Description
Book SynopsisWhy We Forget uses the science of memory to empower you with the knowledge you need to remember better, whether you are a college student looking to ace your next exam, a business professional preparing a presentation, or a healthcare worker needing to memorize the 600+ muscles in the human body.
Trade ReviewThis book is an essential read for all those concerned with memory loss and should be a part of all collections in the behavioral and social sciences. * Library Journal *
In "Why we Forget", memory experts Andrew Budson and Elizabeth Kensinger provide readers with a practical and clearly explained masterclass in how memory works and how to keep it working well as we age. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand and maximize their memory functions. * Wendy Suzuki, Ph.D., Professor of Neural Science and Psychology, New York University and Internally Bestselling Author of Healthy Brain Happy Life and Good Anxiety *
In this highly readable book, two authorities on the science of memory and the brain unpack everything you could want to know about memory and memory disorders. You will find surprising answers here to fascinating puzzles - for example, why we form false memories, why someone with Alzheimer's disease remembers how to play the piano but forgets the names of family members, how to distinguish between memory decline due to normal aging and disorders of memory, and why sleep is so important for memory. In addition, the authors describe evidence-based ways to remember better and to defend against false memories. * Ellen Winner, Ph.D., Professor Emerita at Boston College and author of the bestselling book, How Art Works: A Psychological Exploration *
Budson and Kensinger have done a marvelous job creating an accessible summary of the wide-ranging field of memory research. A perfect place to start for anyone interested in understanding this fundamental human capacity. * Joshua Foer, B.A., Author of bestselling book Moonwalking with Einstein *
This book delivers on all fronts. Written by two of the most eminent memory scientists in the world, the book draws in the reader immediately - engaging both the practitioners of the science of memory as well as those who are new to memory research. The reader is presented with many relatable, everyday examples and practical tips, and with concrete steps that unfold and explain complex theories of memory and forgetting. The authors cover a wide range of representative phenomena about when memory works and when it fails. The book delves into the neuroscience of memory and effects of aging at one end, strategies for improving memory at the other, and many key topics in between. I want this book for my memory course, and for my family and friends who are curious about how memory works. * Suparna Rajaram, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Cognitive Science at Stony Brook University *
Everyone knows how memory works, we have our own experiences of remembering and forgetting to go on. But the science of memory, as Budson and Kensinger engagingly recount, teaches us so much more—how it really works and how it doesn't. And how this scientifically grounded knowledge enriches our understanding of our own minds. * Ken Paller, Ph.D., Padilla Chair and Director of the Cognitive Neuroscience Program at Northwestern University *
the book is worth the time for anyone wanting a better understanding of how memory works. Recommended. All readers. * Choice *
Table of ContentsForeword, Daniel Schacter Preface Part 1: All the ways to remember Chapter 1: Memory is not one thing Chapter 2: Travel back in time Chapter 3: Keep it in mind Chapter 4: Muscle memory Chapter 5: Our store of knowledge Chapter 6: What we remember together Part 2: Remembering the days of our lives Chapter 7: Do you need to try to remember? Chapter 8: Get it into your memory - and keep it there Chapter 9: Retrieve that memory Chapter 10: Associate information Chapter 11: Control what you forget and remember Chapter 12: Are you sure that's not a false memory? Part 3: When there is too little memory - or too much Chapter 13: Just normal aging - or is it Alzheimer's disease? Chapter 14: What else can go wrong with your memory Chapter 15: When you can't forget Chapter 16: Those who can remember everything Part 4: How to remember better Chapter 17: Exercise, exercise, exercise Chapter 18: Diet, alcohol, and drugs Chapter 19: Sleep Chapter 20: Do the right things Chapter 21: Use strategies Chapter 22: Use memory aids Chapter 23: Putting it all together Appendix: Twelve tips to remember better Acknowledgments References About the Authors Index
