Lisa Genova

In "Remember," neuroscientist Lisa Genova focuses on how we form short and long-term memories; why we forget what we have seen, heard, and learned; and the ways in which we can strengthen our capacity to hold onto meaningful memories. The author assures us, using lucid and mostly jargon-free terminology, that most memories are not meant to be retained. A large portion of our days are taken up with routine activities such as eating breakfast, brushing our teeth, and commuting to our jobs. Unless an incident stands out, it makes no sense to clutter our brains with mundane details.

When we speak of memory, we often dwell on what we have learned and experienced in the past. However, memory is also connected with the future. When we go to the supermarket without a list, will we remember to buy all the items that we need? When a student crams the night before an exam, what are the odds that he will ace tomorrow's test? By the way, we need not worry that misplacing our keys or eyeglasses now and then are signs that we are "losing it." When we do things inattentively, we generally forget them instantly. This is normal. However, if we cannot fathom why we need keys at all, that is a cause for concern.

"Remember" is an enlightening, well-researched, and readable primer on various aspects of remembering and forgetting. Moreover, Lisa Genova advises us to adopt behaviors that can strengthen our mental acuity. These include adhering to a heart-healthy diet, sleeping seven to nine hours a night, exercising regularly, reducing stress, and learning new skills. Of course, no one is immune to the deleterious effects of aging. However, if we make an effort to stay upbeat, take the time to socialize with compatible friends and relatives, pay close attention to information that we wish to retain, and follow sensible health recommendations, we may be able to stay sharp well into our golden years.… (plus d'informations)

Book 45 of the 60 day challenge.
Still Alice.
Lisa Genova.
A compelling debut novel about a 50-year-old woman's sudden descent into early onset Alzheimer's disease, written by first-time author Lisa Genova, who holds a Ph. D in neuroscience from Harvard University.
I started to worry half way through the book that I had read it before (and ironically forgotten?) Janet Elizabeth Conway and Peter both suggested I had seen the film. As I write about each film I see I searched in my posts.... Nothing. But I just watched the trailer and yes I have seen the film. Claire O'Neill. I just need to figure out which part of my brain has given up on me?
128 days to go.
8/10… (plus d'informations)

#BookReview

Every Note Played by Lisa Genova

Many of us might have heard of ALS as the disease Stephen Hawking suffered from. Some of the millennials might know ALS because of the (idiotic?) Ice Bucket challenge popular a few years ago. Few of us might also know about ALS because of its alternative name, Lou Gehrig's disease, named after the famous baseball player who first brought international attention to ALS in 1939 after being diagnosed with the debilitating and life-threatening disease at the age of 36. (You can watch the 1942 Gary Cooper starrer "The Pride of the Yankees", which was based on Lou Gehrig's life story.)

But merely hearing about ALS is one thing; living with ALS and caring for an ALS sufferer is totally different. Every Note Played gives you an insight on what ALS entails for the patient and the caregiver.

Richard is an accomplished and acclaimed pianist; he gets diagnosed with ALS when he's at the peak of his career. Initially reluctant to accept his diagnosis, he slowly gets accustomed to the limitations ALS places on his body. Karina, his ex-wife after a bitter divorce, while initially keeping her distance, slowly takes over the role of caregiver to the increasingly weak Richard.

Every Note Played balances the family issues with the medical challenges pretty well. While not an exceptional book on the family issues part of the story (it's pretty typical), it still does an excellent job of giving you a peek into the lives of those suffering from ALS and of those who nurture them through this incurable disease.

There are some things which are very predictable in the book, which I guess made me lower my rating. In addition, certain details feel into the TMI category for me. Though that info might be true for ALS sufferers, I found it very uncomfortable as a reader. Then again, this might be my limitation and not the book's flaw. I don't enjoy retching (who does?), and this book made me do that, first ever time in my life when I have retched during a book. On second thought, yes, this is my weakness, not the book's! (That is what comes of being a very visual reader who wants to "see" in her mind everything she is reading!… (plus d'informations)

11/30/2021: Review to come. I need to think on it a while. :-)

12/09/2021: I'm just getting around to writing a short review.

Lisa Genova's writing style for her nonfiction book about memory was surprisingly engaging without being overly science laden. As some of the points were review for me, I would have appreciated more details and the inclusion of specific studies to back up the information being presented. Having said that, I still learned quite a bit from what I read, although I probably won't recall much of it a few months down the line. I didn't give the book a five star rating, as I thought the author included one too many personal comments that smacked of bragging. That might not bother most readers but I found it to be unnecessary.

I was especially interested in the chapter about forgetting, as the author states, "Forgetting is quite important; it helps us function every day in all kinds of ways. It’s advantageous for us to get rid of any unnecessary, irrelevant, interfering, or even painful memories that can potentially distract us or cause us to make mistakes or feel miserable. Sometimes we need to forget one thing in order to pay attention to—and remember—another, and so in this way, forgetting can facilitate better memory."

I appreciated the inclusion of an Appendix, which highlights much of the important information presented in the book. Most relevant is the common sense reminder to actually pay attention. If a person is distracted, it is unlikely the information will make it into their longterm memory.

Overall, this a relevant and useful book discussing how different types of memories are formed, tips about how to improve recall, and why forgetting can be equally important. Thankfully the author includes examples of what types of forgetfulness are normal as a person gets older. Adequate sleep is listed as an important aspect of longterm memory formation, so if you are a person that has problems sleeping I'm not sure if you'll find this book to be stress inducing or reassuring.
… (plus d'informations)