Kindle
$10.49
Available instantly
Audiobook
$0.00
with membership
Hardcover
$29.86
Paperback
$16.99
Kindle Price: $10.49

Save $0.50 (5%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $16.78

Save: $9.29 (55%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.

Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Julia Shaw
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Memory Illusion: Remembering, Forgetting, and the Science of False Memory Kindle Edition

by Julia Shaw (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 502 ratings
See all formats and editions

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

'Truly fascinating.' Steve Wright, BBC Radio 2


- Have you ever forgotten the name of someone you’ve met dozens of times?
- Or discovered that your memory of an important event was completely different from everyone else’s?
- Or vividly recalled being in a particular place at a particular time, only to discover later that you couldn’t possibly have been?


We rely on our memories every day of our lives. They make us who we are. And yet the truth is, they are far from being the accurate record of the past we like to think they are. In The Memory Illusion, forensic psychologist and memory expert Dr Julia Shaw draws on the latest research to show why our memories so often play tricks on us – and how, if we understand their fallibility, we can actually improve their accuracy. The result is an exploration of our minds that both fascinating and unnerving, and that will make you question how much you can ever truly know about yourself. Think you have a good memory? Think again.


'A spryly paced, fun, sometimes frightening exploration of how we remember – and why everyone remembers things that never truly happened.' Pacific Standard

Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    319 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Cornerstone Digital
  5. Publication date
    June 16, 2016
  6. File size
    2987 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Shaw’s debut book is a spryly paced, fun, sometimes frightening exploration of how we remember – and why everyone remembers things that never truly happened . . . Her book is equal parts breezy guide through the recent lessons we’ve learned about memory, and a loving tribute to the sometimes eccentric researchers who toiled away in the laboratory to uncover them . . . Shaw's quirky charm enlivens the book throughout." —Pacific Standard

About the Author

Dr. Julia Shaw is a regular contributor to Scientific American.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B019CGXQA8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cornerstone Digital; Illustrated edition (June 16, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 16, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2987 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 319 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 502 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Julia Shaw

Julia Shaw

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
502 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book's content valuable and well-written. They also appreciate the engaging dialog format.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
ContentWriting style
8 customers mention "Content"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's content valuable, accessible, and straight to the point. They also appreciate the author's amazing job of explaining how everything works.

"I've listened to this book and read it. It provides a great overview of the science of memory and for me has provided a great jumping platform to..." Read more

"...Shaw does an incredible job incorporating academic research in an comprehensible and understandable manner. I was thoroughly impressed with this work." Read more

"...about how we renege things and Julia Shaw does an amazing job of explaining how everything works." Read more

"This book is stellar. It's straight to the point, well researched (with citations), and an enjoyable read...." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing style"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style well-thought out and understandable.

"...job incorporating academic research in an comprehensible and understandable manner. I was thoroughly impressed with this work." Read more

"Book is well written (a bit dry though but that's just me) the information is amazing, well thought out and well written." Read more

"Well written and well researched.It doesn't solve all the mysteries of memory but it was an interesting book" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Gary C.
5.0 out of 5 stars It provides a great overview of the science of memory and for me ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2017
Verified Purchase
I've listened to this book and read it. It provides a great overview of the science of memory and for me has provided a great jumping platform to delve more deeply into the research being done in this field. I am so glad to have read this book and have been introduced to such legendary memory scientists such as Elizabeth Loftus and her research. Kudos to Dr. Julia Shaw for providing an easily accessible pervue of memory science!
9 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Greg Robinson
4.0 out of 5 stars A tantilyzer
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2017
Verified Purchase
I heard her on George Norway's radio program. I wanted to know how she could quickly convince a jury of memory problems. I did not get that information. I wanted a longer book.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
John Bassette
5.0 out of 5 stars Memory is tricky, witnesses are fallible, false claims of wrongdoing often abound in times of stress.
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2018
Verified Purchase
It's amazing how people can 'remember' events that never happened. Also, confused thought can lead some to claim one person did so and so, when in fact, it was someone else. It's not good to look like someone's ex-husband or the like. Also, mass hysteria can lead to people wanting to be swept up in the group think. Nowadays, you have such an abundance of "metoo" claims flying around that one opines which are true or not true. I'm not meaning to detract from authentic claimants, but only to caution against the type of witch hunt hysteria that leads to guilty until proven innocent types of declarations. Such actions can be very disruptive to any nation.
Helpful
 Report
MQ
5.0 out of 5 stars This was a wonderfully insight text about memory formation
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2017
Verified Purchase
This was a wonderfully insightful text about memory formation. Shaw does an incredible job incorporating academic research in an comprehensible and understandable manner. I was thoroughly impressed with this work.
Helpful
 Report
Jonathon Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book by a great author
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2019
Verified Purchase
This book is all about how we renege things and Julia Shaw does an amazing job of explaining how everything works.
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2017
Verified Purchase
A very good book that is useful for those who are fascinated by memory and its possible deviances.
Helpful
 Report
larry
5.0 out of 5 stars Comment
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2017
Verified Purchase
Just finished the book
Interesting topic people never think about.
The information is somewhat frightening and strongly suggests that no one should ever be alone without someone who can document their activities. This is so because if you are ever accused of a crime you cannot rely on a fair and just outcome which could be based on verbal items entered as evidence.
Sad
Also as a scientist familiar, I have some questions about the citations regarding neural timing that were mentioned in this book.
LARRY
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
kevinmoyar
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2018
Verified Purchase
book is perfect. Just the shipping took longer than promised.
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
José Macaya
4.0 out of 5 stars Libro interesante pero inquietante
Reviewed in Spain on September 15, 2021
Verified Purchase
Libro inquietante y de no fácil lectura. Explica con convicción cómo nuestra memoria es mucho menos confiable que lo que creemos. Tenemos asumidas muchas memorias falsas o inexactas. Es fácil influirnos para que nuestra memoria de los hechos se deforme. El libro deja al final un sabor amargo, ya que da es un conocimiento que genera inseguridad, sin que en compensación le encontremos algo positivo.

El libro sin duda contiene información interesante y el conocimiento siempre es valioso. Es impresionante saber la cantidad de sospechosos que eran inocentes y que son condenados, por memorias deficientes de testigos o apreciaciones sesgadas de los jurados. Esto mismo ha sucedido en casos de abusos sexuales a niños, en los que en el interrogatorio que les han hecho les han influido para imaginarse lo que no había sucedido…

Es un libro interesante pero inquietante.
3 people found this helpful
 Report
Francisco
5.0 out of 5 stars No more photographic memory
Reviewed in Mexico on August 4, 2018
Verified Purchase
This book can be a good relief is you consider yourself to have a bad memory, also in a very solid way destroys the concep of photographic memory
Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Mind (memory) blowing
Reviewed in India on October 7, 2018
Verified Purchase
This book is bound to make you feel less confident about yourself in ways that will actually make you question every single memory based judgement, decision, act and opinion that you used to make so comfortably and confidently thus far. Very powerful book in many ways.
One person found this helpful
 Report
Un lecteur passionné
5.0 out of 5 stars Tout ce qu'il faut savoir sur le fonctionnement de la mémoire
Reviewed in France on January 7, 2018
Verified Purchase
Les données les plus récentes sur la recherche en psychologie cognitive.

Dommage qu'il ne soit pas encore traduit en français.
Report
Matt B
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book. Written well with some nice anecdotes along ...
Reviewed in Canada on January 8, 2017
Verified Purchase
Great book.
Written well with some nice anecdotes along the way about experiences. It feels like the author is there talking to you. The explanations are concise and well thought out. The flow of the chapters sequentially build off one another even if you want to skip the anatomy lesson of the brain which is insightful. You can lose track of time reading and your never get lost while reading. Its worth a read and sharing of the ideas.
2 people found this helpful
 Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report