What is your idea of earthly paradise?

A world in which everybody is aware of the potential of their mental and physical abilities. In other words they know about their extraordinary potential, about the magnificence of their mind, what a miracle their body is and what an incredible gift they have. And they use that for their own personal self development and to help others.

What is your idea of living hell?

A planet where every mind, body and spirit is undernourished and starving. Whenever you want to see misery look at someone who doesn't know how to learn, who can't remember or who can't think. Look at someone who is physically starving or spiritually bereft and alone, then you have got hell.

Under what circumstances do you lie?

When I believe it is more important to give hope than to tell the truth. I wouldn't lie in the sense of manip-ulating reality, but to give someone energy to help them survive.

What is your most endearing feature?

The fact that I am still like a child. Playful, mischievous, delinquent, questioning, innocent, searching

and hopeful.

What is your most annoying habit?

Persistence. I doggedly keep on pursuing my goal.

Which historical figure do you most admire?

Leonardo da Vinci. Of all the people in the last 1,000 years he was the one who demonstrated that the human brain has an infinite capacity. He was one of the first people to use

his left and right brain skills in conjunction. He was also a great

wit and humourist.

Which living person do you most identify with?

Nelson Mandela for his extraordinary ability to withstand isolation, pain and imprisonment. The Dalai Lama for his constant fight for the truth.

What have you loved and lost?

Nothing. I was thinking of my father but now I have thought about it in more detail I realise he is on many levels still with me and I have not lost him at all. I haven't lost my youth. I have become more youthful and much less conservative now.

Who or what is the love of your life?

The human race. It is my passion, my commitment, my joy and not only is it the love of my life, I live for it. The human race is the most remarkable, lovable, astonishing

and amazing group of beings and I cannot help but love it.

Where would you most like to call home?

The universe of my mind. Wherever I am, I feel at home.

Who are your favourite writers?

Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Robbie Burns and Arthur Conan Doyle. One of my favourite characters is Sherlock Holmes who was years beyond his time.

What CDs are you listening to?

Beethoven's Piano Concertos, some extraordinary classical Turkish music and Philip Glass, who wrote an opera called Einstein on the Beach.

What makes you most happy?

The gleam in the eye, the radiance in the face of a person who suddenly becomes self-aware and sheds off a bad self-image. When a child becomes aware that his or her memory is amazing, or a 95-year-old becomes aware that creativity is

an infinite world, and you see their face light up like a dawn.

What makes you most unhappy?

The death of hope. I find it almost unbearable when you see someone in whom the light of hope is dying.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be?

Leonardo da Vinci, Mohammad Ali, Queen Elizabeth I, Alexander the Great, the builders of the great pyramids, Mohammed the Prophet, Jesus, Confucius, Charlie Chaplin, Mae West, Einstein and Newton.

What can't you do without?

The four main foods we all need. These are equal in importance. Oxygen. Good nutrition. Learning and information. Love and friendship. Without these I would die and so would everybody else.

Who can't you live without?

The other people of the world. I include animals in that. I am a great lover of animals.

What are your favourite names?

Isabella, Merlin, Mohammad, Beethoven and Madonna.

What is the most stupid thing you have done?

Not admitting mistakes especially when I was younger. The reason I consider that stupid is that I therefore didn't have the opportunity to learn from having made such a ridiculous mistake.

What is the most admirable thing you have done?

Spending 39 years of my life dedicated to getting Mind Map - a tool to improve memory and learning - recognised. Dedicating those years of my life to teaching and writing about it when I would rather not have to. The reason I would rather not have to is that if everybody knew it, I would be able to spend more time writing poetry and music and being with friends.

A Day with Tony Buzan is being held at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, on November 20. His book Head Strong is out now at (pounds) 12.99.