Memory Pack by Andi Bell
This post is an overview of Andi Bell’s Memory Pack, published in 2000.
I bought the Memory Pack because I saw some videos of Andi Bell and wanted to learn more about his techniques. Here are the videos:
The Memory Pack is out of print but I found a copy online. It consists of a 72 page book, some memory cards, a memory game, and a small beanbag.
The Contents
The memory book has some interesting tips in it. It explains a two digit system for memorizing numbers that isn’t based on phonetics, but on different kinds of associations. For example, the number 06 is a die with six faces, 33 is an LP record, and 88 is a piano because pianos have 88 keys.
Most of my system for memorizing two digit numbers is phonetic, but I borrowed Andi Bell’s image for number 88 because I like having an image of a piano in my memory system and it fits well.
There are two sets of cards included: 100 cards for numbers between 00 and 99, and another set of cards for names and faces. Since I already have my own images, I didn’t use the number cards. I’ll probably use the names and faces cards for practice at some point.
One seemingly obvious, but very useful, tip that I got from the Memory Pack was that “whenever you try to retain to be recalled later, pay attention to detail all the time.” Some of the examples were also useful.
The Mnemonic Beanbag
The beanbag is a great idea. The idea of the beanbag is that people notice things that are out of place. To use the beanbag you think of something you have to do in the future, and then throw the beanbag across the room where you will stumble across it later. When you see the beanbag out of place, you will remember the thing that you have to do. Another example of the technique is thinking of something you have to do the next day while laying in bed about to fall asleep. You could throw a pen across the room, and when you saw the pen in the morning out of place it would remind you of that task when you woke up next morning.
Memorizing History
I like Andi Bell’s example on memorizing history where a locus is assigned to each decade and mnemonic images for historic events are added to them. Example:
- Locus 1: 1000 – 1009 C.E.
- Locus 2: 1010 – 1019 C.E.
- Locus 3: 1020 – 1029 C.E.
One could keep adding multiple images to each locus to store multiple events for each decade.
Finding It Online
The Memory Pack is available online for under $20 USD. The pack doesn’t cover memorizing playing cards or alternate number systems like the person-action-object (PAO) system so I wouldn’t use it as the only source of information, but I think it would appeal to an enthusiastic beginner who wants to see multiple ways of doing things. I’m glad I bought it and I enjoyed reading it.
Hi Josh. Can you explain more in details about memorizing history by Andi Bell?
Unfortunately, I let someone borrow the book and they ran off with it. 🙁
I don’t think that he went into much more detail than what I mentioned above. You would create 10 loci for each century and then place important events in each locus…
JOSH SAID: Unfortunately, I let someone borrow the book and they ran off with it. 🙁
I don’t think that he went into much more detail than what I mentioned above. You would create 10 loci for each century and then place important events in each locus…
GARY’s RESPONSE: Josh, I also have Andi Bell’s MEMORY BOOK (71 pages) and your recall is right concerning his take on History Dates.
He also has a system for remembering CHESS MOVES. Pretty impressive.
Hey Josh,
As it happens, I have an extra copy of Andi Bell’s book. If you’d like me to mail it to you, let me know.
Thanks for the offer. I sent you a message… 🙂
Pingback: My Memory Books Reading List — Mnemotechnics.org
@ Josh Cohen
Do you remember the 100 image used for number ? thx
is it based on shape
1-pen
2-cygne….
I don’t remember them, but I still have the cards that came with it.
00 — looks like a hula hoop
01 — a stick
02 — bicycle (two wheels)
03 — a comb
04 — car (four wheels)
05 — starfish (five arms)
09 — cat (nine lives)
52 — deck of cards
69 — astronaut (1969 moon landing)
Etc.
I’ve created a wiki page to list all of the images. I don’t know all of the associations, but if anyone would like to help fill in the missing info, the page is here:
https://artofmemory.com/wiki/Mnemonic_Association_System_for_Numbers
(click the “edit” links to make changes)
Yea…if someone out there has his complete association list and the associations that explain it, thad be great.
thx
The complete list of mnemonic images for 00-99 can now be found here:
https://artofmemory.com/wiki/Mnemonic_Association_System_for_Numbers
Hi,
I just found the memory pack i bought ages ago but i misplaced the book (I was just searching online to find a pdf when google sent me here)
I have the cards, beanbag, little cutouts with circles on etc but no clue on how to play with them 🙂 can anyone give me a summary on how to use them if not too much hassle?
thanks,
David.
it’s impressive how he set up a system for remembering chess move?
00 — hula hoop
01 — stick or tall tree or a Magic wand
02 — bicycle
03 — 3-legged Stool, Tripod for camera
04 — car, four tires
05 — starfish or glove
06 — 6-shooter pistol
07 — A Boomerang
08 — octopus
09 — a cat — nine lives
10 — soccer player (Pele wears 10)
11 — goalposts (soccer/football)
12 — the sun (12 noon)
13 — a pen drawing the letter B (looks like 13)
14 — Valentine ring
15 — Paycheck
16 — A lollipop as in sweet sixteen
17 — a leaf – this came from St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) but is a leaf instead of a shamrock
18 –Voting boot
19 — a beer (at the 19th hole)
20 — A pack of cigarette
21 — a canon (21 gun salute) or Black Jack
22 — two birds — looks like 2 ducklings
23 — Psa;m 23 in the Bible. Just picture a Bible.
24 — A big grand father clock
25 — Christmas present because of December 25 or a QUARTER
26 — aLPHABET BOOK HAS 26 LETTERS
27 — a goblin
28 — an owl — “tu-whit” sounds like “twenty eight”
29 — a frog — 29 days in a leap year
30 — Fist of Fury (Forty with the T silent)
31 — To be on one’s 31 in French means to be dressed to the nines(Tuxedo)
32 — Denture
33 — Age of Christ. the LAMB of God
34 — The penitent THIEF next to him on the cross
35 — US presidents have to be at least 35 years old
36 — Twixt candy bar sounds like thiry six
37 — Eiffel Tower
38 — Arc de Triomphe in Paris by proximity
39 — a doorstep from “The 39 Steps” by John Buchan
40 — Forty, Fory Fist of Fury
41 — Flip the bird. 4 fingers folded and the midle raised as one
42 — 42nd Street in Manhatan is Times square. Figure a big watch that is square
43 — a baseball bat (World Series: 4 matches to 3)
44 — a sheet of music (4/4 meter). Two people square dancing
45 — a can of Colt 45, a can of beer
46 — a tennis ball (from a tennis score)
47 — Four door van
48 — a cello — 4 string on a 8-shaped body
49 — a American football — SF 49ers
50 — Half of a dollar bill
51 — Tight jeans. Try to Fit in one
52 — a deck of cards
53 — a joker (53rd card)
54 — a rocket (countdown: 5…4…)
55 — Swastika
56 — a Rubik’s cube which has 56 squares
57 — Sputnik — the year that Sputnik went into space
58 — Could have had a V-8. V is 5
59 — a ticket
60 — a stop watch (60 seconds, 60 minutes)
61 — a wall (Berlin wall 1961)
62 — a pair of socks, Socks x 2
63 — a chess pawn
64 — a chessboard, because there are 64 squares on the board
65 — Chinese checker
66 –Moon Honey moon means sex til six in the AM
67 — God (6 days to make the world, 7th day resting)
68 — a guitar 6 cords and the 8 shape of thr body
69 — Ying yang medal
70 — hockey stick and puck
71 — an iron. The handle is a seven the body profiles as 1
72 — a bag of golf clubs (72 holes in a golf competition)
73 — a refrigerator (absolute zero is -273 degrees)
74 — a paper airplane (from 747)
75 — a percent symbol (“75%” is common) A pie chart
76 — a trombone
77 — a team of horses (the heads look like 77)
78 — Records came in 78, then 45 and 33
79 — a key (7 is the key, 9 is the keyhole)
80 — a pregnant woman. Breasts are 8 belly is zero
81 — the space shuttle. 1981 was the year of first launch.
82 — an atom (“These are 8 outer electrons and 2 inner ones. Atomizer spray bottle
83 — T3 as in Tylenol 3. So figure a pill
84 — a book (Orwell’s 1984)
85 — a microphone (Live Aid concerts 1985)
86 — to 86 something is to kick it tothe curb or get rid of it
87 — an Accordion
88 — a piano, because a piano has 88 keys
89 — a brick (from the Berlin Wall 1989)
90 — Square ruler
91 –Sitting in a bar at Night(nine), alone(one)
92 –Christopher Columbus 1492 discovered the new world
93 — a globe (Earth is 3rd of 9 planets)
94 — Sun by proximity
95 — a briefcase (working 9 to 5)
96 — a discus (first Olympics 1896) or a frisbee
97 — a CD
98 — a window
99 — Cloud 99 for some. Cloud 9.
I have the book. Too many images I could not explain. yOU MIGHT GET SOME IDEA FROM THIS.
08 is octopus or Hour glass. Use Bing instead of google to get new pictures
10 is a handshake
J Alexandre revision as of 7-21-2015
00 — hula hoop
01 — Magic wand
02 — bicycle
03 — 3-legged Stool, Tripod for camera
04 — car, four tires
05 — starfish or glove
06 — 6-shooter pistol
07 — A Boomerang
08 — Hourglass
09 — a cat — nine lives
10 — Prayer hands = 10 fingers
11 — goalposts (soccer/football)
12 — Dozen eggs box
13 — a witch
14 — Valentine ring
15 — Paycheck
16 — A lollipop ( sweet sixteen)
17 — a leaf/shamrock from St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th)
18 –-Voting booth
19 — Nighties(nightgown)
20 — A pack of cigarette
21 — Black Jack
22 — looks like 2 ducklings
23 — Psalm 23 in the Bible. Just picture a Bible.
24 — A big grand father clock or Big Ben
25 — a QUARTER
26 — Alphabet card has 26 letters
27 — a glock 27
28 — an owl — “tu-whit” sounds like “twenty eight”
29 — a frog — 29 days in a leap year
30 — thirty–>Thiry—>Fist of Fury (Forty with the T silent)Picture a fist
31 — To be on one’s 31 in French means to be dressed to the nines(Tuxedo)
32 — Denture
33 — Age of Christ. the LAMB of God
34 — The penitent THIEF next to him on the cross
35 — US presidents have to be at least 35 years old
36 — Twixt candy bar sounds like thiry six
37 — Eiffel Tower
38 — Arc de Triomphe in Paris by proximity
39 — a doorstep from “The 39 Steps” by John Buchan
40 — Forty, (Fory) Fist of Fury Picture a Fist
41 — Flip the bird. 4 fingers folded and the midle raised as one
42 — 42nd Street in Manhatan is Times square. Figure a big suare watch or an IPOD watch
43 — a baseball bat (World Series: 4 matches to 3)
44 — a sheet of music (4/4 meter). Two people square dancing
45 — a can of Colt 45, a can of beer
46 — a tennis ball (from a tennis score)
47 — Four door van
48 — a cello — 4 string on a 8-shaped body
49 — a American football — SF 49ers
50 — Half of a dollar bill
51 — Tight jeans. Try to Fit in one
52 — a deck of cards
53 — a joker (53rd card)
54 — a rocket (countdown: 5…4…3…..2….1…..0)
55 — Swastika
56 — a Rubik’s cube which has 56 squares
57 — Sputnik — the year that Sputnik went into space
58 — Could have had a V-8. V is 5
59 — Fifty nine … Feline…..Cougard
60 — a stop watch (60 seconds, 60 minutes)
61 — Kack sex with one
62 — Socks x 2= a pair of socks
63 — a chess pawn
64 — a chessboard, because there are 64 squares on the board
65 — Chinese checker
66 –- sis sis in french use rainbow
67 — God (6 days to make the world, 7th day resting)
68 — a guitar 6 cords and the 8 shape of thr body
69 — Ying yang medal
70 — hockey stick and puck
71 — an iron. The handle is a seven the body profiles as 1
72 — a bag of golf clubs (72 holes in a golf competition)
73 — a refrigerator (absolute zero is -273 degrees)
74 — Seventy four sounds like Semaphore
75 — A pie chart
76 — a trombone
77 — a team of horses (the heads look like 77)
78 — LP Records came in 78, then 45 and 33 rpm
79 — a key (7 is the key, 9 is the keyhole)
80 — a pregnant woman. Breasts are 8 belly is zero
81 — the space shuttle. 1981 was the year of first launch.
82 — an atom (“ 8 outer electrons and 2 inner ones. Atomizer spray bottle
83 — T3 as in Tylenol 3. So figure a pill
84 —
85 — a microphone (Live Aid concerts 1985)
86 — to 86 something is to kick it to the curb or get rid of it
87 — an Accordion
88 — a piano, because a piano has 88 keys
89 — a brick (from the Berlin Wall 1989)
90 — Square ruler
91 –Sitting in a bar at Night(nine), alone(one)
92 –Christopher Columbus 1492 discovered the new world
93 — a globe (Earth is 3rd of 9 planets)
94 —
95 — a briefcase (working 9 to 5)
96 —
97 —
98 — a window
99 — Cloud 99 for some. Cloud 9.
I have the book. Too many images I could not explain
Send me more suggestions for books related to memory techniques
See this page:
https://artofmemory.com/faq/what-are-the-best-memory-books-to-read-2779.html
Joel Alexandre revision as of 6-23-2018. I go over the list mentally as I walk 3 miles in the park.
00 — hula hoop.
01 — Magic wand.
02 — Bicycle.
03 — 3-legged Stool, Tripod for camera.
04 — Car, four tires.
05 — starfish or glove.
06 — 6-shooter pistol.
07 — A Boomerang.
08 — Hourglass.
09 — a cat — nine lives.
10 — Prayer hands = 10 fingers or handshake.
11 — goalposts (soccer/football.).
12 — Dozen eggs box.
13 — a Witch.
14 — Valentine ring.
15 — Paycheck.
16 — A lollipop ( sweet sixteen).
17 — a marijuana leaf has 7 pats and one stem.
18 –-Voting booth.
19 — Nighties(nightgown).
20 — A pack of cigarettes.
21 — Black Jack.
22 — looks like 2 ducklings.
23 — Psalm 23 in the Bible. Just picture a Bible.
24 — A big grand father clock or Big Ben.
25 — a QUARTER.
26 — Alphabet card has 26 letters.
27 — Axe execution. The kneeled victim looks like a 2. The axe looks like a 7.
28 — Eye glases.
29 — a frog — 29 days in a leap year.
30 — thirty–>Thiry—>Fist of Fury (Forty with the T silent)Picture a fist.
31 — To be on one’s 31 in French means to be dressed to the nines(Tuxedo)
32 — Denture.
33 — Age of Christ. the LAMB of God
34 — The penitent THIEF next to him on the cross
35 — US presidents have to be at least 35 years old.
36 — Twixt candy bar sounds like thiry six.
37 — Lotus position. The body forms the seven the crossed legs form the 3.
38 — Bikini. Breast are 8. Panty line is 3.
39 — a doorstep from “The 39 Steps” by John Buchan.
40 — Forty, (Fory) Fist of Fury Picture a Fist.
41 — a Fork.
42 — 4 sided IPOD watch with the 2 part bracelet.
43 — a Fortress.
44 — Two people square dancing.
45 — a can of Colt 45, a can of beer.
46 — a tennis ball (from a tennis score).
47 — Four door van.
48 — a cello — 4 string on a 8-shaped body.
49 — a American football — SF 49ers.
50 — Half of a dollar bill.
51 — A belt. the 4 sided buckle with the one tongue makes 5, the leather part
stands for 1.
52 — a Deck of cards.
53 — Joker (53rd card).
54 — a Rocket (countdown: 5…4…3…..2….1…..0).
55 — Swastika.
56 — a Rubik’s cube which has 56 squares.
57 — Heinz steak sauce.
58 — Could have had a V-8. V is 5
59 — Fifty nine … Feline…..Cougard
60 — a stop watch (60 seconds, 60 minutes)
61 — Car jack (sex with one)
62 — Socks x 2= a pair of socks
63 — Chess pawn
64 — Chessboard, because there are 64 squares on the board
65 — Chinese checker. 6 players each plating the other fives.
66 –- sis sis in french use rainbow
67 — God (6 days to make the world, 7th day resting). Picture a bearded old man.
68 — a guitar has 6 cords and the 8 shape of the body
69 — Ying yang medal
70 — Hockey stick and puck
71 — an iron. The handle is a seven the body profiles as 1.
72 — Seven-up can. a seven followed by 2 letters.
73 — Refrigerator (absolute zero is -273 degrees).
74 — Seventy four sounds like Semaphore.
75 — 3/4 of a Pizza.
76 — a Saxophone.
77 — a team of horses (the heads look like 77).
78 — Shellac LP Records came in 78 RPM, then followed by 45 and 33 rpm.
79 — a key (7 is the key, 9 is the keyhole)
80 — a pregnant woman. Breasts are 8 belly is zero
81 — Squat and dump. Bottom is the 8 plus 1 Straight turd.
82 — an atom (“ 8 outer electrons and 2 inner ones. Atomizer /spray bottle
83 — T3 as in Tylenol 3. So figure a pill.
84 —Ace of club. the bottom two balls are the eight. The single ball on top must
be a 4.
85 — Ate fire for a fire eater. a microphone. .
86 — to 86 something is to kick it to the curb or get rid of it.
87 — a hand held fan
88 — a piano, because a piano has 88 keys
89 — ETNA the volcano. Sounds like eighty nine
90 — Square ruler.
91 —Sitting in a bar at Night(nine), alone(one). Picture a barstool.
92 —Christopher Columbus 1492 discovered the new world
93 — Earth is 3rd of 9 planets.
94 —a Whistle. has the shape of a nine and has a 4 sided hole.
95 — a briefcase (working 9 to 5).
96 — a Bed. (Night of sex).
97 —A CD.
98 — a window 98 Computer logo.
99 — Cloud 99 for some. Cloud 9.
100__BlooD. The middle of the word look like 100.
Andy Bell
24, Large bell like at church, gold
19, a ¾ full glass of beer
07, A rainbow has 7 kolours
08, An Orange? Octopus-:)
09, A black cat
65, A green dinosaur
69, An astronaut
23, A palm tree
17, A green leaf 3 spread
05, A 5 leg star fish smiling
02, A blue bike
03, A yellow comb
45, A red rose
….
50 face/name cards both sides = 100
99 + 01 picture # cards
Koloured counters
Minipic cards on 2 sided check board
….
And so on…a few editsin e then *©Child’s Play 4 LAMB with two blue flowers and a blue neck warmer, no #
Similar artist perhaps?:Pam Adams