Memory is expensive from an evolutionary standpoint, so your brain is trying to forget as much as possible.[174]
You think about so many companies, products, and people. How do you keep so much in your head at once?
When I was a kid, I read a book on memory tricks, and have used them ever since. These tricks are powerful. You could memorize the position of all the cards in a random deck. I’ve used these tricks for quite a while. Your brain is just trying to save neurons, to conserve brain cells. You have to give it a reason to not forget.[58]
To remember something, you must assign meaning to it. You have to tell your brain why it is relevant. If you can say why something is relevant, you probably will remember it.
Your brain is constantly trying to forget as much as possible. It's hard to store memories, and most of the stuff we see and hear is not worth remembering. In order for your brain to remember something you have to establish relevance–you have to ask and answer, “Why?”[58]
Your brain remembers things that are different. If something is not unusual, why should your brain bother remembering it?[58] A strong involuntary emotional event triggers you to store a memory. You could try to generate an emotion to remember something, but the easier way is absurdity.
What are examples of these tricks?
Say you want to remember this bonus chapter. Imagine an elephant dressed in a tutu, dancing around the room, stealing your device, and dancing away. Visualize that strongly and you will remember this idea.[58]
It is also important to view knowledge as a semantic tree. Make sure you understand the fundamental principles (the trunk and big branches) before you get into the leaves (the details), then there is something for them to hang on to.[67]