How to Memorize All 46 US Presidents in Order: A Memory Champion's Story Method
Learn how Nelson Dallas, a four-time US memory champ, uses a vivid story method to memorize all 46 US presidents in order. Discover the bizarre and nonsensical events that represent each president in a mnemonic device.
Video Summary
Nelson Dallas, a four-time US memory champ, unveils his unique method for memorizing all 46 US presidents in order. Through the power of storytelling, Dallas weaves a vivid narrative that transforms the daunting task of memorization into an engaging adventure.
In Dallas's story, a washing machine symbolizes the first president, followed by apples representing the second president. A chef turned maid, a rowboat, a dam, and a burning van lead the way through the presidential lineup, each element serving as a memorable cue for the next leader of the nation.
As the story unfolds, a hairy sun, a dog, a filmer, and even President Lincoln himself make appearances, adding depth and personality to the mnemonic journey. A genie, Garfield, LeBron James, Mickey Mouse, and a truth-telling man with eyeballs in a shower round out the cast of characters, each linked to a specific president in a clever and imaginative way.
The narrative takes a whimsical turn as a group of people encounter a series of bizarre and nonsensical events. Space rockets, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, lemons, knickers, a Ford car with a ray gun, lint, a bomb, trumpets, and even biting each other all play a role in representing different U.S. presidents. This creative approach not only makes memorization fun and engaging but also taps into the power of visual and narrative memory to enhance retention.
By associating each president with a distinct and memorable element in the story, Dallas's method provides a powerful mnemonic device for recalling all 46 US presidents in order. Whether you're a history buff, a student preparing for a test, or simply looking to expand your knowledge, this innovative approach offers a fun and effective way to master the presidential lineup with ease.
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Keypoints
00:00:12
Introduction of the Speaker
Nelson Dallas, a four-time US memory champ, introduces himself and discusses the topic of memorizing all 46 US presidents in order using the story method.
00:00:24
Memorization Technique
The speaker explains the story method, which involves turning president names into funny pictures and weaving them into a memorable story to aid in retention.
00:01:20
Story Description
The story begins with a washing machine filled with green apples, a chef turning into a maid, and a river of water carrying the chef away.
00:02:00
Continuation of the Story
The story progresses with a boat rescue, a dam with a jackhammer, a burning van crashing into the river, and a hairy son inviting people into the van for shelter.
00:03:01
Unique Details in the Story
Specific details like a cool necktie worn by the hairy son, a dog's tail poking out of the dam, and a heroic rescue attempt add depth and complexity to the story.
00:03:57
Climactic Ending of the Story
The story concludes with the dam exploding, a cannon shooting out books, and a heroic rescue of a dog before the cannon fires.
00:04:06
President Lincoln's Wishes
President Lincoln, a well-known president, is granted three wishes by a genie while sitting on a john. His wishes include a haystack, Garfield the cat dressed as King Arthur, and meeting LeBron James in person, showcasing his admiration for the basketball player.
00:05:01
Unexpected Fan Encounter
A hairy man, a fan of LeBron James like President Lincoln, suddenly appears and enthusiastically hugs LeBron James, adding to the surreal nature of the story.
00:05:07
Mickey Mouse's Entrance
Mickey Mouse, dressed as a king with a rose-covered belt, unexpectedly joins the group, further enhancing the bizarre collection of characters in the story.
00:05:25
Rafting Adventure
The group builds a raft to escape the rising water after the dam explosion. The raft is equipped with Wilson tennis balls, a hard rock soundtrack, a fan for cool air, and even a vacuum for cleanliness, creating a unique and comfortable experience as they navigate down the river.
00:06:07
Encounter with Truth Man
The group encounters a man who always tells the truth and has the peculiar habit of removing his eyeballs to wash them in a nearby shower. His clean eyes witness a space rocket landing in a pile of PB and J sandwiches, leading to a comical cleanup involving knickers.
00:06:55
Ford Car Escape
The group discovers a Ford car with a ray gun on the riverbank, embarking on a wild drive that involves dodging obstacles like bushes, lint, and a bomb with a countdown. They narrowly avoid disaster, celebrating their survival with blaring trumpets before engaging in a playful biting interaction.
00:07:39
Presidential Associations
The story cleverly associates various objects and actions with different presidents, such as a washing machine representing Washington, Granny Smith apples symbolizing Adams, a chef embodying Jefferson, and a maid costume signifying Madison, providing a unique mnemonic device to remember the presidents.
00:08:09
Presidential Mnemonic Story
A mnemonic story was shared to remember all 46 U.S. presidents in order. The story includes visual cues like a man rowing a boat for Monroe, a dam for Quincy Adams, a jackhammer for Jackson, a van burning for Van Buren, a hairy son for Harrison, a tie for Tyler, a tail for Taylor, a filmer for Fillmore, a cannon shooting books for Pierce, Lincoln sitting on a john for Johnson, a genie granting wishes for Grant, a haystack for Hayes, Garfield dressed as King Arthur for Arthur, LeBron representing Cleveland, Mickey Mouse as McKinley, a rose-covered belt for Roosevelt, a raft for Taft, Wilson tennis balls for Wilson, hard rock music for Harding, a fan for Coolidge, a vacuum for Hoover, an overgrown rose thorn bush for another Roosevelt, a truth man for Truman, a space rocket for JFK, PB&Js with lemons for LBJ, oversized knickers for Nixon, a Ford car for Ford and Carter, a ray gun for Reagan, a bush for Bush, lint for Clinton, another bush for Bush Jr., a bomb for Obama, trumpets for Trump, and everyone fighting for Fighting.
00:10:41
Memorization Technique
The mnemonic story is a creative and engaging way to memorize information quickly. By associating each president with a specific visual cue, the story helps in recalling the presidents in order. The technique leverages visual and auditory cues to enhance memory retention and recall.
00:11:00
Memory Superpowers Book
The speaker mentions a book called 'Memory Superpowers' designed for kids, containing techniques to learn various subjects like presidents, periodic table, times tables, and foreign languages. The book features illustrations by Stephanie Stillwell, known for her captivating designs.