Books › Moonwalking with Einstein
Moonwalking with Einstein
310 pages
A witty, mind-expanding plunge into an eccentric subculture that will completely change how you think about your own brain.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like being handed the keys to a hidden room inside your own brain. It moves at a brisk, energetic clip, blending the infectious enthusiasm of participatory journalism with the satisfying crunch of accessible neuroscience. The tone is endlessly curious and charmingly self-deprecating as the narrative plunges into the quirky, obsessive world of competitive memorization. You are not just learning about the history of mnemonics; you are experiencing the dizzying thrill of unlocking human potential. The prose is sharp, witty, and deeply researched, making complex cognitive science feel as gripping as a sports thriller. It is a perfect fit for readers who delight in eccentric subcultures, intellectual adventures, and stories that fundamentally shift their understanding of what the human mind can achieve.
- Mood
- intellectually stimulating
- quirky
- energetic
- Tone
- curious
- witty
- self-deprecating
- erudite
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- limits of human potential · nature of identity · obsessive subcultures · the architecture of thought
- The writing
- Accessible and witty, seamlessly blending participatory journalism with lucid scientific and historical explanations.
- The arc
- Moves from skeptical curiosity to obsessive immersion, culminating in a profound appreciation for the mind's hidden capacities.
- Who it's for
- Curious minds who love deep dives into eccentric subcultures and accessible science that challenges how they view their own brains.
About the book
The blockbuster phenomenon that charts an amazing journey of the mind while revolutionizing our concept of memory
“Highly entertaining.” —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker
“Funny, curious, erudite, and full of useful details about ancient techniques of training memory.” —The Boston Globe
An that has now become a classic, Moonwalking with Einstein recounts Joshua Foer's yearlong quest to improve his memory under the tutelage of top "mental athletes." He draws on cutting-edge research, a surprising cultural history of remembering, and venerable tricks of the mentalist's trade to transform our understanding of human memory. From the United States Memory Championship to deep within the author's own mind, this is an electrifying work of journalism that reminds us that, in every way that matters, we are the sum of our memories.
Description from Open Library.
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