Most people wish they could have a better memory capacity.
Things will be easier if you have a better memory.
Taking exams, for example.
The good news is:
You can improve your memory.
Those memory champions, they are regular guys, just like us.
But they do know how to improve their memory capacity.
Here is the compilation of memory improvement books recommended by memory champions.
And to make your life easier, the books in this list are ordered by their popularity, from the highest to the lowest.
See also: Best Brain Supplements For Most People & Best Brain Training Apps
Disclosure: We earn some money from affiliate links, thank you.
Quick Recommendation
| Moonwalking with Einstein | The Memory Book | Your Memory |
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| You prefer to learn how to improve your memory by reading a real life case study. | You want to learn memory techniques right from the legendary grandmasters. | You want to learn not only memorization techniques but also the science behind them. |
| 8.7 / 10 | 8.8 / 10 | 8.6 / 10 |
Do you prefer games over books? If the answer is yes, HighIQPro might be worth your money. Otherwise, keep on reading.
1. Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer
The author of this book, Joshua Foer, is a science journalist who became the winner of U.S. Memory Championship after a year of memory training.
Moonwalking with Einstein draws on cutting-edge research, venerable tricks, and cultural history of memory.
Foer also tells us how he learns ancient techniques used by Cicero to memorize his speeches and by Medieval scholars to memorize entire books.
His experience shows that the World Memory Championships is more a test of perseverance rather than of memory.
- Easy and natural techniques to improve your memory
- History of memory techniques from time to time
- The story of the author himself on becoming a proficient memory athlete
2. The Memory Book: The Classic Guide to Improving Your Memory at Work, at School, and at Play by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas
This is one of the legendary book on memory improvement written by memory experts, Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas.
It has all the memory techniques that are typically taught in other memory books.
This book it mostly re-hashed information that has been presented earlier in other books, but the writing style makes it a book worth keeping.
What makes this book popular is, it’s fun and you will never get boring reading it.
- Memory system
- Memory techniques
- Simple exercises
3. Power Foods for the Brain: An Effective 3-Step Plan to Protect Your Mind and Strengthen Your Memory by Neal D. Barnard
Everybody knows good nutrition supports your health, but only a few realize certain foods can protect your brain and optimize its function.
And because of that, Dr. Neal Barnard has gathered the most up-to-date research and created a program that can strengthen your memory and protect your brain’s health.
Power Foods for the Brain reveals which foods to increase in your diet and which to avoid.
Furthermore, it also shows you specific exercises and supplements with real results.
- Information on the best foods to increase cognitive function
- Latest research on toxic around us
- Detailed menu plan, recipes, and kitchen tips
4. The Brain Fog Fix: Reclaim Your Focus, Memory, and Joy in Just 3 Weeks by Dr. Mike Dow
People are thinking and feeling worse than ever because our brains are not getting the support they need to produce the essential brain chemicals.
The Brain Fog Fix is a three-week program designed to help you naturally restore three of your brain’s most crucial chemicals: serotonin, dopamine, and cortisol.
Rebalancing these brain chemicals will enable the rest of your brain’s chemistry to reach optimal levels.
You will think more clearly, remember more accurately, learn more quickly, and be more creative.
- List of foods that can improve our brain function
- Three-week program to improve your mental clarity
- Case studies
5. The Einstein Factor: A Proven New Method for Increasing Your Intelligence by Win Wenger, Ph.D. and Richard Poe
Recent research suggests that the incredible achievements of prominent thinkers may have been more the result of mental conditioning than genetic superiority.
And with this book, you can learn to condition your mind almost in the same way and definitely improve your mental performance.
Win Wenger has identified the tools you need to reach such great levels of sharpness, insight, and general intelligence.
Not only the techniques mention will accelerate your mind, but the book itself is well-written and you might enjoy yourself reading this book.
- Memory techniques
- How to solve problems like a genius
- How to score higher on tests
6. Your Memory: How It Works and How to Improve It by Kenneth L. Higbee, Ph.D.
First of all, if you only want to learn various memory techniques, then it doesn’t matter which memory books you read because most of them contain the same techniques.
However, Higbee goes one step further than all the other books.
He gives answers to the long time questions that are so often asked about memory, such as:
What is photography memory? Will you forget what you remember? How good are different techniques?
- Simple memorization techniques
- Research and references to medical and psychological journals
- Case studies of his students and himself
7. Super Memory – Super Student: How to Raise Your Grades in 30 Days by Harry Lorayne
As the title suggests, this book is aimed for students who want to enhance their learning capabilities and improve their academic score.
Whether you’re a struggling or successful student, the knowledge shared in this book will be definitely useful for your future.
Furthermore, the author specifically designs the techniques in this book to meet the students’ need, such as how to remember dates, names, and numbers.
Basically, if you care about your grades, or if you want to graduate with a high GPA score, then I recommend you to read this book.
- Practical memory techniques
- Memorization exercises
- Basic building blocks of memorization techniques
8. How to Develop a Brilliant Memory Week by Week: 50 Proven Ways to Enhance Your Memory Skills by Dominic O’Brien
Written by eight times World Memory Champion, Dominic O’Brien, this book is packed with all sorts of tricks to make short-term memories a snap.
This book breaks the sections based on the skill set of the individual reading, so it’s beginner friendly.
Furthermore, most of the techniques are classics that can be found in other typical memory improvement books.
In conclusion, if you haven’t read any memory book, then this is a good book for you.
- Step-by-step memorization program
- Fresh ideas and methods
- Different techniques for different situations
9. Ageless Memory: The Memory Expert’s Prescription for a Razor-Sharp Mind by Harry Lorayne
Being fit and healthy at 70 years old is good, but what about being also mentally healthy at the same age?
Harry Lorayne has been honing his foolproof system for improving concentration and attaining a super memory for more than 40 years.
In Ageless Memory, he specifically geared his memorization system and techniques to our needs as we age.
Personally, I think all seniors should read this book, to prove that your age mean nothing to your memory.
- How to improve concentration
- How to recall names and faces
- Excel at card games
10. Memory Improvement: How to Improve Your Memory in Just 30 Days by Ron White
Two-time USA Memory Champion Ron White will teach you the same 2,000-year-old memory method in this book.
If you ever forget someone’s name just after you handshake, the problem is not with your memory, but rather with your brain system on memorization.
Change the system and you will improve your memory comprehension, according to White.
Furthermore, the author has traveled the world teaching memory to a lot of people, so there is no doubt about his expertise.
- Memorization basics
- Exercises to improve memorization
- Memorization techniques
11. Quantum Memory Power: Learn to Improve Your Memory with the World Memory Champion! by Dominic O’Brien
First, I must tell you that this is not a regular book. It’s an audiobook in the format of CDs, so you will need some kind of player to listen to it.
This program is one of the most popular memory programs in the 90s, back when CD was the king of digital format.
The entire course itself is about 6.5 hours long and it’s very detailed and since it’s Dominic himself who do the speaking, you will gain insights that were not available from reading his books.
Furthermore, the speed of the course is nice and slow, you will not find yourself in a hurry when listening to this program.
- Practical applications and exercises
- Improving your decision-making abilities
- How to increase your self-confidence
12. The Memory Bible: An Innovative Strategy for Keeping Your Brain Young by Gary Small
If you ever forget the name of an acquaintance, which you probably have, then you are just like most people.
But thanks to this publication of The Memory Bible by Dr. Gary Small, you can eliminate these problems.
Great memories are not born, they are made, according to the author, which is the director of the UCLA Center on Aging.
This book provides the necessary memory exercises and brain fitness programs to improve your mental performance.
- Steps for improving your memory
- Brain fitness programs
- List of brain foods and effective drugs
13. Keep Your Brain Alive: 83 Neurobic Exercises to Help Prevent Memory Loss and Increase Mental Fitness by Lawrence Katz and Manning Rubin
Keep Your Brain Alive introduces a series of simple exercises that help stimulate the production of neurotrophins, which in turn grow brain cells.
This book gives great tips on how to use all of your sense in your daily life.
By using all of your sense, you ‘exercise’ some areas of the brain which has been neglected.
This book suggests a different type exercise compared with other brain teaser and puzzles books, which exercise different areas of the brain.
- Practical tips for your daily life
- 83 interesting neurobic exercises
- Understanding of how neurobic works
14. The Art of Memory by Frances Yates
This is one of the most recommended books by memory champions around the world.
Not because it’s full of powerful secret techniques, but because it allows you to grasp what it’s like to memorize vital information back then when printing wasn’t invented yet.
It cover mnemonic (or memorization) techniques used by ancient people to remember stories, knowledge, and many other things.
In conclusion, this book is an invaluable contribution to the history of philosophy, science, and literature.
- The history of mnemonic techniques
- History of literature
- The importance of a trained memory for the ancient Greeks
15. How to Develop a Super Power Memory by Harry Lorayne
This is Harry Lorayne’s first book, and its content is pretty much the same with The Memory Book, which was authored by him and Jerry Lucas.
It contains some of the popular memory techniques, such as the chain links and peg methods.
Furthermore, his system seems to work using creative principles rather than the dry discipline of rote-memorization.
He also shares with us how imagining an image or moving image leads to a better memorization.
- Memorization techniques
- Practical tips on memorizing lists
- Tips to remember names and faces
16. The Memory Workbook: Breakthrough Techniques to Exercise Your Brain and Improve Your Memory by Douglas J. Mason and Michael Lee Kohn
The title specifically says ‘breakthrough’, but let me tell you, it’s not.
It contains what most memory improvement books provides, such as memorization techniques and the science behind them.
Not only that, the authors also discuss the kinds of memory loss that are reversible and why certain types of memories degrade with age.
It also discuss the memory-related consequences of using specific drugs that seniors often take.
- Memorization techniques
- Games and puzzles
- Scientific findings on memory functioning
17. Searching For Memory: The Brain, The Mind, And The Past by Daniel L. Schacter
What is a memory? And how much memory can affect our lives?
Daniel Schacter explains how and why it may change our understanding of everything from false memory to Alzheimer’s disease, from recovered memory to amnesia.
The main purpose of this book is not to teach you memory techniques, rather it shows you the basic understanding of how memory works so you can plan what’s best for you.
Furthermore, this book is full of references, thus making it more like academic books rather than popular science.
- Understanding of memory from the perspective of neuroscience
- Stories and anecdotes
- Collection of case studies
18. How to Remember Names and Faces the Easy Way by Ron White
Yes, as the titles suggest, the main focus of this book is to teach us how to remember names and faces to save ourselves from embarrassment.
Written by USA Memory Champion Ron White, this book contains techniques that allowed Ron to memorized 128 names in 15 minutes at the 2011 USA Memory Championship.
Just imagine what it would do to your relationships, whether if it’s personal or business, if you can remember names easily?
Surely people would respect and likes you because everybody loves people who call them by their names, not just “buddy”.
- How to remember names
- How to remember faces
- What’s stopping our memory from working and how to fix it
19. How to Develop a Perfect Memory by Dominic O’Brien
This book is so legendary and rare that its price has gone up to a few hundred dollars.
Dominic O’Brien is one of the most popular guys in the memory sports world.
He has won the World Memory Championship eight times and was named Brain of the Year in 1994 and Grandmaster of Memory by the Brain Trust of Great Britain.
He also developed his own system which uses famous people linked with numerals 0-99.
- Memorization techniques
- Specific techniques for specific subjects
- History of famous memory men
20. You Can Have An Amazing Memory: Learn Life-Changing Techniques and Tips from the Memory Maestro by Dominic O’Brien
The memory maestro, Dominic O’Brien returns with his latest book, You Can Have An Amazing Memory.
In this book, you will not find all the common memory techniques, rather it goes through the author’s experience on becoming a world champion.
However, some of the readers do not like the way he teaches us about the techniques.
Many find it repetitive and feel like the author is emphasizing on himself and his interests.
- Simple to advanced mnemonic techniques
- Understanding of why the techniques works
- Case studies and examples
Did I Miss Any Other Books? Share With Us!
If you know any other books related to memory improvement, please shoot a comment below.
And share this post so others can see your recommendation.
Papaya Care says
Hello Reza,
This is a great blog. Seniors have many memory related issues like dementia, Alzheimer and more. The books you have listed here are very helpful for them.
You can find here 10 Proven Methods to Improve Your Memory Power as You Age.
Reza says
Hi there,
Thanks for the comment, and what a nice article you got there.
Cheryl says
Here are the ones that stood out for me and reasons:
How to remember Names and faces the easy way: Based on your precise descriptions, this choice was easy for me. I’ve been having a pain recalling names just few minutes after being told and I hope this book gives me an insight.
The power foods for the brain: An effective 3-Step plan to protect your mind and strengthen your memory: This one will be helpful in planning my meals, since am giving focus to improving my memory, a well-balanced meal would be a great help!
Quantum Memory Power: Learn to improve your memory with the world Memory champion. I want to try this one to see the audio quality and impact it will have on me, considering the fact that my job doesn’t give me much freedom to sit and read, something to listen to while working is definitely appreciated.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Reza says
Hey Cheryl, I’m glad you find this post useful!
Caroline says
Thanks for your post – very useful to have these mini-reviews and highlights. I would be interested in having pointers to which of these books were particularly good on remembering large chunks of information. Memory champions seem to focus on remembering numbers, facts and sequences. I would like to remember the overall structure or plot of books as well as my own impressions of books as I read them, I’d like to read academic journal articles and retain some ideas on what they were about, without having to take notes. I notice that some people can do this, but for me it’s as if I never saw the article before.
Reza says
Hi Caroline,
Yes, I tried to make it easier for readers to scan the post by writing down the main points of the books.
And from my personal experience, to remember the structure and get the main ideas of a book, I usually read the table of contents (again) after I finish reading the book.
By reading the table of contents, I will review each chapter and force my brain to remember what was it all about.
I hope my experience helps you.
Toni says
Another book:
“Maximize your memory” from Ramón Campayo, speed memory world champion.
Reza says
Hi Toni,
Thank you for the suggestion!
Anthony Metivier says
Lovely list. I would only add The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci by Jonathan D. Spence and The Art of Memory by Frances Yates for some historical context. There are many delightful facts to memorize in both of those books. :)
Reza says
Hi Anthony,
Thanks for the recommendation, I will definitely consider your suggestions!
Manning Rubin says
Dear Reza,
Thanks for including KEEP YOUR BRAIN ALIVE on your blog.
Several comments as you requested. Our book is not really about memory.
. It tells you how to keep your brain healthy, fit and flexible as you age.A better memory is only a part of it.
A healthy brain can meet any challenge like remembering a new name,learning something new or being creative in your work.
Our system of simple exercise called neurobics is scientifically based on three things:
1. Each of your senses has its own real estate in the brain with thousands of nerve pathways to and between them. Unless you consciously exercise all your senses the multitude of nerve pathways to your many dentrites become pot holed and cob webbed and difficult to handle the flow of information. The dentrites are your file cabinets for information. You need to be able to reach them to store or retrieve information. The book gives you almost 100 simple easy to use exercises to accomplish this.
2. Routines can be brain deadening since you use the same brain pathways over and over. Neurobic exercises help you break your routines and exercise all your nerve pathways.
3. The brain is primed evolutionarily to experience novelty. Neurobics encourages you to consciously try new things which activate/exercise nerve pathways you don’t normally use.
No other brain exercises approach brain fitness this way of creating the neurotrophins that help keep the brain alive.
Reza says
One of the authors has spoken!
Thank you for your comment, Manning!
Gema says
This recommendation has too many lists that ironically makes me need a good memory for each of the book speciality. Maybe it’ll be better to post the average rating and the price for each book so I personally can choose easier when I’d like to purchase one of it.
Anyway, nice description for the speciality of each book.
Reza says
Well, thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it!