The Mind of a Mnemonist: A Little Book about a Vast Memory
by Alexander R. Luria, Jerome S. Bruner
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M, the patient described in this book, has unbelievable memory. He experiences synesthesia, seeing 5 as "red" and smelling/tasting/feeling 5 in every sensory way.
People tested M by giving him some random sequence of numbers
that they'd then put away. 5 or 10 years later, if asked he
could still recall the exact sequence of numbers!
It might seem like heaven to have a "photographic memory," more recently known as "eidetic memory." Think of how great it wo...more
People tested M by giving him some random sequence of numbers
that they'd then put away. 5 or 10 years later, if asked he
could still recall the exact sequence of numbers!
It might seem like heaven to have a "photographic memory," more recently known as "eidetic memory." Think of how great it wo...more
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i always forget about this book. ha! it's a joke! because this book is about a guy who never forgets ANYTHING. a real guy. this book is awesome. i will never forget it. the metaphors he uses to discuss how he sees and finds his memories are so cool.
now i want to read it again. it's been too long.
p.s. this is a case study, not a novel.
now i want to read it again. it's been too long.
p.s. this is a case study, not a novel.
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Read in June, 2008
A very cool case study by the old Russian scientist Luria (inventor of Luria broth, used in Petri dishes--ah, random trivia from the 9th grade) about a man with a seemingly boundless memory whose gift poses psychological and personal problems to him. The patient is sort of the opposite of the guy from _Memento_ (whose memory was zapped), and fascinating I think for similar reasons. It's also interesting to see a scientist cross the boundaries of his field and write a non-clinical piece that amou...more
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Read in July, 2008
Synesthesia's a cool writing technique, simple to execute and pretty impossible to do consistently well (I have my own samples to show you if you're curious and masochistic). "tMoaM" follows a case study of a Russian (that should date it for you) with a, more or less, perfect memory.
It's interesting, and worth reading, but I could probably do without all the dry explications of the case study and the several introductions. Were the book reduced to the patient's journal entries, ho...more
It's interesting, and worth reading, but I could probably do without all the dry explications of the case study and the several introductions. Were the book reduced to the patient's journal entries, ho...more
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Read in September, 2007
This is a brilliant case study done by Russian psychologist Aleksandr Luria of a man ("S.") whose memory capacity is seemingly endless. Luria takes a typical case study several steps further by examining S.'s personality characteristics as well as exploring how someone like S. might function in everyday society. This book is a quick, beautifully written read, but is devastating in its conclusion that the gift of endless memory can be both rich and relentless.
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Soviet neuropsychologist A.R. Luria's case study of a man with a vast and detailed but indiscriminant memory was the inspiration for Oliver Sach's popular book about aphasias and other neurological disorders, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.
I always wondered if the extraordinary mnemonist of Luria's study was the inspiration for Borges's Fumes the Memorius.
I always wondered if the extraordinary mnemonist of Luria's study was the inspiration for Borges's Fumes the Memorius.
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Read in August, 2008
What a fascinating book, and so easy to read. Interesting that someone who had a phenomenal memory had difficulty working out simple numerical series and patterns of letters.
Well worth a read if you are studying psychology and synesthesia. One of the best written scientific books I've ever read (believe me, I've read quite a few super-dry text books in my time).
Well worth a read if you are studying psychology and synesthesia. One of the best written scientific books I've ever read (believe me, I've read quite a few super-dry text books in my time).
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone
Do you ever find yourself reading a book about someone who's "mentally disturbed" only to find that explains sooooo much about yourself? And then you get wierded out because you start to think, "Oh my goodness, I must be mentally disturbed. Suddenly everything is so clear. I'm crazy!" Do you ever have that experience? Do you?
No?
Oh.
Me neither.
No?
Oh.
Me neither.
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