Ask the Author: Lynne Kelly
Answered Questions (11)
Lynne Kelly
Hi Jonathan,
Thank you for this question. I have been looking at Chinese for my new book on applying the memory methods, and at the wonderful story of the language. I have not delved into Tao Te Ching and know nothing about the knots. Are they used as a memory device? Can you point me to a reference for this. I couldn't find anything in a quick search online.
No, I have not visited any archaeological sites in China nor most of the world. There are so many fascinating sites! I have a limited budget. I have read about some of them. Have you been there?
I have recently become enamoured with Chinese art, the language and script and want to research a great deal more.
Lynne
Thank you for this question. I have been looking at Chinese for my new book on applying the memory methods, and at the wonderful story of the language. I have not delved into Tao Te Ching and know nothing about the knots. Are they used as a memory device? Can you point me to a reference for this. I couldn't find anything in a quick search online.
No, I have not visited any archaeological sites in China nor most of the world. There are so many fascinating sites! I have a limited budget. I have read about some of them. Have you been there?
I have recently become enamoured with Chinese art, the language and script and want to research a great deal more.
Lynne
Lynne Kelly
Hi Alex,
Thank you so much for your interest in "The a Memory Code". If you want the US or UK edition, I am afraid so. But you can get the Australian edition from Book Depository now. They deliver anywhere in the world.
Please let me know if you need any more information.
Thank you again,
Lynne
Thank you so much for your interest in "The a Memory Code". If you want the US or UK edition, I am afraid so. But you can get the Australian edition from Book Depository now. They deliver anywhere in the world.
Please let me know if you need any more information.
Thank you again,
Lynne
Lynne Kelly
Please do get back to me. I'd love to know how you go and what you choose to experiment with.
Lynne
Lynne
Lynne Kelly
Thank you, Joe. I really appreciate hearing that others find the theory sound.
It is interesting that the chapter, "A journey through time" is causing the most feedback of all. That was not what I had expected. A lot of people are now experimenting with it.
I would love to hear how you go.
As for resources, Indigenous beginners would have had elders to teach them. We don't have that luxury so you'll need to write down your list in the first instance. It depends what you are wanting to memorise. Any ideas? Then you are best to start with your house and start allocating locations. Once you start it gets easier and easier. But don't rush it. Enjoy making the links and the stories.
And let me know how you go!
Lynne
It is interesting that the chapter, "A journey through time" is causing the most feedback of all. That was not what I had expected. A lot of people are now experimenting with it.
I would love to hear how you go.
As for resources, Indigenous beginners would have had elders to teach them. We don't have that luxury so you'll need to write down your list in the first instance. It depends what you are wanting to memorise. Any ideas? Then you are best to start with your house and start allocating locations. Once you start it gets easier and easier. But don't rush it. Enjoy making the links and the stories.
And let me know how you go!
Lynne
Lynne Kelly
Hi Joe,
Thank you for writing. Yes, archaeologists were very receptive when I talked to them on my travels. No-one has yet found any objection to the theory, but it can't be more broadly accepted until they get a chance to read the full argument, as you have done. The book is endorsed in the front by Dr Ros Cleal, a leading Neolithic archaeologist, Dr William D Lipe and Larry Baker, American archaeologists and Australian archaeologist Dr Iain Davidson among the memory experts and anthropologists. They read the proof copy.
The book has only just been released in Australia. It won't be published in the US and UK until February, so it's all very new. But I am getting lots of very enthusiastic emails from archaeologists among others.
I haven't read anything by Graham Hancock. Thanks for the pointer.
Thank you again for your question!
Lynne
Thank you for writing. Yes, archaeologists were very receptive when I talked to them on my travels. No-one has yet found any objection to the theory, but it can't be more broadly accepted until they get a chance to read the full argument, as you have done. The book is endorsed in the front by Dr Ros Cleal, a leading Neolithic archaeologist, Dr William D Lipe and Larry Baker, American archaeologists and Australian archaeologist Dr Iain Davidson among the memory experts and anthropologists. They read the proof copy.
The book has only just been released in Australia. It won't be published in the US and UK until February, so it's all very new. But I am getting lots of very enthusiastic emails from archaeologists among others.
I haven't read anything by Graham Hancock. Thanks for the pointer.
Thank you again for your question!
Lynne
Lynne Kelly
It was sheer luck. I was reading about Australian Aboriginal and Native American animal stories and started to realise that they encode lots of really specific information about the animals species they were talking about.
The Navajo memorise a complete classification of over 700 insects, the identification, habitat, behaviour - and that's just insects! Add in the rest of the animals, plants, geology, genealogies, navigations, rules and regulations ... how do they memorise so much stuff?
That started me on the quest which led me to a new theory for the purpose of Stonehenge which just grew and grew. I was riddled with self-doubt for the 8 years of research, but my theory has now been examined by renowned archaeologists and an anthropologist for the PhD, and then scrutinised further for my academic book with Cambridge University Press, "Knowledge and Power in Prehistoric Societies". It has been reviewed yet again for my forthcoming book for the general reader, "The Memory Code".
I can't wait to get into a discussion about these ideas with all and sundry!
The Navajo memorise a complete classification of over 700 insects, the identification, habitat, behaviour - and that's just insects! Add in the rest of the animals, plants, geology, genealogies, navigations, rules and regulations ... how do they memorise so much stuff?
That started me on the quest which led me to a new theory for the purpose of Stonehenge which just grew and grew. I was riddled with self-doubt for the 8 years of research, but my theory has now been examined by renowned archaeologists and an anthropologist for the PhD, and then scrutinised further for my academic book with Cambridge University Press, "Knowledge and Power in Prehistoric Societies". It has been reviewed yet again for my forthcoming book for the general reader, "The Memory Code".
I can't wait to get into a discussion about these ideas with all and sundry!
Lynne Kelly
I am inspired by other people, by their stories and knowledge and skills. I am inspired by the natural world and by the amazing abilities of the human mind. I want to tell everyone all the exciting things I hear about from other people, in books, from my research and experience. I guess I am just basically noisy.
Lynne Kelly
I have just finished "The Memory Code" to be published in July this year. It is the mainstream version of my PhD thesis and academic book. I am finally back to writing for the general reader, where I belong. But I had stumbled across something so radical that I needed the academic verification first.
My research for a natural history book drawing on indigenous animal knowledge led me to ask a simple question: how do they remember so much stuff? That led me to the phenomenal memory tricks of non-literate cultures. I then stumbled on the fact that the memory methods which are essential to the survival of oral cultures leave clues in the archaeology - a fact which has never been applied to the interpretation of sites built by oral cultures. How lucky was I?
These ideas explain why they built Stonehenge and all the Neolithic monuments, Easter Island, the amazing animal glyphs known as the Nasca Lines, the incredible buildings in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico and a huge number of other sites around the world. Sound too good to be true? That's how I felt for the years of research involved, but it's all been checked and checked by experts.
The ideas explain why the Inca Empire was so successful even though they had no writing. It explains how Aboriginal people retain entire field guides, navigation maps, genealogies and so much more - and keep it all in memory. I have been implementing these memory methods myself and cannot believe how effective they are. I can now memorise almost anything!
This will be the theme of my writing - books, blogs and articles, for many years to come. I have just scratched the surface.
My research for a natural history book drawing on indigenous animal knowledge led me to ask a simple question: how do they remember so much stuff? That led me to the phenomenal memory tricks of non-literate cultures. I then stumbled on the fact that the memory methods which are essential to the survival of oral cultures leave clues in the archaeology - a fact which has never been applied to the interpretation of sites built by oral cultures. How lucky was I?
These ideas explain why they built Stonehenge and all the Neolithic monuments, Easter Island, the amazing animal glyphs known as the Nasca Lines, the incredible buildings in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico and a huge number of other sites around the world. Sound too good to be true? That's how I felt for the years of research involved, but it's all been checked and checked by experts.
The ideas explain why the Inca Empire was so successful even though they had no writing. It explains how Aboriginal people retain entire field guides, navigation maps, genealogies and so much more - and keep it all in memory. I have been implementing these memory methods myself and cannot believe how effective they are. I can now memorise almost anything!
This will be the theme of my writing - books, blogs and articles, for many years to come. I have just scratched the surface.
Lynne Kelly
I am going to say what so many other authors will tell you - just write. The only way to gain the skills needed is to complete projects, no matter how small they are.
Write for your readers. I have a group of dolls who all sit staring at me in my garret (the studio where I write). Each has a specific role - they are my readers. Ramona insists I read things aloud - she hates poor rhythm or bad grammar. Tamika tells me to lighten up a bit (I tend to get very serious), while Tuppence is more interested in the accuracy of the information. Isaac has a little watch, telling me that all this editing is all very well, but at some stage I have to declare it finished. He keeps track of deadlines. There are about 50 dolls who share the workload with me, each with their own personality. I never feel lonely.
I feel the need to have my readers present and this is my way of doing that.
Write for your readers. I have a group of dolls who all sit staring at me in my garret (the studio where I write). Each has a specific role - they are my readers. Ramona insists I read things aloud - she hates poor rhythm or bad grammar. Tamika tells me to lighten up a bit (I tend to get very serious), while Tuppence is more interested in the accuracy of the information. Isaac has a little watch, telling me that all this editing is all very well, but at some stage I have to declare it finished. He keeps track of deadlines. There are about 50 dolls who share the workload with me, each with their own personality. I never feel lonely.
I feel the need to have my readers present and this is my way of doing that.
Lynne Kelly
Everything is interesting! Even boring things are interesting because everything feeds at least one of the projects I am working on. As I intend to write fiction again, as well as non-fiction, any experience feeds a character or a theme.
Lynne Kelly
I don't permit myself writer's block. I write every day. If the words won't come, I do research. That is one of the advantages of writing non-fiction!
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