Why We Remember

Charan Ranganath is the Director of the Memory and Plasticity Program and a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of California at Davis. He also the Director of the University of California at Davis' Dynamic Memory Lab a world-leading research laboratory. Ranganath is a pioneer in the use of brain imaging techniques like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the mechanisms in the brain that allow us to remember past events. <br><br>His work has been recognised with numerous awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Leverhulme Professorship at the University of Cambridge. He lives in California. <b>The<i> New York Times </i>bestselling radical reexamination of memory by the pioneering neuroscientist and internationally-renowned memory researcher.</b> A radically new and engaging explanation of how and why we remember. More than just a record of our past Dr. Ranganath shows us that memories are deeply involved in the present and a path toward an anticipated future . . . a tour de force of both individual and collective importance. Just fabulous. There are so many fresh insights about a topic we all deeply care about . . . You learn that you don't have to be a victim to your past and the way you used to think - you have agency because of the fact that the brain can change . . . A wonderful book. Illuminating. Popular science at its best: entertaining thought-provoking and an encouragement to the reader to keep an open mind. Clever insightful and humorous . . . The most significant lesson is that we need not be prisoners to our incompletely remembered past. Entertaining and clarifying . . . vividly paints the intellectual history of the science of memory . . . What's most compelling about <i>Why We Remember</i> is that it offers a scientifically robust rationale to accept with grace that no matter what happens in this new world we will not remember everything we want. A smart wide-ranging account of the purpose of memory and how it shapes our world . . . if you only read one more book about memory this is a smart choice . . . <i>Why We Remember </i>will leave you better informed and less distressed about forgetting why you wandered into a room. It will also have you itching to share: after all what researchers now know about our memory flaws and all has far-reaching implications for law medicine education social care well-being and understanding who we are . . . [Ranganath] does what many experts can't: he tells a story that is thorough and entertaining giving a sense of the enormity of the field and most importantly the issues raised . . . this excellent summary will bring you completely up to date and to the heart of how memory shapes our perceptions interactions choices and even our sense of identity . . . a more nuanced view of what we do remember and why. Like all the best examples of popular science Dr Ranganath's book not only presents a radically new way to think about human memory but also makes the complex subject deceptively easy to understand. Ranganath turns much of what we think we know about memory on its head . . . [he] is a master explainer and storyteller. Why We Remember is a complete much needed appealing poetic and practical view of the field of memory - and there is no one better positioned than Ranganath to guide readers on a tour of this inner landscape. This book shows us how understanding the brain can help us change minds for the better. By giving us a clear map of memory we are better able to take charge of our lives learn from the mistakes of the past make better decisions in the present and positively predict our futures <i>Why We Remember</i> is terrific. Ranganath balances original first-class science with lighter more personal writing. This will be a mind-changing read for anyone who wants to better understand and use their own brain. Charan Ranganath's <i>Why We Remember</i> is an extraordinary exploration of the hidden labyrinths of human memory; a mind-altering journey that will reshape your perspective on your own memory. Not only will every reader remember better afterward they'll also never forget this life-changing book. There is no one on earth who could share the recent achievements in the study of human memory better than Charan Ranganath. His familiarity with the groundbreaking research combined with his own innovative experiments makes him unmatched for the task of sharing this knowledge with the general public. With a passion for communication and sharing of knowledge and the ability to take a broad perspective he is the ideal person to write this book. <b>AN INSTANT <i>NEW YORK TIMES </i>BESTSELLER</b><br><br><b>'Radically new and engaging.' MATTHEW WALKER</b><br><br><b>'Not only will every reader remember better afterward they'll also never forget this life-changing book.' SIDDHARTHA MUKHERJEE</b><br><b></b><br><b>'Ranganath turns much of what we think we know about memory on its head.' DANIEL J. LEVITIN</b><br><b></b><br><b>'Just fabulous . . . You learn that you don't have to be a victim to your past and the way you used to think - you have agency because of the fact that the brain can change.' DR RANGAN CHATTERJEE</b><br><br><b>---</b><br><br><b>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.</b><br><br>Over the course of twenty-five years Charan Ranganath has studied the seemingly selective and unreliable nature of human memory to find that our brains haven't evolved to keep a comprehensive record of events but to extract the information needed to guide our futures.<br><br>Using fascinating case studies and testimonies <i>Why We Remember </i>unveils the principles behind what and why we forget and shines new light on the silent pervasive influence of memory on how we learn heal and make decisions. 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.