Remember

The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting

By: Lisa Genova

Narrated by: Lisa Genova

Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Selected as one of Audible’s best audiobooks of 2021.

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 remember the name of that actor in the movie you saw last week, or when 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 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 don’t have to fear your memory anymore. And that can be life-changing.

‘Using her expertise as a neuroscientist and her gifts as a storyteller, Genova explains the nuances of human memory. As with her previous books, this is an engaging and edifying read.’ Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, author of How the Mind Works

‘No one writes more brilliantly about the connections between the brain, the mind, and the heart. Remember is a beautiful, fascinating, and important book about the mysteries of human memory—what it is, how it works, and what happens when it is stolen from us. A scientific and literary treat that you will not soon forget.’ Daniel Gilbert, Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, New York Times bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness

‘In Remember, Lisa Genova provides easy-to-follow, no nonsense advice on how to maximize one of the greatest outputs of your brain—memory. But, more important, she also lets us know that while memory is a tremendous gift, the real you is much more than just what you can remember!’ Rudolph E. Tanzi, PhD, professor of neurology, Harvard Medical School, coauthor of The Healing Self

©2021 Lisa Genova (P)2021 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

‘Using her expertise as a neuroscientist and her gifts as a storyteller, Genova explains the nuances of human memory. As with her previous books, this is an engaging and edifying read.’ (Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, author of How the Mind Works)

‘Brain science is deciphering the mysteries of memory, and no one is better positioned to tell the electrifying story than Dr Genova, with her scientist’s eye and poet’s ear. A book you won’t forget.’ (David Eagleman, neuroscientist, Stanford University, author of The Brain)

‘No one writes more brilliantly about the connections between the brain, the mind and the heart. Remember is a beautiful, fascinating and important book about the mysteries of human memory—what it is, how it works, and what happens when it is stolen from us. A scientific and literary treat that you will not soon forget.’ (Daniel Gilbert, Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, author of Stumbling on Happiness)