The Mental Skills for Becoming an Everyday Genius

We tend to think of genius as something you’re born with — a rare trait possessed by the Einsteins and Teslas of the world. But what if many of the abilities we associate with genius — a great memory, quick problem-solving, mental math, creative insight — are actually trainable skills?

My guest today says that’s exactly the case. His name is Nelson Dellis, and he's a six-time USA Memory Champion and the author of the book Everyday Genius.

In our conversation, Nelson explains why memory is the foundation of thinking well and why having information stored in your head still matters in the age of ChatGPT. He shares a practical technique for improving your memory, how to read with greater focus and retention, and how to study to actually make information stick. We then talk about the importance of developing “number sense” and how to convert imperial measurements to metric in your head, strategies for solving problems more effectively, and even how to gain an edge in the games of Monopoly and Connect Four. At the end of the conversation, we get into more esoteric territory, including intuition, dreams, and the idea of remote viewing.

Resources Related to the Podcast

• Nelson's previous appearance on the AoM podcast: Episode #546 — How to Get a Memory Like a Steel Trap
• AoM Article: 10 Ways to Improve Your Memory
• AoM Article: How to Speed Read Like Theodore Roosevelt
• AoM Podcast #385: Learning How to Learn
• AoM Article: Study Tactics of the Successful Gentleman Scholar
• The CIA's remote viewing program

Connect With Nelson Dellis

• Nelson's website
• Nelson on YouTube

Thanks to This Week’s Podcast Sponsor

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0:00 - Introduction

0:41 - What Is "Everyday Genius"? Nelson's Background

3:47 - How Did Nelson Get Into Memory Competitions?

7:34 - Memory as the Foundation of Genius

14:22 - The SEE, LINK, GO Memory Framework

22:53 - How to Actually Apply the Memory Palace

26:10 - Focused Reading: How to Read Faster & Retain More

35:15 - How to Study Effectively (Active Recall & Spaced Repetition)

27:05 - Mental Math & Number Sense

31:19 - Converting Imperial to Metric in Your Head

35:45 - Problem-Solving Like a Genius

43:20 - Remote Viewing, Intuition & Dream Journaling

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