The Art of Memory

Well, almost lost. I was taught to memorize legal arguments by placing memory images in the various rooms of my house. I don’t think many lawyers know this technique, but the Ars Memorativa are as effective today as ever, and for more than your next big closing argument. Yates’ classic gives the history of the technique, its connection with Renaissance occultism, with particular emphasis on Elizabethan culture. Today, search engines have made our memory flabby. Perhaps someday the Art of Memory will once again be put to good use. It will seem as magical as it ever was.

This edition is INCOMPLETE. The fascinating schematic diagram of Guilio Camillo's memory theatre, compiled and drawn by Dame Frances Yates' sister, and mentioned by her in the preface, which follows page 144 of the printed edition, is missing. No mention is made of this being an edited or abridged edition.The mangling of texts, particularly poetry, in e-publications must stop. The publisher should correct the edition or label it as abridged, or offer a PDF of the diagram at least.I do not have the heart to give this book less than 5 stars, but the edition deserves censure.Anyone who may lament that this book "devolves" into a discussion of Renaissance occultism should note that the latter was actually Dame Yates' FIELD. Frances Yates was instrumental in opening the field of Renaissance esotericism, which was not a matter of superstitious nonsense, but rather largely a matter of attempting to reintegrate the major works of the Platonic tradition, which had been lost to Europe for a thousand years, into western discourse. Without an awareness of this material, you cannot appreciate huge chunks of Spenser, Shakespeare, Albrecht Durer, Botticelli, the Romantic poets, Emerson, William Butler Yeats, to present a short list.

Was a good book. I don't remember much about it though....

This is a great book on the subject and I would recommend to anyone curious. It’s a “dense” subject but very clear and concise author who did a great job

Why is there no reference to Walter Ong, S.J.,one of the leading scholars of the 20th century on this subject?

This is a scholarly review of available writings on memory methods. Don't bother buying just for the memory techniques; while they are somewhat adequately covered, this book is about the writings.I enjoyed the peek into the social uses of memory techniques through the centuries, and how they got entangled with religion and politics.

This fascinating text provides an eye-opening account of ancient Roman and Greek mnemonic devices. Reading this book will change your next visit to the ancient monuments of Europe.

i'm trying to remember.....format is a bit clunky, and graphics/illustrations well nigh worthless, but readable nevertheless

Yates has written here probably the most comprehensive book on memory techniques that has ever existed, taking us right through from Ancient Greece to the dawn of the Enlightenment. The section on Giordano Bruno's contribution is quite simply brilliant. Yates shows both the types of techniques and their moral significance, plus some surprising insights into William Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre. Her understanding of Hermetic techniques is rooted in the beliefs of her time, which sees them as Greek rather than Egyptian. Modern Egyptology has demonstrated that the Hermetic tradition is deeply rooted in Ancient Egypt. For more information I recommend The Hermetica: The Lost Wisdom of the Pharaohs and Egyptian Cosmology: The ABSOLUTE Harmony: The Animated Universe. The Hermetic tradition was dependent on a personal transcendental ecstatic experience. To understand what drove Bruno on, and to have knowledge of the inner structure of Hermetic doctrine, I recommend Divine Magic: HH Classics - Pythagoras: The Seven Sacred Secrets of Manifestation (Hay House Classics)

Incredible book. Particularly on building a memory palace and the ancient ways of doing so. Delivered to my door in two days.

Novamente não estou satisfeito com o livro entregue, encontra leves amassos nas pontas, o que é tolerável e até normal, mas as páginas chegaram bem sujas.

This version of the book is of so poor quality, that I would recommend buying another version.Pages are falling out of mine, after one readthrough, the folder that came with the original print is copied down to one completely unreadable page, etc.Consider another version. You must read this book.

excellent book