Hi,
I am wondering if there are any compiled lists of things to memorise. Like the names of Shakespeare’so plays, or famous writers or artists
There is an entire category on this forum called Memory Challenges or use the search function to find posts like this:
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I have been wondering about this too! I have a few memory palaces ready but I don’t know what to fill them with!
In addition to the Memory Challenges section of this forum, Wikipedia also has a list of lists page that might offer some ideas.
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May I , as a noobish newcomer here, sound a note of caution? I may not know much about mnemonics, however i do know a little about online information. I would suggest that even lists from reputable online sources first be checked thoroughly before committing them to memory…if only for typos. Especially any lists with dates attached.
And that’s before we start talking about how lists are seldom ‘neutral’.
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Assuming you’re seeking such a list for your own memorization, I’ll suggest that, when possible, it’s ideal if the information you’re memorizing is actually meaningful or useful for you. That way, you’ll be encouraged to review the material regularly, use it in daily life, etc. Otherwise, you end up just being a Trivial Pursuit expert. (Although there’s nothing wrong with that! In fact, memorizing a deck of Trivial Pursuit cards/answers is a great challenge.)
As a music lover, I’m in the early stages of memorizing all of the #1 Billboard Hot 100 songs from 1960 to 2000. As a hobby, my wife runs an Etsy business, so I’ve decided I’d try to memorize all of her customer names/addresses (which helps me talk about her business with her). As an American, I wanted to memorize all of the US presidents. Then I memorized all of the UN-recognized countries of the world, in population order, so I’d just be more aware of the world I live in. And then there’s family birthdays, all the Best Picture winners, etc.
I think if you take a moment to consider all of your own interests and needs, you won’t have any trouble coming up with your own lists—in addition to all of the “standard” lists you’ll be directed to.
Bob
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I was thinking more about books 
In these days of instant self publishing, even books are no longer the safe bet they once were- if you were talking about books of lists not lists of books. Recently i had cause to email the author of a self published textbook about a series of small but *serious * mistakes. He, the author, a charming and delightful man and expert in his field, admitted openly that he hadn’t spent the time proof reading as he should have.
Hmm. Well, reputable authors like Tony Buzan or Dominic O’brien seem like a safer better. Also older books archived online seem good too. That is what I’m really trying to find.
They weren’t really safe bets before either, but that’s not my point… point is, the publishing house is always mentioned, so you know when you get something self-published. Not like it’s a conspiracy…
I know I recommend this book a lot here, but I’d suggest checking out Ed Cooke’s Remember, Remember, which presents his highly imaginative (and often hilarious) memory journeys for memorizing the US Presidents, Shakespeare plays, kings and queens of England…and maybe one other list. (Sorry. Too lazy to pull it up to check…)
While Ed’s lists are especially useful/meaningful for Brits/Americans (but probably of little-to-no importance for most others), his approach to creating memory journeys will be inspiring and informative for anyone who wants to use memory techniques, no matter how long you’ve been doing it. I think he’s brilliant.
Bob
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Can I get it for free online
No, you cannot. (At least, I hope you can’t. It would be illegal.)
But you also shouldn’t be able to get a Tony Buzan or Dominic O’Brien book online for free either. If you can, it’s been stolen. Under US copyright law, a book does not enter the public domain (eligible for “free” distribution) until 75 years after the death of the copyright holder…and that’s assuming the copyright hasn’t been renewed by the author’s estate.
Sorry… As a full-time freelance writer myself, I get a little touchy when people assume books should be free and authors don’t need to pay their bills…
Bob
I can. I have a copy of it on my computer right now 
Then…why ask the question?
If you didn’t pay for the digital copy you possess, then it’s stolen. And if that’s the case, I’m sorry I recommended it to you. Because it’s worth far more than the $10 digital price.
Bob
Under US copyright law, a book does not enter the public domain (eligible for “free” distribution) until 75 years after the death of the copyright holder…and that’s assuming the copyright hasn’t been renewed by the author’s estate.
What about if you aren’t subject to US law. Say if you are in another country.
I mentioned US copyright law, because a) I know it, and b) most other countries take a similar approach. But just because you may live in a place not subject to US copyright law, that doesn’t mean your country has no copyright law. And it certainly doesn’t mean that a copyright-protected work is suddenly legally free to everyone else in the world!
Read the copyright notice in your copy of the book for yourself, if the digitizers were stupid enough to include it. (And, for the record, Remember, Remember was first published in England, so it was originally copyrighted there.)
I’m sure I’m sounding like the copyright police. Sorry. But I doubt you would walk into your local bookstore and slip a copy of this book under your coat and leave without paying. Yet, that’s exactly what is happening when books are illegally digitized and distributed. If you want the book, buy the book.
Bob
Penguin Books is European. I think that the Berne Convention protects copyright in countries that have signed the agreement. (177 countries)
True. But if I walked into a shop and tried to take a book, there is a very high chance of being caught. Online, there is a very low chance.
Wow.