Remember

December 21, 2020
Neuroscientist and novelist Genova (Still Alice) delivers a solid primer on the way memory works and fails to work. She proposes that “once we understand memory and become familiar with how it functions... we can both vastly improve our ability to remember and feel less rattled when we inevitably forget.” She explains the different kinds of memory (such as working memory and muscle memory) and the pitfalls inherent in each (such as how relying on working memory can lead to forgetfulness, and muscle memory can sustain bad habits), before exploring the functions of forgetting and the distinction between normal memory failures and something more serious. Genova blends popular science and self-help, providing lay reader-friendly descriptions of the function of memory and sharing tips for better memory in a helpful appendix. The writing is evocative (“In the process of consolidating an episodic memory, your brain is like a sticky-fingered, madcap chef”), and there are plenty of memorable takes on phenomena like that of having a word on “the tip of the tongue” (which is caused by “partial or weak activation of the neurons that connect” the visual, conceptual, and phonological aspects of a word). This accessible survey is an easy entry point for anyone wondering how and why they keep forgetting where they left their car keys.

February 15, 2021
This overview of memory and forgetfulness comes from neuroscientist and novelist Genova, author of Still Alice, the best-selling novel about early-onset Alzheimer's. Genova shares how patients often fear their memory is going. Very reassuringly, using accessible language and empathetic, relatable examples, Genova explains how the brain creates and stores memories. She includes simple activities that reinforce her assurances that memory lapses are perfectly normal, and suggests helpful techniques to improve memory skills. The section on forgetfulness reviews how our brains edit and rewrite certain events and facts, creating confabulations, or faulty impressions. Again, Genova reassures readers that these discrepancies are perfectly normal, and again offers helpful mnemonic tips. She addresses how aging affects memory, and details what Alzheimer's is and how it affects the brain. The book ends with helpful, hopeful suggestions: routines can improve memory, we may be forgetting things due to stress, and lack of sleep can contribute to memory loss. She even includes a step-by-step program to improve retention skills. This user-friendly account is very informative and should encourage and comfort concerned readers.

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February 15, 2021
The neuroscientist and bestselling author of Still Alice explains how memories are made, how to retrieve them, and why forgetting the reason you walked into the kitchen is no reason to panic. Everyone fears forgetting. Yet for most people--at any age--forgetting is not only normal, it's an important aspect of how memory functions. "Even in the smartest of heads, memory is fallible," writes Genova. "A man famous for memorizing more than a hundred thousand digits of pi can also forget his wife's birthday." As the author shows, how memory works, and how we can optimize it, is a complex subject. In conversational language, Genova details how the brain processes events and how we have the power to help select what transfers from fleeting knowledge to long-term memory. For example, while it is common to forget the name of a person you briefly met, you can also train yourself to improve attention to such details and improve recall. "Memory is the sum of what we remember and what we forget," writes the author, "and there is an art and science to both." In addition to her beautiful explanations of the brain's function, Genova also spells out how everyday behaviors strongly affect memory as well as the risk of developing various forms of dementia. Sleep, stress, diet, and exercise all play important roles, which is profound because it means that there are accessible ways to prevent memory loss. Also significant is the author's recurring reminder that, above all, we "are more than what we remember." Genova's plentiful anecdotes from her personal and professional lives make it easy for readers to relate, and her obvious expertise in memory and the brain results in a book that is more insightful than many others on the subject. Sharp writing and accessible storytelling make for a compelling read.

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