Memory is far more than a record of the past. In this groundbreaking tour of the mind and brain one of the worlds 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. Whats more when we work with the brains 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 Ranganaths 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.
