A book about the mechanics of memory (written for the layman) with an interesting commentary on the philosophical aspects of human identity. Rodrigo Quian Quiroga, Director of the Centre for Systems Neuroscience at the University of Leicester, evokes (surprisingly relevant*) pop culture references and delightful passages from Borges to demystify the concepts of synapse, memory, abstraction, and self-awareness.

The book starts with a brief introduction to neurons and synapses, explaining the chemical and electrical signals between nerve cells, and the dichotomy between a vast amount of information that passes thru them, and us ultimately retaining little of it.

The book goes to cover a series of peripheral topics such as the benefits of outsourcing trivial memory tasks to technology, and certain pathologies that seem to enhance brain ...