When I was about 12 or 13, like all the other children with glasses I learned how to solve the Rubik’s Cube. I’d long since forgotten how to do so. However, I was given a new Rubik’s Cube for my birthday recently.
I decided that, if I was going to learn once again to solve the thing, I would need exactly the same book that I had originally. So I tracked it down:
Published in 1981, the then 12-year-old Patrick Bossert wrote one of the first books on how to solve the cube. Over the course of a few weeks or months, I learned his procedure.
Over the course of 20 years, I forgot it again.
However, upon reacquiring a copy of the book at the weekend, I reminded myself of most of the main moves in just a few hours. The algorithms were obviously just locked away in my memory, because I found myself “chanting” to myself the moves as I carried them out: “Up, round-at-the-back, Down, Along-right” etc.
I used to be able to finish the cube in around 2 minutes to 2 minutes 30 seconds, I think; yesterday I managed 3 minutes 40 seconds, which is not bad. And I’m sure I can do better…
Update 12.06.2008: Managed 2 minutes 24 yesterday 😉