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Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters
Memory is far more than a record of the past. In this groundbreaking tour of the mind and brain, one of the world’s top memory researchers reveals the powerful role memory plays in nearly every aspect of our lives, from recalling faces and names, to learning, decision-making, trauma and healing.
A new understanding of memory is emerging from the latest scientific research. In Why We Remember , pioneering neuroscientist and psychologist Charan Ranganath radically reframes the way we think about the everyday act of remembering. Combining accessible language with cutting-edge research, he reveals the surprising ways our brains record the past and how we use that information to understand who we are in the present, and to imagine and plan for the future.
Memory, Dr. Ranganath shows, is a highly transformative force that shapes how we experience the world in often invisible and sometimes destructive ways. Knowing this can help us with daily remembering tasks, like finding our keys, and with the challenge of memory loss as we age. What’s more, when we work with the brain’s ability to learn and reinterpret past events, we can heal trauma, shed our biases, learn faster, and grow in self-awareness.
Including fascinating studies and examples from pop culture, and drawing on Ranganath’s life as a scientist, father, and child of immigrants, Why We Remember is a captivating read that unveils the hidden role memory plays throughout our lives. When we understand its power-- and its quirks--we can cut through the clutter and remember the things we want to remember. We can make freer choices and plan a happier future.
A new understanding of memory is emerging from the latest scientific research. In Why We Remember , pioneering neuroscientist and psychologist Charan Ranganath radically reframes the way we think about the everyday act of remembering. Combining accessible language with cutting-edge research, he reveals the surprising ways our brains record the past and how we use that information to understand who we are in the present, and to imagine and plan for the future.
Memory, Dr. Ranganath shows, is a highly transformative force that shapes how we experience the world in often invisible and sometimes destructive ways. Knowing this can help us with daily remembering tasks, like finding our keys, and with the challenge of memory loss as we age. What’s more, when we work with the brain’s ability to learn and reinterpret past events, we can heal trauma, shed our biases, learn faster, and grow in self-awareness.
Including fascinating studies and examples from pop culture, and drawing on Ranganath’s life as a scientist, father, and child of immigrants, Why We Remember is a captivating read that unveils the hidden role memory plays throughout our lives. When we understand its power-- and its quirks--we can cut through the clutter and remember the things we want to remember. We can make freer choices and plan a happier future.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
October 15, 2023
I read this book as a pre-release e-book obtained through NetGalley, provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
To put a succinct summary on it, in typical academic parlance, "More research is needed". Indeed, there was a lot to think about in this book, and it brought up other notions, hunches, or hypothesis. Such as, as the dopamine reward system is dampened among people with Alzheimer's, and is increased by curiosity and filling the information gap, perhaps part of dementia is boredom? Or, the amygdala being documented as larger in conservatives, who don't move out of their comfort zone (fear, perhaps), their anxiety exceeds their curiosity.
As someone who has been interested in learning more about how memories are formed, forgotten, modified – or how memories can be reframed because of some traumatic memories and learning what happens from neuroscientists who studied or treated me after a TBI 35 years ago, I learned a lot of updated information in this book. Indeed, all of neuroscience is advancing at a remarkable speed over the past few decades. Memory is neither long-term nor short-term, but rather episodic (tells a story in context) or semantic (gives information). Much of memory is recreated based on what we know about categories of things, perhaps with something in it which was surprising – unlike what we expect of things belonging to a category.
To put a succinct summary on it, in typical academic parlance, "More research is needed". Indeed, there was a lot to think about in this book, and it brought up other notions, hunches, or hypothesis. Such as, as the dopamine reward system is dampened among people with Alzheimer's, and is increased by curiosity and filling the information gap, perhaps part of dementia is boredom? Or, the amygdala being documented as larger in conservatives, who don't move out of their comfort zone (fear, perhaps), their anxiety exceeds their curiosity.
As someone who has been interested in learning more about how memories are formed, forgotten, modified – or how memories can be reframed because of some traumatic memories and learning what happens from neuroscientists who studied or treated me after a TBI 35 years ago, I learned a lot of updated information in this book. Indeed, all of neuroscience is advancing at a remarkable speed over the past few decades. Memory is neither long-term nor short-term, but rather episodic (tells a story in context) or semantic (gives information). Much of memory is recreated based on what we know about categories of things, perhaps with something in it which was surprising – unlike what we expect of things belonging to a category.
February 1, 2024
Why We Remember gives readers some detail into the anatomy of the brain and a deeper dive into how memory works. This is my first book hyper focused on memory, it was interesting to read about the different triggers to how and what we remember. The examples given in the book were realistic and I often found myself thinking, "Yes, I've done this...".
The reason for lower rating however, is due to how the material was presented. I felt like I was reading a text book, which at times, made it harder to get through certain sections. This personal feeling aside, I am walking away from this book knowing more about the power of memory and how it influences our daily lives.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The reason for lower rating however, is due to how the material was presented. I felt like I was reading a text book, which at times, made it harder to get through certain sections. This personal feeling aside, I am walking away from this book knowing more about the power of memory and how it influences our daily lives.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
February 29, 2024
This brilliant book completely changed the way this reader will think about remembering.
Written by a clinical psychologist who is also a neurologist, the author offers a sweeping perspective on memory : what it is and how it works (or why we remember); how we use memory to orient ourselves, shaping our everyday identity and perceptions; and finally, how memory transcends the individual as it informs (or even misinforms) cultures, nations and social structures.
For this reader, this fascinating look at the mystery that is our mind, - past, present and future - is now forevermore tied up with the magic of memory, and the insights offered by this wonderful book.
Perhaps most enthralling of all is the most basic concept - the author’s clear and compelling explanation of the inner handshake between episodic memory (or memory of context-specific historical events), and our semantic memory (memory of facts, or general knowledge) when it comes to retrieving (or re-building) a memory.
When we retrieve a memory of an event from our past, the most advanced areas of our brain (the prefrontal cortex) engage the hippocampus (the memory coordinator) with a contextual cue, which begins the process of recreating a specific internal experience based on what we know and understand now (our semantic knowledge) of the people, places, and actions connected to the specific memory. This semantic knowledge is based on our current schemas - our blueprints for the world as we know it (today, in the present) - details of which are stored across our neocortex, and are continuously being modified as we learn and grow.
A memory is, in this way, our thinking about the past, but to our brain it is exactly as if we are re-experiencing it.
The implications of this are massive, - a memory is not a rewind of a static event, stored in its entirety in our head , but is a present day retelling, based on our current understanding of the world, and bits of context surrounding it. The memory is recast, uniquely, every time we remember, and is laid down anew. What we end up remembering then has everything to do with who we are (how we identify with the world); what we feel (our biases and emotions, particularly as related to the memory); our biology, health and functioning neurology; and scores of other factors we are just beginning to understand.
Memory, as the author explains it, is our consciousness - repositioned to a time and a place in the past. A prioritized bit of experience we have captured, (given our biological limitations ) because, for various reasons it was deemed important, and still is. So that we can understand our present world more broadly, (through our past), make predictions and set expectations for the future, inspire curiosity, be alerted to the unexpected, and be prepared to react accordingly.
With clarity and simplicity, the author tackles all these constructs and concepts (and more, so much more) shaping them into surprisingly understandable kernels of knowledge, woven into a broadly illuminating text that is quite literally mind-altering.
With so much to offer (and so much for this reader to learn) this brilliant book must and will be reread.
A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
Written by a clinical psychologist who is also a neurologist, the author offers a sweeping perspective on memory : what it is and how it works (or why we remember); how we use memory to orient ourselves, shaping our everyday identity and perceptions; and finally, how memory transcends the individual as it informs (or even misinforms) cultures, nations and social structures.
For this reader, this fascinating look at the mystery that is our mind, - past, present and future - is now forevermore tied up with the magic of memory, and the insights offered by this wonderful book.
Perhaps most enthralling of all is the most basic concept - the author’s clear and compelling explanation of the inner handshake between episodic memory (or memory of context-specific historical events), and our semantic memory (memory of facts, or general knowledge) when it comes to retrieving (or re-building) a memory.
When we retrieve a memory of an event from our past, the most advanced areas of our brain (the prefrontal cortex) engage the hippocampus (the memory coordinator) with a contextual cue, which begins the process of recreating a specific internal experience based on what we know and understand now (our semantic knowledge) of the people, places, and actions connected to the specific memory. This semantic knowledge is based on our current schemas - our blueprints for the world as we know it (today, in the present) - details of which are stored across our neocortex, and are continuously being modified as we learn and grow.
A memory is, in this way, our thinking about the past, but to our brain it is exactly as if we are re-experiencing it.
The implications of this are massive, - a memory is not a rewind of a static event, stored in its entirety in our head , but is a present day retelling, based on our current understanding of the world, and bits of context surrounding it. The memory is recast, uniquely, every time we remember, and is laid down anew. What we end up remembering then has everything to do with who we are (how we identify with the world); what we feel (our biases and emotions, particularly as related to the memory); our biology, health and functioning neurology; and scores of other factors we are just beginning to understand.
Memory, as the author explains it, is our consciousness - repositioned to a time and a place in the past. A prioritized bit of experience we have captured, (given our biological limitations ) because, for various reasons it was deemed important, and still is. So that we can understand our present world more broadly, (through our past), make predictions and set expectations for the future, inspire curiosity, be alerted to the unexpected, and be prepared to react accordingly.
With clarity and simplicity, the author tackles all these constructs and concepts (and more, so much more) shaping them into surprisingly understandable kernels of knowledge, woven into a broadly illuminating text that is quite literally mind-altering.
With so much to offer (and so much for this reader to learn) this brilliant book must and will be reread.
A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
May 9, 2024
[ audio ]
It was fine.
I been on a blah streak recently. It might be me. I don’t know.
It was fine.
I been on a blah streak recently. It might be me. I don’t know.
May 16, 2024
The human brain is not a memorization machine, it is a thinking machine.
January 24, 2024
Why We Remember is a well-researched, accessible explanation of how (and why) we form memories. The author combines study results and personal anecdotes to discuss long-term and short-term memories, the catalysts for creating, storing, and retrieving memories — and how common factors like stress and intense emotion likely bias what we remember.
In all, Why We Remember is a fascinating and deep dive into the brain and how it works. Scientists learn more every year about how the brain processes information — and this book explains the current thinking about how we form memories and how those memories then form us.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.
In all, Why We Remember is a fascinating and deep dive into the brain and how it works. Scientists learn more every year about how the brain processes information — and this book explains the current thinking about how we form memories and how those memories then form us.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.
February 23, 2024
Charan's writing is fantastic, and for a learning book he really comes with the receipts. The page count is a bit misleading if you think it's as long as it says because Bibliography (citing his sources) is very dense. So Goodreads is gonna award me with more pages real than in actuality lol. Props for it not being pretentious. I was recommended this on Apple Books and it delivered. This is a mildly entertaining read full of knowledge and it is not written by a snake oil salesman self help guru, but instead written by a lifelong scientist in his field with credibility. My doctor only talks to me for five minutes and tells me to take an Advil, but this guy wrote a book. Not like one's better or worse, of course.
March 27, 2024
I found this book fascinating and assume that almost all people who read would since this is about how memory works, when it doesn't work, and a bit about how it works - at least what is known at the present. This is explained in what I suspect at times is simplified but at a graspable level with examples from real life. When memory doesn't work as it should, there are also some examples and what was learned. I think the most reassuring aspect of this book is most of us are doing better than we think. Our little lapses are typical as memory was never meant to literally record everything. Given that memory is unreliable and this book gives some tips on verifying memories and realizing what influences memories. My rating is 5 stars because not only did I learn a lot, I know have interesting ideas to talk about from reading this.
June 24, 2024
I’m a sucker for anything about memory, with which I’ve been fascinated for decades. Charan Ranganath recounts much recent research showing that memory is far more than a record of the past. The book concerns how memories are formed and how they change over time, as well as imagination, deja vu, and false memories. Recalling the common sci-fi trope of traveling back in time to change the present, Ranganath shows that memory allows us to do exactly that. No, you can’t prevent an assassination or change your parents, but we can and do change ourselves as a result of how we remember.
Ranganath is a Professor of Psychology, faculty member of Center for Mind and Brain, and Director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at UC Davis. He’s also a good storyteller. Ranganath narrates the audiobook and is most pleasant to listen to.
If you’re not into audio, note that the Kindle edition is currently on sale for $5.99 (as of late June, 2024).
Ranganath is a Professor of Psychology, faculty member of Center for Mind and Brain, and Director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at UC Davis. He’s also a good storyteller. Ranganath narrates the audiobook and is most pleasant to listen to.
If you’re not into audio, note that the Kindle edition is currently on sale for $5.99 (as of late June, 2024).
March 12, 2024
4.5 stars. Interesting information that everyone should read! What we remember is not always accurate for many different reasons and explains why people confess when not committing a crime, we believe that things that never happened are real and why people may have certain beliefs about politicians…so much good stuff to contemplate.
Read
June 13, 2024The book is ok. Thnx for writing it!
Personally, I can't say I learned much. Most of the stuff in the book I already knew, or wasn't particularly impressive or groundbreaking.
My pet peeve is noticing how the author genuflects to the wokist orthodoxy of the day. Kinda like reading medieval texts and having to leaf through the proofs that the god "exists" in three hypostasis or math books from Soviet times spending a few pages on the soon to come world revolution.
Sad, but I guess that's just business as usual.
Personally, I can't say I learned much. Most of the stuff in the book I already knew, or wasn't particularly impressive or groundbreaking.
My pet peeve is noticing how the author genuflects to the wokist orthodoxy of the day. Kinda like reading medieval texts and having to leaf through the proofs that the god "exists" in three hypostasis or math books from Soviet times spending a few pages on the soon to come world revolution.
Sad, but I guess that's just business as usual.
February 16, 2024
"Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory’s Power to Hold On to What Matters" by Charan Ranganath is a captivating exploration of the intricate workings of human memory and its profound impact on our lives. In this insightful book, Ranganath, a leading neuroscientist, delves into the fascinating mechanisms behind how memories are formed, stored, and retrieved, offering readers a deeper understanding of this essential cognitive function.
One of the book's strengths lies in its accessibility. Ranganath adeptly translates complex scientific concepts into language that is both engaging and understandable for a wide audience. Whether discussing the role of neural networks in memory consolidation or the influence of emotions on recollection, he presents information in a clear and engaging manner, making it accessible to readers with varying levels of familiarity with neuroscience.
Moreover, "Why We Remember" is not merely a dry recitation of facts and theories; it is filled with real-world examples and anecdotes that bring the science to life. Through case studies and personal stories, Ranganath illustrates how memory shapes our identities, relationships, and sense of self. These narratives add depth and resonance to the book, making it a compelling read from start to finish.
Ultimately, "Why We Remember" offers more than just a scientific exploration of memory; it invites readers to reflect on the profound significance of memory in their own lives. By shedding light on the mysteries of memory, Ranganath empowers readers to harness its power to cherish the moments that matter most. Whether you're a student of neuroscience or simply curious about the inner workings of the mind, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.
One of the book's strengths lies in its accessibility. Ranganath adeptly translates complex scientific concepts into language that is both engaging and understandable for a wide audience. Whether discussing the role of neural networks in memory consolidation or the influence of emotions on recollection, he presents information in a clear and engaging manner, making it accessible to readers with varying levels of familiarity with neuroscience.
Moreover, "Why We Remember" is not merely a dry recitation of facts and theories; it is filled with real-world examples and anecdotes that bring the science to life. Through case studies and personal stories, Ranganath illustrates how memory shapes our identities, relationships, and sense of self. These narratives add depth and resonance to the book, making it a compelling read from start to finish.
Ultimately, "Why We Remember" offers more than just a scientific exploration of memory; it invites readers to reflect on the profound significance of memory in their own lives. By shedding light on the mysteries of memory, Ranganath empowers readers to harness its power to cherish the moments that matter most. Whether you're a student of neuroscience or simply curious about the inner workings of the mind, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.
March 10, 2024
Obviously inspired by his famous colleague Matthew Walker; Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams Ranganath gave it a go for memory research; as far as popular (neuro)science writing goes this is a rather average accomplishment; a well respected midlife professor recounts his way to his current tenured position citing his own work and undertaking myriad forays into the field of memory research, citing the at times underwhelming work of his national and international colleagues.
May 10, 2024
A bit too simplified but still interesting.
February 29, 2024
9/10
Wow, what a fun read about memory!
Ranganath starts the book with a simple explanation of how memory works and the neuroscience behind it. What I found particularly intriguing was Ranganath's emphasis not only on the significance of the hippocampus in memory but also on the pivotal role the prefrontal cortex plays in our memory processes. In my experience with other books on memory, authors often overlook the prefrontal cortex (PFC), so I valued Ranganath's thorough exploration of its functions.
- Note: there is obvious discussion about the neocortex's overall involvement in the memory process but this is the first time I've read a book where an Author gives sole praise and recognition to the PFC.
What fascinated me the most was the chapter on memory and imagination. The connection between memory and imagination is truly astonishing to me; our imagination is built upon our memory, and conversely, our memory is shaped by our imagination. In other words, we perceive events not as they actually occurred but rather as we imagined them to have happened.
I only have two pieces of criticism:
1. It would be nice to include a graphic of the brain for readers who are new to the subject, which based on his writing seems like that's his demographic.
2. At the beginning of the book, Ranganath distinguishes between why we remember and how we remember. He then proceeds to explain that the book primarily focuses on why we remember (hence the title). Personally, the book felt more like an exploration of "how we remember" rather than "why we remember." I understand that you can't discuss the "why" without first discussing the "how" but just an observation that I made while reading.
Overall, really interesting stuff. A great read if you're interested in learning more about memory and want an easily digestible book.
Wow, what a fun read about memory!
Ranganath starts the book with a simple explanation of how memory works and the neuroscience behind it. What I found particularly intriguing was Ranganath's emphasis not only on the significance of the hippocampus in memory but also on the pivotal role the prefrontal cortex plays in our memory processes. In my experience with other books on memory, authors often overlook the prefrontal cortex (PFC), so I valued Ranganath's thorough exploration of its functions.
- Note: there is obvious discussion about the neocortex's overall involvement in the memory process but this is the first time I've read a book where an Author gives sole praise and recognition to the PFC.
What fascinated me the most was the chapter on memory and imagination. The connection between memory and imagination is truly astonishing to me; our imagination is built upon our memory, and conversely, our memory is shaped by our imagination. In other words, we perceive events not as they actually occurred but rather as we imagined them to have happened.
I only have two pieces of criticism:
1. It would be nice to include a graphic of the brain for readers who are new to the subject, which based on his writing seems like that's his demographic.
2. At the beginning of the book, Ranganath distinguishes between why we remember and how we remember. He then proceeds to explain that the book primarily focuses on why we remember (hence the title). Personally, the book felt more like an exploration of "how we remember" rather than "why we remember." I understand that you can't discuss the "why" without first discussing the "how" but just an observation that I made while reading.
Overall, really interesting stuff. A great read if you're interested in learning more about memory and want an easily digestible book.
June 8, 2024
kind of a pop-science book that surveys old and new research about memory—something that particularly interest me because my memory is so god awful. (luckily for me, ranganath explains why remembering *everything* isn’t desirable.)
i was most interested in findings about memory’s connection to mental health and trauma; issues with AI and eyewitness testimony in identifying suspects (with disproportionately discriminatory effects on black americans); and tips on how to better remember stuff like where i put my frequently lost items and information retention for educational purposes. (friends studying for the bar: this book suggests that doing practice tests is more effective for learning than simply rereading notes repeatedly.)
i was most interested in findings about memory’s connection to mental health and trauma; issues with AI and eyewitness testimony in identifying suspects (with disproportionately discriminatory effects on black americans); and tips on how to better remember stuff like where i put my frequently lost items and information retention for educational purposes. (friends studying for the bar: this book suggests that doing practice tests is more effective for learning than simply rereading notes repeatedly.)
April 12, 2024
Summary:
Our memories profoundly shape our identities, relationships, and perception of reality – often without our conscious awareness. Factors such as attention, emotion, and context play key roles in memory formation. These mechanisms reveal why we retain vivid memories of some experiences and lose memories of others. Ultimately, embracing the social nature of memory and using strategies like retrieval practice can optimize our learning and help create a richer tapestry of shared human experiences.
Our memories profoundly shape our identities, relationships, and perception of reality – often without our conscious awareness. Factors such as attention, emotion, and context play key roles in memory formation. These mechanisms reveal why we retain vivid memories of some experiences and lose memories of others. Ultimately, embracing the social nature of memory and using strategies like retrieval practice can optimize our learning and help create a richer tapestry of shared human experiences.
June 24, 2024
Good on two levels.
Ranganath does a good job of laying out the differing but complementary roles of the Cortex and Hippocampus, though sometimes he dives a little more deeply into the research underlying his explanation.
For the layman like myself the areas he illuminated best were the degradation of memories over time, False Memories, the impact of memory on Learning, and Social Media’s effect on Memory. His conversational approach and use of storytelling made for an easy read.
Four stars. ****
Ranganath does a good job of laying out the differing but complementary roles of the Cortex and Hippocampus, though sometimes he dives a little more deeply into the research underlying his explanation.
For the layman like myself the areas he illuminated best were the degradation of memories over time, False Memories, the impact of memory on Learning, and Social Media’s effect on Memory. His conversational approach and use of storytelling made for an easy read.
Four stars. ****
June 25, 2024
(audiobook) Interesting read about what we know and still don't know about memory. Big takeaways were that context matters in determining what we remember and we are very susceptible to the spread of misinformation. I especially enjoyed the chapters on the treatment/management of intense emotions associated with the past, testing and learning, and sleep.
March 3, 2024
Although I am no doubt biased by my friendship with the author, I loved this well-written dive into both the history and present of memory research. Although the book provides an overview of many key scientific studies, it’s not hard to follow, and the author’s personal anecdotes are always illustrative of some key lesson about the brain’s inner workings.
Read
May 17, 2024DNF
Want to read
July 17, 2024The review to read is Dr. Jerome Groopman's at the NYer, May 20, 2024. Which the increasingly less-useful Google can't seem to find. I'll post a link later.
June 20, 2024
I did find some very useful information in this book, but I didn't enjoy the way the material flowed (or didn't). It seemed to oscillate between boring passages with little to hold onto and highly detailed passages where the details did not advance the topic - details such as how the author entered a room, sat down, and ate some rubbery sandwiches while waiting for a colleague.
April 9, 2024
78%
This book provides some valuable insights into the memory process and the anatomy of our brains versus how we function using these elements, it's very good.
I wish it included more details about the workings of the brain instead of using examples but, Pickers can't be choosers at least not every time.
Memory is for progression and survival, this is how advancement takes place otherwise you can't compound experiences.
This book provides some valuable insights into the memory process and the anatomy of our brains versus how we function using these elements, it's very good.
I wish it included more details about the workings of the brain instead of using examples but, Pickers can't be choosers at least not every time.
Memory is for progression and survival, this is how advancement takes place otherwise you can't compound experiences.
June 17, 2024
3.25...Somewhat textbookish, but I enjoyed reading it...just can't remember why! 🙂
March 11, 2024
I picked this book up at the library and as I finished it, I thought to myself, “it might be a good idea to buy this book as I’m not going to remember much otherwise.” It’s one to reread and understand. We all know that when you repeat something, the more memorable it is in our minds.
It seems like a lot of what he reveals in this book is what we already know. Yet, there’s more. The author uses scientific data along with thought-provoking examples making it compelling to read about how we go back into our past. He said, “We construct our sense of identity, in part, through memories shared with our family and friends, as well as the memories across from the same culture or nation…These memories are the lens through which we see our place in the world, as we come to terms with the past in order to make sense of the present.”
He talked about “fake news” and why it dangerously flows through the media. There was some information about how memory declines as we age – which I already know. He said, “Science is not about having all answers.” And there was a lot about why we easily recall events and remember some things and not others. At the end, there is an extensive list of notes and a bibliography for those that want to learn more. It’s very well written and one that may not help you remember but it’s certainly fascinating.
It seems like a lot of what he reveals in this book is what we already know. Yet, there’s more. The author uses scientific data along with thought-provoking examples making it compelling to read about how we go back into our past. He said, “We construct our sense of identity, in part, through memories shared with our family and friends, as well as the memories across from the same culture or nation…These memories are the lens through which we see our place in the world, as we come to terms with the past in order to make sense of the present.”
He talked about “fake news” and why it dangerously flows through the media. There was some information about how memory declines as we age – which I already know. He said, “Science is not about having all answers.” And there was a lot about why we easily recall events and remember some things and not others. At the end, there is an extensive list of notes and a bibliography for those that want to learn more. It’s very well written and one that may not help you remember but it’s certainly fascinating.
May 2, 2024
I've been interested in the subject of memory for a while now, having recently begun a deep dive into the subject. Part of this is a desire to understand my own story, and to even learn how tell my own story. Part of it is a desire to better understand reality, or our realities.
Ranganath wants to delve into the specific question, why we remember. Part of the issue with the book is that he seems to be torn between tackling the functional side of this question (the mechanics and the evolutionary reasons for why we remember) and the philosophical side of this question. The more he talks about the functional aspects, the more apparent it becomes that these things have real and important philosophical implications. And where he does delve into the philopshical, the more apparent it becomes that the functional side of this question is left without much to ground or direct it as a question of what matters. It is a weakness of a book that isn't, ironically, that clear on why it matters beyond the purely functional reality.
For example, right off the hop the acknowledgment is made that we are a product of our memories. Without this we would not have a sense of the self or the other, and without this we would not have a measure for our experiences of both suffering and pleasure. We would not exist as selves.
At the same time we are forced to confront the truth that our memories are not reliable and are based on demonstrably false ideas regarding our experiences. Which creates a point of crisis when it comes to defining a person, or even pointing towards the true value of our experiences.
To tackle this problem the author works to challenge some common perceptions of memory by redirecting our common understanding of concrete or true and false memories towards its plasticity and necessary adaptability. We should not be so concerned with how our memories capture a past event or experiences accurately, we should be more concerned with how our memories interact with the experiences of our present. Memory is not designed to stay static, it is designed to adapt through a process of necessary forgetting and re-contextualizing reformulizing.
In this sense, it is far less important for us as biological persons to have Polaroid memories that cannot lie, and far more important for memories to operate episodically. It is about the story our memories are telling in relationship to our present, precisely because this captures the most important component of our sense of self- our experiences, which are by their nature realities rooted in the present.
From here the author then moves into the different ways we can manipulate memory for our assumed benefit and flourishing. The author touches on the relationship between curiosity and the building of memory, on the ways different practices and medications can help us forget painful or tragic experiences while reframing such memories differently, or the practice of learning through failure rather than success (which also plays into how backwards our education system is when it comes to how it measures education).
It delves into some interesting observations as well relating to how the brain works in an interconnected fashion rather than, as common understandings often see it, through separate locations doing different functions (the wrong assumption about short and long term memories being stored in different places, for example). It also spends time looking at how our brains structure the information it turns into memories by blocking information together into manageable portions (think a phone number which we remember not as single digits but as a 3/4 blocking pattern). Or there is the way memory is formed and dictated by context and community. We are products of our environment.
All of it insightful, and at times practical. But I found myself at so many different points wondering how this information applies specifically to the problem of personhood and the self, especially in a world that has elevated a certain kind of truth to a postion of highest value. What we are discovering about memory flies in the face of much of modernity. This seems clear. And yet not even the author seems willing to acknowledge this head on. What we end up with is something that feels largely irrational, and even at times confusing on a philopshical level. Not only that, but it leaves one with a very real potential existential crisis. The sort that arises when we are forced to confront the functional reality of who we are while also being expected to give it meaning.
Why do we remember? The question also becomes why do we forget. Because memories shape our experiences in ways that bring joy or bring pain. With the recent and constantly emerging research on the function of memory comes an equal interest in its manipulation. Use a drug or a therapeutic process to reshape or forget painful memories. Use processes or drugs to change the episodic tale and trick it into telling a different story. And this is given meaning not only because it allows us to avoid the assumed downside of existence (pain and suffering, because if we don't remember it we don't experience it), but because it then becomes our experience, and thus becomes a certain kind of truth that is given ultimate value. To safeguard this against what we might call social harms, we apply social or cultural memory, which is that the select ones with power shape the collective memories.
It all left me with a good deal to wrestle with of course, and some good information. But this wrestling has to be done philosophically without the aid of the author's own voice. For anyone interested in the subject of memory it is a decent work that brings the different discussions to the table, which is good. And it can help, beyond the practical elements, bring to light the philopshical problems. I simply would have liked it to be more focused in either of these areas so that it could perhaps be a bit more honest about why it matters.
February 21, 2024
An overview of recent-ish research into memory and how different types of memory work in the conversational style that's become the way medical writers write, often including a lot of personal detail and pop culture references. I was turned off by the inclusion of a quote from antisemitic rocker Johnny Rotten and the author's uncritical promotion of Joseph Campbell's work, which has a decidedly and problematic male, Western viewpoint.
March 19, 2024
I should have written my review earlier, but the good news is that fact that I don't remember everything about the book is normal according to the book, at least I think that is what I remember.
May 15, 2024
Biological forces of human memory
This is the author’s debut book that reflects on his passion for the neuroscience of human memory. His work is recounted with enthusiasm especially on his interactions with his patients in a clinical setting. Each chapter is a testament to the importance of neurobiological and neuropsychological research that sheds light on how our past shapes our current reality. There are hidden forces of memory behind our perception of the present. There is also a discussion of how memories are integrated with the memory of others. Humans have episodic memory for specific events or experiences, and semantic memory of facts and derived knowledge. Memory is not a unitary process, but it is due to specific regions of brain working together: The hippocampus and surrounding medial temporal lobe structures are primarily responsible for the episodic memory and retrieval. Memory provides us with a storehouse of knowledge and past experiences that we can draw upon to solve problems and navigate new challenges in an ever-changing world. The author also argues that forgetting isn't a failure of memory, but it is a mechanism that allows our brains to prioritize information that helps us navigate and make sense of the world. Thus, making mindful choices in the present to curate a set of memories to move forward into the future.
Memory, in its various forms across different organisms, has significant evolutionary implications. The ability to retain and utilize information about past experiences for survival and adaptation in changing environments. In terms of evolution, memory may be a product of natural selection, where organisms that possess memory-related capabilities have a competitive advantage over those that do not. In animals, memory allows for the retention of knowledge about food sources, predators, mating opportunities, social interactions, and communication. This knowledge improves an individual's chances of survival, reproduction, and success of their species. For example, mammals coexisted with dinosaurs for over 150 million years. They evolved from a group of reptiles called therapsids during the Mesozoic Era (225 million years ago): Part of their successful survival is due to the memory capabilities that provided them competitive advantages over dinosaurs.
The author could have devoted a separate chapter about the memories in non-human species. Insects with simple nervous systems have demonstrated memory capabilities: Honeybees remember the location of food sources and communicate this information to their hive mates through complex dances. Fruit flies and ants can remember specific routes or locations. Octopuses have advanced nervous systems and complex behaviors. They learn from experience, remember solutions to problems, and recognize individual humans. They have the ability to navigate mazes, solve puzzles, manipulate objects, and use simple tools. They have a single centralized brain located in their head and clusters of neurons known as ganglia distributed throughout their body which perform information processing independently without the participation of brain. The mechanisms of memory formation are an evolutionary process, and it is interesting to relate complex humans’ system with other species.
The author is a psychologist who has investigated how individuals acquire, retain, and recall information by examining factors such as attention, perception, and rehearsal strategies. It is rather an insecure feeling for many neurologists and psychologists like him with the emerging field of plant neurobiology that do not have nervous system, but evidence has been presented in peer reviewed journals to demonstrate that plants have a memory. One of the confounding aspects of this book is the title. “Why we remember” rather than “How we remember.” Science can answer the latter, the former is a harder question to answer since that requires the details of evolutionary challenges presented to the species before humans.
This is the author’s debut book that reflects on his passion for the neuroscience of human memory. His work is recounted with enthusiasm especially on his interactions with his patients in a clinical setting. Each chapter is a testament to the importance of neurobiological and neuropsychological research that sheds light on how our past shapes our current reality. There are hidden forces of memory behind our perception of the present. There is also a discussion of how memories are integrated with the memory of others. Humans have episodic memory for specific events or experiences, and semantic memory of facts and derived knowledge. Memory is not a unitary process, but it is due to specific regions of brain working together: The hippocampus and surrounding medial temporal lobe structures are primarily responsible for the episodic memory and retrieval. Memory provides us with a storehouse of knowledge and past experiences that we can draw upon to solve problems and navigate new challenges in an ever-changing world. The author also argues that forgetting isn't a failure of memory, but it is a mechanism that allows our brains to prioritize information that helps us navigate and make sense of the world. Thus, making mindful choices in the present to curate a set of memories to move forward into the future.
Memory, in its various forms across different organisms, has significant evolutionary implications. The ability to retain and utilize information about past experiences for survival and adaptation in changing environments. In terms of evolution, memory may be a product of natural selection, where organisms that possess memory-related capabilities have a competitive advantage over those that do not. In animals, memory allows for the retention of knowledge about food sources, predators, mating opportunities, social interactions, and communication. This knowledge improves an individual's chances of survival, reproduction, and success of their species. For example, mammals coexisted with dinosaurs for over 150 million years. They evolved from a group of reptiles called therapsids during the Mesozoic Era (225 million years ago): Part of their successful survival is due to the memory capabilities that provided them competitive advantages over dinosaurs.
The author could have devoted a separate chapter about the memories in non-human species. Insects with simple nervous systems have demonstrated memory capabilities: Honeybees remember the location of food sources and communicate this information to their hive mates through complex dances. Fruit flies and ants can remember specific routes or locations. Octopuses have advanced nervous systems and complex behaviors. They learn from experience, remember solutions to problems, and recognize individual humans. They have the ability to navigate mazes, solve puzzles, manipulate objects, and use simple tools. They have a single centralized brain located in their head and clusters of neurons known as ganglia distributed throughout their body which perform information processing independently without the participation of brain. The mechanisms of memory formation are an evolutionary process, and it is interesting to relate complex humans’ system with other species.
The author is a psychologist who has investigated how individuals acquire, retain, and recall information by examining factors such as attention, perception, and rehearsal strategies. It is rather an insecure feeling for many neurologists and psychologists like him with the emerging field of plant neurobiology that do not have nervous system, but evidence has been presented in peer reviewed journals to demonstrate that plants have a memory. One of the confounding aspects of this book is the title. “Why we remember” rather than “How we remember.” Science can answer the latter, the former is a harder question to answer since that requires the details of evolutionary challenges presented to the species before humans.
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