Audiobook Review: Why We Forget and How To Remember Better: The Science Behind Memory by Andrew E. Budson, MD; Elizabeth A. Kensinger, PhD and Narrated by Elise Arsenault

Why We Forget and How To Remember Better: The Science Behind Memory, written by Andrew E. Budson, MD and Elizabeth A. Kensinger, PhD, and narrated by Elise Arsenault shows you how to use these answers to improve your memory. You will learn: how memory's most important function isn't to help you remember details from your past; how memory is actually a collection of different abilities; how you create, store, and retrieve memories of your daily life; ways to control what you remember and what you forget; ways to distinguish between a true and false memory; effective ways to study for an exam; how to remember people's names, all your passwords, fifty digits of Pi, and anything else you wish; how memory changes in normal aging, Alzheimer's disease, depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and other disorders—including COVID brain fog; and how exercise, nutrition, alcohol, cannabis, sleep, mindfulness, and music affect your memory.

Why We Forget and How To Remember Better is a well written, researched, and narrated audiobook. I liked that the authors put their recommendations and research based finding into use in the format of the book, using the small chunks and repetition that they suggest for aiding forming lasting memory into the structure and flow of the book. I wish this book had been out when I was still in school, maybe I would have studied in a different way and still remember some the language and math details that might come in handy. Most of the book was very practical and informational, and I was glad to learn some of how memory works and changes I can make to better remember names and little things that often slip away. I thought the text was easy to follow and I thought the narrator did a good job with the read. Some of the book was a little beyond my interest level, but could be very interesting and helpful to others. Schemas for mnemonic and other tools were more advanced than anything I was looking for but I liked that they actually noted that these tools were not for everyone and put them at the end of the book as such for those that had interest in learning more about them and how to put them into practice. 

Why We Forget and How To Remember Better offers readers exactly what the title promises, and does it in a accessible way.

Early Book Review: SuperSimple Chemistry and SuperSimple Biology: The Ultimate Bitesize Study Guide by DK Children

SuperSimple Chemistry: The Ultimate Bitesize Study Guide by DK Children is currently scheduled for release on June 23 2020. It is an aid for coursework, homework, studying for tests, and a comprehensive guide for grades 6-10. Each topic is fully illustrated to support the information, make the facts crystal clear, and bring the science to life. A large central image explains the idea visually and each topic is summed up on a single page, helping children to quickly get up to speed and really understand how chemistry works. Information boxes explain the theory with the help of simple graphics and for further studying, a handy "Key Facts" box provides a simple summary you can check back on later. 

SuperSimple Biology: The Ultimate Bitesize Study Guide by DK Children is currently scheduled for release on June 23 2020. This biology book for kids 12+ years old is ideal for home and school learning. From reproduction to respiration and enzymes to ecosystems, this guide makes complex topics easy to grasp at a glance. Perfect support for coursework, homework, and studying for tests. Each topic is fully illustrated to support the information, make the facts crystal clear, and bring the science to life. For key ideas, "How It Works" and "Look Closer" boxes explain the theory with the help of simple graphics. And for studying, a handy "Key Facts" box provides a simple summary you can check back on later. 

Both of these books are exactly what one would expect from the titles, and the publisher. They are crisp, clean, and bright looking resources with concise and well written text. The sections are well organized and the pages are formatted to keep readers focused. I liked the balance of illustrations, charts, text, and the key facts boxes. I think resources like this are well timed (although I know they have been around previously) with everyone learning from home for months, and the worries about losing ground with studies, and the possibility of more home learning in the future for many. This would be useful both as a personal resource to support classroom work, as a resource in the classroom, or independent study for those interested in the specific field of study.