My system for memorizing everything INSTANTLY.

Summary

In this video, a practicing doctor shares the story of how they used a powerful memory technique, the Memory Palace, to excel in medical school. Inspired by the book *Moonwalking with Einstein*, they trained their brain to memorize vast amounts of information quickly. However, despite their success in memorization, they realized the technique hindered their deeper understanding of medical concepts. The doctor reflects on the importance of true comprehension and explains how their learning methods have evolved, with the Memory Palace now being just one tool among many in their updated learning system.

Takeaways

• 😀 The author developed a superhuman memory system through intense training, using techniques like the Memory Palace to memorize vast amounts of information.
• 😀 Despite mastering memory techniques, the author struggled to apply them effectively in real-world medical practice, realizing the importance of deep understanding over memorization.
• 😀 Medical school was tough, with high pressure, endless knowledge to absorb, and major exams determining future career paths, but the author sought a secret weapon to excel.
• 😀 The book 'Moonwalking with Einstein' by Joshua Foer sparked the author's interest in memory techniques, especially after learning about memory champions who were ordinary people with extraordinary skills.
• 😀 The author trained rigorously using tools like noise-canceling ear muffs and distraction-free goggles, memorizing hundreds of random numbers and aiming to boost memorization ability by 20%.
• 😀 One amusing story involved memorizing 500 digits of pi for a promotion at a pie shop, where the author easily recited the digits while others struggled with fewer digits.
• 😀 For standardized tests like the MCAT, the author found doing practice questions was key to success, especially when tailored to address weaknesses.
• 😀 The Memory Palace technique involves turning information into visual cues and placing them in familiar locations, making abstract knowledge easier to remember.
• 😀 The Inception technique takes the Memory Palace to the next level, allowing the creation of complex, interconnected mental worlds to store vast amounts of knowledge.
• 😀 After excelling in medical school with top scores, the author realized the flaw in relying too heavily on memory techniques without truly understanding the material, leading to slower, less effective learning in practice.

Q & A

What was the bizarre system the speaker used to memorize information?

The speaker used a memory technique known as the Memory Palace, a method where information is transformed into visual markers and placed in an imagined space, like a house or other familiar setting, to make memorization easier and more efficient.

How did the speaker’s memory technique impact his performance in medical school?

While the speaker was able to memorize vast amounts of information quickly using the Memory Palace technique, this approach ultimately made him one of the worst doctors in his class in terms of practical application and depth of understanding. His memorization was efficient but didn't lead to true comprehension of the material.

What is the key concept behind the Memory Palace technique?

The Memory Palace technique works by associating information with visual markers and placing those markers in a familiar setting, like rooms in a house. This method leverages the brain’s natural ability to remember visual information, making it easier to recall abstract concepts.

How did the speaker train himself to improve his memory?

The speaker dedicated two years to training his memory, using tools like noise-canceling earmuffs and goggles to block distractions. He memorized 500 random numbers each day and trained himself to recall 100 digits in 60 seconds or less.

What memorable event does the speaker describe involving pie?

The speaker humorously recalls memorizing digits of Pi at a local pie shop during a promotion. He memorized 500 digits in front of others, impressing them, but the shop owner was not amused. As a result, he and his friends left with free pies.

What was the speaker’s goal with improving his memory?

The speaker’s goal was to enhance his memorization skills to improve his performance in medical school. He believed that increasing his memory capacity by 20% could help him excel and make his medical studies more manageable.

What is the Inception technique mentioned by the speaker?

The Inception technique involves expanding the Memory Palace concept beyond a single building by linking different spaces in a creative, almost dreamlike way. The speaker uses this technique to expand his memory palace to hold more information, turning his mental space into an interconnected web of knowledge.

What was the issue with relying too heavily on the Memory Palace technique?

The problem with relying too heavily on the Memory Palace technique is that it can prevent true understanding of the material. While memorization is quick and efficient, it does not lead to the deeper connections and conceptual understanding necessary for real learning, especially in complex subjects like medicine.

How does the speaker compare the memorization process to learning a language?

The speaker compares the Memory Palace technique to learning a language by explaining that, like a native speaker, someone who truly understands a subject has intuitive knowledge that doesn’t require a memory system. In contrast, relying on memory techniques can be inefficient in the long run if it doesn't evolve into natural understanding.

What were the consequences of the speaker’s over-reliance on memory techniques in medical school?

The speaker’s over-reliance on the Memory Palace technique led to a lack of deep understanding of the material. While his memorization skills were impressive, he struggled to apply his knowledge practically in real-world medical situations, which hindered his development as a doctor.