Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting

Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting

  • Downloads:4637
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-04-26 12:53:03
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Lisa Genova
  • ISBN:0593137957
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

A fascinating exploration of the intricacies of how we remember, why we forget, and what we can do to protect our memories, from the Harvard-trained neuroscientist and bestselling author of Still Alice。

Have you ever felt a crushing wave of panic when you can't for the life of you remember the name of that actor in the movie you saw last week, or you walk into a room only to forget why you went there in the first place? If you're over forty, you're probably not laughing。 You might even be worried that these lapses in memory could be an early sign of Alzheimer's or dementia。 In reality, for the vast majority of us, these examples of forgetting are completely normal。 Why? Because while memory is amazing, it is far from perfect。 Our brains aren't designed to remember every name we hear, plan we make, or day we experience。 Just because your memory sometimes fails doesn't mean it's broken or succumbing to disease。 Forgetting is actually part of being human。

In Remember, neuroscientist and acclaimed novelist Lisa Genova delves into how memories are made and how we retrieve them。 You'll learn whether forgotten memories are temporarily inaccessible or erased forever and why some memories are built to exist for only a few seconds (like a passcode) while others can last a lifetime (your wedding day)。 You'll come to appreciate the clear distinction between normal forgetting (where you parked your car) and forgetting due to Alzheimer's (that you own a car)。 And you'll see how memory is profoundly impacted by meaning, emotion, sleep, stress, and context。 Once you understand the language of memory and how it functions, its incredible strengths and maddening weaknesses, its natural vulnerabilities and potential superpowers, you can both vastly improve your ability to remember and feel less rattled when you inevitably forget。 You can set educated expectations for your memory, and in doing so, create a better relationship with it。 You don't have to fear it anymore。 And that can be life-changing。

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Reviews

Teresa Hunt

Remember- You are more than what you can remember。 Simple put - a person with Alzheimer’s still has a functioning brain and emotions。 They can still love and feel love; they just may not remember your name or that you are their child/spouse。

Julie

A very interesting and actually fun book that combines science and self help in regard to our brains and our ability to remember。

Hugh Carter

The science and exercises are interesting。 It really feels like the author had to add content to bulk up the page count。 It's repetitive and frustrating - I skimmed most chapters to get to the meat of it。 A quick read, maybe better suited to a series of articles or something。 The science and exercises are interesting。 It really feels like the author had to add content to bulk up the page count。 It's repetitive and frustrating - I skimmed most chapters to get to the meat of it。 A quick read, maybe better suited to a series of articles or something。 。。。more

Eric

An updated slender volume on some interesting facets of how memory is formed and lost。 If you've never contemplated the subject of memory this is not a bad place to start。 An updated slender volume on some interesting facets of how memory is formed and lost。 If you've never contemplated the subject of memory this is not a bad place to start。 。。。more

Kim Procknow

Audio version read by the author。 Excellent and will buy a hard copy for my bookshelf

Andi

I've been interested in the human brain, and more specifically how the brain works in regard to memory, since I underwent chemotherapy when I was 20。 The chemo left me with brain fog that, while improved, has not complete gone away 2 decades later, and has significantly impaired my memory。 Dr。 Genova's book is very accessible and an easy read。 While most of the information was not new to me, I found it interesting and in agreement with what I have previously read。 Having read all of Dr。 Genova's I've been interested in the human brain, and more specifically how the brain works in regard to memory, since I underwent chemotherapy when I was 20。 The chemo left me with brain fog that, while improved, has not complete gone away 2 decades later, and has significantly impaired my memory。 Dr。 Genova's book is very accessible and an easy read。 While most of the information was not new to me, I found it interesting and in agreement with what I have previously read。 Having read all of Dr。 Genova's previous novels, I was quite excited to see her write a non-fiction book。 Anything she writes is an automatic pre-order, and I wasn't disappointed。 I hope this is not her last work of non-fiction! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with even a passing interest。 。。。more

Tracie Midthun

Enjoyed listening to this, so many interesting things I learned。 The book didn’t get too into the scientific weeds to lose my attention。 Lisa gives so many relatable examples and explanations (i。e。 having a word on the tip of your tongue, or when you forget why you walked into a room)。 Memory is a pretty fascinating part of our brains!

Jennifer

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the insights it provided。 Brought peace of mind and strategies to help with remembering 😊

Elizabeth Williams

This book was really good! It explained memory in such a simple and understandable way。 I learned some things from reading this。 It doesn't go super in-depth or get too science-y, which in a way I liked。 The only thing I didn't like about it was her chapter about the importance of forgetting。 I understand where she's coming from。 But to suggest that a person who has been through trauma should just forget about it, without first dealing with it, is very invalidating。Other than that, the book was This book was really good! It explained memory in such a simple and understandable way。 I learned some things from reading this。 It doesn't go super in-depth or get too science-y, which in a way I liked。 The only thing I didn't like about it was her chapter about the importance of forgetting。 I understand where she's coming from。 But to suggest that a person who has been through trauma should just forget about it, without first dealing with it, is very invalidating。Other than that, the book was good! 。。。more

Erin

I received and advanced copy from a Goodreads giveaway。 My opinions (such as they are) are my own Very easy and enjoyable to read。 It's not a bunch of scientific facts spewed out onto the pages。 I would have read it quicker, but I misplaced my book。 I'm not kidding。 Remember that fight you had? the one where you were right and the other person was wrong? (Like there is any other way to have a fight) What if you were remembering things wrong? According to this book, it is very possible。 I actuall I received and advanced copy from a Goodreads giveaway。 My opinions (such as they are) are my own Very easy and enjoyable to read。 It's not a bunch of scientific facts spewed out onto the pages。 I would have read it quicker, but I misplaced my book。 I'm not kidding。 Remember that fight you had? the one where you were right and the other person was wrong? (Like there is any other way to have a fight) What if you were remembering things wrong? According to this book, it is very possible。 I actually feel so much better about the things I forget to remember。 One thing that she points out that happens to me all too often: I go to the store for a specific item。 I come home with bags and bags of items - except the one I went to the store to get。 She explains that and some many other reason why you forget。 I highly recommend this book。My only issue, is that there were two memory tests that would have included pictures, but they were not in this ARC。 Also a few typos, mostly punctuation errors, but that's why it's an advanced copy。 I may have to check it out from the library if I want to see the tests, but I'll probably forget as soon as I'm nose deep in another book。 。。。more

Nik

If big pharma came out with a pill tomorrow that could improve your memory and significantly lower your risk of Alzheimer’s, would you take it? How much would you pay for that medication? Well, we already have it。 It’s called sleep。

Jessica

Now that I'm approaching "a certain age," it was reassuring to read that forgetfulness is not necessarily a bad thing and that it is all part of a normal, healthy brain。 This book describes the process by which all brains process and make memories as well as the different types of memories。 I appreciated the tips on how to make our brains remember better those things we really want or need to remember。 I especially liked the tip that we should make lists and just look things up when we are havin Now that I'm approaching "a certain age," it was reassuring to read that forgetfulness is not necessarily a bad thing and that it is all part of a normal, healthy brain。 This book describes the process by which all brains process and make memories as well as the different types of memories。 I appreciated the tips on how to make our brains remember better those things we really want or need to remember。 I especially liked the tip that we should make lists and just look things up when we are having tip of the tongue moments。 I tend to make myself struggle thinking it will help or exercise my brain or prevent it from becoming lazy。 Now I will just make the list or find the answer so that I can spend my energy and resources on more useful things。 I highly recommend this book to have a better understanding about memory formation and how it relates to a healthy brain versus a brain affected by Alzheimer's disease。 It is also reassuring to know that disease or decline is not the default for an aging brain。 There are many lifestyle factors that contribute to disease and steps we can take to avoid it or extend our time。 。。。more

Susan

A fascinating study by the author on the physiology of the brain and memory。 She explains about memory and how memories are stored in the hippocampus center of the brain and why we constantly forget certain things。 Reading this giveaway was a sure thing to improve our memory, and ways to help us solidify the things we learn by having the proper amount of sleep, exercise and diet, along with tips for better attention training for storing memories。 This was the author's first non-fiction book and A fascinating study by the author on the physiology of the brain and memory。 She explains about memory and how memories are stored in the hippocampus center of the brain and why we constantly forget certain things。 Reading this giveaway was a sure thing to improve our memory, and ways to help us solidify the things we learn by having the proper amount of sleep, exercise and diet, along with tips for better attention training for storing memories。 This was the author's first non-fiction book and was very informative for me。 。。。more

Kathy

Fascinating non-fiction book about the way your amazing brain works, and how to improve it。

Andy

A pretty good primer on memory and the current state of our knowledge on the processes involved。 It is not a scientific treatise; it relies too much on anecdote and personal preferences for that。 The trouble with anecdotes is that there is always one that argues an opposite idea。 They are too much like hypnotism, but they do make the story readable in a fiction sort of way。I did have my moments of apoplexy with the story。 What misogynist came up with the term 'ugly sister', and what people worki A pretty good primer on memory and the current state of our knowledge on the processes involved。 It is not a scientific treatise; it relies too much on anecdote and personal preferences for that。 The trouble with anecdotes is that there is always one that argues an opposite idea。 They are too much like hypnotism, but they do make the story readable in a fiction sort of way。I did have my moments of apoplexy with the story。 What misogynist came up with the term 'ugly sister', and what people working in caring professions went along with it! But the worst was calling autism a mental illness。 Come on Lisa, surely you know better。Finally it wasn't very worldly。 Surely you wouldn't suggest that Japanese people take up a Mediterranean diet。 There is little dementia in Japan but plenty in Europe? 。。。more

Maureen M

After a series of excellent novels, Genova turns to nonfiction to revisit the subject of memory。 This time the neuroscientist and bestselling author (“Still Alice”) breaks down how memories are made, lost and distorted and what we can do to improve our memories。 Her chatty style makes the research both digestible and enjoyable。 I love the way she demystifies brain science。 Keep ‘em coming, Lisa。

Alicia L。 Johnson

Let me start by saying that Lisa Genova is one of my favorite authors。 I am a huge fan of Still Alice, Left Neglected as well as many other fiction books she has penned。What a surprise that Remember is a work of non-fiction! That said, it was just as engaging, enjoyable and educational as her other works。 It focuses on explaining how memories are stored, how memories are retrieved and what we can do to prevent Alzheimer’s。 This sounds pretty dry but Lisa makes it easy to understand and digest。 S Let me start by saying that Lisa Genova is one of my favorite authors。 I am a huge fan of Still Alice, Left Neglected as well as many other fiction books she has penned。What a surprise that Remember is a work of non-fiction! That said, it was just as engaging, enjoyable and educational as her other works。 It focuses on explaining how memories are stored, how memories are retrieved and what we can do to prevent Alzheimer’s。 This sounds pretty dry but Lisa makes it easy to understand and digest。 She’s a neuroscientist who has a gift for simplicity and imagery。I highly recommend this book to all。 。。。more

Janice

I highly recommend this! I learned so much。

Jodi

Poignant book on the path to older age and how one start forgetting tings, these are part of a larger issue。 Alzheimer's。 This disease it a very sad end of life disease where your family remembers but as the patient they forget and how hard that can be for them as well as those around them。 How do we remember? How do our brains store memories and recall them? What impacts memory? How can we improve our memory? Divided into 3 parts: How We Remember, Why We Forget, and Improve or Repair, this book Poignant book on the path to older age and how one start forgetting tings, these are part of a larger issue。 Alzheimer's。 This disease it a very sad end of life disease where your family remembers but as the patient they forget and how hard that can be for them as well as those around them。 How do we remember? How do our brains store memories and recall them? What impacts memory? How can we improve our memory? Divided into 3 parts: How We Remember, Why We Forget, and Improve or Repair, this book answers all these questions and more。Sound boring? Let me assure you it is anything but。 The author has a PhD from Harvard in neuroscience but just as she does with her fiction books, she writes in a conversational way, using personal experiences from her own life to make the information more accessible。 。。。more

Nikki

4 out of 5 stars。Super informative and very enjoyable。 Lots of interesting information to consume。 She comes off as knowledgeable but still explains everything in an easy to follow way。

Allison Bosco

Well written, easy to understand and I learned a lot!

Stacey

Great quick read about how memory works within our brains。 Lessons about taking memory seriously but also lightly were powerful。 I enjoyed the explanations of the differences between normal forgetfulness and Alzheimer's symptoms。 Great quick read about how memory works within our brains。 Lessons about taking memory seriously but also lightly were powerful。 I enjoyed the explanations of the differences between normal forgetfulness and Alzheimer's symptoms。 。。。more

Peg

I loved this author's novel, Still Alice, about a woman with early onset dementia。 The author is a neuroscientist, and in this book, she chooses to treat the topic of memory in a highly readable but nonfictional approach。 I did not learn a lot that I didn't already know, but it was presented in a very understandable manner。 I loved this author's novel, Still Alice, about a woman with early onset dementia。 The author is a neuroscientist, and in this book, she chooses to treat the topic of memory in a highly readable but nonfictional approach。 I did not learn a lot that I didn't already know, but it was presented in a very understandable manner。 。。。more

Debbie

A must read for everyone interested in knowing more about their memory。

Chris

Delightful,,,even if she talks about how the brain works。 Lisa kept it direct and simple,,,and was well-directed tothe topics we are most interested in。 A good bit of information for all,,,,,,,,,,

Mrs。 K

Lisa Genova’s “Remember” is an excellent read for anyone who has an interest in learning about science based tools and techniques for preserving memory health。 She presents this information in an interesting, approachable, and at times humorous, manner。 If you want to learn all you can about all you can do to preserve and improve your memory in a fact filled yet fast moving book, put “Remember” at the top of your Read Next list! Besides providing excellent and fascinating instruction (informatio Lisa Genova’s “Remember” is an excellent read for anyone who has an interest in learning about science based tools and techniques for preserving memory health。 She presents this information in an interesting, approachable, and at times humorous, manner。 If you want to learn all you can about all you can do to preserve and improve your memory in a fact filled yet fast moving book, put “Remember” at the top of your Read Next list! Besides providing excellent and fascinating instruction (information), Genova also tenderly invokes a deeper understanding and compassion for anyone living with memory loss or Altzheimer’s Disease。 It is an important addition to my bookshelf that will be frequently retrieved, referred to and recommended。 。。。more

Dea Spears

This is magnificent。 If you have some great stories like this one, you can publish it on NovelStar。

Robyn Martin

4。5。 Audible

Nancy

Excellent reference book on how the brain remembers。 Good techniques for optimizing memory and keeping it! Genova writes in a way that is easy to understand。

Tammy

So informative! Now if i can only remember it all 😉