Book review by Corey
How to Remember Anything
How to Remember Anything is built around Dean Vaughn’s ten-step memory system, using things like visualization, sound-alike words, numbered locations, and deliberately strange mental images to make information easier to remember. I liked that the book keeps the techniques practical instead of burying them under a lot of theory, and some of the methods are simple enough that you can try them almost immediately.
It wasn’t a perfect read for me, but there was a lot here that I genuinely enjoyed. Some of the examples feel dated and a few techniques take practice before they start feeling natural, but the basic idea works: the stranger and more vivid the mental connection, the easier it can be to recall later. It’s more of a hands-on memory guide than a deep book about how memory actually works.
The Goods
- Very practical memory techniques
- Easy to try right away
- Clear step-by-step structure
- Good for names, numbers, and lists
- Doesn’t get too theoretical
The Bads
- Some examples feel dated
- A few techniques take practice
- Not much depth on memory science
- Certain methods may feel awkward at first
- Can get repetitive in places
My Recommendation
This is a good fit if you want a practical memory book you can actually use instead of something that spends most of its time explaining theory. I liked how straightforward the system was, and even though not every technique clicked for me, the stronger ones were easy enough to remember and test in real life. If you want help with names, numbers, vocabulary, speeches, or everyday recall, this is a solid place to start.
