040> where<00:03:22.159> he
who had come over from England where he
who had come over from England where he
had<00:03:22.400> one<00:03:22.480> of<00:03:22.599> the<00:03:22.680> best<00:03:22.840> trained<00:03:23.239> memories<00:03:24.239> and
had one of the best trained memories and
had one of the best trained memories and
I<00:03:24.519> said<00:03:24.680> to<00:03:24.840> him<00:03:25.400> Ed<00:03:26.400> when<00:03:26.640> did<00:03:26.840> you<00:03:27.080> realize
I said to him Ed when did you realize
I said to him Ed when did you realize
that<00:03:28.000> you<00:03:28.159> were<00:03:28.560> a<00:03:28.720> savant<00:03:30.000> and<00:03:30.159> Ed<00:03:30.400> was<00:03:30.599> like
that you were a savant and Ed was like
that you were a savant and Ed was like
I'm<00:03:31.560> not<00:03:31.680> a<00:03:31.799> savant<00:03:32.799> in<00:03:32.959> fact<00:03:33.200> I<00:03:33.319> have<00:03:33.480> just<00:03:33.640> an
I'm not a savant in fact I have just an
I'm not a savant in fact I have just an
average<00:03:34.400> memory<00:03:35.400> everybody<00:03:35.920> who<00:03:36.120> competes<00:03:36.519> in
average memory everybody who competes in
average memory everybody who competes in
this<00:03:36.879> contest<00:03:37.280> will<00:03:37.439> tell<00:03:37.599> you<00:03:38.080> that<00:03:38.280> they
this contest will tell you that they
this contest will tell you that they
have<00:03:38.720> just<00:03:38.920> an<00:03:39.159> average<00:03:39.560> memory<00:03:40.200> we've<00:03:40.400> all
have just an average memory we've all
have just an average memory we've all
trained<00:03:41.200> ourselves<00:03:42.200> to<00:03:42.400> perform<00:03:42.879> these
trained ourselves to perform these
trained ourselves to perform these
utterly<00:03:44.400> miraculous<00:03:45.400> Feats<00:03:45.840> of<00:03:46.120> memory<00:03:47.120> using
utterly miraculous Feats of memory using
utterly miraculous Feats of memory using
a<00:03:47.599> set<00:03:47.760> of<00:03:47.959> ancient<00:03:48.360> techniques<00:03:48.920> techniques
a set of ancient techniques techniques
a set of ancient techniques techniques
invented<00:03:49.840> 2500<00:03:50.640> years<00:03:50.840> ago<00:03:51.040> in<00:03:51.239> Greece<00:03:52.120> the
invented 2500 years ago in Greece the
invented 2500 years ago in Greece the
same<00:03:52.599> techniques<00:03:53.360> that<00:03:53.760> Cicero<00:03:54.400> had<00:03:54.599> used<00:03:55.120> to
same techniques that Cicero had used to
same techniques that Cicero had used to
memorize<00:03:55.760> his<00:03:56.200> speeches<00:03:57.200> that<00:03:57.480> medieval
memorize his speeches that medieval
memorize his speeches that medieval
Scholars<00:03:58.640> had<00:03:58.760> used<00:03:59.000> to<00:03:59.120> memorize<00:03:59.840> hire<00:04:00.400> books
Scholars had used to memorize hire books
Scholars had used to memorize hire books
I<00:04:01.480> was<00:04:01.640> like<00:04:01.920> wow<00:04:02.920> how<00:04:03.079> come<00:04:03.239> I<00:04:03.400> never<00:04:03.599> heard<00:04:03.760> of
I was like wow how come I never heard of
I was like wow how come I never heard of
this<00:04:04.480> before<00:04:05.480> and<00:04:05.599> we<00:04:05.680> were<00:04:05.879> standing<00:04:06.200> outside
this before and we were standing outside
this before and we were standing outside
the<00:04:06.720> competition<00:04:07.239> Hall<00:04:08.239> and<00:04:08.519> Ed<00:04:09.519> who<00:04:09.760> is<00:04:10.159> a
the competition Hall and Ed who is a
the competition Hall and Ed who is a
wonderful<00:04:11.120> brilliant<00:04:12.120> but<00:04:12.319> somewhat
wonderful brilliant but somewhat
wonderful brilliant but somewhat
eccentric<00:04:13.360> English<00:04:13.879> guy<00:04:14.640> says<00:04:14.879> to<00:04:15.040> me<00:04:15.840> Josh
eccentric English guy says to me Josh
eccentric English guy says to me Josh
you're<00:04:16.519> an<00:04:16.720> American
you're an American
you're an American
journalist<00:04:18.919> do<00:04:19.079> you<00:04:19.239> know<00:04:19.560> Britney<00:04:20.359> Spears
journalist do you know Britney Spears
journalist do you know Britney Spears
I'm<00:04:21.600> like
I'm like
I'm like
what<00:04:24.479> no<00:04:25.160> why<00:04:26.160> because<00:04:26.400> I<00:04:26.600> really<00:04:26.800> want<00:04:26.919> to
what no why because I really want to
what no why because I really want to
teach<00:04:27.479> Britney<00:04:27.840> Spears<00:04:28.520> how<00:04:28.639> to<00:04:28.759> memorize<00:04:29.199> the
teach Britney Spears how to memorize the
teach Britney Spears how to memorize the
order<00:04:29.560> of<00:04:29.720> of<00:04:29.800> a<00:04:29.880> shuffled<00:04:30.320> pack<00:04:30.520> of<00:04:30.680> playing
order of of a shuffled pack of playing
order of of a shuffled pack of playing
cards<00:04:31.400> on<00:04:31.639> US<00:04:32.039> National<00:04:32.440> Television<00:04:33.280> it<00:04:33.360> will
cards on US National Television it will
cards on US National Television it will
prove<00:04:33.880> to<00:04:34.039> the<00:04:34.160> world<00:04:34.639> that<00:04:34.919> anybody<00:04:35.600> can<00:04:35.759> do
this<00:04:41.479> I<00:04:41.600> was<00:04:41.680> like<00:04:42.240> well<00:04:43.240> I'm<00:04:43.360> not<00:04:43.560> Britney
this I was like well I'm not Britney
this I was like well I'm not Britney
spars<00:04:45.360> but<00:04:45.800> maybe<00:04:46.000> you<00:04:46.080> could<00:04:46.240> teach<00:04:46.800> me<00:04:47.800> I
spars but maybe you could teach me I
spars but maybe you could teach me I
mean<00:04:48.000> you<00:04:48.080> got<00:04:48.199> to<00:04:48.320> start<00:04:48.560> somewhere<00:04:49.039> right
mean you got to start somewhere right
mean you got to start somewhere right
and<00:04:50.199> that<00:04:50.320> was<00:04:50.479> the<00:04:50.639> beginning<00:04:51.120> of<00:04:51.360> a<00:04:51.680> very
and that was the beginning of a very
and that was the beginning of a very
strange<00:04:52.880> Journey<00:04:53.199> for<00:04:53.400> me<00:04:54.080> I<00:04:54.160> ended<00:04:54.360> up
strange Journey for me I ended up
strange Journey for me I ended up
spending<00:04:55.320> the<00:04:55.440> better<00:04:55.680> part<00:04:55.800> of<00:04:55.919> the<00:04:56.039> next
spending the better part of the next
spending the better part of the next
year<00:04:57.120> not<00:04:57.280> only<00:04:57.720> training<00:04:58.160> my<00:04:58.320> memory<00:04:58.880> but
year not only training my memory but
year not only training my memory but
also<00:04:59.759> investigating<00:05:00.360> it<00:05:01.000> trying<00:05:01.240> to
also investigating it trying to
also investigating it trying to
understand<00:05:02.039> how<00:05:02.199> it<00:05:02.360> works<00:05:03.080> why<00:05:03.199> it<00:05:03.479> sometimes
understand how it works why it sometimes
understand how it works why it sometimes
doesn't<00:05:04.199> work<00:05:05.080> and<00:05:05.440> what<00:05:05.639> its<00:05:05.880> potential
doesn't work and what its potential
doesn't work and what its potential
might<00:05:06.919> be<00:05:07.440> and<00:05:07.560> I<00:05:07.680> met<00:05:07.800> a<00:05:07.880> host<00:05:08.039> of<00:05:08.240> really
might be and I met a host of really
might be and I met a host of really
interesting<00:05:08.880> people<00:05:09.600> this<00:05:09.720> is<00:05:09.840> a<00:05:10.000> guy<00:05:10.160> called
interesting people this is a guy called
interesting people this is a guy called
EP<00:05:11.520> he's<00:05:11.720> named<00:05:12.000> niik<00:05:12.440> who<00:05:12.639> had<00:05:13.120> very<00:05:13.440> possibly
EP he's named niik who had very possibly
EP he's named niik who had very possibly
the<00:05:14.240> worst<00:05:14.759> memory<00:05:15.360> in<00:05:15.479> the<00:05:15.680> world<00:05:16.639> his<00:05:16.759> memory
the worst memory in the world his memory
the worst memory in the world his memory
was<00:05:17.280> so<00:05:17.639> bad<00:05:18.600> that<00:05:18.720> he<00:05:18.840> didn't<00:05:19.080> even<00:05:19.360> remember
was so bad that he didn't even remember
was so bad that he didn't even remember
he<00:05:20.240> had<00:05:20.360> a<00:05:20.479> memory<00:05:20.919> problem<00:05:21.440> which<00:05:21.560> is<00:05:21.919> amazing
he had a memory problem which is amazing
he had a memory problem which is amazing
and<00:05:23.039> he<00:05:23.120> was<00:05:23.240> this<00:05:23.400> incredibly<00:05:23.919> tragic<00:05:24.280> figure
and he was this incredibly tragic figure
and he was this incredibly tragic figure
but<00:05:24.639> he<00:05:24.759> was<00:05:24.880> a<00:05:25.039> window<00:05:25.840> into<00:05:26.120> the<00:05:26.319> extent<00:05:27.000> to
but he was a window into the extent to
but he was a window into the extent to
which<00:05:27.440> our<00:05:27.680> memories<00:05:28.680> make<00:05:28.960> us<00:05:29.319> who<00:05:29.880> we
which our memories make us who we
which our memories make us who we
are<00:05:31.560> the<00:05:31.680> other<00:05:31.840> end<00:05:32.000> of<00:05:32.120> the<00:05:32.520> spectrum<00:05:33.520> I<00:05:33.639> met
are the other end of the spectrum I met
are the other end of the spectrum I met
this<00:05:34.000> guy<00:05:34.199> this<00:05:34.319> is<00:05:34.560> Kim<00:05:34.800> Peak<00:05:35.160> he<00:05:35.319> was<00:05:35.560> the
this guy this is Kim Peak he was the
this guy this is Kim Peak he was the
basis<00:05:36.360> for<00:05:36.639> Dustin<00:05:37.000> Hoffman's<00:05:37.479> character<00:05:37.800> in
basis for Dustin Hoffman's character in
basis for Dustin Hoffman's character in
the<00:05:37.960> movie<00:05:38.319> Rainman<00:05:39.319> we<00:05:39.440> spent<00:05:39.680> an<00:05:39.880> afternoon
the movie Rainman we spent an afternoon
the movie Rainman we spent an afternoon
together<00:05:41.440> in<00:05:41.560> the<00:05:41.680> Salt<00:05:42.000> Lake<00:05:42.199> City<00:05:42.479> Public
together in the Salt Lake City Public
together in the Salt Lake City Public
Library<00:05:43.800> memorizing<00:05:44.319> phone<00:05:44.840> books<00:05:45.840> which<00:05:46.199> was
Library memorizing phone books which was
Library memorizing phone books which was
centilating
and<00:05:51.280> I<00:05:51.400> went<00:05:51.720> back<00:05:52.479> and<00:05:52.639> I<00:05:52.800> read<00:05:53.240> a<00:05:53.400> whole<00:05:53.680> host
and I went back and I read a whole host
and I went back and I read a whole host
of<00:05:54.160> memory<00:05:54.479> treatises<00:05:55.479> treatises<00:05:56.080> written
of memory treatises treatises written
of memory treatises treatises written
2,000<00:05:57.319> plus<00:05:57.600> years<00:05:57.840> ago<00:05:58.400> in<00:05:59.160> Latin<00:05:59.800> in
2,000 plus years ago in Latin in
2,000 plus years ago in Latin in
Antiquity<00:06:00.759> and<00:06:00.880> then<00:06:01.039> later<00:06:01.240> in<00:06:01.360> the<00:06:01.440> Middle
Antiquity and then later in the Middle
Antiquity and then later in the Middle
Ages<00:06:02.759> and<00:06:02.880> I<00:06:03.000> learned<00:06:03.400> a<00:06:03.560> whole<00:06:03.720> bunch<00:06:03.880> of
Ages and I learned a whole bunch of
Ages and I learned a whole bunch of
really<00:06:04.240> interesting<00:06:04.960> stuff<00:06:05.960> one<00:06:06.120> of<00:06:06.240> the
really interesting stuff one of the
really interesting stuff one of the
really<00:06:06.639> interesting<00:06:07.039> things<00:06:07.280> that<00:06:07.400> I<00:06:07.759> learned
really interesting things that I learned
really interesting things that I learned
is<00:06:08.960> that<00:06:09.280> once<00:06:09.520> upon<00:06:09.720> a<00:06:10.120> time<00:06:11.120> this<00:06:11.560> idea<00:06:12.560> of
is that once upon a time this idea of
is that once upon a time this idea of
having<00:06:13.120> a<00:06:13.440> trained<00:06:14.440> disciplined<00:06:15.400> cultivated
having a trained disciplined cultivated
having a trained disciplined cultivated
memory<00:06:17.280> was<00:06:17.479> not<00:06:17.720> nearly<00:06:18.280> so<00:06:18.560> alien<00:06:19.520> as<00:06:19.639> it
memory was not nearly so alien as it
memory was not nearly so alien as it
would<00:06:19.880> seem<00:06:20.120> to<00:06:20.319> us<00:06:20.520> to<00:06:20.680> be<00:06:21.120> today<00:06:22.120> Once<00:06:22.360> Upon<00:06:22.560> a
would seem to us to be today Once Upon a
would seem to us to be today Once Upon a
Time<00:06:23.599> people<00:06:24.039> invested<00:06:24.960> in<00:06:25.120> their<00:06:25.800> memories
Time people invested in their memories
Time people invested in their memories
in<00:06:27.720> laboriously<00:06:28.720> furnishing<00:06:29.680> their
in laboriously furnishing their
in laboriously furnishing their
minds<00:06:32.000> over<00:06:32.199> the<00:06:32.360> last<00:06:32.599> few<00:06:32.800> Millennia<00:06:33.560> we've
minds over the last few Millennia we've
minds over the last few Millennia we've
invented<00:06:34.400> a<00:06:34.840> series<00:06:35.240> of<00:06:35.520> Technologies<00:06:36.400> from
invented a series of Technologies from
invented a series of Technologies from
the<00:06:37.560> alphabet<00:06:38.199> to<00:06:38.400> the<00:06:38.520> scroll<00:06:38.960> the<00:06:39.160> Codex<00:06:39.599> the
the alphabet to the scroll the Codex the
the alphabet to the scroll the Codex the
printing<00:06:40.080> press<00:06:40.720> photography<00:06:41.360> the<00:06:41.520> computer
printing press photography the computer
printing press photography the computer
the<00:06:42.319> smartphone<00:06:43.319> that<00:06:43.520> have<00:06:43.720> made<00:06:43.919> it
the smartphone that have made it
the smartphone that have made it
progressively<00:06:45.000> easier<00:06:45.440> and<00:06:45.680> easier<00:06:46.080> for<00:06:46.280> us
progressively easier and easier for us
progressively easier and easier for us
to<00:06:46.880> externalize<00:06:47.880> our<00:06:48.080> memories<00:06:48.840> for<00:06:49.000> us<00:06:49.120> to
to externalize our memories for us to
to externalize our memories for us to
essentially<00:06:50.039> Outsource<00:06:51.039> this<00:06:51.599> fundamental
essentially Outsource this fundamental
essentially Outsource this fundamental
human
human
human
capacity<00:06:55.080> these<00:06:55.280> technologies<00:06:55.960> have<00:06:56.160> made
capacity these technologies have made
capacity these technologies have made
our<00:06:56.599> modern<00:06:56.879> world<00:06:57.319> possible<00:06:58.319> but<00:06:58.440> they've
our modern world possible but they've
our modern world possible but they've
also<00:06:58.840> changed<00:06:59.240> us
also changed us
also changed us
they've<00:07:00.560> changed<00:07:00.960> us<00:07:01.400> culturally<00:07:02.080> and<00:07:02.199> I
they've changed us culturally and I
they've changed us culturally and I
would<00:07:02.440> argue<00:07:02.800> that<00:07:02.919> they've<00:07:03.120> changed<00:07:03.479> us
would argue that they've changed us
would argue that they've changed us
cognitively<00:07:05.240> having<00:07:05.520> little<00:07:05.800> need<00:07:06.319> to
cognitively having little need to
cognitively having little need to
remember<00:07:07.000> anymore<00:07:08.000> it<00:07:08.280> sometimes<00:07:08.520> seems<00:07:08.759> like
remember anymore it sometimes seems like
remember anymore it sometimes seems like
we've<00:07:09.080> forgotten<00:07:10.000> how<00:07:11.000> one<00:07:11.120> of<00:07:11.280> the<00:07:11.560> last
we've forgotten how one of the last
we've forgotten how one of the last
places<00:07:12.360> on<00:07:12.520> Earth<00:07:12.759> where<00:07:12.879> you<00:07:13.000> still<00:07:13.319> find
places on Earth where you still find
places on Earth where you still find
people<00:07:14.199> passionate<00:07:14.759> about<00:07:15.000> this<00:07:15.199> idea<00:07:15.919> of<00:07:16.039> a
people passionate about this idea of a
people passionate about this idea of a
trained<00:07:16.960> disciplined<00:07:17.840> cultivated<00:07:18.479> memory<00:07:19.280> is
trained disciplined cultivated memory is
trained disciplined cultivated memory is
that<00:07:19.599> this<00:07:19.800> totally<00:07:20.479> singular<00:07:21.120> memory
that this totally singular memory
that this totally singular memory
contest<00:07:21.879> it's<00:07:22.080> actually<00:07:22.319> not<00:07:22.520> that<00:07:22.680> singular
contest it's actually not that singular
contest it's actually not that singular
their<00:07:23.639> contests<00:07:24.160> held<00:07:24.479> all<00:07:24.639> over<00:07:24.840> the<00:07:24.919> world
their contests held all over the world
their contests held all over the world
and<00:07:25.360> I<00:07:25.440> was<00:07:25.639> fascinated<00:07:26.120> I<00:07:26.199> wanted<00:07:26.440> to<00:07:26.599> know
and I was fascinated I wanted to know
and I was fascinated I wanted to know
how<00:07:27.639> do<00:07:27.919> these<00:07:28.199> guys<00:07:28.560> do<00:07:28.759> it
how do these guys do it
how do these guys do it
few<00:07:30.479> years<00:07:30.840> back<00:07:31.560> a<00:07:31.680> group<00:07:31.879> of<00:07:32.000> researchers<00:07:32.560> at
few years back a group of researchers at
few years back a group of researchers at
University<00:07:33.199> College<00:07:33.520> London<00:07:34.400> brought<00:07:34.759> a
University College London brought a
University College London brought a
bunch<00:07:35.080> of<00:07:35.240> memory<00:07:35.560> Champions<00:07:36.080> into<00:07:36.280> the<00:07:36.479> lab
bunch of memory Champions into the lab
bunch of memory Champions into the lab
they<00:07:37.240> wanted<00:07:37.560> to<00:07:37.759> know<00:07:38.479> do<00:07:38.720> these<00:07:39.000> guys<00:07:39.319> have
they wanted to know do these guys have
they wanted to know do these guys have
brains<00:07:39.919> that<00:07:40.039> are<00:07:40.199> somehow<00:07:40.800> structurally
brains that are somehow structurally
brains that are somehow structurally
anatomically<00:07:42.400> different<00:07:43.039> from<00:07:43.199> the<00:07:43.360> rest<00:07:43.520> of
anatomically different from the rest of
anatomically different from the rest of
ours<00:07:44.560> the<00:07:44.720> answer<00:07:45.120> was
ours the answer was
ours the answer was
no<00:07:47.919> are<00:07:48.199> they<00:07:48.639> smarter<00:07:49.400> than<00:07:49.599> the<00:07:49.759> rest<00:07:49.919> of<00:07:50.120> us
no are they smarter than the rest of us
no are they smarter than the rest of us
they<00:07:50.680> gave<00:07:50.800> them<00:07:50.919> a<00:07:51.000> bunch<00:07:51.120> of<00:07:51.240> cognitive<00:07:51.680> test
they gave them a bunch of cognitive test
they gave them a bunch of cognitive test
and<00:07:51.960> the<00:07:52.080> answer<00:07:52.360> was<00:07:53.039> not<00:07:53.400> really<00:07:54.400> there<00:07:54.599> was
and the answer was not really there was
and the answer was not really there was
however<00:07:55.240> one<00:07:55.759> really<00:07:56.120> interesting<00:07:56.560> and
however one really interesting and
however one really interesting and
telling<00:07:57.280> difference<00:07:57.680> between<00:07:57.960> the<00:07:58.120> brains<00:07:58.759> of
telling difference between the brains of
telling difference between the brains of
the<00:07:59.000> memory<00:07:59.520> Champions<00:07:59.879> and<00:08:00.039> the<00:08:00.120> control
the memory Champions and the control
the memory Champions and the control
subjects<00:08:00.919> that<00:08:01.080> they<00:08:01.159> were<00:08:01.319> comparing<00:08:01.759> them
subjects that they were comparing them
subjects that they were comparing them
to<00:08:02.960> when<00:08:03.120> they<00:08:03.280> put<00:08:03.520> these<00:08:03.759> guys<00:08:04.280> in<00:08:04.400> an<00:08:04.560> fmri
to when they put these guys in an fmri
to when they put these guys in an fmri
machine<00:08:06.039> scanned<00:08:06.440> their<00:08:06.599> brains<00:08:06.960> while<00:08:07.080> they
machine scanned their brains while they
machine scanned their brains while they
were<00:08:07.639> memorizing<00:08:08.639> numbers<00:08:09.159> and<00:08:09.560> people's
were memorizing numbers and people's
were memorizing numbers and people's
faces<00:08:10.360> and<00:08:10.560> pictures<00:08:10.879> of<00:08:11.360> snowflakes<00:08:12.360> they
faces and pictures of snowflakes they
faces and pictures of snowflakes they
found<00:08:13.080> that<00:08:13.240> the<00:08:13.360> memory<00:08:13.759> Champions<00:08:14.599> were
found that the memory Champions were
found that the memory Champions were
lighting<00:08:15.199> up<00:08:15.479> different<00:08:15.759> parts<00:08:15.960> of<00:08:16.080> the<00:08:16.199> brain
lighting up different parts of the brain
lighting up different parts of the brain
than<00:08:17.319> everyone<00:08:17.840> else<00:08:18.840> of<00:08:19.039> note<00:08:19.319> they<00:08:19.440> were
than everyone else of note they were
than everyone else of note they were
using<00:08:20.639> or<00:08:20.800> they<00:08:20.919> seem<00:08:21.159> to<00:08:21.319> be<00:08:21.479> using<00:08:22.080> a<00:08:22.199> part<00:08:22.360> of
using or they seem to be using a part of
using or they seem to be using a part of
the<00:08:22.599> brain<00:08:22.840> that's<00:08:23.039> involved<00:08:23.479> in<00:08:23.759> spatial
the brain that's involved in spatial
the brain that's involved in spatial
memory<00:08:24.879> and
memory and
memory and
navigation<00:08:27.080> why<00:08:28.080> and<00:08:28.280> is<00:08:28.440> there<00:08:28.680> something
navigation why and is there something
navigation why and is there something
that<00:08:29.720> the<00:08:29.879> rest<00:08:30.039> of<00:08:30.199> us<00:08:30.720> can<00:08:30.879> learn<00:08:31.159> from
that the rest of us can learn from
that the rest of us can learn from
this<00:08:33.360> the<00:08:33.919> sport<00:08:34.800> of<00:08:35.159> competitive
this the sport of competitive
this the sport of competitive
memorizing<00:08:37.360> is<00:08:37.599> driven<00:08:37.919> by<00:08:38.000> a<00:08:38.120> kind<00:08:38.240> of<00:08:38.360> arms
memorizing is driven by a kind of arms
memorizing is driven by a kind of arms
race<00:08:39.599> where<00:08:39.959> every<00:08:40.279> year<00:08:41.120> somebody<00:08:41.519> comes<00:08:41.760> up
race where every year somebody comes up
race where every year somebody comes up
with<00:08:42.240> a<00:08:42.519> new<00:08:42.800> way<00:08:43.159> to<00:08:43.320> remember<00:08:43.800> more<00:08:44.120> stuff
with a new way to remember more stuff
with a new way to remember more stuff
more<00:08:44.880> quickly<00:08:45.200> and<00:08:45.279> then<00:08:45.399> the<00:08:45.560> rest<00:08:45.680> of<00:08:45.760> the
more quickly and then the rest of the
more quickly and then the rest of the
field<00:08:46.160> has<00:08:46.279> to<00:08:46.440> play<00:08:46.640> catchup<00:08:47.320> this<00:08:47.399> is<00:08:47.560> my
field has to play catchup this is my
field has to play catchup this is my
friend<00:08:47.959> Ben<00:08:48.240> Pridmore<00:08:49.200> three-time<00:08:49.839> World
friend Ben Pridmore three-time World
friend Ben Pridmore three-time World
memory<00:08:50.480> champion<00:08:51.279> on<00:08:51.519> his<00:08:51.720> desk<00:08:52.000> in<00:08:52.120> front<00:08:52.279> of
memory champion on his desk in front of
memory champion on his desk in front of
him<00:08:52.560> are<00:08:52.839> 36<00:08:53.800> shuffled<00:08:54.480> packs<00:08:54.680> of<00:08:54.839> playing
him are 36 shuffled packs of playing
him are 36 shuffled packs of playing
cards<00:08:56.519> that<00:08:56.680> he<00:08:56.800> is<00:08:57.000> about<00:08:57.240> to<00:08:57.440> try<00:08:57.600> to
cards that he is about to try to
cards that he is about to try to
memorize<00:08:58.279> in<00:08:58.440> one<00:08:58.680> hour<00:08:59.640> using<00:09:00.040> a<00:09:00.279> technique
memorize in one hour using a technique
memorize in one hour using a technique
that<00:09:00.959> he<00:09:01.279> invented<00:09:01.720> and<00:09:01.920> he<00:09:02.079> alone<00:09:02.519> has
that he invented and he alone has
that he invented and he alone has
mastered<00:09:03.640> he<00:09:03.800> used<00:09:04.200> a<00:09:04.519> similar<00:09:05.000> technique<00:09:05.399> to
mastered he used a similar technique to
mastered he used a similar technique to
memorize<00:09:06.480> the<00:09:06.760> precise<00:09:07.200> order<00:09:08.079> of
memorize the precise order of
memorize the precise order of
4,140<00:09:11.440> random<00:09:12.040> binary<00:09:12.680> digits<00:09:13.560> in<00:09:14.079> half<00:09:14.399> an
4,140 random binary digits in half an
4,140 random binary digits in half an
hour
hour
hour
yeah<00:09:18.920> and<00:09:19.120> while<00:09:19.320> there<00:09:19.800> are<00:09:20.800> a<00:09:20.920> whole<00:09:21.120> host<00:09:21.360> of
yeah and while there are a whole host of
yeah and while there are a whole host of
ways<00:09:21.959> of<00:09:22.200> remembering<00:09:22.720> stuff<00:09:22.920> in<00:09:23.120> these
ways of remembering stuff in these
ways of remembering stuff in these
competitions<00:09:25.959> everything<00:09:26.600> all<00:09:26.760> of<00:09:26.880> the
competitions everything all of the
competitions everything all of the
techniques<00:09:27.480> that<00:09:27.560> are<00:09:27.760> being<00:09:28.000> used
techniques that are being used
techniques that are being used
ultimately<00:09:29.399> come<00:09:29.640> down<00:09:29.880> to<00:09:30.240> a<00:09:30.440> concept<00:09:30.839> that
ultimately come down to a concept that
ultimately come down to a concept that
psychologists<00:09:31.680> refer<00:09:31.959> to<00:09:32.320> as<00:09:32.839> elaborative
psychologists refer to as elaborative
psychologists refer to as elaborative
encoding<00:09:34.720> and<00:09:34.920> it's<00:09:35.120> well<00:09:35.360> illustrated<00:09:35.839> by<00:09:35.959> a
encoding and it's well illustrated by a
encoding and it's well illustrated by a
Nifty<00:09:36.440> Paradox<00:09:37.200> known<00:09:37.480> as<00:09:37.680> the<00:09:37.880> baker<00:09:38.360> Baker
Nifty Paradox known as the baker Baker
Nifty Paradox known as the baker Baker
Paradox<00:09:39.360> which<00:09:39.519> goes<00:09:39.800> like<00:09:40.000> this<00:09:40.959> if<00:09:41.079> I<00:09:41.240> tell
Paradox which goes like this if I tell
Paradox which goes like this if I tell
two<00:09:41.800> people<00:09:42.800> to<00:09:42.959> remember<00:09:43.320> the<00:09:43.440> same<00:09:43.640> word<00:09:43.920> if
two people to remember the same word if
two people to remember the same word if
I<00:09:44.240> say<00:09:44.720> to<00:09:44.959> you<00:09:45.519> remember<00:09:46.120> that<00:09:46.279> there<00:09:46.399> is<00:09:46.560> a
I say to you remember that there is a
I say to you remember that there is a
guy<00:09:47.560> named<00:09:48.079> Baker<00:09:48.880> that's<00:09:49.079> his<00:09:49.399> name<00:09:50.399> and<00:09:50.519> I
guy named Baker that's his name and I
guy named Baker that's his name and I
say<00:09:50.800> to<00:09:51.000> you<00:09:52.000> remember<00:09:52.560> that<00:09:52.720> there<00:09:52.839> is<00:09:52.959> a<00:09:53.160> guy
say to you remember that there is a guy
say to you remember that there is a guy
who<00:09:54.279> is<00:09:54.560> a<00:09:54.720> baker<00:09:55.760> okay<00:09:56.760> and<00:09:56.880> I<00:09:57.040> come<00:09:57.279> back<00:09:57.480> to
who is a baker okay and I come back to
who is a baker okay and I come back to
you<00:09:57.920> at<00:09:58.079> some<00:09:58.440> point<00:09:58.760> later<00:09:59.040> on
you at some point later on
you at some point later on
and<00:10:00.240> I<00:10:00.399> say<00:10:00.680> do<00:10:00.800> you<00:10:00.959> remember<00:10:01.680> that<00:10:01.880> word<00:10:02.320> that
and I say do you remember that word that
and I say do you remember that word that
I<00:10:02.560> had<00:10:02.720> told<00:10:02.920> you<00:10:03.120> a<00:10:03.240> while<00:10:03.519> back<00:10:03.680> do<00:10:03.760> you
I had told you a while back do you
I had told you a while back do you
remember<00:10:04.240> what<00:10:04.360> it<00:10:04.680> was<00:10:05.680> the<00:10:05.839> person<00:10:06.079> who<00:10:06.240> was
remember what it was the person who was
remember what it was the person who was
told<00:10:06.760> his<00:10:07.000> name<00:10:07.519> is<00:10:07.720> a<00:10:07.920> baker<00:10:08.880> is<00:10:09.160> less<00:10:09.440> likely
told his name is a baker is less likely
told his name is a baker is less likely
to<00:10:09.959> remember<00:10:10.360> the<00:10:10.560> same<00:10:11.000> word<00:10:12.000> than<00:10:12.160> the
to remember the same word than the
to remember the same word than the
person<00:10:12.640> who<00:10:12.800> was<00:10:13.000> told<00:10:13.399> his<00:10:13.640> job<00:10:13.920> is<00:10:14.040> that<00:10:14.160> he
person who was told his job is that he
person who was told his job is that he
is<00:10:14.399> a<00:10:14.519> baker<00:10:15.519> same<00:10:15.760> word<00:10:16.040> different<00:10:16.279> amount<00:10:16.519> of
is a baker same word different amount of
is a baker same word different amount of
remembering<00:10:17.640> that's<00:10:17.920> weird<00:10:18.680> what's<00:10:18.920> going<00:10:19.079> on
remembering that's weird what's going on
remembering that's weird what's going on
here<00:10:20.440> well<00:10:21.320> the<00:10:21.519> name<00:10:22.040> Baker<00:10:22.720> doesn't
here well the name Baker doesn't
here well the name Baker doesn't
actually<00:10:23.720> mean<00:10:24.200> anything<00:10:24.600> to<00:10:24.800> you<00:10:25.399> it<00:10:25.560> is
actually mean anything to you it is
actually mean anything to you it is
entirely<00:10:26.800> untethered<00:10:27.760> from<00:10:27.959> all<00:10:28.120> of<00:10:28.240> the
entirely untethered from all of the
entirely untethered from all of the
other<00:10:28.600> memories<00:10:29.640> floating<00:10:30.120> around<00:10:30.399> in<00:10:30.519> your
other memories floating around in your
other memories floating around in your
skull<00:10:31.079> but<00:10:31.240> the<00:10:31.399> common<00:10:31.760> noun<00:10:32.399> Baker<00:10:33.399> We<00:10:33.560> Know
skull but the common noun Baker We Know
skull but the common noun Baker We Know
Bakers<00:10:34.560> Bakers<00:10:34.920> wear<00:10:35.120> funny<00:10:35.399> white<00:10:35.639> hats
Bakers Bakers wear funny white hats
Bakers Bakers wear funny white hats
Bakers<00:10:37.279> have<00:10:37.440> flour<00:10:37.800> on<00:10:37.920> their<00:10:38.079> hands<00:10:38.360> Bakers
Bakers have flour on their hands Bakers
Bakers have flour on their hands Bakers
smell<00:10:39.079> good<00:10:39.240> when<00:10:39.360> they<00:10:39.480> come<00:10:39.639> home<00:10:39.839> from<00:10:40.000> work
smell good when they come home from work
smell good when they come home from work
maybe<00:10:40.920> we<00:10:41.040> even<00:10:41.200> know<00:10:41.360> a<00:10:41.480> baker<00:10:42.480> and<00:10:42.600> when<00:10:42.760> we
maybe we even know a baker and when we
maybe we even know a baker and when we
first<00:10:43.240> hear<00:10:43.480> that<00:10:43.639> word<00:10:44.000> we<00:10:44.120> start<00:10:44.440> putting
first hear that word we start putting
first hear that word we start putting
these<00:10:44.959> associational<00:10:45.720> hooks<00:10:46.000> into<00:10:46.240> it<00:10:46.760> that
these associational hooks into it that
these associational hooks into it that
make<00:10:47.079> it<00:10:47.320> easier<00:10:47.880> to<00:10:48.079> fish<00:10:48.320> it<00:10:48.519> back<00:10:48.720> out<00:10:49.160> at
make it easier to fish it back out at
make it easier to fish it back out at
some<00:10:49.480> later<00:10:50.200> date<00:10:51.200> the<00:10:51.360> entire<00:10:51.720> art<00:10:52.720> of<00:10:52.880> what
some later date the entire art of what
some later date the entire art of what
is<00:10:53.160> going<00:10:53.440> on<00:10:53.720> in<00:10:53.880> these<00:10:54.079> memory<00:10:54.639> contests<00:10:55.639> and
is going on in these memory contests and
is going on in these memory contests and
the<00:10:55.920> entire<00:10:56.200> art<00:10:56.440> of<00:10:56.560> remembering<00:10:57.079> stuff
the entire art of remembering stuff
the entire art of remembering stuff
better<00:10:57.800> in<00:10:58.000> everyday<00:10:58.480> life<00:10:59.560> is<00:10:59.800> figuring<00:11:00.200> out
better in everyday life is figuring out
better in everyday life is figuring out
ways<00:11:00.880> to<00:11:01.120> transform<00:11:01.839> capital<00:11:02.160> B<00:11:02.399> Bakers<00:11:03.320> into
ways to transform capital B Bakers into
ways to transform capital B Bakers into
lowercase<00:11:04.120> b<00:11:04.279> Bakers<00:11:05.240> to<00:11:05.480> take<00:11:05.839> information
lowercase b Bakers to take information
lowercase b Bakers to take information
that<00:11:06.639> is<00:11:07.040> lacking<00:11:07.600> in<00:11:07.920> context<00:11:08.680> in
that is lacking in context in
that is lacking in context in
significance<00:11:09.760> in<00:11:09.920> meaning<00:11:10.680> and<00:11:10.839> transform<00:11:11.320> it
significance in meaning and transform it
significance in meaning and transform it
in<00:11:11.639> some<00:11:11.880> way<00:11:12.320> so<00:11:12.480> that<00:11:12.600> it<00:11:12.800> becomes
in some way so that it becomes
in some way so that it becomes
meaningful<00:11:14.480> in<00:11:14.600> the<00:11:14.760> light<00:11:14.959> of<00:11:15.120> all<00:11:15.360> of<00:11:15.519> the
meaningful in the light of all of the
meaningful in the light of all of the
other<00:11:15.920> things<00:11:16.519> that<00:11:16.680> you<00:11:16.959> have<00:11:17.440> in<00:11:17.600> your
other things that you have in your
other things that you have in your
mind<00:11:19.880> one<00:11:20.040> of<00:11:20.160> the<00:11:20.279> more<00:11:20.519> elaborate
mind one of the more elaborate
mind one of the more elaborate
techniques<00:11:22.000> for<00:11:22.160> doing<00:11:22.480> this<00:11:23.279> dates<00:11:23.720> back
techniques for doing this dates back
techniques for doing this dates back
2500<00:11:25.160> years<00:11:25.560> to<00:11:25.760> ancient<00:11:26.120> Greece<00:11:26.880> came<00:11:27.040> to<00:11:27.160> be
2500 years to ancient Greece came to be
2500 years to ancient Greece came to be
known<00:11:27.440> as<00:11:27.560> The<00:11:27.680> Memory<00:11:28.040> Palace<00:11:29.440> story<00:11:29.959> behind
known as The Memory Palace story behind
known as The Memory Palace story behind
its<00:11:30.399> creation<00:11:30.800> goes<00:11:31.120> like<00:11:31.760> this<00:11:32.760> there<00:11:32.880> was<00:11:33.040> a
its creation goes like this there was a
its creation goes like this there was a
poet<00:11:34.000> called<00:11:34.360> simones<00:11:35.360> who<00:11:35.519> was<00:11:35.720> attending<00:11:36.160> a
poet called simones who was attending a
poet called simones who was attending a
banquet<00:11:37.360> he<00:11:37.519> was<00:11:37.880> actually<00:11:38.200> the<00:11:38.399> hired
banquet he was actually the hired
banquet he was actually the hired
entertainment<00:11:39.560> because<00:11:39.880> back<00:11:40.120> then<00:11:40.519> if<00:11:40.600> you
entertainment because back then if you
entertainment because back then if you
want<00:11:40.880> to<00:11:40.959> throw<00:11:41.079> a<00:11:41.160> really<00:11:41.399> slamin<00:11:41.839> party<00:11:42.560> you
want to throw a really slamin party you
want to throw a really slamin party you
didn't<00:11:43.160> hire<00:11:43.440> a<00:11:43.560> DJ<00:11:43.920> you<00:11:44.079> hired<00:11:44.320> a<00:11:44.760> poet<00:11:45.760> and<00:11:46.240> he
didn't hire a DJ you hired a poet and he
didn't hire a DJ you hired a poet and he
stands<00:11:46.800> up<00:11:47.120> delivers<00:11:47.639> his<00:11:47.959> poem<00:11:48.320> from<00:11:48.480> memory
stands up delivers his poem from memory
stands up delivers his poem from memory
walks<00:11:49.680> out<00:11:49.880> the<00:11:50.079> door<00:11:51.079> and<00:11:51.200> at<00:11:51.320> the<00:11:51.440> moment<00:11:51.720> he
walks out the door and at the moment he
walks out the door and at the moment he
does<00:11:53.120> the<00:11:53.320> banquet<00:11:53.680> hall
does the banquet hall
does the banquet hall
collapses<00:11:56.279> kills<00:11:57.200> everybody<00:11:58.000> inside<00:11:59.000> does
collapses kills everybody inside does
collapses kills everybody inside does
doesn't<00:11:59.480> just<00:11:59.600> kill<00:12:00.120> everybody<00:12:01.120> it<00:12:01.279> mangles
doesn't just kill everybody it mangles
doesn't just kill everybody it mangles
the<00:12:01.959> bodies<00:12:02.720> beyond<00:12:03.160> all
the bodies beyond all
the bodies beyond all
recognition<00:12:05.160> nobody<00:12:05.519> can<00:12:05.680> say<00:12:05.920> who<00:12:06.079> was
recognition nobody can say who was
recognition nobody can say who was
inside<00:12:07.600> nobody<00:12:07.959> can<00:12:08.680> say<00:12:09.240> where<00:12:09.440> they<00:12:09.560> were
inside nobody can say where they were
inside nobody can say where they were
sitting<00:12:10.160> the<00:12:10.320> bodies<00:12:10.720> can't<00:12:10.920> be<00:12:11.160> properly
sitting the bodies can't be properly
sitting the bodies can't be properly
buried<00:12:12.440> it's<00:12:12.839> one<00:12:13.480> tragedy<00:12:14.360> compounding
buried it's one tragedy compounding
buried it's one tragedy compounding
another<00:12:16.920> simones<00:12:17.920> standing<00:12:18.320> outside<00:12:18.920> the
another simones standing outside the
another simones standing outside the
sole<00:12:19.360> survivor<00:12:19.800> amid<00:12:20.040> the<00:12:20.120> wreckage<00:12:21.079> closes
sole survivor amid the wreckage closes
sole survivor amid the wreckage closes
his<00:12:21.839> eyes<00:12:22.839> and<00:12:23.079> has<00:12:23.600> this
his eyes and has this
his eyes and has this
realization<00:12:25.519> which<00:12:25.639> is<00:12:25.800> that<00:12:25.920> in<00:12:26.000> his<00:12:26.199> Mind's
realization which is that in his Mind's
realization which is that in his Mind's
Eye<00:12:27.440> he<00:12:27.560> can<00:12:27.800> see<00:12:28.600> where<00:12:28.839> each<00:12:29.360> of<00:12:29.519> the<00:12:29.720> guests
Eye he can see where each of the guests
Eye he can see where each of the guests
at<00:12:30.440> the<00:12:30.600> banquet<00:12:31.199> had<00:12:31.360> been<00:12:31.760> sitting<00:12:32.760> and<00:12:32.839> he
at the banquet had been sitting and he
at the banquet had been sitting and he
takes<00:12:33.320> the<00:12:33.440> relatives<00:12:33.959> by<00:12:34.079> the<00:12:34.240> hand<00:12:34.959> and
takes the relatives by the hand and
takes the relatives by the hand and
guides<00:12:35.440> them<00:12:35.600> each<00:12:35.959> to<00:12:36.120> their<00:12:36.320> loved<00:12:36.560> ones
guides them each to their loved ones
guides them each to their loved ones
amid<00:12:37.160> the
amid the
amid the
wreckage<00:12:39.320> what<00:12:39.440> Simon<00:12:40.079> figured<00:12:40.360> out<00:12:40.839> at<00:12:41.040> that
wreckage what Simon figured out at that
wreckage what Simon figured out at that
moment<00:12:42.399> is<00:12:42.560> something<00:12:42.839> that<00:12:42.959> I<00:12:43.040> think<00:12:43.199> we<00:12:43.320> all
moment is something that I think we all
moment is something that I think we all
kind<00:12:43.760> of<00:12:44.000> intuitively<00:12:44.720> know<00:12:45.720> which<00:12:45.880> is<00:12:46.120> that
kind of intuitively know which is that
kind of intuitively know which is that
as<00:12:46.680> bad<00:12:46.920> as<00:12:47.079> we<00:12:47.199> are<00:12:47.880> at<00:12:48.279> remembering<00:12:49.279> names
as bad as we are at remembering names
as bad as we are at remembering names
and<00:12:49.920> phone<00:12:50.199> numbers<00:12:50.800> and<00:12:51.240> word<00:12:51.560> forword
and phone numbers and word forword
and phone numbers and word forword
instructions<00:12:52.440> from<00:12:52.560> our<00:12:52.760> colleagues<00:12:53.760> we<00:12:53.920> have
instructions from our colleagues we have
instructions from our colleagues we have
really<00:12:54.880> exceptional<00:12:55.760> Visual<00:12:56.480> and<00:12:56.680> spatial
really exceptional Visual and spatial
really exceptional Visual and spatial
memories
memories
memories
if<00:12:59.360> I<00:12:59.600> asked<00:12:59.959> you<00:13:00.600> to<00:13:00.839> recount<00:13:01.519> the<00:13:01.680> first<00:13:01.920> 10
if I asked you to recount the first 10
if I asked you to recount the first 10
words<00:13:02.560> of<00:13:02.680> the<00:13:02.800> story<00:13:03.040> that<00:13:03.160> I<00:13:03.320> just<00:13:03.480> told<00:13:03.760> you
words of the story that I just told you
words of the story that I just told you
about<00:13:04.519> simones<00:13:05.519> chances<00:13:05.880> are<00:13:06.160> you<00:13:06.240> would<00:13:06.399> have
about simones chances are you would have
about simones chances are you would have
a<00:13:06.639> tough<00:13:06.839> time<00:13:07.000> with<00:13:07.279> it<00:13:08.279> but<00:13:08.959> I<00:13:09.079> would<00:13:09.279> wager
a tough time with it but I would wager
a tough time with it but I would wager
that<00:13:10.120> if<00:13:10.320> I<00:13:10.720> asked<00:13:11.000> you<00:13:11.120> to<00:13:11.760> recall<00:13:12.760> who<00:13:13.440> is
that if I asked you to recall who is
that if I asked you to recall who is
sitting<00:13:14.279> on<00:13:14.600> top<00:13:15.160> of<00:13:15.279> a<00:13:15.440> talking<00:13:16.000> tan<00:13:16.399> horse<00:13:17.320> in
sitting on top of a talking tan horse in
sitting on top of a talking tan horse in
your<00:13:17.560> foyer<00:13:18.079> right<00:13:18.320> now<00:13:19.320> you<00:13:19.440> would<00:13:19.600> be<00:13:19.720> able
your foyer right now you would be able
your foyer right now you would be able
to<00:13:19.959> see
to see
to see
that<00:13:21.800> the<00:13:22.000> idea<00:13:22.320> behind<00:13:22.519> the<00:13:22.639> Memory<00:13:23.199> Palace
that the idea behind the Memory Palace
that the idea behind the Memory Palace
is<00:13:24.440> to<00:13:24.880> create<00:13:25.360> this<00:13:25.639> imagined<00:13:26.360> edifice<00:13:27.079> in
is to create this imagined edifice in
is to create this imagined edifice in
your<00:13:27.399> mind's<00:13:27.839> eye<00:13:28.600> and<00:13:28.800> pop<00:13:29.120> poate<00:13:29.399> it<00:13:29.519> with
your mind's eye and pop poate it with
your mind's eye and pop poate it with
images<00:13:30.600> of<00:13:30.839> the<00:13:31.040> things<00:13:31.320> that<00:13:31.399> you<00:13:31.560> want<00:13:31.720> to
images of the things that you want to
images of the things that you want to
remember<00:13:32.760> the<00:13:33.040> crazier<00:13:33.959> weirder<00:13:34.720> more
remember the crazier weirder more
remember the crazier weirder more
bizarre<00:13:35.959> funnier<00:13:36.839> runer<00:13:37.839> stinkier<00:13:38.639> the<00:13:38.800> image
bizarre funnier runer stinkier the image
bizarre funnier runer stinkier the image
is<00:13:39.880> the<00:13:40.040> more<00:13:40.480> Unforgettable<00:13:41.399> it's<00:13:41.639> likely<00:13:42.000> to
is the more Unforgettable it's likely to
is the more Unforgettable it's likely to
be<00:13:42.560> this<00:13:42.639> is<00:13:42.920> advice<00:13:43.279> that<00:13:43.399> goes<00:13:43.680> back<00:13:44.079> 2,000
be this is advice that goes back 2,000
be this is advice that goes back 2,000
plus<00:13:45.079> years<00:13:45.320> to<00:13:45.480> the<00:13:45.600> earliest<00:13:46.079> Latin<00:13:46.360> memory
plus years to the earliest Latin memory
plus years to the earliest Latin memory
trades<00:13:47.800> so<00:13:47.959> how<00:13:48.079> does<00:13:48.279> this<00:13:48.839> work<00:13:49.839> let's<00:13:50.120> say
trades so how does this work let's say
trades so how does this work let's say
that<00:13:50.959> you've<00:13:51.240> been<00:13:52.160> invited<00:13:53.160> to<00:13:53.440> Ted<00:13:53.839> Center
that you've been invited to Ted Center
that you've been invited to Ted Center
Stage<00:13:55.040> to<00:13:55.199> give<00:13:55.320> a<00:13:55.839> speech<00:13:56.839> and<00:13:57.120> you<00:13:57.240> want<00:13:57.360> to
Stage to give a speech and you want to
Stage to give a speech and you want to
do<00:13:57.639> it<00:13:57.720> from<00:13:57.920> memory<00:13:59.320> and<00:13:59.440> you<00:13:59.519> want<00:13:59.680> to<00:13:59.839> do<00:14:00.000> it
do it from memory and you want to do it
do it from memory and you want to do it
the<00:14:00.639> way<00:14:01.279> that<00:14:01.720> cisero<00:14:02.720> would<00:14:02.880> have<00:14:03.040> done<00:14:03.240> it
the way that cisero would have done it
the way that cisero would have done it
if<00:14:04.079> he<00:14:04.199> had<00:14:04.320> been<00:14:04.480> invited<00:14:05.079> to<00:14:05.240> tedex<00:14:05.720> Rome
if he had been invited to tedex Rome
if he had been invited to tedex Rome
2,000<00:14:06.800> years
2,000 years
2,000 years
ago<00:14:09.040> what<00:14:09.160> you<00:14:09.279> might<00:14:09.959> do<00:14:10.959> is<00:14:11.399> picture
ago what you might do is picture
ago what you might do is picture
yourself<00:14:12.680> at<00:14:13.120> the<00:14:13.240> front<00:14:13.560> door<00:14:14.399> of<00:14:14.560> your
yourself at the front door of your
yourself at the front door of your
house<00:14:16.399> and<00:14:16.519> you'd<00:14:16.759> come<00:14:16.920> up<00:14:17.160> with<00:14:17.320> some<00:14:17.480> sort
house and you'd come up with some sort
house and you'd come up with some sort
of<00:14:17.800> an<00:14:18.000> absolutely<00:14:18.920> crazy<00:14:19.440> ridiculous
of an absolutely crazy ridiculous
of an absolutely crazy ridiculous
Unforgettable<00:14:20.800> image<00:14:21.639> to<00:14:21.839> remind<00:14:22.160> you<00:14:22.320> that
Unforgettable image to remind you that
Unforgettable image to remind you that
the<00:14:22.560> first<00:14:22.759> thing<00:14:22.920> you<00:14:23.079> want<00:14:23.199> to<00:14:23.399> talk<00:14:23.600> about
the first thing you want to talk about
the first thing you want to talk about
is<00:14:24.600> this<00:14:24.839> totally<00:14:25.440> bizarre
is this totally bizarre
is this totally bizarre
contest<00:14:27.880> and<00:14:27.959> then<00:14:28.079> you<00:14:28.279> go<00:14:28.440> inside<00:14:28.720> your
contest and then you go inside your
contest and then you go inside your
house<00:14:29.160> house<00:14:29.959> and<00:14:30.079> you<00:14:30.199> would<00:14:30.360> see<00:14:30.800> an<00:14:30.959> image
house house and you would see an image
house house and you would see an image
of<00:14:31.880> Cookie<00:14:32.199> Monster<00:14:32.880> on<00:14:33.120> top<00:14:33.279> of<00:14:33.440> Mr<00:14:33.839> Ed<00:14:34.839> and
of Cookie Monster on top of Mr Ed and
of Cookie Monster on top of Mr Ed and
that<00:14:35.079> would<00:14:35.240> remind<00:14:35.560> you<00:14:35.880> that<00:14:36.000> you<00:14:36.199> want<00:14:36.320> to
that would remind you that you want to
that would remind you that you want to
then<00:14:36.639> introduce<00:14:37.360> your<00:14:37.519> friend<00:14:37.839> Ed<00:14:38.279> cook<00:14:39.279> and
then introduce your friend Ed cook and
then introduce your friend Ed cook and
then<00:14:39.480> you'd<00:14:39.720> see<00:14:40.240> an<00:14:40.440> image<00:14:40.839> of<00:14:41.160> Britney
then you'd see an image of Britney
then you'd see an image of Britney
Spears<00:14:41.880> to<00:14:42.000> remind<00:14:42.199> you<00:14:42.320> of<00:14:42.399> this<00:14:42.519> funny
Spears to remind you of this funny
Spears to remind you of this funny
anecdote<00:14:43.160> you<00:14:43.279> want<00:14:43.360> to<00:14:43.519> tell<00:14:44.480> and<00:14:44.600> you<00:14:44.759> go
anecdote you want to tell and you go
anecdote you want to tell and you go
into<00:14:45.040> your<00:14:45.240> kitchen<00:14:46.120> and<00:14:46.240> the<00:14:46.320> fourth<00:14:46.720> topic
into your kitchen and the fourth topic
into your kitchen and the fourth topic
you<00:14:47.040> were<00:14:47.160> going<00:14:47.240> to<00:14:47.399> talk<00:14:47.639> about<00:14:48.120> was<00:14:48.639> this
you were going to talk about was this
you were going to talk about was this
strange<00:14:49.320> Journey<00:14:49.759> that<00:14:49.880> you<00:14:50.000> went<00:14:50.160> on<00:14:50.360> for<00:14:50.560> a
strange Journey that you went on for a
strange Journey that you went on for a
year<00:14:50.800> and<00:14:50.920> you'd<00:14:51.199> have<00:14:51.680> some<00:14:51.920> friends<00:14:52.240> to<00:14:52.440> help
year and you'd have some friends to help
year and you'd have some friends to help
you<00:14:53.120> remember
you remember
you remember
that<00:14:56.440> this<00:14:56.560> is<00:14:56.800> how<00:14:57.240> Roman<00:14:57.680> orders<00:14:58.680> memor
that this is how Roman orders memor
that this is how Roman orders memor
their<00:14:59.560> speeches<00:15:00.320> not<00:15:00.600> word<00:15:00.880> for<00:15:01.120> word<00:15:01.560> which
their speeches not word for word which
their speeches not word for word which
is<00:15:01.839> just<00:15:02.000> going<00:15:02.079> to<00:15:02.199> screw<00:15:02.480> you<00:15:02.680> up<00:15:03.519> but<00:15:04.120> topic
is just going to screw you up but topic
is just going to screw you up but topic
for<00:15:05.240> Topic<00:15:06.240> in<00:15:06.440> fact<00:15:06.800> the<00:15:07.040> phrase<00:15:07.480> topic
for Topic in fact the phrase topic
for Topic in fact the phrase topic
sentence<00:15:10.079> that<00:15:10.240> comes<00:15:10.440> from<00:15:10.560> the<00:15:10.720> Greek<00:15:10.959> word
sentence that comes from the Greek word
sentence that comes from the Greek word
topos<00:15:12.600> which<00:15:12.720> means<00:15:13.160> place<00:15:14.000> that's<00:15:14.120> a<00:15:14.360> vestage
topos which means place that's a vestage
topos which means place that's a vestage
of<00:15:15.440> when<00:15:15.880> people<00:15:16.120> used<00:15:16.320> to<00:15:16.480> think<00:15:16.759> about
of when people used to think about
of when people used to think about
oratory<00:15:17.639> and<00:15:17.839> rhetoric<00:15:18.240> in<00:15:18.360> these<00:15:18.519> sorts<00:15:18.720> of
oratory and rhetoric in these sorts of
oratory and rhetoric in these sorts of
spatial<00:15:19.360> terms<00:15:20.160> the<00:15:20.320> phrase<00:15:20.880> in<00:15:21.040> the<00:15:21.199> first
spatial terms the phrase in the first
spatial terms the phrase in the first
place<00:15:22.480> that's<00:15:22.720> like<00:15:23.079> in<00:15:23.240> the<00:15:23.360> first<00:15:23.600> place<00:15:23.800> of
place that's like in the first place of
place that's like in the first place of
your<00:15:24.040> memory
your memory
your memory
Palace<00:15:25.959> I<00:15:26.040> thought<00:15:26.199> this<00:15:26.320> was<00:15:26.480> just
Palace I thought this was just
Palace I thought this was just
fascinating<00:15:27.560> and<00:15:27.680> I<00:15:27.800> got<00:15:27.959> really<00:15:28.199> into<00:15:28.480> it<00:15:29.360> and
fascinating and I got really into it and
fascinating and I got really into it and
I<00:15:30.000> went<00:15:30.199> to<00:15:30.360> a<00:15:30.440> few<00:15:30.600> more<00:15:30.759> of<00:15:30.880> these<00:15:31.040> memory
I went to a few more of these memory
I went to a few more of these memory
contests<00:15:32.120> and<00:15:32.279> I<00:15:32.399> had<00:15:32.560> this<00:15:32.720> notion<00:15:33.000> that<00:15:33.160> I
contests and I had this notion that I
contests and I had this notion that I
might<00:15:33.480> write<00:15:33.759> something<00:15:34.079> longer<00:15:34.959> about<00:15:35.319> this
might write something longer about this
might write something longer about this
subculture<00:15:36.279> of<00:15:36.399> competitive<00:15:37.040> memorizers<00:15:38.040> but
subculture of competitive memorizers but
subculture of competitive memorizers but
there<00:15:38.279> was<00:15:38.399> a<00:15:38.880> problem<00:15:39.880> the<00:15:40.040> problem<00:15:40.399> was<00:15:40.959> that
there was a problem the problem was that
there was a problem the problem was that
a<00:15:41.519> memory<00:15:42.040> contest<00:15:43.040> is<00:15:43.279> a<00:15:44.000> pathologically
a memory contest is a pathologically
a memory contest is a pathologically
boring
event<00:15:49.800> truly<00:15:50.800> it<00:15:50.920> is<00:15:51.120> like<00:15:51.319> a<00:15:51.440> bunch<00:15:51.600> of<00:15:51.759> people
event truly it is like a bunch of people
event truly it is like a bunch of people
sitting<00:15:52.199> around<00:15:52.440> taking<00:15:52.680> the<00:15:53.040> SS<00:15:54.040> I<00:15:54.120> mean<00:15:54.279> the
sitting around taking the SS I mean the
sitting around taking the SS I mean the
most<00:15:54.639> dramatic<00:15:55.079> it<00:15:55.240> gets<00:15:55.440> is<00:15:55.560> when<00:15:55.720> somebody
most dramatic it gets is when somebody
most dramatic it gets is when somebody
starts<00:15:56.399> massaging<00:15:56.839> their<00:15:57.000> temples<00:15:57.399> and<00:15:57.519> I'm<00:15:57.600> a
starts massaging their temples and I'm a
starts massaging their temples and I'm a
journalist<00:15:58.199> I<00:15:58.279> need<00:15:58.440> something<00:15:58.639> to<00:15:59.240> about<00:15:59.800> you
journalist I need something to about you
journalist I need something to about you
know<00:16:00.120> I<00:16:00.240> know<00:16:00.480> that<00:16:00.600> there's<00:16:00.839> this<00:16:01.040> incredible
know I know that there's this incredible
know I know that there's this incredible
stuff<00:16:01.839> happening<00:16:02.199> in<00:16:02.319> these<00:16:02.519> people's<00:16:02.920> minds
stuff happening in these people's minds
stuff happening in these people's minds
but<00:16:03.759> I<00:16:03.839> don't<00:16:04.079> have<00:16:04.319> access<00:16:04.680> to<00:16:04.839> it<00:16:05.800> and<00:16:05.959> I
but I don't have access to it and I
but I don't have access to it and I
realized<00:16:06.600> if<00:16:06.720> I<00:16:06.800> was<00:16:06.880> going<00:16:07.000> to<00:16:07.120> tell<00:16:07.399> this
realized if I was going to tell this
realized if I was going to tell this
story<00:16:09.040> I<00:16:09.160> needed<00:16:09.399> to<00:16:09.560> walk<00:16:09.720> in<00:16:09.880> their<00:16:10.000> shoes<00:16:10.319> a
story I needed to walk in their shoes a
story I needed to walk in their shoes a
little<00:16:10.800> bit<00:16:11.800> and<00:16:11.920> so<00:16:12.160> I<00:16:12.279> started<00:16:12.680> trying<00:16:12.959> to
little bit and so I started trying to
little bit and so I started trying to
spend<00:16:13.560> 15<00:16:13.920> or<00:16:14.079> 20<00:16:14.360> minutes<00:16:15.040> every<00:16:15.199> morning
spend 15 or 20 minutes every morning
spend 15 or 20 minutes every morning
before<00:16:15.880> I<00:16:16.000> sat<00:16:16.199> down<00:16:16.360> with<00:16:16.480> my<00:16:16.600> New<00:16:16.759> York<00:16:17.000> Times
before I sat down with my New York Times
before I sat down with my New York Times
just<00:16:18.000> trying<00:16:18.720> to<00:16:18.920> remember<00:16:19.360> something<00:16:20.240> maybe
just trying to remember something maybe
just trying to remember something maybe
it<00:16:20.600> was<00:16:20.759> a<00:16:20.959> poem<00:16:21.959> maybe<00:16:22.199> it<00:16:22.319> was<00:16:22.800> names<00:16:23.240> from<00:16:23.360> an
it was a poem maybe it was names from an
it was a poem maybe it was names from an
old<00:16:23.680> yearbook<00:16:24.120> that<00:16:24.240> I<00:16:24.319> bought<00:16:24.480> at<00:16:24.600> a<00:16:24.680> flea
old yearbook that I bought at a flea
old yearbook that I bought at a flea
market<00:16:26.600> and<00:16:26.800> I<00:16:27.000> found<00:16:27.720> that<00:16:27.920> this<00:16:28.160> was
market and I found that this was
market and I found that this was
shockingly<00:16:30.959> fun<00:16:31.959> I<00:16:32.120> never<00:16:32.319> would<00:16:32.440> have
shockingly fun I never would have
shockingly fun I never would have
expected<00:16:33.079> that<00:16:33.959> it<00:16:34.079> was<00:16:34.240> fun<00:16:34.480> because<00:16:34.680> this<00:16:34.800> is
expected that it was fun because this is
expected that it was fun because this is
actually<00:16:35.319> not<00:16:35.519> about<00:16:35.720> training<00:16:36.079> your<00:16:36.240> memory
actually not about training your memory
actually not about training your memory
what<00:16:37.319> you're<00:16:37.519> doing<00:16:37.839> is<00:16:37.959> you're<00:16:38.079> trying<00:16:38.279> to
what you're doing is you're trying to
what you're doing is you're trying to
get<00:16:38.639> better<00:16:38.920> and<00:16:39.079> better<00:16:39.319> and<00:16:39.519> better<00:16:40.240> at
get better and better and better at
get better and better and better at
creating<00:16:41.120> at<00:16:41.279> dreaming<00:16:41.720> up<00:16:42.279> these<00:16:42.600> utterly
creating at dreaming up these utterly
creating at dreaming up these utterly
ludicrous<00:16:44.000> runchy<00:16:45.000> hilarious<00:16:45.759> and<00:16:45.920> hopefully
ludicrous runchy hilarious and hopefully
ludicrous runchy hilarious and hopefully
Unforgettable<00:16:47.120> images<00:16:47.600> in<00:16:47.720> your<00:16:47.880> mind's<00:16:48.279> eye
Unforgettable images in your mind's eye
Unforgettable images in your mind's eye
and<00:16:49.360> I<00:16:49.480> got<00:16:49.639> pretty<00:16:49.880> into<00:16:50.199> it<00:16:50.959> this<00:16:51.079> is<00:16:51.839> me
and I got pretty into it this is me
and I got pretty into it this is me
wearing<00:16:52.920> my<00:16:53.720> standard<00:16:54.560> competitive
wearing my standard competitive
wearing my standard competitive
memorizers<00:16:55.839> training
memorizers training
memorizers training
kit<00:16:58.160> that's<00:16:58.399> a<00:16:58.519> pair<00:16:58.680> of<00:16:58.959> e<00:16:59.199> muffs<00:16:59.680> and<00:16:59.959> a<00:17:00.519> set
kit that's a pair of e muffs and a set
kit that's a pair of e muffs and a set
of<00:17:00.959> safety<00:17:01.399> goggles<00:17:01.800> that<00:17:01.920> have<00:17:02.000> been<00:17:02.160> masked
of safety goggles that have been masked
of safety goggles that have been masked
over<00:17:03.560> except<00:17:03.800> for<00:17:04.000> two<00:17:04.240> small<00:17:04.559> pin<00:17:04.880> holes
over except for two small pin holes
over except for two small pin holes
because<00:17:06.480> distraction<00:17:07.360> is<00:17:07.640> the<00:17:07.959> competitive
because distraction is the competitive
because distraction is the competitive
memorizer<00:17:09.559> greatest
memorizer greatest
memorizer greatest
anime<00:17:12.039> I<00:17:12.160> ended<00:17:12.400> up<00:17:12.679> coming<00:17:13.079> back<00:17:13.720> to<00:17:13.959> that
anime I ended up coming back to that
anime I ended up coming back to that
same<00:17:14.480> contest<00:17:15.000> that<00:17:15.120> I<00:17:15.240> had<00:17:15.360> covered<00:17:15.640> a<00:17:15.720> year
same contest that I had covered a year
same contest that I had covered a year
earlier<00:17:16.839> and<00:17:16.959> I<00:17:17.079> had<00:17:17.199> this<00:17:17.360> notion<00:17:17.600> that<00:17:17.720> I
earlier and I had this notion that I
earlier and I had this notion that I
might<00:17:18.000> enter<00:17:18.280> it<00:17:18.839> sort<00:17:19.000> of<00:17:19.160> as<00:17:19.240> an<00:17:19.439> experiment
might enter it sort of as an experiment
might enter it sort of as an experiment
in<00:17:20.480> participatory<00:17:21.880> journalism<00:17:22.880> it<00:17:23.039> make<00:17:23.280> I
in participatory journalism it make I
in participatory journalism it make I
thought<00:17:23.600> maybe<00:17:23.839> a<00:17:23.959> nice<00:17:24.240> epilogue<00:17:24.679> to<00:17:24.799> all<00:17:24.959> my
thought maybe a nice epilogue to all my
thought maybe a nice epilogue to all my
research<00:17:26.520> problem<00:17:27.319> was<00:17:28.319> the<00:17:28.480> experiment<00:17:29.000> went
research problem was the experiment went
research problem was the experiment went
haywire<00:17:30.520> I<00:17:30.640> won<00:17:30.880> the
haywire I won the
haywire I won the
contest<00:17:32.960> which<00:17:33.799> which<00:17:34.000> really<00:17:34.280> wasn't
contest which which really wasn't
contest which which really wasn't
supposed<00:17:34.880> to
happen<00:17:42.280> now<00:17:43.000> it<00:17:43.160> is<00:17:43.400> nice<00:17:43.880> to<00:17:44.080> be<00:17:44.280> able<00:17:44.640> to
happen now it is nice to be able to
happen now it is nice to be able to
memorize<00:17:46.160> speeches<00:17:46.840> and<00:17:47.760> uh<00:17:47.880> phone<00:17:48.160> numbers
memorize speeches and uh phone numbers
memorize speeches and uh phone numbers
and<00:17:49.039> shopping<00:17:49.799> lists<00:17:50.799> but<00:17:50.919> it's<00:17:51.120> actually
and shopping lists but it's actually
and shopping lists but it's actually
kind<00:17:51.520> of<00:17:51.679> beside<00:17:52.000> the<00:17:52.240> point<00:17:53.240> these<00:17:53.360> are<00:17:53.559> just
kind of beside the point these are just
kind of beside the point these are just
tricks<00:17:55.120> they<00:17:55.240> are<00:17:55.520> tricks<00:17:56.159> that<00:17:56.360> work<00:17:57.159> because
tricks they are tricks that work because
tricks they are tricks that work because
they<00:17:57.679> are<00:17:57.840> based<00:17:58.120> on<00:17:58.240> some<00:17:58.480> pretty<00:17:59.000> basic
they are based on some pretty basic
they are based on some pretty basic
principles<00:18:00.080> about<00:18:00.400> how<00:18:00.640> our<00:18:00.799> brains<00:18:01.320> work<00:18:02.320> and
principles about how our brains work and
principles about how our brains work and
you<00:18:02.799> don't<00:18:03.120> have<00:18:03.280> to<00:18:03.520> be<00:18:04.159> building<00:18:04.799> memory
you don't have to be building memory
you don't have to be building memory
palaces<00:18:05.760> or<00:18:05.919> memorizing<00:18:06.480> packs<00:18:06.679> of<00:18:06.880> playing
palaces or memorizing packs of playing
palaces or memorizing packs of playing
cards<00:18:07.919> to<00:18:08.120> benefit<00:18:08.559> from<00:18:08.679> a<00:18:08.799> little<00:18:09.000> bit<00:18:09.120> of
cards to benefit from a little bit of
cards to benefit from a little bit of
insight<00:18:09.919> about<00:18:10.240> how<00:18:10.840> your<00:18:11.080> mind<00:18:11.679> works<00:18:12.280> we
insight about how your mind works we
insight about how your mind works we
often<00:18:12.679> talk<00:18:12.919> about<00:18:13.159> people<00:18:13.360> with<00:18:13.559> great
often talk about people with great
often talk about people with great
memories<00:18:14.200> as<00:18:14.320> though<00:18:14.440> it<00:18:14.520> were<00:18:14.679> some<00:18:14.840> sort<00:18:15.000> of
memories as though it were some sort of
memories as though it were some sort of
an<00:18:15.200> innate<00:18:15.840> gift<00:18:16.520> but<00:18:16.679> that<00:18:16.799> is<00:18:16.960> not<00:18:17.159> the
an innate gift but that is not the
an innate gift but that is not the
case<00:18:18.919> great<00:18:19.159> memories<00:18:19.960> are
case great memories are
case great memories are
learned<00:18:22.080> at<00:18:22.240> the<00:18:22.360> most<00:18:22.559> basic<00:18:22.919> level<00:18:23.240> we
learned at the most basic level we
learned at the most basic level we
remember<00:18:24.280> when<00:18:24.440> we<00:18:24.640> pay<00:18:25.120> attention<00:18:26.120> we
remember when we pay attention we
remember when we pay attention we
remember<00:18:27.080> when<00:18:27.240> we<00:18:27.400> are<00:18:27.760> deeply<00:18:28.240> engaged<00:18:28.880> do
remember when we are deeply engaged do
remember when we are deeply engaged do
we<00:18:29.120> remember<00:18:29.760> when<00:18:29.880> we<00:18:29.960> are<00:18:30.120> able<00:18:30.320> to<00:18:30.559> take<00:18:30.760> a
we remember when we are able to take a
we remember when we are able to take a
piece<00:18:31.080> of<00:18:31.280> information<00:18:31.760> an<00:18:32.039> experience<00:18:33.039> and
piece of information an experience and
piece of information an experience and
figure<00:18:33.480> out<00:18:34.000> why<00:18:34.120> it<00:18:34.240> is<00:18:34.400> Meaningful<00:18:34.919> to<00:18:35.080> us
figure out why it is Meaningful to us
figure out why it is Meaningful to us
why<00:18:35.440> it<00:18:35.520> is<00:18:35.720> significant<00:18:36.320> why<00:18:36.440> it's<00:18:36.760> colorful
why it is significant why it's colorful
why it is significant why it's colorful
when<00:18:37.760> we're<00:18:38.000> able<00:18:38.720> to<00:18:39.000> transform<00:18:39.559> it<00:18:39.720> in<00:18:39.919> some
when we're able to transform it in some
when we're able to transform it in some
way<00:18:40.720> that<00:18:40.840> it<00:18:41.000> makes<00:18:41.280> sense<00:18:41.600> in<00:18:41.720> the<00:18:41.880> light<00:18:42.080> of
way that it makes sense in the light of
way that it makes sense in the light of
all<00:18:42.400> of<00:18:42.520> the<00:18:42.679> other<00:18:42.960> things<00:18:43.480> floating<00:18:43.880> around
all of the other things floating around
all of the other things floating around
in<00:18:44.240> our<00:18:44.400> minds<00:18:44.760> when<00:18:44.880> we're<00:18:45.080> able<00:18:45.360> to
in our minds when we're able to
in our minds when we're able to
transform<00:18:46.600> Bakers<00:18:47.600> into
transform Bakers into
transform Bakers into
Bakers<00:18:50.400> The<00:18:50.520> Memory<00:18:50.880> Palace<00:18:51.280> these<00:18:51.400> memory
Bakers The Memory Palace these memory
Bakers The Memory Palace these memory
techniques<00:18:52.240> they're<00:18:52.440> just<00:18:52.960> shortcuts<00:18:53.960> in
techniques they're just shortcuts in
techniques they're just shortcuts in
fact<00:18:55.120> they're<00:18:55.320> not<00:18:55.480> even<00:18:55.720> really<00:18:56.080> shortcuts
fact they're not even really shortcuts
fact they're not even really shortcuts
they<00:18:57.280> work<00:18:57.919> because<00:18:58.200> they<00:18:58.320> make<00:18:58.480> you
they work because they make you
they work because they make you
work<00:19:00.400> they<00:19:00.640> force<00:19:01.120> a<00:19:01.320> kind<00:19:01.559> of<00:19:02.400> depth<00:19:02.799> of
work they force a kind of depth of
work they force a kind of depth of
processing<00:19:03.640> a<00:19:03.760> kind<00:19:03.919> of<00:19:04.320> mindfulness<00:19:05.320> that
processing a kind of mindfulness that
processing a kind of mindfulness that
most<00:19:05.679> of<00:19:05.840> us<00:19:06.120> don't<00:19:06.400> normally<00:19:07.000> walk<00:19:07.320> around
most of us don't normally walk around
most of us don't normally walk around
exercising<00:19:09.799> but<00:19:09.919> there<00:19:10.080> actually<00:19:10.280> are<00:19:10.440> no
exercising but there actually are no
exercising but there actually are no
shortcuts<00:19:12.559> this<00:19:12.679> is<00:19:12.840> how<00:19:13.080> stuff<00:19:13.400> is<00:19:13.559> made
shortcuts this is how stuff is made
shortcuts this is how stuff is made
memorable<00:19:15.520> and<00:19:15.760> I<00:19:15.840> think<00:19:16.000> if<00:19:16.120> there's<00:19:16.360> one
memorable and I think if there's one
memorable and I think if there's one
thing<00:19:16.880> that<00:19:17.039> I<00:19:17.159> want<00:19:17.400> to<00:19:17.600> leave<00:19:17.880> you<00:19:18.159> with<00:19:19.159> it's
thing that I want to leave you with it's
thing that I want to leave you with it's
what<00:19:21.039> EP<00:19:22.039> the<00:19:22.200> amnesic<00:19:22.880> who<00:19:23.799> couldn't<00:19:24.080> even
what EP the amnesic who couldn't even
what EP the amnesic who couldn't even
remember<00:19:24.600> that<00:19:24.679> he<00:19:24.799> had<00:19:24.919> a<00:19:25.000> memory<00:19:25.400> problem
remember that he had a memory problem
remember that he had a memory problem
left<00:19:26.039> me<00:19:26.320> with<00:19:26.919> which<00:19:27.159> is<00:19:28.159> the<00:19:28.320> notion<00:19:28.919> that
left me with which is the notion that
left me with which is the notion that
our
our
our
lives<00:19:31.840> are<00:19:32.039> the<00:19:32.200> sum<00:19:32.520> of<00:19:32.640> our<00:19:33.240> memories<00:19:34.240> how
lives are the sum of our memories how
lives are the sum of our memories how
much<00:19:35.960> are<00:19:36.240> we
much are we
much are we
willing<00:19:38.440> to<00:19:39.440> lose<00:19:40.320> from<00:19:40.520> our<00:19:40.880> already<00:19:41.559> short
willing to lose from our already short
willing to lose from our already short
lives<00:19:44.080> by<00:19:45.080> losing<00:19:45.720> ourselves<00:19:46.720> in<00:19:46.880> our
lives by losing ourselves in our
lives by losing ourselves in our
blackberries<00:19:47.799> our
blackberries our
blackberries our
iPhones
iPhones
iPhones
by<00:19:51.760> not<00:19:52.000> paying<00:19:52.280> attention<00:19:52.679> to<00:19:52.840> the<00:19:53.000> human
by not paying attention to the human
by not paying attention to the human
being<00:19:53.760> across<00:19:54.120> from<00:19:54.280> us<00:19:54.440> who<00:19:54.520> is<00:19:54.760> talking<00:19:55.120> with
being across from us who is talking with
being across from us who is talking with
us<00:19:56.039> by<00:19:56.240> being<00:19:56.600> so<00:19:56.840> lazy<00:19:57.240> that<00:19:57.360> we're<00:19:57.559> not
us by being so lazy that we're not
us by being so lazy that we're not
willing<00:19:58.280> to<00:19:58.840> process
willing to process
willing to process
deeply<00:20:02.799> I<00:20:02.919> learned<00:20:03.600> firsthand<00:20:04.600> that<00:20:04.799> there
deeply I learned firsthand that there
deeply I learned firsthand that there
are<00:20:05.440> incredible<00:20:06.320> memory<00:20:07.120> capacities<00:20:08.120> latent
are incredible memory capacities latent
are incredible memory capacities latent
in<00:20:09.159> all<00:20:09.320> of<00:20:09.679> us<00:20:10.679> but<00:20:10.799> if<00:20:10.880> you<00:20:11.000> want<00:20:11.200> to<00:20:11.440> live<00:20:11.760> a
in all of us but if you want to live a
in all of us but if you want to live a
memorable<00:20:12.520> life<00:20:13.520> you<00:20:13.720> have<00:20:13.799> to<00:20:14.000> be<00:20:14.240> the<00:20:14.400> kind
memorable life you have to be the kind
memorable life you have to be the kind
of<00:20:14.919> person<00:20:15.880> who<00:20:16.120> remembers<00:20:17.080> to<00:20:17.400> remember
of person who remembers to remember
of person who remembers to remember
thank<00:20:18.559> you
[Music]
Joshua Foer, memorize, memory, mind, memorization, United, States, Memory, Championship, how, to, memorize, TED, TED, Talk, TED-Ed, Ed, TEDEducation
