Your Intelligence Makeover: An Easy Way to Learn All You Need to Know

This is a wonderful, fun, and powerful book, filled with great learning strategies and resources. Since getting it I have tripled my reading speed, improved my memory, and explored several subjects that I have been wanting to explore for years. I can't say enough about the positive effect this book is having on my life. It's like chocolate, you just want to keep going back for more. In the "Super Tools" section, the author lays out the instructions in an inviting, easy-to-follow format. He provides methods to increase reading speed and improve memory, and offers a practical guide to good writing. Though he taught writing at Harvard, he does not pretend that this section is a substitute for a course. He says it is meant to be a fundamental guide to writing well every time you write, no matter the kind of writing or its purpose. In the reading section, the concepts are accessible. The author seems to have gone to great lengths to keep it simple, not complicated, not confusing, but understandable, graspable - thank goodness. (Believe me, if I can triple my reading speed, anyone can.) In the memory section, there are dozens of great strategies for better memory in all tasks - from school, to work, to everyday tasks - from remembering names, dates, and long lists, to where you left your keys and where you parked the car. I wish I had had this info when I went to school, but it's still tremendously useful to me now. A nice portion of the book is devoted to resources for a dozen or so subject areas - like History, Literature, Music, Math, Science, Art, Sports, Gardening, etc. (Don't miss the math section where you can learn how to do math in your head faster than a calculator.) In each section, author provides introductory paragraphs with suggestions of books to read and web sites to visit, and then offers "starter" facts, essays (Don't miss the "Renaissance in a Nutshell" essay in the Art History section, and the "Crash Course in Early Empires" essay in the World History section.), book lists, categories of web sites, and other resources like museums and libraries. The idea is to go into each subject as little or as much as you like. (I'm having a ball reacquainting myself with familiar subjects like World History and Sports, and exploring new ones - like Art History. I've always wanted to know more about Art History, and after reading the Renaissance essay, I went to the web sites suggested in the intro, and found an enormous amount of info. Congrats to author for providing great sites and books -- fantastic.) I'm guessing that colleges and corporations are going to take to this book for the help, motivation, and inspiration it can offer. My suggestion: if there is one book you buy this year, this should be it. The subtitle says it all -- "an easy way to learn all you need to know".

I deluded myself for many years thinking that my intelligence was just as attractive as it was back in college. During those years of youthful hubris, I took for granted my taut verbal capacity, my long, flowing spatial ability, and especially my sculpted, well-defined reasoning and logic. I don't mind saying that I turned a few heads back then. Recently, however, I've noticed that people no longer notice me as they once did. I admit to being vain about my intelligence, and tried to cover up my sagging apperception and sallow comprehension with artificial coloring and witty but trite rejoinders, but people saw through my pathetic cosmetic concealments. Finally, I decided I needed a makeover, so I picked up and read "Your Intelligence Makover" by Dr. Doge. Now if anyone can give advice about making over ones intelligence, that person must be Dr. Doge. At an age when most people are beginning the approach to middle-aged complacency and decrepitude, Dr. Doge returned to school, completed undergraduate studies at Yale and earned a Harvard doctorate in education. I imagine the good doctor must now simply radiate healthy and youthful intelligence. Thanks to the exercises and advice Dr. Doge prescribes in his book, I have both firmed and toned my intelligence. I look in the mirror now and can see that I have regained the glow of youthful vigor, while adding the maturity of years to lend my intelligence an air of eminence grise. I am turning heads once more and feel like a million IQ points!