Listen free for 30 days

  • The Memory Illusion

  • Why You May Not Be Who You Think You Are
  • Written by: Julia Shaw
  • Narrated by: Siri Steinmo
  • Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (59 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Memory Illusion cover art

The Memory Illusion

Written by: Julia Shaw
Narrated by: Siri Steinmo
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $20.48

Buy Now for $20.48

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

Think you have a good memory? Think again.

Memories are our most cherished possessions. We rely on them every day of our lives. They make us who we are. And yet the truth is they are far from being the accurate records of the past we like to think they are. True, we can all admit to having suffered occasional memory lapses, such as entering a room and immediately forgetting why or suddenly being unable to recall the name of someone we've met dozens of times. But what if we have the potential for more profound errors of memory, even verging on outright fabrication and self-deception?

In The Memory Illusion, forensic psychologist and memory expert Dr Julia Shaw uses the latest research to show the astonishing variety of ways in which our brains can indeed be led astray. She shows why we can sometimes misappropriate other people's memories, subsequently believing them to be our own. She explains how police officers can imprison an innocent man for life on the basis of 300 denials and just one confession. She demonstrates the way radically false memories can be deliberately implanted, leading people to believe that they brutally murdered a loved one or were abducted by aliens. And she reveals how, in spite of all this, we can improve our memory through simple awareness of its fallibility.

Fascinating and unnerving in equal measure, The Memory Illusion offers a unique insight into the human brain, challenging you to question how much you can ever truly know about yourself.

Dr Julia Shaw is a psychology lecturer and memory researcher at the University of Bedfordshire and is one of only a handful of experts in the world who actively conduct research on complex memory errors related to emotional personal events - so-called 'false memories'. Dr Shaw has published research articles in various international academic journals, written textbook chapters, and presented at many international conferences. She is also heavily involved in teaching classes on memory at the undergraduate and graduate levels, for which she has won two teaching excellence awards.

Besides her teaching and research, she has delivered general business and police-training workshops, has given guest lectures at universities around the world, has evaluated offender diversion programs and works with the UK police to advise on historical sexual and physical abuse cases. She has also been featured as an expert on TV and radio and in UK and international newspapers.

©2016 Julia Shaw (P)2016 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about The Memory Illusion

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    33
  • 4 Stars
    17
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    42
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    32
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Narrator is good, book is dry

I liked the subject of the book and there were several interesting topics but they were few and far between. There is alot of talk of case studies that basically confirm the authors original point. For example, the author mentions that witnesses of a crime should be interviewed separately so that their individual memories of the event are not tainted by each others testimonies. But then she will spend the rest of the chapter citing a study where this has happened before. I appreciate that she cites proof but it makes for a dry read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

If you know nothing about memory, buy this

I thought that, for the most part, the book deals with stuff that has been known for a while. Nothing earth-shattering here. It is not that it is a bad book. In fact, something things are always useful to keep repeating. However, you will not find new information here if you keep track of research.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Terrific analysis of how the mind works..

A fascinating and well documented treatise on how the mind is constantly shaping and reshaping our perceptions of reality; past, present and future. While the author's specialty is forensic psychology, she reaches into behavioural economics, the role of the mind in human evolution and the way we constantly revise our memories, often sacrificing accuracy, to maintain our personal narrative.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Lots Of Interesting Information

Brilliant author dealing with a complex topic. The book is a bit clinical in nature but it is what it is. This is definitely worth going over two or three times to learn the info. In fact, time to put it back on now.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • CW
  • 2019-04-13

Must read

A bit unnerving but probably quite an important book for all of us to read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I have been told I have the memory of an elephant

Great book. I use mnemonics all the time and I use technology now that I am almost 60. Put it into existence get it in your calendar or other app while it is fresh or with preset alerts for when you need it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

extremely interesting

Goes into a well balanced discusion on many topics including very early childhood memories, false memories and how to enhance your memory.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I remeber this being a good read but.....

This book is very interesting and brings up some eye openeing facts about how your memories can be oh so false. I think I liked this book but now I am not sure if I should even trust my memories after reading this.....

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!