Remember
The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting
by Lisa Genova
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Pub Date Mar 23 2021 | Archive Date Jan 31 2024
Rodale Inc. | Harmony
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Description
“Using her expertise as a neuroscientist and her gifts as a storyteller, Lisa Genova explains the nuances of human memory”—Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, author of How the Mind Works
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.
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9780593137956 |
PRICE | $26.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 288 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
I absolutely love Lisa Genova, she is an author whose stories always teach and have a unique perspective.
I've read all of her books and I knew even though this one was non fiction I was still interested. Specifically because my husband suffers from PTSD and has memory issues.
This book looks into the science of how we remember, how our brains store memories and recall information
The book is divided into how we remember and why we forget. What I love is that Lisa uses personal experiences to make the material more relatable and easier to understand.
I learned so much while reading this book and was able to share it with my husband who was so happy to hear that even though he sometimes can not remember, it doesn't mean he is actually losing his memory. That memory is often impacted by our emotions, our sleeping habits, stress, and what's going on around us.
I would definitely recommend this book, even if you are not a non fiction reader. Lisa always writes in a way that is easy to read and educational. If you've enjoyed her fiction works read this one.
Due out March 2021, thanks to the publisher, Rodale and Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy.
Remember by Lisa Genova Now have a better understanding why certain events are remembered and others are forgotten. Ms Genova details examples from her personal experience and common events. Insightful information about brain development as one ages. An educational and an interesting read.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Remember by Lisa Genova.
I am a huge Genova fan. I've read most of her books and every single one is an emotional gut punch that teaches me so much. She's a scientist, and a fabulous story teller to boot, so it's always a unique, compelling, and educational experience reading her work.
This is not a story, but rather a deep dive into the science of memory, and how our brains store and recall information. She is descriptive with the parts of the brain required to keep memory, and reassures that forgetting simple thing does not automatically mean that our brains are failing.
But this is not a dry text book read. Genova extracts relatable examples and anecdotes to illustrate this particular function of the brain. As always, I learned a lot, and I was impressed at her ability to use layman's terms to outline something so complex.
Brilliant and unforgettable read (pun intended) about the science of remembering and forgetting.
I had no idea Lisa Genova was a neuroscientist, but knowing her writing so well from her incredible novels, I just had to give Remember a try. And I'm glad I did because it was a very well-written, accessible and gripping book (I would expect no less from Lisa Genova) about forming, changing and forgetting our memories.
The book is divided into two main parts: how we remember and why we forget. In each of them, the author brings up specific examples from personal experience and popular events, which makes this book actually interesting for "regular" people - think of the Charles Duhigg fashion in The Power of Habit. What's more, what actually amde Genova's work so good in my opinion was her ability to make a sciency read realistically accessible and gripping. As someone who enjoyes science nonfiction once in a while, I truly appreciated the language in Remember for not being so dull and dry.
Overall, this was a highly educational yet actually interesting book. I especially like that the author explained why and how remembering is so easily impacted with our emotions, sleep patters, environmental factors, stress and other factors, which is what totally blew my mind.
*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchnage for an honest review.
Lisa Genova is a neuroscientist who has written several well known novels invested with her subject, bringing to life characters suffering from neurological conditions she knows so well. Here she breaks from that path in writing a very accessible book about memory, how it works, can be improved, and what to look for during the aging process. She always gives a great deal of information, clearly and relatable, and this is no exception.
I chose this book thinking it was a novel like Ms. Genova’s other books that I had read. I was a little disappointed to find that it was a book about memory but I was also intrigued. I’m glad I did read it and it turned out to be quite a quick read. There was nothing dry or boring about it.
This book explores into how our memory works. The essence of it is to learn how we make memories and how we forget them. It isn’t overly scientific and is punctuated by stories an examples from Ms. Genova’s life. It makes a manuscript that could be very text book much more interesting which keeping it educational.
I would recommend this to anyone interested.
Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC. I read the summary of this book and I wanted to really read as I am 44 and starting to misplace words and forget common things. The outcome of this book? I most likely don't have Alzheimer's or a brain tumor, just aging. I also learned that Brain teasers are just that. They won't help your overall mental fitness, just make you better at the puzzles. Lastly, I confirmed that both stress and sleep affect my over health and mental wellbeing. Really good read! #remember #lisagenova #mar2021
Part insights into memories, part tips to reduce your change of getting Alzheimer’s this was a quick, interesting read filled with memory exercises and anecdotes. If you’re looking for a step-by-step this isn’t it, but if you’re curious about brain function as you and your loved ones age and how to remember — scoop this up.
This is a very informative book.
If you read Still Alice you should read Remember.
Lisa goes through everything for memory, how to retain, what you retain and how the brain works in the processing of memories and teaches you to learn how to retain memories and possibly keep your brain working at its best for longer.
An interesting and intriguing book from best selling author Lisa Genova. Genova is a natural born story teller as well as a scientist and she combines the two fields skillfully. I liked learning how the brain remembers and why we forget certain memories. Unique and knowledgeable. .
I've read pretty much everything that Lisa Genova has written. I absolutely love her novels. I think they are so emotionally engaging because they are incredibly rooted in reality. When I saw she had written a non-fiction book about memories and the brain, I knew it would be fascinating. The human brain is so intricate with so many different parts to it that we don't sit around thinking about day to day, but Lisa Genova breaks down so much about how the brain works in regards to memory. I definitely learned a lot of new information because of this book!
I loved this book. Lisa Genova is one of my auto-read authors. This book was filled with so much information. I took a neurology course in college, so I knew a brief overview of neurological disorders, but Lisa’s books always taught me even more. This book did not dissapoint.
I hadn’t read the synopsis of the book beforehand, so I had assumed this would be a fiction book as well, and was a bit bummed out it wasn’t. But as I read, I was learning so much that I kept reading and enjoying it! The way Lisa explains these disorders make it very easy to understand which I like, there’s no medical terminology left out in the open that I was lost as I was reading.
A scientific explanation for how we remember, why we forget, and what we can do, proactively, to foster good habits to support memory. Genova makes complicated concepts easy to understand with engaging (and amusing) anecdotal examples.
Remember by Lisa Genova is a fascinating read about the mind, memory, and why we forget . I didn’t know she was a neuroscientist before reading this one, but she made this a read that appeals to all levels. It is very easy to read and understand unlike other books I’ve tried to read on the subject. My mother suffered from dementia so I’m always trying to find ways to strengthen my mind, understand why we forget and how memories work. I feel like this is a definite read if you are,or have ever been, curious about why we just sometimes forget!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harmony publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
This book was the perfect escape. It was lovely and fun. It was my first book by this author and I will definitely be on the look out for more!!
So I’ve read all of her books and the science/psychology geek in me loved them and I loved this as well! The ideas and reasons why certain parts of our brain act the way they do from a standpoint that she makes to understand. I wish this had been around when I was in college as an assigned read!
I absolutely LOVE Lisa Genova. Left Neglected is one of my all-time favorite books! Remember was something different from her, and I loved it too. Remember is about how and why people remember certain events and don't remember others. She gives us a well thought out and detailed understanding of how that happens through her own personal experiences and other more common events in life. Very interesting information on the brain development at a young age as well. I found this book extremely interesting in spite of being educational. As always, I was super impressed by Genova's writing and ability to explain things in more simple terms that everyone can understand. Clear and relatable! Definitely worth reading!!! I am looking forward to her next book!!! Thanks to NG for the ARC!!!
I truly enjoyed reading Remember by Lisa Genova. This book presents how our memories work in an easy to read and understand format. I was learning new information while chuckling when relating to an example. This book is divided into 3 sections called How We Remember, Why We Forget and Improve or Impair. The final section has suggestions for Alzheimer’s prevention. As a person with Alzheimer’s in my family history, I found this book reassuring, educational and informational.
Remember
Lisa Genova
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication date 3/23/21
When I saw this book was available to request on NetGalley I was very excited. Not only do I love Lisa Geneva’s writing, dementia and memory disorders are near and dear to me. Both my grandmothers suffered memory loss - my nana - dementia and my Nonna traumatic brain injury. My mother too has been diagnosed with dementia so I feel I’m reliving some of the hardest parts of my life. It can be frustrating, scary and feelings of hopelessness.
This book helped me immensely, it put my mind at ease as Lisa shares her background on neuroscience and memory. She writes in a way that makes these two topics easy to follow and in such a compassionate way. I was able to relax and breathe as I was learning how common it is to frequently forget little things like why I came upstairs or what am I looking for in the refrigerator. This nonfiction book clearly explains the different parts are the brain and how and where memories are stored and why two people remembering a memory will have many differences in what they remembered. She was able to describe how we remember things easily when they are traumatic while forgetting what we ate for dinner last week. Written with love I enjoyed the connection to some of the personal stories she includes, and gives tools and advice on how and why we forget and how to be more present to possibly retain more information. This is a fascinating book and I look forward to sharing what I learned with my Mom, friends and family.I highly recommend picking up this book because it is informative and can be beneficial to understanding the science behind memories and will keep me less rattled when I do forget!!
I’m so grateful to have been given the chance to read Remember
THE SCIENCE OF MEMORY AND THE ART OF FORGETTING, a huge thank you to Penguin Random House, NetGalley and of course Lisa Genova for this advanced readers’ copy for an exchange for an honest review.
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#lisagenova #remember #netgalley #dementia #alzheimers #penguinrandomhouse #advancedreaderscopy #memoryloss
Remember by Lisa Genova is a non-fiction book that explores how we do, and don't, remember. Genova is a neuroscientist who's also the author of five fiction books, all of which I've read, that feature characters with neurological conditions like Alzheimer's (Still Alice) and Huntingdon's (Inside the O'Briens).
The book begins by describing how memories are formed, and the amazing process by which creating memories creates structural and connective changes in the brain. Genova points out that some of the things we might think we know about memory may not be quite right; for example, memories aren't stored in the hippocampus, and muscle memory is stored in the brain's motor cortex rather than the muscles.
The book explains different types of memory, including semantic (described as the Wikipedia of the brain), episodic (for things that have happened to us), and prospective (things we have to remember to do in the future). You'll learn why you go into a room and forget what you're there for, and Genova reassures readers that using a to-do list isn't somehow cheating.
As much as you might like to think that your episodic memory is quite accurate, Genova bursts that bubble. When the original memory was encoded, it didn't capture everything that was going on at the time, just what stood out to you. What I found really fascinating was that each time we recall a memory, it changes a bit, and this overwrites the original memory, so it's like an old-school game of telephone where the original message gets more and more garbled as it gets passed along.
Genova also explains that, when faced with leading questions, people will fabricate memories, and eyewitness accounts are highly unreliable. That certainly doesn't bode well for our legal system. Do you feel confident that certain memories are accurate? Turns out that has no bearing on their level of accuracy.
There's a chapter devoted to tip of the tongue experiences, which occur when we know a word but can't immediately bring it to mind. Doing this (and doing it quite regularly) is not, in fact, a sign that you're losing your mind.
The book is full of surprising tidbits and explanations, like the Baker/baker paradox, whereby you're more likely to remember someone is a baker than you are to remember their name is Baker.
The book also discusses normal age-related memory changes versus the changes caused by dementia, and what can make a difference in your memory (chronic stress bad, sleep very good). Finally, there's an appendix that pulls it all together, including the specific things you can do to improve your memory.
While the book is very informative, it's presented in a conversational rather than academic manner. The examples used are realistic and help to make the concepts relatable. Genova seems very authentically present in the writing, and isn't afraid to make fun of herself, such as when she's describing her fussy coffee order that the baristas at Starbucks manage to remember.
This book made my inner geek very happy, but I think it will be much more widely appealing than simply my inner geek. Memory is obviously very important to all of us, and this is a great opportunity to learn more about it.
I received a reviewer copy from the publisher through Netgalley.
Lisa Genova is a phenomenal writer. This book is abouthow the brain creates memoriesAnd how humans remember things. About how information is processed and stored in the brain. While this information is based on science, Lisa. Geneva offers practical tips to improve memory.
Written in clear easy to understand the terminology. Examples were included to validate a point. This book would be a valuable tool for anyone who teaches orworks with brain injury patients.
This will strike no one who knows me as a surprise, but Lisa Genova's book "Remember" is solid gold.
If Lisa Genova wrote a book about an anteaters digestion process, I would pick it up without a second thought even though I don't know or care about any of those things.
Remember is a book about the many different parts of memory. The book covers SO much more than I expected in concise, interesting ways and such wonderful writing. She relates the concepts so well for me. Even though I took four semesters of psychology classes, I'm not a neurosurgeon, so I appreciated a lot of the comparisons.
I also REALLY enjoyed the puns and clever lines throughout the book. I highlighted a lot throughout the book as points to "remember" or revisit one day.
The organization of this book is PERFECTION from the beginning chapters about different kinds of memories, to the end with bold, numbered highlights reinforced from the book.
I have been known to enjoy Genova's fiction and I'm happy to say that extended to this new project. Even though I have this ebook copy (thanks to Lisa Genova, Rodale Inc., and Net Galley), I look forward to purchasing a physical copy of this book for myself and a few other people.
Five big fat glowing stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published March 23, 2021.
I’m a big fan of Lisa Genova’s fiction books (Still Alice, Every Note Played) but this was my first time reading a nonfiction book by her. Her PhD in Neuroscience from Harvard plus her skill at writing makes this a fascinating read. I learned a lot about how the memory works and things we can do to strengthen our memories.
Original review posted on GoodReads.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest opinion.
I love Genova’s novels and was excited to read this nonfiction book from her. Though a little dry at times, it overall read like a fun Mary Roach book, science and research while being attainable and easy to read. Learned a lot and had fun doing it!
I am a big fan of Lisa Genova. She has a PhD from Harvard in neuroscience, but is able to write novels that touch all of us at a personal level. I have read all of her works of fiction and was interested if she could hold my attention with a nonfiction book about the brain and our memory. As usual, she gets an A.
Remember is a technical book about the function of the brain based on the latest research. However, it is never dry or boring. The author gives practical advice on how to maximize our capacity to remember. She also reassures us about natural memory loss and how that differs from Alzheimer’s disease.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a must read for anyone experiencing memory loss. Personally or a friend or loved one. This is one of my favorite authors of fiction now nonfiction she explains things and makes the learning interesting and relatable with stories. Loved it and I’ll read it again Thanks for the advanced copy @netgalley @lisagenova @remember
Lisa Genova, a neuroscientist and author of Still Alice, discusses facets of memory, the impact of stress, and how not all forgetting (even those things that are just on the tip of your tongue) means the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Her example was clear: everyone misplaces their keys, but if you find your keys in the refrigerator, it might be time to worry. She describes semantic (things we just know, like state capitals) and episodic (remembrance of a vacation). Creating a long lasting semantic memory requires practice. We also learn about people with HSAM (highly superior autobiographical memory) who can remember what happened on most any date in the past. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.
Imagine that you are sitting at a neighborhood cafe with your best friend, who just happens to be a prominent neuroscientist. Over coffee, she's telling you about her extensive research into the science of memory. That's the feeling you get as you read Lisa Genova's "Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting." Genova's writing is conversational and comfortable, yet the depth of her knowledge and research is clear. It's hard to imagine any aspect of memory that she didn't cover thoroughly. She begins with "How We Remember," goes on to "Why We Forget," and concludes with "Improve or Impair." Whether you're aging and wondering if you're seeing signs of Alzheimer's, or 20 years old and frustrated with your forgetting (or somewhere in between), there's something here for you. I appreciated the practical tips on remembering (and forgetting) that were sprinkled throughout: why paying attention helps to form memories, what "muscle memory" really is, why our memories for past events are probably wrong, how to forget bad memories, and why sleep really matters. I almost never -- ever -- reread books, but I know I'll come back to this one and read it all the way through again. It's that good.
Thanks to Net Galley for the honor of reading and reviewing this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
Thank you #Netgalley and Rodale, Inc for allowing me to read this ARC of Remember, by Lisa Genova. I don't read a lot of non-fiction, but I love Lisa Genova's writing so I thought I would give this book a try. I was not disappointed! It was informative and easy to read and understand. Dr. Genova spends time explaining what kinds of memory lapses are normal, as well as which might be problematic. This was a great last book of 2020. If you want to understand how and why we remember things read this book!
Lisa Genova is one of my favorite authors, and I was delighted to be able to read an advance copy of her latest book, Remember. Although this book is nonfiction, it was a fast and easy read. It is written in layman's language, but it wasn't over-simplified. I found the research she presented very interesting, and as someone in her 60s, I found it very reassuring. I also appreciated her advice on what one can do to sharpen your mind/improve your memory. Very effortlessly, I learned a lot about how the brain processes memories. I highly recommend this book.
4 + ⭐⭐⭐⭐+
The title of this book is "Remember: the Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting"
Author Lisa Genova is a neuroscientist. She earned her undergraduate degree from Bates College in
biopsychology and holds a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard.
I have read Lisa Genova's book "Inside the O’Briens".. I really enjoyed it. However, at that time I never wrote much in the way of a review so only make a comment.
My comment was …....."The O’Briens will stay with you long after you close the book".
Hmm I wish I had written more … as I complete forgot all about the O’Briens.
Counting on this book to help me!
Since I am not a big Nonfiction fan, I was a bit intimidated and fearful that it was going to be full of science lingo and I would think… “What it she trying to say?” Well she does say what she is trying to say in terms we can relate.
Trust me this book is sooo helpful!!
I highly recommend it.💞
Want to thank NetGalley and Rodale Inc. for this early release his file has been made available to me for professional review purposes only. Opinions expressed in this review are from my own memory!
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 23, 2021
This is a wonderful, informative book on memory and how we remember things or not, and why.
It is written in sections, with many day to day examples given to assist with our understanding of this interesting subject.
This book also puts my mind at ease that I am not losing "it" yet.
Lisa Genova has an awesome way with words and explaining intricate subjects and this one is ten stars!
After finishing Lisa Genova’s new book Remember, I breathed a sigh of relief. I know many of us worry about forgetting, about the loss of memory, of having the start of Alzheimer's that if we misplace our keys, we are in a panic state.
However Dr Genova assures us that this is natural and gives us some solid ideas about how to help our memory and ultimately the functionality of our brain.
Dr Genova delves into the various parts of our amazing brain and How each section functions as not only a thinking processor but also the way we retain information. She cautions us that some of the information presented to us is not yet proven. I will say I was disappointed to find that red wine is not the panacea it is reported to be! 😢
All of us age and for many we do not have the brain we had in our twenties. But take heart, anything we learn does increase our brain’s capacity, so keep reading all!
I have always enjoyed Dr Genova’s books and this one was no exception. I recommend it to those who want that assurance that forgetting something is natural and a part of the maturing process. Don’t panic if your phone goes missing, but do perhaps raise an eyebrow if you find it in the refrigerator!
This was a super interesting read that kept my attention. As a school psychologist, this brought back lots of information that I learned in grad school, but it was presented in such an interesting and informative way. Genova's fiction background no doubt helped her write an informative, readable book that really made me think about the nature of remembering and forgetting. Enjoyed this very much.
I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy. Lisa’s books are some of my favourite, and while what I’ve read as usually a fictional based book; this non fiction book is as full of information for anyone curious about the brain, memory and Alzheimer’s. From the reasons why things happen, to different storage areas of the brain, to possible prevention of this disease Lisa takes you deep inside to learn more about what our brains do. If you’re interested in memory, If someone you know has been stolen because of Alzheimer’s, or you’re worried about what you can do as you age to help with general memory loss, what’s “normal” and when to seek medical advice definitely pick this up. It’s non fiction, it’s a little text book, but definitely gives you real life, in depth information about our memory.
I really enjoy Lisa Genova's books. So I was super excited to be able to read a non-fiction book about memory. I have a history with dementia in my family so any lapse in memory makes me a little nervous. I enjoyed reading about how to improve your memory and understanding what normal forgetfulness is really like. I feel like Lisa writes in a way that informs everyone. She is articulate and precise. If dementia has affected you or you are worried about you forgetting what seems like simple things, I would highly recommend this book to you.
Thank you to Rosedale for granting my wish to read this book through NetGalley.
I had never read any books by Lisa Genova when starting Remember, but I’m thinking that will have to change. Remember was a deep dive into memory, something I have struggled with my whole life. It explains the science behind remembering and forgetting. The book was interesting and engaging and would be a great read for anybody interested in learning more about memory and how interesting our brains are!
I have been a fan of Lisa Genova's since she was selling her book "still alice" out of the trunk of her car on Cape Cod where I live, before it was picked up by a publisher. Every one of her fiction books deal with some aspect of brain injury, condition, memory, etc. The fact that she is a neuroscientist lends credibility to her books. She writes in a manner that is easily understandable yet draws attention to the condition she is writing about. This book is non-fiction, so I find rating it a bit harder than I would a fictional story. Lisa describes for us how we remember and why we forget; what is normal forgetting and what is due to dementia/ Alzheimers. And seriously ? ISn't that what we are all worried about when we forget something. She uses personal stories and humor to take us through the journey of the mind and memory. This is not a dry , stuffy book -- although it could have been. Its not too long a read, but it covers the topic. I highly recommend this book , no matter your age. In fact, younger generations SHOULD read it , to ready their brains!! I read this on my kindle and my suggestion to you is to buy the book and read the hard copy. I know there are many notes you will take as you read it and its one you will keep going back to . thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this book in return for an honest review.
“Could you draw both sides of a penny with total accuracy from memory right now?
How can you both remember a penny and yet remember so little about it? Is your memory failing?
It’s not. It’s doing exactly what it supposed to do”.
‘whew’!!!!.... I could relax before reading the rest of the book 🤸♀️🧘🏻♀️....
My brain is “doing exactly what it’s suppose to do”!!!
Yippy!!! 🥳
Lisa Genova goes on to say...
“Your brain is amazing. Every day, it performs a myriad of miracles—it sees, hears, tastes, smells, and senses touch. It also feels pain, pleasure, temperature, stress, and a wide range of emotions. It plans things and solves problems. It knows where you are in space so you don’t bump into walls or fall down when you step off a curb to cross the street. It comprehends and produce language. If meditates your desire for chocolate and sex, your ability to emphasize with the joy and suffering of others, an awareness of your own existence. And it can remember. Of all the complex and wondrous miracles that your brain executes, memory is king”.
Lisa also goes on to say....
“In this book, you’ll learn how memories are made and how we retrieve them. Not all memories are created equal.
‘whew’...
I was getting worried!....
“Some memories are built to exist for only a few seconds (a temporary passcode), whereas others can last a lifetime ( your wedding day)”.
“You’ll learn that attention is essential for creating memory
for anything”.
‘goody’.... I was all ears! 👂👂
Oh my gosh...Lisa was sooo right....” you can’t remember a single word to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ until someone else sings the first lyrics, and then you can belt the entire song”
🎶🎤
“You remember nothing about the Peloponnesian War, no matter how many details are shared”. 🔫
As you can see, I decided to have a little fun reading Lisa’s new book, “Remember”...
but never think for a moment that I don’t have the most respect for Lisa Genova, neuroscientist.
I’m a big fan....having read every book she’s written.
I always come away learning something new.
This new - nonfiction - book is a fascinating, intriguing look at how we remember, how we forget forget, and how we can we can improve the health of our aging brain.
Lisa’s a natural storyteller.
While tackling the latest findings neurological,
biochemical, and psychological, she puts the reader at ease with a light anecdotal style, and sense of humor.
There are many personal stories, (ever stung by a jellyfish?)......
pointing out ways the brain captures sights, sounds, information, emotion, and meaning of what was perceived ——
mixed with scientific information....(encoding, consolidation, storage, retrieval),
making this book relatable, and very enjoyable!!
With dozens of personal stories, humor, and practical accessibility — Lisa Genova is a very compassionate author!
🍫Chocolate anyone?....
As rule of thumb, anything that is good for your heart is good for your brain—
But....
“There is no compelling evidence that shows that chocolate reduces your risk of Alzheimer’s.
Sorry, folks”
Such a fascinating, and interesting read about memory by Lisa Genova, who I have enjoyed her stories about Alzheimer's and memory loss. I wish I had read this book when I was in college. Genova has such an easy explanation for how the brain works and how we remember things. It is such a relief to know if we do not remember something does not mean something is wrong with us, but rather we have not processed it or paid enough attention in order to process it to store it in our memory. It all sounds so simple and makes sense. I really learned a lot from her examples and explanation. I get that this may also have something to do with reading a book and it not making sense. Genova can create the perfect combination of words to make it engaging and comprehendible.
I appreciated the lesson on neurology and the brain, specifically which portion of the brain is most important for memory. Learning and memory go hand-in-hand, it is hard to have one without the other. I also enjoyed her insights on the differences between long and short term memory. The anecdotes, observations and speculations were all from careful research, which I appreciated; there are plenty of other books like this that are just opinions without the science. I think we have all realized, especially with the coronavirus, science matters!
I thoroughly enjoyed this more than I thought I would and hope to re-read this and or own in the future. The author is very passionate about the subject and it is proof throughout the book. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley, Lisa Genova and Roadale Publishing Harmony for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Available: 3/23/21
I found this to be a very thought provoking book. It made me feel a lot better about my aging brain. It had very interesting eyewitness accounts. I loved hearing that I didn't forget where I parked my car, I just didn't pay attention, this makes me feel so much better. I also found it interesting how our memories can change so easily. I'm trying real hard to pay better attention. What I did find is that the book seriously started to drag right around the 60% mark. I was having a hard time focusing on wanting to read any more. She tells us to spend less time looking at a screen because we could see someone we know right in front of our faces. However right now I would never recognize them with masks, even if I remembered knowing them. I did enjoy this book and all the little insights to our brain. Thanks NetGalley for letting me read it.
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Kenneth Womack; Kenneth L. Campbell
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