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aliciagriggs's review against another edition
4.0
I started reading this book over 3.5 years ago, but wavered in my attention (not because it wasn't interesting, but I'm simply more of a fiction girl). I finally read it from the start and pleased I did. It's a fascinating read that made me feel disconcerted and reassured all in one. We can't trust our memory is the key takeaway. But don't take my word for it, I may have remembered the book incorrectly...
If you're interested in psychology, sociology, or simply how the memory works, this will be a good book to read. There were parts I didn't find too interesting, or that simply went on too long, but overall it was well-paced and held my attention.
If you're interested in psychology, sociology, or simply how the memory works, this will be a good book to read. There were parts I didn't find too interesting, or that simply went on too long, but overall it was well-paced and held my attention.
toniclark's review against another edition
5.0
It’s a little scary to think of how much of our past is probably fictional — especially since our sense of self very much depends on our memories. It’s equally scary to think about what or who we’d be without them. This book draws together many different lines of memory research, including studies of false memories, cognitive biases, flashbulb memories. It’s amazing how prone to errors, both small and large, our memories are. And it’s sobering to consider the implications for eyewitness testimony and the criminal justice system. Shaw is not only a memory researcher herself, but also a criminal psychologist. In this book, she draws on psychology, neuroscience, and criminology to illustrate the many different kinds of memory errors we can and do make all the time and why it’s natural to do so.
The book does lead us to question our own histories and raises some fascinating questions about our constructions of reality. It can also make us more tolerant of others’ memory mistakes and a little less likely to insist, when we disagree with someone else’s recollection of events, that our own version is the true one.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Siri Steinmo, was just wonderful. I usually prefer books read by the author for they are much more likely to sound like someone talking to me than someone reading to me. But this one is an exception. I noted a few mispronounced words, but they’re not frequent enough to worry over. A fascinating read or listen!
The book does lead us to question our own histories and raises some fascinating questions about our constructions of reality. It can also make us more tolerant of others’ memory mistakes and a little less likely to insist, when we disagree with someone else’s recollection of events, that our own version is the true one.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Siri Steinmo, was just wonderful. I usually prefer books read by the author for they are much more likely to sound like someone talking to me than someone reading to me. But this one is an exception. I noted a few mispronounced words, but they’re not frequent enough to worry over. A fascinating read or listen!
rfw262's review against another edition
3.0
Made me realize that I've over estimated my ability to remember things.
traceyo's review against another edition
3.0
My mother's memory is vanishing, which makes me more curious about memory research.
This particular book isn't the kind that grips you from beginning to end and there wasn't much that was new or surprising for me. It will, however, become a "jumping-off point" of reference if I need to do memory research in the future. There are many, many studies mentioned ... which also makes it a bit dry.
This particular book isn't the kind that grips you from beginning to end and there wasn't much that was new or surprising for me. It will, however, become a "jumping-off point" of reference if I need to do memory research in the future. There are many, many studies mentioned ... which also makes it a bit dry.
bootman's review against another edition
5.0
This is the most comprehensive book I’ve read on the flaws with our memory and how our memories can be manipulated. I’ve read many books that touch on the issues with our memory, but this one covered just about everything you need to know. Dr. Julia Shaw has done a ton of research, and she discusses various studies on how people can legitimately have their memories manipulated. She also discusses why we’re so confident in our memories, how the media can shape our memories, and even dives into the massive issues that came about due to the Satanic Panic. There’s also so much more that people need to learn from this book about how our memory actually works. I highly recommend reading this book if you’re interested in this subject.
sleightoffeet's review against another edition
3.0
This book was quite fascinating. I always knew that memory was fallible, but I didn't understand how fragile it really was!
There are a lot of things that have been talked about numerous times, such as the fallacy of repressed memories, the insertion of false memories and how they can lead to things like the satanic panic and wrongful imprisonment. There are also experiments that I hadn't heard of before, and tendencies our minds have that I hadn't thought about before.
For someone interested in science, interesting experiments and questioning everything you thought you remembered, I would recommend this book.
There are a lot of things that have been talked about numerous times, such as the fallacy of repressed memories, the insertion of false memories and how they can lead to things like the satanic panic and wrongful imprisonment. There are also experiments that I hadn't heard of before, and tendencies our minds have that I hadn't thought about before.
For someone interested in science, interesting experiments and questioning everything you thought you remembered, I would recommend this book.
kahawa's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing.... and terrifying! Julia Shaw successfully destroys our confidence in our memories. There is so much poignant and practical information in here, especially for anyone in sociology or criminology fields, or just anyone who interacts with humans. If you think you have a good memory, or that people who make up stories must be lying, or you think that eye-witness accounts are the most reliable form of evidence, this book will change your perspective. Fortunately I never had a great memory anyway.
My only gripe is that some of the studies cited seemed less than comprehensive or conclusive, but the overall message of the book was clearly supported by her supporting research.
My only gripe is that some of the studies cited seemed less than comprehensive or conclusive, but the overall message of the book was clearly supported by her supporting research.