The Memory Illusion: Remembering, Forgetting, and the Science of False Memory
Jun 2016 · Random House
4.3star
7 reviewsreport
Ebook
304
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
reportRatings and reviews aren’t verified Learn More
About this ebook
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
'Truly fascinating.' Steve Wright, BBC Radio 2
- Have you ever forgotten the name of someone you’ve met dozens of times?
- Or discovered that your memory of an important event was completely different from everyone else’s?
- Or vividly recalled being in a particular place at a particular time, only to discover later that you couldn’t possibly have been?
We rely on our memories every day of our lives. They make us who we are. And yet the truth is, they are far from being the accurate record of the past we like to think they are. In The Memory Illusion, forensic psychologist and memory expert Dr Julia Shaw draws on the latest research to show why our memories so often play tricks on us – and how, if we understand their fallibility, we can actually improve their accuracy. The result is an exploration of our minds that both fascinating and unnerving, and that will make you question how much you can ever truly know about yourself. Think you have a good memory? Think again.
'A spryly paced, fun, sometimes frightening exploration of how we remember – and why everyone remembers things that never truly happened.' Pacific Standard
'Truly fascinating.' Steve Wright, BBC Radio 2
- Have you ever forgotten the name of someone you’ve met dozens of times?
- Or discovered that your memory of an important event was completely different from everyone else’s?
- Or vividly recalled being in a particular place at a particular time, only to discover later that you couldn’t possibly have been?
We rely on our memories every day of our lives. They make us who we are. And yet the truth is, they are far from being the accurate record of the past we like to think they are. In The Memory Illusion, forensic psychologist and memory expert Dr Julia Shaw draws on the latest research to show why our memories so often play tricks on us – and how, if we understand their fallibility, we can actually improve their accuracy. The result is an exploration of our minds that both fascinating and unnerving, and that will make you question how much you can ever truly know about yourself. Think you have a good memory? Think again.
'A spryly paced, fun, sometimes frightening exploration of how we remember – and why everyone remembers things that never truly happened.' Pacific Standard
Ratings and reviews
4.3
7 reviews
Stephen
- Flag inappropriate
December 16, 2016
This is a well thought out, enjoyable read. Being in the field of psychology myself, and having heard brief examples of false memories, I had found there are surprisingly few books on the topic. The author has an excellent way of describing the false memory phenomenon in a thorough, but not boring way. For those of you who enjoy details, it's all there. But also she can explain complex terms in a surprisingly simple way. I can literally explain false memories to my grandmother now.
Brian Hughes
- Flag inappropriate
October 25, 2016
This is well written and interesting read.
About the author
Dr Julia Shaw is a psychological scientist in the Department of Law and Social Sciences at London South Bank University. She is best known for her work in the area of false memories – memories of things that never actually happened. She regularly consults as a memory expert in legal cases, and has given talks to businesses, the police and the military on how to avoid common memory mistakes. Her work has been featured in publications including the Guardian, The Times, the Daily Mail and the New Yorker, and she writes regularly for Scientific American.
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
