My 2 cents on this as someone who used The Memory Arts to learn my first stack, Memorandum, and has since memorised at least 6 other stacks. It does help with making the cards stick in the mind and would be better than route learning. However, for anyone with a decently strong visual imagination, I recommend an alternative. As mentioned elsewhere, the Peg mnemonic system described in several Harry Lorayne books is ideal for working with numbers. Each number is assigned a "consonant sound" (0 = s / ch / sh, 1 = t / d, etc.). By connecting these with vowels, you can create any object or image out of the numbers. E.g. 32 can be Moon, 22 = Nun, 47 = Rock. Cards can be given their own image through another simple rule. The first letter is the suit and the rest of the word rhymes (roughly) with the value. E.g. 4 of Diamonds = DOOR. 5 of Hearts = (bee)HIVE. Combining images gives you your card at number, e.g. 5H is at 22 = a Nun (22) is trying to get honey out of beeHIVE (5H) but gets attacked by thousands of bees. If you create an image for each number from 1 - 52 and each card in the deck, you will have the vocabulary to memorise any deck in less than an hour for the rest of your life. I was able to memorise the Particle stack within an hour of opening the book and have no fear of switching back to my previous stack if I end up not liking it as much. It's all just combining different images in your head to make a little narrative. And because you create a visual scene that can be funny or outrageous or disturbing, it sticks in your mind. The same peg system can be used for memorising PI's decimals to 100's of places (I've done around 150 one slow work day). In my experience, the method taught in The Memory Arts does not allow for the same strength of visual imagery, as it relies on some generic, repeating images and therefore does not stick in the mind as strongly. I also found it to not be as versatile and teaching two cards per "number" I found to slow recall. Can't wait to hear your views on the Particle System book.
Wow! Thank you so much for this very elaborate and detailed comment! I will pin it so every can see, because it is very useful! Thank you for taking the time to write this up, I and everyone else I am sure greatly appreciates your insight.
Hi Sebastian, a review well-done! It is thorough, informative, thoughtful, candid and enjoyable! Thank you so much for all you do! Wishing you and your family a safe, relaxing, joy-filled, and Happy Holiday Season 🎉! Your friend, David
Thanks for bringing this gem back up, Sebastian! I've been wanting to pick up a physical copy but already have a stack down, so I didn't think it was needed anymore. But now that I know it's more than just stacks, I may reconsider. Have you checked out Harry Lorayne's The Memory Book? I recommend that and his page-a-minute version.
Wonderful review, I will probably pick this up. I have my own memory techniques, but I struggle when it comes to cards. I used my technique to memorize Paul Carnazzo's Depiction so I can do it hands off but find it hard to memorize things when there are too many items or the specific order of items when there are a lot of items. Depiction only requires me to memorize 21 items and breaks them down into groups of 3 to make it easier.
My 2 cents on this as someone who used The Memory Arts to learn my first stack, Memorandum, and has since memorised at least 6 other stacks. It does help with making the cards stick in the mind and would be better than route learning. However, for anyone with a decently strong visual imagination, I recommend an alternative.
As mentioned elsewhere, the Peg mnemonic system described in several Harry Lorayne books is ideal for working with numbers. Each number is assigned a "consonant sound" (0 = s / ch / sh, 1 = t / d, etc.). By connecting these with vowels, you can create any object or image out of the numbers. E.g. 32 can be Moon, 22 = Nun, 47 = Rock. Cards can be given their own image through another simple rule. The first letter is the suit and the rest of the word rhymes (roughly) with the value. E.g. 4 of Diamonds = DOOR. 5 of Hearts = (bee)HIVE. Combining images gives you your card at number, e.g. 5H is at 22 = a Nun (22) is trying to get honey out of beeHIVE (5H) but gets attacked by thousands of bees.
If you create an image for each number from 1 - 52 and each card in the deck, you will have the vocabulary to memorise any deck in less than an hour for the rest of your life. I was able to memorise the Particle stack within an hour of opening the book and have no fear of switching back to my previous stack if I end up not liking it as much. It's all just combining different images in your head to make a little narrative. And because you create a visual scene that can be funny or outrageous or disturbing, it sticks in your mind. The same peg system can be used for memorising PI's decimals to 100's of places (I've done around 150 one slow work day).
In my experience, the method taught in The Memory Arts does not allow for the same strength of visual imagery, as it relies on some generic, repeating images and therefore does not stick in the mind as strongly. I also found it to not be as versatile and teaching two cards per "number" I found to slow recall.
Can't wait to hear your views on the Particle System book.
Wow! Thank you so much for this very elaborate and detailed comment! I will pin it so every can see, because it is very useful!
Thank you for taking the time to write this up, I and everyone else I am sure greatly appreciates your insight.
Hi Sebastian, a review well-done! It is thorough, informative, thoughtful, candid and enjoyable! Thank you so much for all you do! Wishing you and your family a safe, relaxing, joy-filled, and Happy Holiday Season 🎉! Your friend, David
Thanks for bringing this gem back up, Sebastian! I've been wanting to pick up a physical copy but already have a stack down, so I didn't think it was needed anymore. But now that I know it's more than just stacks, I may reconsider.
Have you checked out Harry Lorayne's The Memory Book? I recommend that and his page-a-minute version.
I have not checked that book out yet. I will have to go check it out - I have heard quite a lot about it!
Harry’s style of writing make it very easy to absorb!
Wonderful review, I will probably pick this up. I have my own memory techniques, but I struggle when it comes to cards. I used my technique to memorize Paul Carnazzo's Depiction so I can do it hands off but find it hard to memorize things when there are too many items or the specific order of items when there are a lot of items. Depiction only requires me to memorize 21 items and breaks them down into groups of 3 to make it easier.
If you like breaking things down intro groups to help you memorize better, then the technique explained here will be perfect for you!