The Mental Skills for Becoming an Everyday Genius
Nelson Dellis, six-time USA memory champion, argues that genius isn't innate but consists of trainable mental skills including memory, focused reading, effective studying, and problem-solving. He provides practical techniques for developing these abilities and explores more esoteric topics like intuition and remote viewing.
Summary
Nelson Dellis returns to discuss his book 'Everyday Genius,' which challenges the notion that genius is an inborn trait. He defines genius as 'a trained relationship with your mind' combined with broad working knowledge, rather than an innate gift. Dellis emphasizes that memory forms the foundation of thinking well, arguing that memorization enables critical thinking by providing the raw material for mental processing.
Dellis explains his 'See, Link, Go' framework for memorization: visualizing information in memorable ways, linking it to spatial locations (like memory palaces), and choosing how long to retain it through practice. He advocates for focused reading over speed reading, emphasizing elimination of distractions and backtracking while using techniques like finger-guided reading.
For studying, he recommends active recall and spaced repetition over passive review and cramming. The book covers practical mental math techniques, including converting between imperial and metric measurements using simple multiplication and division tricks. Dellis discusses problem-solving frameworks used by geniuses, emphasizing first principles thinking, pattern recognition, and iterative experimentation.
The conversation ventures into more esoteric territory, including remote viewing protocols that Dellis has personally explored. He describes specific techniques for developing intuition, including dream journaling and meditation practices that many acclaimed geniuses have used to access creative insights.
About this episode
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 (https://amzn.to/4lEqqWp) . 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 (https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/manly-know-how/improve-your-memory/) • AoM Article: 10 Ways to Improve Your Memory (https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/manly-know-how/10-ways-improve-memory/) • AoM Article: How to Speed Read Like Theodore Roosevelt (https://www.artofmanliness.com/living/reading/how-to-speed-read-like-theodore-roosevelt/) • AoM Podcast #385: Learning How to Learn (https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/how-to/podcast-385-make-stick/) • AoM Article: Study Tactics of the Successful Gentleman Scholar (https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/knowledge-of-men/ace-your-exams-study-tactics-of-the-successful-gentleman-scholar/) • The CIA's remote viewing program (https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00791R000200180005-5.pdf) Connect With Nelson Dellis • Nelson's website (https://www.nelsondellis.com/#intro) • Nelson on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/NelsonDellis) Thanks to This Week’s Podcast Sponsor Incogni. (https://incogni.com/manliness) Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MANLINESS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/manliness
Key Insights
- Dellis defines genius as a trained relationship with your mind combined with broad working knowledge of the world, rather than an innate gift
- Memory is what makes us human according to Dellis, and losing memory through conditions like Alzheimer's demonstrates how fundamental it is to our identity
- Modern education's shift away from rote memorization toward critical thinking is flawed because you cannot learn to think without having information to think about
- Memory athletes don't claim to have natural photographic memory but instead use ancient techniques that anyone can learn through practice
- Learning should feel difficult at first, and if it feels easy you're probably not actually learning effectively
- Number sense is fundamentally a comfortable relationship with numbers that can be developed through practice and confidence building
- Problem-solving ability across geniuses comes from constantly practicing problem-solving and recognizing patterns from extensive exposure to similar challenges
- Remote viewing was used by military programs through the 70s, 80s, and 90s to gather intelligence, with psychics providing verified information while sitting in rooms with no prior knowledge of targets
Topics
Transcript
[0:01] Brett Mccay here and welcome to another edition of the AOM podcast which since 2008 has featured conversations with the world's best authors, thinkers, and leaders that glean their edifying lifeimproving insights without the fluff and filler. The AOM podcast is just one part of the McKay mission to help individuals practice timeless virtues through thought, word, and deed. Also, be sure to explore our articles and art of manlers.com. Read the deeper dives we do in our Substack newsletter at dyingbreed.net net and turn our content into real world action by joining the strenuous life program at strenuouslife.com. [0:31] Now on to the show. [music] We tend to think of genius as something you're born with, a rare…
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