Editor’s Note: This book excerpt has been reorganized to fit the needs of the article.
Evolution of Our Understanding of Memory
Collapse of a Banquet Hall
Many current principles used to strengthen our memories can be traced back hundreds or even thousands of years. And although I don’t think it’s necessary to learn everything some of the wisest minds have written about memory over the years, some familiarity with their approaches and their concepts makes it easier today to understand and strengthen your memory.
To the ancients, memory was not just a means of preserving the past but was considered a tool for what we would now call creative thinking. By constructing within the mind a structured and orderly memory, the ancients thought it possible to forge new thoughts and establish original and creative connections….