This brief and focused book about memory is a nice introduction (or reminder) about the fallibility of memory, but delves into the science of the brain and making memories or remembering things.

Genova focuses on the types of memory like episodic memory and short-term memory including case studies of people that have deviancies related to it as a way to study and learn. She also presents the most recent information about Alzheimer's because more are being affected personally (as the dementia-sufferer) or the caretakers for them and how that is the same but different from memory loss itself. I liked that she was concise, but used examples and wrote to the layperson, not the academic. She gave examples, presented ideas, and then reinforced them later in the book which I was appreciative of.

Neuroscientist and best selling fiction author Lisa Genova has moved away from novels with this nonfiction look at memory. Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting delves deep into how memories are made and how to retain the most of what we learn. Genova goes through the realities of forgetting, especially the distinction between normal and abnormal memory lapses. With an emphasis on stressors that can affect remembering, the author helps with strategies and tricks for retention.

The most helpful part of this book is the Appendix, where the author goes through all of the information in the book and summarizes it for easy reference. I can see myself using the end of the book as a memory test.

To that end, I wish that the author had included more memory checks, not unlike ones that a neurologist might give to a patient. This addition would have made Remember more usable as a reference.

Overall, Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting is a great book for those who are worried about whether their forgetfulness is normal or a sign of something more ominous. I would recommend this book to other readers and I look forward to reading more by author Lisa Genova in the future.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting by NetGalley and the publisher. The choice to review this nonfiction book was entirely my own.

This was a very interesting peek behind the curtain of how memories work - or, perhaps more precisely, DON'T work. It was a little more self-help and repetitive than I would have preferred... I do understand that the repetition is most likely a deliberate reinforcing of her specific messages about how to make things stick in our memories, but it made for a more laborious read than I anticipated given her writing style. I also appreciate that many people will likely find the "how-to" tips on improving the likelihood of creating lasting memories - but that wasn't why I read this. I was looking for the why more than the how... Still, if you're interested in knowing why things don't stick and memory fails us more often than not (which is not a fault of our memory, most of the time, but rather our attention and failure to create a viable memory), it's a very interesting read.

If you are like me, you are constantly wondering if your memory is going. I forget what I was doing when I walked into a room, I didn't remember that item at the grocery store. This book taught me this is all normal. She explains why we forget things like this. The author, Lisa Genova also gives you tips on how to improve your memory and also tells you what will and won't help your memory. Additionally, she talks about Alzheimer's Disease, what causes it and how to prevent it. As a psych major I found this book so interesting and as the book illustrated, I won't remember everything I read, so I will definitely read it again at some point!

I really enjoyed reading this informative book- I want to get that in print before I forget.......(heehee)
Remember gives important insight to the very complicated topic of memory and memory loss.. I very much appreciate Lisa Geneva’s humourous approach to such an important subject. I highly recommend Remember as informative and important reading for everyone.
Many thanks to Lisa Genova, Rodale Inc., and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Do you ever walk into a room & forget why you’re there? Why do you have trouble remembering peoples’ names? Are you growing increasingly concerned that your memory slips may be early signs of Alzheimer’s? These are only some of the issues addressed in Lisa Genova’s new book Remember. This book contains lots of examples of memory problems & the impact on memory as we age. It has plenty of science, but reads like a conversation with a friend, who happens to be a neuroscientist. It is a book that helps you understand what memory is, different types of memory, how to strengthen memory, and how memory changes as you age. Ms. Genova includes information on Alzheimer’s which helps contrast more typical memory changes. Overall, an informative, easy to read book with lots of great, useful information. Thanks to NetGalley & Harmony for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#netgalley #remember

I love this author’s writing style and have enjoyed her novels dealing with neurological conditions. But I did struggle to get through her first novel, Still Alice, only because the subject matter of Alzheimer’s hit close to home. My once vibrant and dynamic grandmother suffered from that heartbreaking disease. Still Alice was a very emotional read. But now, after reading this author’s nonfiction book about memory, it actually eased my ever growing fears and concerns about Alzheimer’s.

This was not your typical nonfiction book about memory. It was extremely well written with details that were supported by many relatable examples and anecdotes. The tone was quite conversational not clinical. This was what made this nonfiction read so engaging and interesting- and yet very educational.


An ARC was given in exchange for an honest review.

5.0 stars

I received a complimentary Kindle copy of this book from Harmony through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Lisa Genova, Harmony, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

As a soon to be SIXTY-year-old woman (YIKES!), I was so eager to read this book to learn more about how memory and how the brain works. This is author Lisa Genova's first non-fiction book and it is FABULOUS and INFORMATIVE!! The biggest takeaways for me are that it is normal to forget WHERE our cell phone is, but not WHAT a cell phone is!! That is huge as I know that I forget where my cell phone is frequently in the houses (I can call it and find it), but my glasses don't have that "call it" feature (I now have a case in my bedroom AND the living room so I can put them "away" which has helped a lot). Also, as a person who always writes to-do lists and adds tons of reminders to my calendar, it was good to know that it was A-OKAY to do this!! Also, she talked about supplements, brain games, and how to strengthen the brain to avoid Alzheimer's disease. It was just a jam-packed book full of good information about memory and brain health!!

All in all, it was a very easy-to-read book about a VERY heavy topic. I thoroughly enjoyed Lisa's style of writing in this book - it was as if she was talking directly to me while having her "special" Chai drink. This book is a great one to read if you want to know more about memory, brain disease, and how to improve in these areas. For me, I am definitely going to start walking again - it is good to know that it is good for my brain as well as the rest of me!!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND - 5 stars!!!! This non-fiction book was just as good as her fiction books!! Read it and be relieved about YOUR memory and brain health.

Lisa Genova has always written memorable books including the brain and it was wonderful to read this non-fiction title. The book was written casually and was easy to read. Our brain is fascinating and holds so many answers, Why do we remember all those little unimportant details from our past but can't remember the notes from my class? This book looks into the science of how we remember, how our brains store memories and recall information. A truly fascinating book.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I am a big fan of Lisa Genova. I love her writing and am always so moved and fascinated by her books. She is so talented at telling a great story, bringing the characters to life, and giving the reader a look into situations and experiences that we may not have any personal experience with. I absolutely loved Still Alice and since reading it, grab anything by her that I can get my hands on. I was so thrilled to be given the opportunity to read her new book, Remember, even though it wasn't one of her fictional stories.
Remember is a non-fictional book about memory and how our minds work to remember and to forget things. I was fascinated throughout the entire book and kept stopping after each chapter to tell my husband what I was learning. It was so interesting and insightful and written in a way that was pleasing to read and easy to understand. I learned so much and am anxious to put into practice some of the memory techniques discussed. I was very grateful for the summary notes at the end to review what was covered in the book. (Things are forgotten without actively making a memory and putting the memory to use! )

This was an awesome book about remembering and the how and why around it.

I remember very little. From childhood through adulthood and this book did give me a little insight on why that is.

Why only 3 stars? For me, it read too much like a text book (which, I guess it is).

Many thanks to Netgalley and Rodale Inc Harmony for this advanced readers copy. This book is scheduled to release in March 2021.

Lisa Genova is one of my favorite authors, so when I saw this book, I immediately requested it from NetGalley. I will be honest and say that I did not even bother looking at the synopsis or the genre, I just knew I would love any book that Lisa Genova writes. It was a bit surprising when I started to read and realized that it was a non-fiction text! What an amazing writer – she can write great fiction and nonfiction!

There were so many takeaways from this book that it would be impossible to list them all, but I will start off by speaking about a few key thoughts that have struck a chord with me. Mainly? Just because you “forget” something does not mean that you are losing your memory or are on the path to dementia. Many times, it’s because we are simply not paying enough attention or not making the thought meaningful enough to remember.

For example (this is a similar one to one given in the book), when I was invited to see my future husband before we even began dating to a group birthday celebration at the Cheesecake Factory, I was ecstatic. I never go to the salon, but I got my hair done, had a cute new outfit, and was ready to see this guy I’ve been crushing on. I vaguely remember parking my car in a multi-level parking garage and hurried to see this cutie again. After hours of hanging out, he and his friend (now my friend, too) offered to walk me to my car when low and behold, I had no clue where I parked it. We looked for several minutes on different levels in the parking garage. Eventually, we found it, but it took a lot longer than necessary if only I “remembered” where I parked it. Now, according to the author, I didn’t actually forget where I parked. I simply wasn’t paying enough attention and therefore did not actually make a memory of it, so how could I have forgotten? I love this idea because it makes me feel better when I don’t remember certain things, so thank you Lisa Genova!

Along with tidbits like these, the author shares ways we can help to remember better. She claims doing puzzles will not help improve memory in general. They may help improve the way you do the puzzles or remembering different facts (in crosswords, for example), but not necessarily your memory in general. She shared several suggestions. The ones I like and am planning on trying are: making lists, using reminders/calendar app on your phone, attaching an emotion to a memory, do things out of the ordinary, sleep better, do some yoga/meditation every day, continue to learn, and attach crazy images to things you want to make sure you don’t forget. Most importantly, don’t stress over the things I may have forgotten. There’s no use in it, and chronic stress will only lead us down a path closer and faster to Alzheimer’s. All we can do is learn for next time to improve.

The author also included interesting experiments that have been done in regards to memory. I won’t give away too much, but sometimes we can be convinced something is a memory when it really isn’t. We were just told it was true, and we end up believing it…that is crazy to me!

Though there are some scientific jargon that I definitely won’t remember, the author breaks it down and uses simple language as well. In fact, at the end she gives a summary/highlights of things to remember from the book because she knows that it would be nearly impossible to remember everything she has written. She’s so good!

Overall, this was a text that I loved reading and can see myself revisiting certain chapters. It also turned out to be a partial self-help book, which I totally appreciated! I would recommend this read to those who would like to read about how and why we remember things in a comprehensive way.

There's not too much to say, except this book is truly a wonderful read, even if you are not normally a nonfiction reader. Lisa Genova presented the topics of cognitive science (brain function, memory, Alzheimer's, etc) in such a way that anyone could understand and retain the information.

I'm thoroughly impressed, and will expect to reference this book quite often in the future. An easy 5 star read.

Thank you to Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC of this book.

As a psychologist with 30+ experience teaching and doing research in medical schools, I found this book refreshing, intentional and useful. As a daughter of a mother who died from complications of Alzheimer’s and the wife of person with Parkinson’s, I recommend it highly.

Dr. Genova has taken the complicated field of memory, explained it in practical and easily understandable terms, and generated a list of recommendations for improving or repairing our memory function. In addition, she is encouraging to those of us who worry about normal memory dysfunction and affirms the truth that “you don’t need memory to love and feel loved.”

Divided in three parts, we find descriptions of studies and experiences of how we remember as she walks through the structures of the brain in terms we understand such as our brain as Wikipedia and identifies the types of memories—episodic (stories), emotional, and spatial. We learn about why we forget demonstrated by that all too common Tip of the Tongue experience, the importance of using tools such as calendars and photo albums to supplement memories stored in the brain. I remember my mom relying on a flip calendar and when someone took it from her she cried, “but you took all my memories.” This introduction to the brain and Alzheimer’s is solidly scientific yet readable. And finally, she gives us a list of memory improvement strategies—those alone are worth buying the book. I now will start drinking coffee, be more faithful in taking that Vitamin D, sleep more and probably learn to play the piano.

Throughout the book one is taken through psychological and medical studies to support her concepts and also enjoys writing that includes humor, refreshing personal stories, and a love of persons no matter how forgetful they may be. This book augments Dr. Genova’s previous work and is a worthwhile read for brain experts and novices alike.

I have read all of Lisa Genova's fiction books and enjoyed every one. When I saw that she had written a nonfiction book, I was quite eager to see if it was as readable and intriguing as her fiction - and it did not disappoint. As a neuroscientist, she certainly has the scientific background to write this book, and as an author of fiction, she has the ability to write a book that is enjoyable to read! Winning combination!

This book points out a number of important things to remember about memory - one of the things I found most helpful was her discussion of how sometimes we don't "forget" something - we just never made a memory of it in the first place. Her example of parking in a parking garage in a big hurry and rushing away to an appointment made a lot of sense. When she returned, she couldn't remember where her car was, not because she forgot, but because she didn't pay attention in the first place and never made a memory of the parking spot. This made so much sense, both in terms of explaining things and as a way of making sure I make a memory of anything important. I may wander around, doing various things and setting my book down somewhere along the way, without paying any attention - and sure enough, a couple hours later, I have to hunt for the book. I came away from this being more careful to pay attention to what I'm doing and to establish practices, like always leaving my keys and wallet in a basket by the front door.

Another great feature of this book is reassurance. For those of us getting older, it's always a little troubling when we can't remember something that we know full well that we do know. Immediate thoughts of dementia hit. Ms. Genova explains the process and also explains why we forget things, and that much of this has nothing to do with dementia. Very comforting to read about the difference.

This book is an enjoyable and informative read. It's not necessarily new information - I've certainly seen bits and pieces of it elsewhere - but it pulls together a lot of good information in one readable package!

Remember is a nonfiction book by neuroscientist and author Lisa Genova about memories and the brain. She discusses how the brains of people with Alzheimer's work as well as why we remember traumatic experiences, like exactly where we were when 9/11 happened, but not what we ate for dinner last Wednesday. This is because the routine things in our lives are just that - routine, nothing special, and when something out of the ordinary happens, we are most likely to remember it. An in depth look at the brain and our memories, this book definitely piqued my interest and made me want to learn more.

I thoroughly enjoyed that his book was a scientific explanation of how memory and remembering works, without being dull, long, and boring. This quick read left me with so much knowledge and I keep thinking about it as I find myself in many different situations involving memory daily.

ever feel like your cerebral cortex just ain’t working? or you can’t remember the name of that girl you were obsessed with in middle school? or maybe you’re that cool kid who memorized every lyric to Tswift’s debut album. perhaps you can recite the Shane Co diamond ad on demand.
our memories make us who we are & what we forget makes us human... 🤓

this kickass nonfiction book details both the physiological and the personal aspects of memory. you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how our brain encodes meaning, retrieves information and stores emotion. this book is full of legit science, helpful tricks & interesting little stories. honestly, I wish it were longer. I especially enjoyed the section on remodeling our episodic memories every time we recalled them.

I honestly stopped reading every 5-10 minutes to share a sick fact out loud with my husband (much to his dismay).

Thank you for the opportunity to read/review "Remember" by Lisa Genova. This is the 3rd of Genova's works I've read, but the first non-fiction. I must say that I'm really pleased. Genova has taken complex topics and presented them in a way that is intriguing and informative to people across a variety of backgrounds. I was more familiar than many would be with some of what she wrote about, and yet I never found myself bored in her writing. Impressive! I don't have a specific course that this works for, but I'll certainly suggest it to students who show and interest in neurology and memory.

I am a huge fan of Lisa Genova. Her fictional books include a plethora of medical information surrounding a fictional story filled with love and compassion.

Remember is a very different book and yet filled with such personal antidotes and information on how our brains work and what is happening when they don't. Ms. Genova brings real-life experiences allowing the reader to understand how our memories are formed, where they reside, and why they sometimes evade us. Sometimes we think our focus is where it should be but, in reality, it's not. Lisa Genova did not disappoint in this non-fiction book. A great read for anyone of any age. After all, we could all use assistance with our memories not matter what stage of life we are in.