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 am not for sure how the one review gave this book 5 star. First off, the author has you do quizzes in which he does not lay the foundation for getting them right until later in the chapters. For example, quiz 1 is in the introduction and he talks about which one these books did Hester Prynne write, which author composed the Five Bird, etc but in the pages before the quiz, there is no foundation for the quiz. What's the point of them without a foundation?

What I found most upsetting about the book was most of his information is taken from other sources although he does not give credited to these sources. For example, the chapter on increase your reading this is the same stuff you find in reading books on how to increase your reading like programs such as Mega Reading. In the book this author talks about using a timer to time your reading speed, looked at groups of words instead on one word to increase your speed, don't re-read etc. Also, the chapter on improve your memory looked like it was taken right from Mega Memory. He talks about pegging, visualization, etc. The chapter on improve your writing is so basic it's not funny. He talks about brainstorming and outlining, keep your thoughts flowing in the beginning of the writing process etc. Again, this is stuff we learn in college. The point is, there is nothing new in the book and I am glad I found it at a used bookstore for $1.00.