Best Books on Learning and Memory Improvement
(Updated 2025)
February 14, 2023In a world that is constantly changing and where information needs to be processed faster than ever, a good memory is more than ever a key resource. But don't worry: memory training is not a tedious chore, but an exciting journey toward better learning outcomes, greater concentration, and enhanced mental fitness.
On this page, you'll find helpful reviews of books that can help you train your memory in a natural and effective way. Whether you're studying for exams, looking to improve your recall, or simply wanting to boost your mental performance – here you'll find the right inspiration.
Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything
by Joshua Foer
In Moonwalking with Einstein, science journalist Joshua Foer recounts an exciting journey he embarked on to explore the mysteries of human memory.
Joshua begins his journey as a journalist at the 2005 USA Memory Championship, where he wants to find out: Why can some people remember multiple shuffled decks of cards or tens of thousands of digits of pi - while others forget where they put their keys?
He makes friends with some curious memory acrobats and discovers: Behind these top performances are neither tricks nor exceptional talent but learnable techniques to transform abstract data such as playing cards or numbers into information that our brains can better memorize, namely images, feelings, and stories placed in specific locations in so-called memory palaces.
Joshua gets persuaded to participate in the next memory championship and begins intensive training. He meets numerous memory artists, people with Savant syndrome, and people with severe memory loss and tells about his experiences with them.
He describes the history of memory techniques (they were already used in ancient times and disappeared only when the invention of printing made them obsolete) and explains the neurological context of their functioning (the human brain did not evolve to remember phone numbers, appointments, and to-do lists, but its environment, food places, and sources of danger).
He describes the actual techniques only superficially - if you want to know more about them, you can quickly find detailed explanations on the Internet (e.g., about the memory palace, the Major system, and the PAO system).
Joshua's journey comes to an end with his participation in the 2005 memory championship. As for how it ends, it's best to read it for yourself.
The book is highly entertaining, exciting in parts, pleasantly humorous, and a whole new reading experience due to the mix of personal adventure and science.
I recommend it to anyone interested in the capabilities of human memory - even those who don't want to become a memory professional.
Suitable as an audiobook? Yes.
Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School
by John Medina
John Medina is a molecular biologist who specializes in brain biology. In “Brain Rules,” he teaches us – in an entertaining yet scientifically grounded way – how our brain works and what we can do to make the most of it.
The book revolves around 12 “brain rules” – research-based principles that show how our brain functions best. A few highlights:
- Exercise boosts thinking: Regular physical activity has been proven to improve cognitive performance.
- Multitasking doesn’t work: Our brains simply aren’t built for it.
- Sleep is not a waste of time: On the contrary – sleep affects concentration, memory, and problem-solving abilities.
- Repetition strengthens memory: Learning works best through regular repetition, not cramming sessions.
- Emotions have a huge impact on our thinking: We remember emotional content better – something you can cleverly use in presentations, for example.
Medina combines neuroscience research with practical, everyday examples, sprinkled with humor and personal anecdotes. And he keeps it all easy to understand – even if you’ve never studied neurobiology.
“Brain Rules” is perfect for anyone who wants to truly understand how learning, attention, memory, and decision-making work – and how to apply that knowledge in daily life.
Whether you’re giving presentations, leading training sessions, or just want to work more efficiently, this book delivers science-backed “aha!” moments.
Suitable as an audiobook? Yes.
Uncommon Sense Teaching: Practical Insights in Brain Science to Help Students Learn
by Barbara Oakley, PhD, Beth Rogowsky, EdD, Terry J. Sejnowski, PhD
In “Uncommon Sense Teaching,” authors Barbara Oakley and Terry Sejnowski, creators of the popular online course “Learning How to Learn,” and Beth Rogowsky, a seasoned educator and expert in behavioral neuroscience, present the latest findings in neuroscience and apply them to modern, practical strategies for effective teaching and learning.
They combine theoretical concepts such as information processing in the brain, various types of memory, active vs. passive learning, declarative vs. procedural learning, habit formation, and more with concrete suggestions and tips to, among other things:
- Motivate students to learn, even in online classes.
- Help students retain information long-term rather than forgetting it after a test.
- Effectively teach students with a wide range of abilities.
The authors explain complex scientific concepts in an understandable and sometimes humorous way, making the book accessible not only to educators but also to laypeople.
A recommendation for all experienced teachers who want to increase their students’ learning success and all parents who want to provide additional support for their children.
Suitable as an audiobook? Yes.
The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain
by Annie Murphy Paul
For a long time, the prevailing belief was that we learn and engage in thought and intellectual work best when alone and sitting quietly – with nothing but our minds. However, our minds were not designed for the increasingly complex, abstract ideas that bombard us in the modern world.
In “The Extended Mind,” science journalist Annie Murphy Paul shows, based on numerous scientific studies, how we can dramatically improve our cognitive abilities by extending our minds to include our bodies, our environment, and our relationships.
We can pay attention to bodily signals, engage our brains through physical activity, create an inspiring environment, or take walks in nature, as many historical figures have done. We can collaborate with colleagues on a flip chart or attach and rearrange sticky notes on a bulletin board.
Even expanding the computer desktop across multiple monitors can noticeably relieve the brain, as it leverages one of the brain’s fundamental functions – spatial orientation – by positioning different programs in distinct locations. Moving digital data around the room with our hands, as Tom Cruise did in Minority Report, has not yet become a reality. Still, it impressively demonstrates how mental extensions can drastically improve our ability to absorb and process information.
The author has thoroughly researched and bases all principles on numerous exciting and impressive research findings. All of you who feel like you can’t fit more into your head can breathe a sigh of relief: you don’t have to – instead, calmly tap into the resources outside your brain!
Suitable as an audiobook? Yes.
How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It Happens
by Benedict Carey
In his book, “How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It Happens,” Benedict Carey, a science journalist, decodes the complex and often surprising processes of learning.
Rather than following conventional approaches that present learning as linear and easily controlled, Carey explores how and why we truly learn – and what insights we can draw from neuroscience to optimize our learning methods.
The book covers several intriguing topics, including:
- Distributed Learning: Instead of cramming everything at once, it’s more effective to break learning into multiple shorter sessions.
- Sleep and Learning: Sleep plays a crucial role in learning, particularly in consolidating memories.
- Spaced Repetition: How repeating content over longer periods strengthens memory recall.
- Multitasking: The impact of distractions and multitasking on learning performance.
Carey uses a mix of scientific studies and practical examples to illustrate his points.
“How We Learn” is an engaging and well-written book. It offers practical tips on how to optimize your memory and learn more effectively – whether for an exam, mastering a new skill, or simply recalling information in daily life.
This book is a highly recommended read for anyone looking to improve their memory and learning strategies.
Suitable as an audiobook? Yes.
The Memory Illusion: Remembering, Forgetting, and the Science of False Memory
by Dr. Julia Shaw
How reliable are our memories? Did everything we remember really happen exactly like that? As a rule, no, claims legal psychologist, Dr. Julia Shaw.
In this book, she shows that our memory is not only unreliable ("Where did I put my key?"), but also stores memories incorrectly, changes them afterward, combines them with other memories – and can even be unconsciously manipulated from the outside.
As an example, the author describes studies in which she implanted false memories in test subjects until they were firmly convinced that they had committed a crime.
These research findings are particularly relevant to the justice system: If we cannot trust memories one hundred percent – should we be allowed to convict people based on witness testimony alone?
We also learn what our modern world, in which we are constantly inundated by stimuli, in which information is available at the touch of a button, and in which we share filtered aspects of our lives on social media, is doing to our memory.
We can use the insights from this book to clear up misunderstandings and disagreements, protect people from misjudgments, help overcome trauma, and – combined with the proper techniques – to store information almost unaltered.
This book is written in an understandable way; it's entertaining and eye-opening. A recommendation for all who do not want to be helplessly exposed to the fallibility of their memories.
Suitable as an audio book? Yes.
Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life
by Jim Kwik
Jim Kwik is a long-time expert and coach on improving mental performance.
His core message is that we all have the potential to improve our mental abilities continuously and limitless. We can become more productive, achieve goals that seem unattainable, and ultimately live the life we want.
What it takes are the three M's: mindset, motivation, and methods.
Much has already been written on the first two points:
We need to get rid of deeply held, limiting beliefs about ourselves, replace negative views with positive ones, and redefine the boundaries of what we think is possible.
But where most self-help guidebooks end, Limitless has just warmed up.
The strength of the book, in my eyes, is in the methods – the concrete, actionable, step-by-step techniques and exercises for the following five aspects of performance improvement:
- Focus / Concentration
- Efficient and effective learning
- Memory training
- Speed Reading
- Decision making
In addition, there are valuable tips on nutrition, sleep, exercise, environmental design, and inner balance.
Limitless is absolutely worth reading, and Jim Kwik is a great teacher. I learned so much that I don't resent the occasional self-promotion of his online products.
It should not go unmentioned that much of the material is repeated in his talks and podcasts. But the repetition of a topic from different angles reinforces the learning effect, as we have learned :)
I wasn't sure what category to put this book in. It also fits into the categories of self-improvement books and motivational books.
Suitable as an audio book? Yes, absolutely.