Customer Reviews

Where Did I Leave My Glasses?: The What, When, and Why of Normal Memory Loss

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an outstanding book, wonderfully well-written, entertaining, amusing and at the same time very informative. It is extensively well researched and covers the topic thoroughly. This is a subject that is timely and should be of great general interest, especially to those over 40. I learned a great deal and couldnt have enjoyed this marvelous book more. A+

This book is really informative, but best of all, it's written in a way that is understandable and very funny. I appreciated the chart of characteristics differing "normal" from "maybe I should call the doctor." And the clues to remembering names and daily to-do's were helpful.
I'm telling evryone I know from 40 on up to get a copy.

There is that niggling little fear that you've forgotten something, it happens to all of us, usually regardless of age. My friend Shelly was talking to me on the phone and she asked me, "Hey, do you know this woman, um, she's on my caller ID?" I ask, "What's her name?" Shelly responds, "I don't know, I can't remember, I have to find the phone and look at caller ID." I'm quiet while Shelly ambles through her house looking for her phone, which as best I know, since I'm on the other end, is attached to her hand and ear. Shelly's staccato laughs, "Oh, I am so dumb, I have the phone in my hand."

Exactly! Author MARTHA WEINMAN Lear with sensitivity and wit talks about all the feelings that accompany the fact that we think we're going into early senile dementia when we forget small details, for example, that I often forget the name of a parent of one of my children's friends. I can't keep track of all of them, most of the time they are just a voice on the other end of the phone line, and then I'll see them at the market and I can't remember which kid is friends with their kid, and who is their kid anyway? But baffling enough I remember their face. According to Lear and her research, this is absolutely normal. This is not early senile dementia. There are also easy ways to remember things.

Some easy ways to remember things are: make lists; associate someone's name with a rhyme, or a factoid about them. Remember that you just met Chuck Stein and he has a black Lab named Zorro. Every time you see Chuck, you ask how the Lab is doing, even if you can't remember Chuck's name. Memorize by repetition at certain intervals. For example, repeat a person's name, then wait ten seconds and repeat it gain, then wait twenty seconds and repeat. Incrementally increase the time between repetitions and your memory will improve.

A fantastic book filled with levity related to a grave concern a lot of people have about memory loss, along with great advice on how to grasp the information you need that is just out of reach, and don't forget, it's perfectly normal.

Armchair Interviews says: Good news. It's perfectly normal.

Lear's book, thankfully, doesn't focus on memory losses associated with age. Her book covers much of the material you would learn in a college course on the psychology of memory, delivered in an entertaining, chatty style.

The most fascinating parts of the book dealt with the different areas of our brain associated with different types of memory and the evolutionary origins of our brainpower. She's not afraid to quote experts who say we were never made to live this long. Some negative effects of aging can be attributed to the loss of functions that were critical for survival, but disappear after the age when our ancestors died. After all, fifty used to be considered elderly. When you read history, it's shocking to realize that many rulers and war heroes of European countries were teenagers.

Lear focuses on normal memory loss, which isn't always age related. When it comes to Alzheimer's, she refers to healthy practices several times in the book. Apparently cholesterol, weight and diabetes all contribute to Alzheimers. Elsewhere, I've read that Alzheimers may actually be a form of diabetes.

Lear adheres firmly to the guidelines of mainstream medicine. On page 225 she refers to the importance of following doctors' orders. She even reports statistics claiming that fewer than 50% of Americans are compliant when it comes to medication for diabetes and hypertension.

This little paragraph doesn't belong in this book. The notion of why people comply can be complex. Other authors have suggested that people are less likely to comply when they don't "own" the solution. Ramo's book, The Age of the Unthinkable, includes an intelligent discussion of why people were compliant for one disease but not another.

Additionally, there are bigger issues about why people get those conditions in the first place. Meditation and exercise help blood pressure. Supermarkets with shelves of frosted cereal are walking invitations to diabetes. Frankly, I'm surprised compliance is greater than 20%, given the challenges of paying for medical care, plus the medical reimbursement system that doesn't allow time to explain exactly what and why you're supposed to do.

Overall, I was impressed with Lear's access to top researchers and her ability to extract useful and interesting information. The book is a welcome alternative to doom-and-gloom discussions of aging.

In order to understand Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, it is important to understand normal age related memory loss. Lear discusses "middle aged forgetfulness" in a way that is informative and entertaining. She also compares normal memory loss with memory impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. After reading this book, most middle agers are relieved that their forgetfulness is expected. Boomers who are concerned about their parent's memory problems discover when to seek professional help for their elderly loved ones.

As a professional working with seniors, I reinforced my knowledge or memory impairment.

Also I am so happy Lear stressed the importance of eating right and getting both mental and physical exercise. I hope you, as a reader of this review, follow her tips regarding these areas.

Mental and physical exercise is oh so important even if someone already has any of the dementias, including Alzheimer's disease. Of course, the approach is of the utmost importance here.

Thank you Ms. Lear for this most enlightening, yet amusing look at memory

By Susan Berg author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby: Meaningful, Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones, and Involved Professionals [...]

This is a light journalistic excursion into the common phenomenon of memory loss. Martha Lear is quite funny in telling of anecdotes and I spent an enjoyable evening reading the book. Not much is said about Alzheimer's disease or dementia so don't think of it as a diagnostic, only a tool to reassure you (or your friends, children or spouse) that you are really quite normal and not prematurely losing your marbles.

That being said read it for the narrative as this is not a serious book on the topic. I've an interest and academic background in applied psychology and the application of cognitive factors has been part of my work life. For the student any good cognitive psychology textbook will give you a better understanding of the differences between short, mid, long term and episodic memory as well as a classification of memory related errors.

There is however a great quote by Dr. Daniel Schacter (who also writes on the subject of memory) "Memory is probably more about the future than it is about the past". I may pick up one of his books next.The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers looks fairly interesting.

4 stars as a gift perhaps or a light read, 2 for serious content. To compliment this I also recommend folk singer Christine Lavin's song "Oh No (I'm looking for my glasses again)" from her album "Please Don't Make Me Too Happy" - not available at Amazon but you can find it on the web and I recommend it and her.

When I read the title of this book, I thought "I need this." As so many of my age group (60+) know, the memory "ain't what it used to be." Reading this book has given me some relief in that I am not the only one who has has those "tip of the tongue" moments. It's well written and informative. I would recommend it to anyone of any age. Let's face it, we are all going to have to go through this.

Where did I leave my glasses? Where did I leave my keys? Why did I come into this room... what was I after? What was I talking about? Did I call you or did you call me? This witty, well researched, clearly written analysis of what happens to our memory as we get older is comforting in the sense that it suggests we aren't losing our mind... just our memory... and it's gonna happen to EVERYONE, in greater or lesser degrees. Every time I turned a page, I said to myself, "Yeah, that happens to me... Yeah, that happens to me." The author is not talking about serious medical conditions, Alzheimers and the like...just our everyday garden variety run of the mill forgetfulness. Age, and the little grey cells shrink too, but CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE TO AGING! This is a very KOOL book!

"Where Did I Leave My Glasses" is well worth reading....for anyone over 45 or so ( and maybe for their children). I found it educational, reassuring, helpful and at the same time hopeful, funny and a pleasure.

This book was selected for our Book Club. It is
humorous as well as very informative. We all loved
it and certainly would recommend to anyone who can't
remember where they placed their car keys, glasses, etc. The author has interviewed experts on memory
and she quotes them with encouragement as to being
optimistic that you are not getting dementia. Very
helpful hints also as to tricks to remember. Highly
recommended.