Tony Buzan

Buzan popularised the idea of mental literacy, radiant thinkingTemplate:What, and a technique called mind mapping,<ref>Mind Mapping, Developing your ideas, Information Skills for Researchers</ref> inspired by techniques used by Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, and Joseph D. Novak's "concept mapping" techniques.<ref name="Corcoran">Corcoran, Leonie (2015) "How Tony Buzan used mind maps to doodle his way to millions", Irish Times, 1 June 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2018</ref>

Early life

Buzan was born in Palmers Green, Enfield, Middlesex, and was an alumnus of Kitsilano Secondary School in Vancouver. His brother is the academic Barry Buzan. Buzan completed his undergraduate studies in psychology, English, mathematics and science at the University of British Columbia,<ref name="Corcoran" /> and was a charter student at Simon Fraser University in 1965–66 where he spent a year as a graduate student and the inaugural president of the Simon Fraser Student Society.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During his time at SFU, Buzan became very involved in Mensa, going on to become editor of the International Journal of Mensa.<ref name="Corcoran" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He was a promoter of mnemonic systems and mind mapping techniques. He launched his own software programme to support mind mapping called iMindMap in December 2006 with Welsh entrepreneur, Chris Griffiths. The Buzan Organisation holds trademarks on the phrase "Mind Maps" in the context of self-improvement educational courses in the UK,<ref>Template:UK trademark, UK</ref> the USA<ref>http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4801:4qhaee.2.17 Mind Maps Trademark, USA</ref> and Germany.<ref>https://register.dpma.de/DPMAregister/marke/register/2015931/DE Mind Maps Trademark, Germany</ref> The trademark does not appear in the records of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Following his 1970s series Use Your Head for the BBC,<ref name="Saeed">Saeed, Saeed (2013) "Tony Buzan on how 'the brain works on images'", The National, 12 March 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2018</ref> many of his ideas were set down in a series of five books: Use Your Memory,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Master Your Memory, Use Your Head, The Speed Reading Book and The Mind Map Book. He was author or co-author of more than 80 books altogether.<ref name="Lantin">Lantin, Barbara (2000) "Simple - it's all in the mind", Daily Telegraph, 24 October 2000. Retrieved 30 November 2018</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His five BBC books had, by 2003, sold over 3 million copies.<ref>"Internationally renowned best-selling author of mind- and memory- improvement books, Inventor of Mind Map®" (press release), BBC, 4 March 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2018</ref>

As a popular psychology author, Tony Buzan wrote on subjects relating to the brain, "genius quotient (GQ)", spiritual intelligence, memory, creativity and speed reading. He was the founder and President of the Brain Foundation (not to be confused with various medical-related bodies with the same name) and also the Brain Trust Charity, the World Memory Championships<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the World Championships of the Brain. He was a co-founder of London's Mind Body Spirit Festival as well as the Mind Sports Olympiad,<ref>About WMSC, World Memory Sports Council</ref> and World Brain Day.<ref name="Lantin" />

He died aged 76 at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford of a heart attack.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>