Memory is such a fascinating thing. How do the mechanics of it work? How do we choose what we remember? What about all the things we forget? And what happens as we grow older and our memory starts to decline?
Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting tackles all of these questions and more. It's divided into three parts: How We Remember, What We Forget, and Improve or Impair. Part one goes through each of the different types of memory and how they are formed. Because I came into this book knowing a bit about memory creation, that part wasn't as new to me, but it was still useful to have all the information summed up in one place.
Parts two and three were the most interesting because they contain a lot of new information for me. There were so many thought-provoking tidbits in there. One is that every time you recall a memory, you are editing and rewriting over the original, such that once you've done this a few times, your current version of it may deviate quite a bit from what really happened. Another is that sleeping aids memory storage and clears out the plaque that eventually leads to dementia, so sleeping is essential for good memory health.
The book also spends some time talking about the differences between normal memory-retrieval glitches versus what happens with Alzheimer's. It is both straightforward in its presentation of what causes dementia and Alzheimer's, as well as comforting in its assessment of what patients with those diseases are still able to retain. And it offers many useful and practical suggestions on what you can do starting now to give you the best chance to stave off these ravaging diseases later in life.
Genova both holds a degree in neuroscience and is a fiction author (she wrote Still Alice), so she's the perfect person to present this information in a way that is accessible to the layman. She expertly weaves the technical scientific information with personal anecdotes to illustrate her points, adding enough heart and humor so that it doesn't become too dry.
If you're curious at all about how memory works, or you want information on how best to take care of yourself now to avoid memory diseases later in life, this is a worthwhile book to check out.
Readaroo Rating: 4 stars
My heartfelt thanks for the advance copy that was provided for my honest and unbiased review.
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