I first came across this book in the Primary School where I work as a Learning Support Assistant.
About the author
I am ashamed to say that I had never heard of this chap despite him being the worlds leading author on the brain and learning. Apparently he has lectured to people all over the world and has appeared on TV and radio globally too.
His methods can be adapted to suit the 5 year old just starting to learn in school to top business directors to first class graduate students. I liked the sound of this as surely something that could suit the very young and old could not be too difficult to master. He has provided a tool which can unlock the brain’s potential and strengthen our ability to remember things. I was immediately interested to know how to do this as someone whose memory could do with a bit of help.
His thinking tool “Mind Maps” has been described as the “Swiss Army Knife of the Brain”. This all sounded good to me. I wanted to join the estimated 3 billion plus people who have listened to or read his work.
The aims of the book
The book has eight main objectives and these are:
To help children remember things
To make clearer and better notes
To help children revise
To help children come up with ideas
To unlock imagination
To save time
To concentrate
And to master exams
What is the age range of the reader?
The book is aimed at the seven to fourteen age group however many of the examples given will fascinate teenagers
and adults and the techniques can easily be transferred to more ‘grown up’ subjects.
How is the book organised?
The book is organised into five chapters. Each chapter has been allocated a particular colour and this colour is then shown on the edge of all relevant pages relating to that topic in dual coloured bands e.g Mind Maps and school stuff (chapter three) is coloured purple and has two shades of purple a dark and a light shade. This makes it very easy to find the chapter you want and reinforces the books message (more about that later).
The book begins with a dedication to ‘kids everywhere: to their amazing minds and their boundless creativity.’ A contents page follows showing the five chapters which are as follows:
Chapter One: How to mind map
Chapter Two: What to do with mind maps
Chapter Three: Mind maps and school stuff
Chapter Four: How to ace exams
Chapter Five: Fun stuff
There is final section of writing called Mind Maps Forever and then a useful Resources page and comprehensive index.
Impression of text and layout
The front cover has a bold title which is made up of Capital Letters which have a different colour for each letter. This has the immediate effect of standing out and getting your attention. The book then claims to show you a ‘shortcut to success at school,’ this would probably catch the eye of a parent and encourage them to pick up the book for a further inspection. As you flick through the book certain words have been typed in red print. These words jump off the page as they stand out from the normal black and white text. They have been chosen as key words to remember.
The book is very easy to read. The text is large and clear. There are a variety of cartoon pictures which are brightly coloured and very child friendly on most of the pages. I really liked the way cartoons and jokes are sprinkled liberally throughout the book making it very child friendly and emphasising the fun side of learning. Indeed this work book really tries to appeal to the 7 to 14 year old age band and I think that it succeeds in doing this.
Contents
The author believes that our brain thinks and remembers in pictures and colours. This is why the pages are colour coded and the chapters have different colours. Colour is an aid to memory.
The book gives this example: If I asked you about your house you would probably have a picture in your mind of a house, with brick walls, doors and windows. You wouldn’t see a list of building materials etc.
Tony Buzan suggests that 99% of the worlds students take notes in the following way and I would have done the same:
Writing along lines
Writing in one colour ie blue or black ink
All the words blend into each other instead of certain words jumping out at you
Every page of notes looks the same
He makes the point that the left side of the brain would be the active side in the above activities. The left hand side of the brain deals with words, logic, sequences, lists, numbers, and analysis. However as illustrated by the house question we actually do a lot of our thinking using the right side of the brain. The right hand side of the brain deals with rhythm, imagination, colour, dimensions, awareness and daydreaming. Hence we think of a picture of a house when asked to describe it.
There are numerous examples throughout the book as to how his method can be used in the classroom. He begins by showing how to build up a very simple mind map. Using a blank sheet of paper you write the main subject in the centre of the page using a vivid colour. You then draw a branch which has a connection to the subject using a different coloured pencil. You add sub branches as you learn more information about your particular branch.
Eg If the main topic was The Sea the first branch might be coloured blue and have the words Fish. From this you might then have further branches with particular types of fish. The second branch from the main subject might be entitled Oceans and this might be coloured green. Further green branches might have the names of the oceans and yet more branches might give the locations of the various oceans.
As you build up a network of branches it is suggested that as well as using colouring pencils you should also draw very simple pictures. Any key words can be written in large letters to make them stand out and look important.
The act of changing a wad of information into a branched diagram helps to seal the information in the brain. The colours, the pictures, the enlarging of certain words all help to etch the information on the brain. Any subject is tackled in exactly the same way with the resulting web of branches drawn in the book.
Conclusion
I think that this is a wonderful method of learning for primary school children. It is a very ‘hands on’ activity which makes the whole process enjoyable and satisfying for the participant. I think that the whole concept is wonderfully simple which is easily understood by adults as well as children. It is clear that mind mapping can be adapted for use by adults in business and industry when they have to memorise many facts and figures.
My only criticism is that the book repeats the concept over and over again highlighting more and more examples of mind mapping for a variety of subjects. The subjects may change but the method of mind mapping stays the same. The book therefore becomes rather tedious as you see example after example of mind mapping at work in Geography, History, etc etc. For this reason I gave the book four stars.
As it is aimed at children there are plenty of illustrations and children’s jokes are liberally sprinkled throughout the book which does make the reading fun.
This learning technique can maximise your learning ability and help you to face situations with confidence such as exams, knowing that your memory won’t let you down. I recommend this particular book for children but as he has written at least 82 books it would be worth searching out one that is aimed at adult readers.
More information can be found at www.Thorsonelement.com. The book retails at £12.99. The ISBN number is 0-00-715133D. It can be found on the Amazon Uk website.
I shall be putting this technique to the test and trying to improve my memory which is definitely in need of help! Hope you’ve found this review helpful.
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22.04.2008 19:12
a really great review, we use mind mapping alot with our pupils and its very good. I haven't seen this book so will look out for it. thanks pixie65
05.01.2008 23:52
Great review
01.04.2005 18:48
hmmmm, wonder if it works on adults, i could use me one of these sarah xx