torts's review
5.0
I need to own this book so I can flip through it when I want to remember the coolest facts about memory as narrated by the man who is my new hero. (Ironically, I can't retain this much awesome information in my head, so I require a non-library copy to remain in my possession for reference.)
Yup, Mr. Fernyhough, you're my new hero. You're British, and you write thoughtfully and in depth about memory (which is like my favorite subject ever), and you interviewed your ninety-three-year-old grandmother about her memories (which was like my favorite hobby during the seven months I lived down the street from my own 92-year-old grandmother, though I never recorded the discussions for transcription like you did). You referenced A.S. Byatt and Bruno Bettelheim, and your life and the lives of others, and scientific facts...You made me feel thoughtful and hopeful and a little nostalgic. And you named your daughter Athena.
Yup, Mr. Fernyhough, you're my new hero. You're British, and you write thoughtfully and in depth about memory (which is like my favorite subject ever), and you interviewed your ninety-three-year-old grandmother about her memories (which was like my favorite hobby during the seven months I lived down the street from my own 92-year-old grandmother, though I never recorded the discussions for transcription like you did). You referenced A.S. Byatt and Bruno Bettelheim, and your life and the lives of others, and scientific facts...You made me feel thoughtful and hopeful and a little nostalgic. And you named your daughter Athena.
matttrevithick's review
2.0
Not as full of information as I was hoping, and written in a style that I didn't enjoy as much as others did (written as a story with scientific data interspersed).
pturnbull's review
4.0
I sought out this book in an effort to understand autobiographical memory better and found it useful. Fernyhough interweaves research and reporting and includes autobiographical accounts in which he examines the significance of his own memories. Though other reviewers disagree, these passages expanded my understanding about the nature of memory and identity.
honeybeef8844's review
2.0
A lot of the real-life examples that the author used from his life were not compelling, especially the multiple recountings of his attempts to navigate through cities he once knew. These were often long drawn-out multi-page examples. He also became too technical at times. Some of the case studies toward the end of the book were more interesting, but even those he tended to become very detailed and lengthy. Editing out the unnecessary and uninteresting parts would have cut the book in half.
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