Importart Information
All Tales of Learning are sold as printed books, as experience with schools shows they are more likely to be read and used when presented in an attractive, convenient format; additionally, purchasing the full set and providing proof of purchase through our contact page grants a complimentary one-year digital account to enhance classroom use.
The Tales of Learning are exclusively sold on The Great British Bookshop, directly linked to the print-on-demand publisher Bookvault; orders are printed after purchase and shipped worldwide at competitive rates. Buy the full set to save on shipping—note that import taxes may apply as all books are printed and shipped from the UK.
Discover the Tales of Learning (Vol. 1-19)
The Tale of Memory’s Lost Arts (Vol. 1)
The Tale of Memory’s Lost Arts takes you on a journey through time, from a world where people relied on intricate memory techniques to preserve knowledge to the invention of the printing press, which made books accessible and reduced the need for memorization. It parallels our modern world, where technology like smartphones and the internet impacts our cognitive abilities. The story emphasizes the importance of balance: while technology brings progress, it is crucial to continue developing cognitive and social skills to grow stronger as individuals and as a society.
The Tale of The Ever-Changing Brain (Vol. 2)
The Tale of The Ever-Changing Brain explains how, for a long time, people believed their brains were unchangeable and fixed from birth. In the 20th century, this belief shifted as scientists discovered that the brain could adapt and grow—a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity. By learning new skills and adopting healthy habits, people can strengthen their brains, as seen in examples like London taxi drivers who expanded their memory regions through rigorous training. At the same time, the story highlights how neglecting the brain—through stress, isolation, or unhealthy habits—can lead to a loss of its functions. The message is that everyone has the power to shape their brain, yet this potential often remains a hidden secret in modern society. It is a call to action to nurture your brain and unlock its full potential actively.
The Tale of Growing Minds (Vol. 3)
The Tale of Growing Minds takes place in a world with two realms: the Realm of Fixed Thinking, where people believe their talents are unchangeable, and the Realm of Growth, where they discover that the brain can change through effort and learning. However, the path to a growth mindset is filled with challenges, such as the influence of school, social media, parents, and advertising, which often reinforce the belief in fixed abilities. The story shows how to create an environment that encourages growth and teaches children that mistakes are opportunities and everyone can continue to grow with effort and support.
The Tale of Forgotten Techniques (Vol. 4)
The Tale of Forgotten Techniques tells how people in ancient times used memory techniques to preserve knowledge. These techniques were forgotten after the invention of the printing press, and the belief that the brain is fixed took hold. Centuries later, scientists discovered that our brains can grow (neuroplasticity) and that a growth mindset—the belief that you can improve through effort—is essential. With this understanding, the value of ancient memory techniques was rediscovered. The story shows how an environment that embraces mistakes gives focused compliments and avoids labels helps you learn and grow.
The Tale of Educational Transformation (Vol. 5)
The Tale of Educational Transformation takes you back to when people believed that our brains were fixed and that you had to be born intelligent to succeed. Schools operated like businesses: everything revolved around competition, grades, and being the best. But modern discoveries, like the growth mindset, revealed that our brains can grow, that making mistakes helps, and that learning can be more innovative, not just more challenging. This new perspective on education shows that incredible results are possible with high expectations, support, and the right strategies. Benjamin Bloom’s research demonstrates that almost anyone can succeed in learning if given the time and guidance they need. The story inspires children and adults alike to believe in growth, stay curious, and embrace the joy of learning.
The Tale of Intelligence (Vol. 6)
The Tale of Intelligence explains that memory and intelligence are not fixed but trainable, like muscles. Using smart learning techniques and a growth mindset, you can learn faster, unlock your potential, and even improve your IQ. Alfred Binet, the creator of the IQ test, warned that his test was never meant to permanently label people. The story encourages you to combine ancient wisdom and modern science to grow and develop yourself.
The Tale of Mnemonic Magic (Vol. 7)
The Tale of Mnemonic Magic takes you to a world where the most popular way of learning—rote memorization (repeating until you remember)—isn’t always the best. While this method is time-consuming and often ineffective, students discover a new path: learning to learn better. This journey begins with reflecting on how your brain works (metacognition). Step by step, valuable insights are revealed: focus on one task at a time, work in a quiet place without distractions, understand what you learn instead of simply memorizing, read from paper for better focus, and take regular breaks. Even using procrastination strategically and working faster to find focus are surprising techniques. The story encourages you to make learning more enjoyable, innovative, and effective—not by working harder, but by working smarter.
The Tale of Swift Minds (Vol. 8)
The Tale of Swift Minds is about the discovery of speed reading, a skill that drastically speeds up the learning process by doubling your reading speed. It explains how speed reading increases the pace and enhances focus and concentration, much like the difference between walking and running. The story describes various techniques for reading faster, such as using a finger as a guide, avoiding subvocalization (silently pronouncing words in your head), and learning to read in larger word groups. It also highlights how regular practice changes your brain, making it quicker at processing and retaining information. While it takes time and practice, the brain adapts and strengthens, allowing you to read and learn more efficiently.
The Tale of Natural Learning (Vol. 9)
The Tale of Natural Learning is about learning new information smartly and efficiently. It explains how we are naturally good at learning through repetition and how we can enhance this ability with techniques like speed reading and spaced repetition. By reading faster and focusing first on understanding rather than memorizing, we can process information more quickly. Then, active recall and repeating at specific intervals help cement the knowledge deeply into our memory. The story uses the example of someone who completed their studies by applying these techniques without wasting much time, showing that learning can be both innovative and efficient.
The Tale of Memory Palaces (Vol. 10)
The Tale of Memory Palaces is about the ancient technique of memory palaces, discovered by Simonides of Ceos in ancient times. When he witnessed a tragedy where a building collapsed, he realized he could identify the victims by remembering where they had been sitting. This discovery led to the method of loci, a way of remembering information by linking it to specific locations. Later, the Roman orator Cicero popularized this technique. In modern education, the method of loci is used alongside techniques like speed reading and repetition to memorize information effectively. The story illustrates how this technique helps make complex information, such as facts about climate change, more straightforward to recall by linking it to visual images in a memory palace. It encourages creating memory palaces with classmates and using field trips to inspire new memory palaces.
The Tale of Sleepy Wisdom (Vol. 11)
The Tale of Sleepy Wisdom is about the hidden power of sleep for learning. It begins with the discovery of ancient sages who understood that sleep is essential for the health of our brains and enhancing our ability to learn. However, in the modern world, with the distractions of screens and constant pressure, sleep is often the first thing we sacrifice. The story explains how sleep, a growth mindset, physical activity, and proper nutrition form a crucial foundation for successful learning and personal development. It highlights the importance of adequate sleep for children and adults, showing how good rest helps regulate emotions, improve memory, and strengthen new knowledge.
The Tale of Processed Foods (Vol. 12)
The Tale of Processed Foods describes the evolution of food production and consumption, from ancient preservation methods such as drying and fermenting to the rise of the food industry during the Industrial Revolution. Due to overproduction and mass production, processed foods became popular, with increasing amounts of sugar, fat, and salt added to improve taste and make them addictive. This shift in eating habits led to the global spread of processed and fast foods, contributing to a health crisis, including obesity and heart disease. The impact of these foods on the brain and children's learning abilities is also discussed. The final section emphasises the importance of cooking to improve both physical and mental health, highlighting the value of preserving cooking skills and the benefits for the brain.
The Tale of Helpful Stress (Vol. 13)
The Tale of Helpful Stress is about how stress isn't always bad and how you can use it to boost your motivation and performance. It distinguishes between positive stress, eustress, and negative stress, distress. It explains how procrastination (putting things off) can be a way to build up eustress, helping you become more focused and motivated. The story discusses how stress follows a natural rhythm and how you can use this to handle pressure better. When stress overwhelms you, it's time to take action, plan your tasks, regain control, and reduce the stress.
The Tale of The Planning Cycle (Vol. 14)
The Tale of The Planning Cycle is about how, when you feel stressed or overwhelmed, you can regain control through planning. It explains how procrastination creates tension (eustress), which can be used to start planning. It emphasizes that planning without this energy is less effective. The story describes how speed reading, active recall, and spaced repetition can help organize your study or work more quickly and effectively. Ultimately, learning and planning are compared to creating a painting, where knowledge is built up layer by layer, forming a masterpiece.
The Tale of The Failure Cycle (Vol. 15)
The Tale of The Failure Cycle is about how failure can be a valuable opportunity to learn and improve. It explains that when you make a mistake or fail a test, you gain essential feedback that helps you refine your strategy and knowledge. It emphasizes that failure is not the end but a crucial moment for growth. The story uses the example of Franklin Roosevelt, who retook exams he had already passed to do even better, showing that you don’t need to start from scratch. Instead, you can strengthen existing knowledge by adding new layers, ultimately becoming better over time.
The Tale of The Hindsight Bias (Vol. 16)
The Tale of The Hindsight Bias discusses the challenges created by the hindsight bias. On this cognitive bias, we think something is predictable or evident after the fact, which can close our eyes to the actual difficulties of the learning process. It explains that creating summaries is often ineffective when you don't fully understand the material yet, as it can be time-consuming without yielding much result. Instead, it's better to use summaries made by others to grasp the essence of a topic quickly. The story also suggests that teachers could provide summaries and use memory techniques like memory palaces to make learning easier and more effective.
The Tale of The Magical Compliments (Vol. 17)
The Tale of The Magical Compliments follows a group of wise travellers on a road trip across Europe, where they discover the power of compliments and how they contribute to developing a growth mindset. In each country they visit, they learn a new lesson about how giving the right compliments – such as appreciating effort, perseverance, creativity, and collaboration – can encourage growth and learning. The memory palace they build during their journey symbolizes the power of positive words and the conscious choice to offer compliments that support a growth mindset. The story emphasizes the importance of giving thoughtful compliments that help others grow and help you succeed.
The Tale of Cosmic Failure (Vol. 18)
The Tale of Cosmic Failure takes you on a magical journey through our solar system, where you learn an important lesson from each planet about dealing with failure and developing a growth mindset. From the Moon to Pluto, you discover that making mistakes is normal and that perseverance, reflection, and collaboration are key to success. The Memory Palace guiding them through this journey helps them remember that every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow, empowering them to keep trying, even when things don’t go right the first time.
The Tale of The Mist of Judgment (Vol. 19)
In a school once filled with joy and curiosity, a dark mist called The Judgment creeps in. This mist causes children to be judged for their mistakes, labelling them in ways that limit their potential. They are closely monitored and evaluated based on how much they do rather than what they learn. Gradually, however, The Glow of Growth begins to shine through the mist. The children discover that making mistakes is part of learning and that their effort matters more than perfection. The fog fades, transforming the school into a place where learning is fun again, full of curiosity and opportunities to grow.