Book cover of Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters

Book description

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

'Radically new and engaging.' MATTHEW WALKER

'Not only will every reader remember better afterward, they'll also never forget this life-changing book.' SIDDHARTHA MUKHERJEE

'Ranganath turns much of what we think we know about memory on its head.' DANIEL J. LEVITIN

---

We talk about…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Why We Remember as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I loved this book because I remembered loving it. But why did I remember? What do I forget—and why? What is the function of memory? How do we unknowingly change our own narrative—and why?

I have always been fascinated by cognitive neuroscience. Thinking about how we think, what we think about, why we remember what we remember, and why we forget what we forget has always fascinated me. These are all things that we take for granted until something happens that changes our perception. We are constantly creating and editing our own narrative. From fond memories to trauma, memory is…

If you love Why We Remember...

Ad

Book cover of The High House

The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

Want books like Why We Remember?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Why We Remember.

Browse books like Why We Remember

Book cover of The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds
Book cover of Connections
Book cover of God, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for Meaning

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,207

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

📚 If you like Why We Remember, you might also like...

Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

Book cover of Living On Purpose: Five Deliberate Choices to Realize Fulfillment and Joy

Living On Purpose by Amy Wong,

Many people from all walks of life, even after many accomplishments and experiences, are often plagued by dissatisfaction, pervasive longing, and deep questioning. These feelings may make them wonder if they are living the life they were meant to lead.

Living on Purpose is the guidebook these people have been…

5 book lists we think you will like!