In a time when Alzheimer’s is considered an epidemic, it’s no surprise that a book about memory fascinates people. After covering the U.S.A. Memory Championship, journalist Joshua Foer became so enamored of his subject that he spent a year working with a memory coach. He won the next event and wrote a book about the experience, with the memorable title Moonwalking with Einstein. It is drawing holds; one large library system shows 215 on 15 copies.

In the NYT yesterday, Michiko Kakutani practically sputters well-known comparisons in her review,

…Joshua Foer tackles the subject of memory the way George Plimpton tackled pro football and boxing…[his book] has a lot in common with Malcolm Gladwell’s best sellers…His narrative is smart and funny and, like the work of Dr. Oliver Sacks, it’s informed by a humanism that enables its author to place the mysteries of the brain within a larger philosophical and cultural context.

The author appeared on Comedy Central’s Colbert Report last night.

And, yes, he is the younger brother of Jonathan Safran Foer.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 at 10:00 am and is filed under 2011/12 - Winter/Spring, Nonfiction. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.