The PEG System

In order for you to learn the method, you must first learn a simple phonetic alphabet.a simple phonetic
alphabet.
No need for dismayit consists of only ten sounds, and with my help, it shouldn't tae you more than ten
minutes to learn them. This will be the most worthwhile ten minutes you'!e e!er spent, since this phonetic
alphabet will e!entually help you to remember numbers, or numbers in con"unction with any thin# else, in
such a way that you ne!er would ha!e thou#ht possible.
I will #i!e you now, a different consonant sound for each of the di#its $, %, &, ', (, ), *, +, , and -. These you
must commit to memory. I'll mae this simple for you by #i!in# you a .memory aid. for rememberin# each
one. /ead them carefully and with your full attention.
The sound for 0$ will always beT or 1. The letter T has one downstroe.
The sound for 0 % will always beN. Typewritten N has two downstroes.
The sound for 0& will always be2. Typewritten 2 has three downstroes.
The sound for 0' will always be/. 3inal sound of the word, .four. is /.
The sound for 0( will always be4. /oman numeral for (- is 4.
The sound for 0) will always be5, ch, sh, soft #, etc. The letter 5 turned around is almost lie the number ).
657)8
The sound for 0* will always be9, hard c, hard #. The number * can be used to form a 9. :ne se!en
ri#htside up, and the other upside down. 6 .9 8
The sound for 0+ will always be3 or ;. <ritten f and fi#ure + both ha!e two loops, one abo!e the other.
6f7+8.
The sound for 0, will always beP or =. The number ,. turned around is P.
The sound for - 6>ero8 will always beS or ?. 3irst sound of the word, .>ero..
If you will attempt to picture the little memory aid that I ha!e #i!en with each one, you should remember
them easily. Please eep in mind that the letters are not important@ we are interested in the sound only. That's
why I call this a phonetic alphabet. <ith some of the di#its I'!e #i!en more than one letter, but the phonetic
sounds of these letters are the same, in each case. Aour lips, ton#ue and teeth are used in the same identical
way to sound P and =, or 3 and ;, or 5, sh, ch, etc. The sound of the letter G in the eBclamation, .#ee. would,
accordin# to the phonetic alphabet, represent 0), whereas the same letter in the word, .#o. would represent
0*. The letter C in the word .coat. represents 0*, the same letter in the word .cent. would represent >ero,
since it is pronounced with the s sound. The letters 9n in the word, .nee. or .nife. would stand for 0%,
because the 9 is silent. /emember then, it is the sound that's important, not the letter.
Now, loo this o!er onceD
$D T, 1 ) 5, sh, ch, #
% N * 9, c, #
& 2 + 3, !
' / , P, b
( 4 $- ?, s
Turn away from this pa#e and see if you remember the sounds from one to >ero. Test yourself on
rememberin# them out of order, too.
Aou should now them all by now. I could #i!e you one more aid for memori>in# these sounds, by tellin#
you to remember this nonsense phraseD TeN 2o/e 4oGiC 3i=S. This will help you to memori>e the sounds
in order from one to >ero. It is necessary, howe!er, to now them out of seEuenceso you shouldn't ha!e to
rely on the nonsense phrase too lon#the ori#inal memory aids that I #a!e you, should suffice.
This simple phonetic alphabet is of utmost importance, and the sounds should be practiced until they are
second nature to you. :nce they are, the rest of the Pe# system will be a cinch for you. Fere is a method of
practice to help you learn the sounds thorou#hlyD Gnytime you see a number, brea it down into sounds in
your mind. 3or eBample, you mi#ht see the number &*') on a license plate@ you should be able to read it as
m, , r, ". Aou mi#ht see an address +(7%,, and be able to read it as fl7np.
Aou can loo at any word and practice breain# it down into numbers. The word .motor. would be &$'. The
word .paper. is ,,', and .ci#arette. would brea down to -*'$. 6The double tt is the same sound as a sin#le
t, therefore it represents 0$, not 0$$.8
None of the !owels, a e i o or u ha!e any meanin# at all in the phonetic alphabet@ neither do the letters w, h
or y. 6/emember the word, .why.8.
=efore #oin# any further, complete the followin# eBercises.
The first column of words should be chan#ed to numbers, and the second column of numbers must be broen
into sounds.
climbHHHHH )$%' HHHHH
butler HHHHHH +,-& HHHHH
chandelier HHHHHH %&,' HHHHH
soundsHHHHHH -()*HHHHH
bracelet HHHHHH $$-, HHHHH
hypnoti>e HHHHHH +&*'HHHHH
Aou are ready now to learn some of those .pe#s. I mentioned.
I would su##est howe!er, that you now the sounds thorou#hly before you #o on to the pe#s themsel!es.
Gll ri#ht, since we now now a certain phonetic sound for all the di#its from one to >ero, you can see that we
can mae up a word for any number, no matter how many di#its it contains. 3or eBample, if we wanted to
mae up a word for 0%$, we could use any of the followin#D
net, nut, not, #nat, nod, neat, note, nit, etc., because they all be#in with the n sound 60%8 and end with the t
or d sound 60$8.
3or 0$' we could use tear, tire, tore, door, tier, deer, dire, dray, tree, etc., because they all be#in with
the t or d sound for 0$, and end with the r sound for 0'.
/emember that we are interested in the consonant sounds only.
1o you #et the idea of how I formed those wordsI If you do, then I can #o ahead and #i!e you the first few
.pe#s.. Each one of the pe# words that I will #i!e you has been specially chosen because it is comparati!ely
easy to picture in your mind, and that is important.
Since the number $ contains only one di#it, and that one di#it is represented by the t or d sound, we must use
a word that contains only that one consonant sound. So, we will use the word, .TIE.. 3rom here on in, the
word, .tie. will always represent the number $ to you.
Gs I said, it is important to be able to picture these ob"ects, so I will #i!e eBplanations of all those where I
thin an eBplanation is necessary.
The word, .N:GF. will always represent 0%. Picture an old, white haired man on an ar.
The word, .2G. will always mean 0&. Fere I su##est that you always picture your own mother.
The word, ./AE. will always represent the number '. Aou can picture either a bottle of /ye whisey or a
loaf of rye bread. :nce you decide on a particular mind picture for this, or for any of the pe#s, use that
particular picture always. Aou can see how I arri!e at these words. They all ha!e only one consonant sound,
and that one sound is the one representin# the di#it of the number.
The word, .4G<. will always represent 0(. The word .law. itself, cannot be pictured@ I su##est that you
picture any policeman, in uniform, because they represent the law.
Number ) is the word .SF:E.. Number * is the word .C:<.. Number + is the word, .I;A.. 3or this one,
you can picture either Poison I!y, or i!y #rowin# all o!er the sides of a house. Number , is the word, .=EE..
Number $- has two di#its, the di#it $ and a >ero. The pe# word for 0$- therefore must be made up of a t or d
sound and an s or > sound, in that order. <e'll use the word, .T:ES. picture your own toes.
:rdinarily it would be a little difficult to remember ten completely unassociated words as I ha!e "ust #i!en
you.
Since the pe# word for any number must contain certain sounds only, you'll find that it is easy. Gs a matter of
fact, if you ha!e read the ten words once, with a little concentration, you probably already now them. Try itJ
<hen you say the number to yourself, thin of its sound first, then try to remember the pe# word. Test
yourself in and out of order. Aou should now that 0 & is .ma,. without repeatin#, .tie,. .Noah,. maJ
To show you how fantastic your memory can be with my little memory aids, you can do this until the words
become second nature to you@ If you come to a number, and you thin you can't remember its pe#thin of
the sound for that number, and say any words that come to your mind, startin# with, and containin# that
particular consonant sound only. <hen you say the ri#ht one, it will sort of .rin# a bell. in your mind, and
you'll now that that's the ri#ht one. 3or instance, if you couldn't thin of the pe# word for 0$, you mi#ht say
to yourself, .toy, tow, tea, tie.@ as soon as you say .tie,. you'll now that that is the correct word.
Aou can see, now, what I'!e done. I ha!e built you up slowly with each item. 3irst I #a!e you an aid to
remember the phonetic sounds, now those sounds are your aid to remember the !ery important pe# words@
and the pe# words will help you to remember anythin# where numbers are in!ol!ed, so mae sure you now
them well.
$. tie ). shoe
%. Noah *. cow
&. ma +. i!y
'. rye ,. bee
(. law $-. toes
Now, if you. feel that you now the first ten pe# words thorou#hly, I'll show you how to use them for
rememberin# ob"ects in and out of order. I'll #i!e you ten ob"ects, out of seEuence, and pro!e to you that you
can remember them after readin# them only onceJ
,purse ( typewriter
)ci#arette % T; set
'ashtray + wrist watch
*salt7shaer $ fountain pen
&lamp $- telephone
The first one listed is 0,purse. Gll you ha!e to do is to mae a ridiculous andKor illo#ical association of the
pe# word for 0,, which is .bee,. and purse. If you ha!e reali>ed the importance of actually .seein#. these
ridiculous associations in your mind, you'll ha!e no trouble. 3or this first one, you mi#ht see yourself
openin# a purse and a swarm of bees fly out of it, stin#in# you. 5ust .see. the picture for a moment, then #o
to the neBt one.
0)6shoe8ci#arette. Aou can see yourself smoin# a shoe instead of a ci#arette, see millions of ci#arettes
fallin# out of a shoe, or you can see yourself wearin# #i#antic ci#arettes instead of shoes.
0'6rye8ashtray. Aou mi#ht see yourself droppin# ashes into a scooped out loaf of rye bread instead of an
ashtray, or, you're butterin# an ashtray instead of a slice of rye bread.
I am #i!in# you one or more ways that each ob"ect can be associated ridiculously with its pe# word. Aou are
to use only one of these pictures for each one. Lse one that I #i!e, or one that you thin of yourself. The first
illo#ical picture that comes to mind is usually the best one to use, because that is the one that will come to
mind later on. I'll help you with all ten of them, since it is the first time you are attemptin# this method@ but
after this you should be able to do it without my help.
0*6cow87salt7shaer. Picture yourself milin# a cow, but the cow has salt7shaers instead of udders. :r, see
saltshaers comin# out instead of mil.
0&6ma8 7lamp. Aou can picture your mother wearin# a #i#antic lamp for a hat. See the lamp #oin# on and off.
6Gction7 /ule 0%.8
0( 6law8 7typewriter. Aou mi#ht .see. a policeman puttin# handcuffs on a typewriter, or you can see a
typewriter walin# the beat, swin#in# a club, lie a cop.
0a 6Noah8 7Tele!ision set. Aou mi#ht picture Noah sailin# on a tele!ision set instead of an ar.
0+6i!y87wrist watch. Aou can see millions of wrist watches #rowin# all o!er the side of your house, instead
of i!y@ or, you can see yourself wearin# i!y on your wrist instead of a watch.
0 $ 6tie87fountain pen. Picture yourself wearin# a #i#antic fountain pen instead of a tie, or you mi#ht see
yourself writin# with your tie, instead of a fountain pen.
0 $- 6toes8 7telephone. See yourself dialin# with your toes, or, you pic up the telephone, but it turns out that
you're holdin# your toes. 6Probably talin# to a heel.8
Now7tae a piece of paper, number it from one to ten, and try to fill in the ob"ects in order, without looin# at
the boo. <hen you come to 0$, "ust picture your pe# word, tie, and them ridiculous picture of you wearin#
a fountain pen instead of a tie will come bac to you immediately.
So you now that 0 $ is fountain pen. <hen you picture Noah, you will see him on a tele!ision set instead of
an ar@ so you now that 0 % is tele!ision set.
Aou will remember them all Euite easily. The wonderful part about it, is that you also now them out of
seEuence. Aou can see, of course, that it maes no difference. Aou can also call them off bacwards7"ust thin
of the pe# word for 0 $- 6toes8 and wor up to .tie..
Aou should now be thorou#hly ama>ed at your own ability.
=ut waitJ <hy not memori>e twenty7fi!e ob"ects instead of only tenI <ell, at the end of this chapter you will
find the pe# words for numbers $$ throu#h to %(. Please learn those "ust as you learned the first ten. <hen
you now them perfectly, try this on your friends. Fa!e them number a sheet of paper from one to twenty or
twenty7fi!e, or as many as you wish to show off with.
Then ha!e him call out any of those numbers, hapha>ardly, and then name any tan#ible ob"ect. Gs him to
write that ob"ect alon#side the number called. Fa!e him do that until e!ery number has an ob"ect neBt to it.
Now call them ri#ht bac to him from 0 $ ri#ht down to the last one. Then ha!e him call any number, and
you immediately #i!e him the ob"ect, or ha!e him call any ob"ect and you tell him what number it isJJ
1on't let that last part throw you, there is nothin# to it. If I was to as you now what number salt7shaer was,
you would .see. the ridiculous picture of a cow with saltshaers instead of udders. Since .cow. is the pe# for
0*, then you now that salt7shaer was 0*.
<atch the loo of astonishment on your pal's face when you're throu#hJ
Please do not #o on to the neBt chapter until you are sure that you now all the pe# words from $ to %(.
$$. tot $(. towel $,. tub %&. name
$%. tin $). dish %-. nose %'. Nero
$&. tomb $*. tac %$. net %(. nail
$'. tire $+. do!e %%. nun
3or .tot,. it is best to picture a child that you now.
3or 0$%, you can see the ob"ect called, made out of .tin..
3or .tomb,. picture a #ra!estone.
3or 0%-, you can see the ob"ect called, on your face in place of your .nose..
3or .net,. you can use either a fishin# net, a hair net, or a tennis net.
3or 0%&, you can see the ob"ect you wish to remember formin# your .name.. 3or instance, if the ob"ect were
ci#arette, you would picture your own name printed out !ery lar#e with ci#arettes. If you don't care for that
idea, you mi#ht picture one of your business cards for .name,. or any other possession that has your name on
it. <hate!er you decide on, you must use it all the time.
3or .Nero,. I always picture a man playin# a fiddle.
/emember, please, that once you decide on a particular picture for any of the pe# words, you are to use that
picture all the time.
If you now the pe#s from $ to %( thorou#hly, 6and I su##est that you #o no further until you do8, and if you
feel confident, 6or e!en if you don't8 why not tae test #2 in Chapter 0& once a#ain. Try it, and then compare
your present score with the ori#inal oneJ