How to Remember Anything: The Proven Total Memory Retention System (8 page)

THE NUMBER CODE

According to psychologists, the most difficult things to remember in our
daily lives are numbers. This is because numbers are abstract symbols for which we have no immediate visual images. Multiple-digit numbers further complicate the problem.

The average individual can recall no more than a seven-digit number after having heard it one time. I suppose this may have something to do with the fact that most local telephone numbers are only seven digits, and, therefore, that is about the longest number most people need to remember on a daily basis.

Since you remember incredibly well the things you see, we’ll change abstract numerical symbols into tangible visual pictures. This is achieved by first converting numbers into consonant letters of the alphabet, then into words.

Virtually every memory course uses the same system for remembering numbers. Without elaborating on the history of memory systems, I will simply tell you that this number-alphabetic character technique has been in use in various forms for hundreds of years. It is amazing to me, however, that virtually no one has used it in practical applications. From this point on, I will refer to this technique only as the Number Code. We’ll begin with the code in its simplest form, then expand it later.

There are only ten digits used as the basis for our numbering system (0 through 9). Only the consonant sounds from the alphabet are used in the code. The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and the half-vowels (h, w, y) have no number value. Notice that if we rearrange the sequence of the half-vowels (h, w, y) we can create the word
why.
This will make them easier to remember.

Here is the Number Code:

0 = s

1 = t

2=n

3 = m

4 = r

5 = l

6 = ch

7 = c (hard c, as in “coat”) or k

8=f

9 = p

You can use the Cube method to quickly learn and easily remember the Number Code. Just select a familiar room that you will call your Number Code room. Imagine yourself facing the front wall of your Number Code room.

I am going to ask you to see an object at each of the ten numbered locations in the Cube (zero through nine). Each object will be something people eat or drink. For the even numbers, 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 (ceiling, left wall, front wall, right wall, and back wall), I’ll give you foods people eat. For the odd numbers, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 (back left corner, front left corner, front right corner, back right corner, and the floor), I’ll give you beverages people drink. The first sound of each food or beverage is the sound of the code for its respective number.

0 = s

To learn and remember that the code for 0 is s, see spaghetti hanging all over the ceiling! The first sound in the word
spaghetti,
is s. The code for 0 is s.

1 = T

To remember that the code for 1 is t, see a gigantic cup of tea at location 1, the back left corner. The first sound in the word
tea,
is t. The code for 1 is t.

2 = N

To remember that the code for 2 is n, see noodles all over the left wall (location 2). The first sound in the word
noodles,
is n. The code for 2 is n.

3 = M

To remember that the code for 3 is m, see a gigantic carton of milk at location 3, the front left corner. The first sound in the word
milk,
is m. The code for 3 is m.

4 = R

To remember that the code for 4 is r, see a gigantic mound of rice at the front wall (location 4). The first sound in the word
rice,
is r. The code for 4 is r.

5 = L

To remember that the code for 5 is 1, see a gigantic pitcher of lemonade at location 5, the front right corner. The first sound in the word
lemonade,
is 1. The code for 5 is 1.

6 = CH

To remember that the code for 6 is ch, see a gigantic wedge of cheese at the right wall (location 6). The first sound in the word
cheese,
is ch. The code for 6 is ch.

7 = Hard C or K

To remember that the code for 7 is c (as in
coffee
), see a gigantic cup of coffee at location 7, the back right corner. The first sound in the word
coffee,
is c. The code for 7 is c.

8 = F

To remember that the code for 8 is f, see gigantic fruit at the back wall (location 8). The first sound in the word
fruit,
is f. The code for 6 is f.

9 = P

To remember that the code for 9 is p, see a gigantic bowl of punch at location 9, the floor. The first sound in the word
punch,
is p. The code for 9 is p.

Review

Please note that in practical applications, it is best to develop the habit of always pronouncing the sound, rather than the name of the consonant.

Cover the Code column. Look at each number and recall the code. Uncover to check. Then, cover the Number column. Look at each code and recall the number. Uncover to check.

You should practice this exercise until you can look at any number and immediately know its corresponding sound. Conversely, you should be able to look at any letter, say its sound, and know its corresponding number.

Please do not continue until you have mastered the above code.

Numbers can be changed to pictures (Code Words) using the Number Code. Let’s start with number 32. You already know that 3 is m and 2 is n. So think of the number 32 like this:

32

m-n

Remember, the vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and the letters w, h, y have no number value. Therefore, you can use as many vowels in a Code Word as you wish, but make sure not to use any more consonants than are represented by the number.

The number 32 could be changed to numerous Code Words:

Please note that double consonants always have a single sound because you hear only one sound in a double consonant. In changing numbers into Code Words, it is not how a word is spelled but how it sounds that counts.

It is important that the Code Word be an object. Just as an audionym must be an object you can see, the Code Word (the word you create from a number) must be a tangible object.

Here are more examples:

As you can see, there are many Code Words you could choose for a number. The rules for converting numbers into Code Words are:

1.
Numbers can be converted only to their assigned consonant sounds. The following letters have no number value:

a, e, i, o, u

h, w, y (as a memory aid, rearrange to “w, h, y”)

any silent consonant

2.
The Code Words must represent something tangible.

3.
Double consonants have a single consonant sound. Therefore, double consonants represent a single number.

4.
It is how the Code Word sounds and not how it is spelled that counts.

5.
Any number may be converted into more than one Code Word, but a Code Word can be converted only to a specific number.

For example, the number 35 can be converted to any of the following Code Words:

All of these Code Words can be converted
only
to the number 35:

The Code Word
n
ai
l
can be converted only to 25.
The Code Word
r
ai
n
can be converted only to 42.
The Code Word
t
ai
l
can be converted only to 15.
The Code Word
t
i
r
e can be converted only to 14.

Convert the following words to two-digit numbers (the answers follow):