HARVARD MEDICAL GUIDE TO ACHIEVING OPTIMAL MEMORY
by Aaron P. Nelson with Susan Gilbert. McGraw-Hill, 2005
    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (pxi-xiii)

    INTRODUCTION --- You can protect and improve your memory (pxv-xxii)

        [1] Some memory loss is a normal part of aging

        [2] Optimal memory is a function of optimal health

        [3] Brain fitness

        [4] New treatments for memory problems

      1) What is memory? (p1-12)

      2) How you remember (p13-28)

      3) It happens to everyone --- Normal memory lapses and distortions (p29-42)

      4) How your brain ages (p44-54)

      5) Causes of memory problems (p55-94)

      6) When to see a doctor (p95-116)

      7) Memory disorders (p117-132)

      8) Memory medications (p135-150)

      9) Prevention and proaction --- the path to optimal memory (p151-170)

      10) Practical strategies to enhance everyday memory (p171-186)

        A variety of strategies have proven to be highly effective in helping people improve their memory for new information and skills. The strategies can be divided into three parts:

          [1] Organizational methods,

          [2] Effective learning behaviors, and

          [3] Memory techniques.

        You may already use some of these simple methods already implicitly. But to use them with greater awareness, you can diminish forgetfulness and get more control over the tidal wave of information and memory demands of our global economy. The surge of excessive information can be controlled by getting organized:

          [1] Get organized (p172-175)

            (1) Manage "low-cost" information (p172-175)

              1. Meetings and appointments (p171)

              2. Daily tasks (p171)

              3. Names, addresses, and phone numbers (p171)

            (2) Vital information:

              1. Belongings (p174)

              2. Checklists (p174)

              3. Locations (p174)

              4. Maintain a clutter-free environment (p175)

          [2] Behaviors for effective learning and memory (p175-178)

            (1) Focus (p175-176)

            (2) Repeat (p176)

            (3) Ensure comprehension (p176-177)

            (4) Make a note (p177)

            (5) Practice spaced rehearsal (p177)

            (6) Do the little things now (p177-178)

            (7) Be patient (p178)

          [3] Memory techniques (p178-181)

            (1) Mnemonics (p178-181)

            (2) Associations (p179)

            (3) Chunking information (p179-180)

          [4] Putting the strategies into practice (p181-183)

          [5] Professional memory training (p183-185)

          [6] Future frontiers (p185)

      11) On the horizon (p187-196)

    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (p197-202)

    INDEX (p203-217)
Return to Skill-Set #2: Your Smart Self-Actualization Memory Skills