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Moonwalking with Einstein

The Art and Science of Remembering Everything

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Moonwalking with Einstein

By: Joshua Foer
Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
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About this listen

The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything, Joshua Foer's part-memoir, part-guide on mastering your memory. Read by Mike Chamberlain.

On average, people squander forty days annually trying to remember things they've forgotten. Joshua Foer used to be one of those people. But after a year of training, he found himself in the finals of the U.S. Memory Championship. He also discovered a truth we too often forget: In every way, we are the sum of our memories.

In Moonwalking with Einstein Foer draws on cutting-edge research, the cultural history of memory and the techniques of 'mental atheletes' to transform our understanding of human remembering. He learns the ancient methods used by Cicero and Medieval scholars. He meets amnesiacs, neuroscientists and savants - including a man who claims to have memorized more than nine thousand books. In doing so, he reveals the hidden impact of memory on our lives, and shows how we can all dramatically improve our memories.

At a time when electronic devices have all but rendered our individual memories obsolete, Foer's book is a quest to resurrect the gift we all possess, but that too often slips our minds.

 Biological Sciences Memory Improvement Neuroscience & Neuropsychology Personal Development Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science Inspiring

Critic reviews

A marvelous overview of one of the most essential aspects of what makes us human - our memory ... Witty and engaging (Dan Ariely)
Memory...makes us who we are...passionate and deeply engrossing ...The more we challenge ourselves, the greater our capacity. It's a fact that every teacher, parent and student would do well to learn. The lesson is unforgettable.
Captivating ... Engaging ... Mr. Foer writes in these pages with fresh enthusiasm. His narrative is smart and funny (Michiko Kakutani)
[D]elightful...empathetic, thought-provoking and...memorable. (Elizabeth Pisani)
Riotous (Alexandra Horowitz)
[An] endearingly geeky world...witty and revelatory...[The] journey certainly demonstrates how much memory matters...Apart from anything else, filling up our mental storehouses in the right way can make life feel longer. (Oliver Burkeman)
In this marvelous book, Joshua Foer invents a new genre of non-fiction. This is a work of science journalism wrapped around an adventure story, a bildungsroman fused to a vivid investigation of human memory. If you want to understand how we remember, and how we can all learn to remember better, then read this book (Jonah Lehrer)
One year, Joshua Foer is covering the US Memory Championships as a freelance journalist, the next he returns as a competitor - and wins it...How he pulled off this extraordinary feat forms the spine of this crisply entertaining book. (Matt Rudd)
Combines erudite analysis, historical context, a mind-bending adventure and extremely suggestive sex - some of it involving Foer's grandmother. (Tony Allen-Mills)
A labyrinthine personal journey that explains how our author ended up in the finals of the US Memory Championship - a compelling story arc from sceptical journalist to dedicated participant. I can't remember when I last found a science book so intriguing. (David Profumo)
All stars
Most relevant
This is a good book which touches on some of the techniques used for memory training but mainly follows the author through being a memory novice to competing in the US memory championship. Its not a memory training aid but a relaxed, light hearted take on the people who commit themselves to memorising infeasible amounts of data, and the so called savants who can do this effortlessly.

A good relaxed read

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A journalist covers a memory contest and decides to go in for one himself, getting hooked, in the process on the art and science of memory-training. A fascinating book which explores the subject of memory and memory training from its early history. The most exciting thing is that it demystifies feats of memory and makes you realise that, with a little effort and perseverance, you could manage to remember massively more than you do at the moment!

Mike Chamberlains reading contributes a faint hint of Woody Allen about the whole thing, particularly when it comes to the tradition of memory experts in resorting to bawdy humour to get things to stick in their minds.

A highly diverging and entertaining – as well as instructive book!

Seriously memorable!

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literally did not understand a thing just heard words so strange, really could have been anything

Didn't know what I was listening too

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Hugely enjoyable and so interesting. Nicely covered with a good sense of humour throughout. Highly recommend it!

Incredible book and very well read.

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I heard the book based on a suggestion from a friend. He suggested to listen to it, rather than reading it myself and I am glad I did so. The book is fascinating and the story is very well told by the narrator. It is a rather easy listening, but can give you a good hint about how the memories are created and how remembering works. Would definitely recommend.

Interesting and informing

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