The Memory Illusion: Remembering, Forgetting, and the Science of False Memory

(Paperback)

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A fascinating exploration of the fallibility of memory and how easily our brains can be misled. 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

Reviews

Truly fascinating. -- Steve Wright, BBC Radio 2
Shaws debut book is a spryly paced, fun, sometimes frightening exploration of how we remember and why everyone remembers things that never truly happened Her book is equal parts breezy guide through the recent lessons weve learned about memory, and a loving tribute to the sometimes eccentric researchers who toiled away in the laboratory to uncover them Shaw's quirky charm enlivens the book throughout. * Pacific Standard *
Illuminating and instructive * The Tablet *

Author Bio

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.