Higbee, Kenneth L.: Your memory. How it works and how to improve it. 2nd ed. London: Piatkus, 1989.
Content: Ten myths about your memory; what is memory? how does memory work? how to remember almost anything: basic principles; study skills; mnemonic strategies.
Author’s qualifications: A British academic who has done work in the practical aspects of memory training. A proponent of mnemonics.
Readability:Easy to read.
Accuracy: Solidly researched and well-referenced.
Currency: Even the 2nd edition is over ten years old now, however, since its content is basic stuff, this matters less than it might.
Comprehensiveness: Eight of the fourteen chapters concern mnemonic strategies. There’s a reasonable, if superficial, introduction to the basic principles of learning. The explanation of how memory works is also superficial. However, this shouldn’t be taken as a major criticism — I would set Higbee’s account well above the explanations and descriptions of most popular memory-improvement books. Memory strategies other than mnemonics are not covered, other than a brief description of some basic principles, such as repetition.
Amount of background knowledge assumed: None.
Usefulness: If you’re interested in using mnemonic strategies, this is an excellent introduction.
Memorability: A methodical account, but there are no summaries, reviews, or other organizing features which might help you select out the important facts to anchor your memory.
Interest: A workmanlike account rather than an entrancing story - no fascinating details.
Balance: As I say, an account skewed towards mnemonics, but otherwise fair enough.
Availability: Readily available. Amazon prices it at US$10.36.
Length: 264pp
Includes index, chapter notes, no separate, indexed bibliography – references are included in the chapter notes.
Comment: Higbee’s is the closest book to my own, in terms of the approach it takes. He writes more academically however, and (paradoxically perhaps) spends far less time than me on developing a useful understanding of how memory works, and rather too much time (in my opinion) on mnemonics.
Overall rating (reflects my own opinion of the book’s worth, not its usefulness to you): ****
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