Abstract Memory: A Very Short Introduction weaves together case-studies, anecdotes, literature and philosophy, and the latest research in neuroscience and psychology to address these and many other important questions about the science of memory — how it works, and why we can't live without it. Memories are an integral part of being human, and they underpin our sense of who we are. Many people report being able to remember events from childhood as if they happened yesterday, but not what they did last week. Why does memory seem to work well sometimes and not others? Can memory be improved or manipulated by psychological techniques or even 'brain implants'? How does memory grow and change as we age? And what of so-called 'recovered' memories?