In "Why We Remember," Professor Charan Ranganath radically reframes the way we think about memory. Combining accessible language with cutting-edge research, he reveals the surprising ways our brains record the past and how we use that information to understand who we are in the present, and to imagine and plan for the future. Including fascinating studies and examples from pop culture, and drawing on Ranganath’s life as a scientist, father, and child of immigrants, "Why We Remember"is a captivating read that unveils the hidden role memory plays throughout our lives.

As Professor Ranganath describes in his book, memory is a highly transformative force that shapes how we experience the world in often invisible and sometimes destructive ways. For him, a more pertinent question than “Why do we forget?” is “Why do we remember?” It turns out that memory serves different purposes throughout a human lifespan. For adults, memory is often used to achieve goals or to assist with familial/communal activities. For children, it’s harnessed to build a sense of self, to explore the world and to learn. And in older adults, memory assists with cultural transmission — the passing of knowledge to the next generation. Though memory plays different roles during a person’s life, there are steps one can take to promote healthy brain aging. 

The book has received widespread media acclaim and coverage by the New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Wall Street Journal, PBS NewsHour, The Guardian, and other media outlets.

Access the book at Penguin Random House