Joshua Foer was once just a science journalist for publications like National Geographic, Slate, and the New York Times. That was until he attended the U.S. Memory Championships in New York.
Now, he can add accidental U.S. Memory Champion to his list of accomplishments.
After discovering that a good memory is a learned skill, Foer set out to play with memory tactics, just for fun. He thought he’d enter the U.S. Memory Championships to be able to write a first-hand experience piece. But he surprised even himself.
As technology increasingly fills our lives, the training of our memories is falling on the wayside. If we can program phone numbers and calendar alerts into our smart phones, why bother remembering?
As Foer discovers in his journey to having a remarkable memory, to live a memorable life, you need to be a person who remembers to remember.
In this TED talk, Foer discusses why so many people are bad at remembering, and what can be done about it.
As Foer so eloquently puts it, “Memory training is not just for the sake of performing party tricks; it’s about nurturing something profoundly and essentially human.”
