Why We Remember: Revealing the Hidden Power of Memory

The New York Times bestseller! Memory is far more than an archive of the past. This groundbreaking book by pioneering Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology, Dr. Charan Ranganath, reveals the powerful role memory plays in nearly every aspect of our lives. We talk about memory as a record of the past, but here's a surprising twist: we aren't supposed to remember everything. In fact, we're designed to forget. Combining fascinating tales of the peculiarities of memory as well as cutting-edge science, Dr. Ranganath shows 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 guide our futures. Memory shapes how we experience the world, and it does that in often invisible, active and sometimes destructive ways. Dr. Ranganath argues that we can use this knowledge to make better use of our flawed memories, whether in daily tasks like finding our keys or dealing with memory loss as we age. What's more, when we work with the brain's ability to learn and reinterpret past events, we can shed our biases, learn faster and heal after grief or trauma. This is a vital, accessible guide to understanding memory's quirks - and its power. By examining the role that attention, intention, imagination and emotion play in the storing of memories, it provides a vital user's guide to remembering what we hold most dear. 'Radically new and engaging.' - Matthew Walker. 'Not only will every reader remember better afterward, they'll also never forget this life-changing book.' - Siddhartha Mukherjee. 'Ranganath turns much of what we think we know about memory on its head.' - Daniel J. Levitin.