Unchained Memories: True Stories of Traumatic Memories Lost and Found

by Lenore Terr

Can a long-forgotten memory of a horrible event suddenly resurface years later? How can we know whether a memory is true or false? Seven spellbinding cases shed light on why it is rare for a reclaimed memory to be wholly false. Here are unforgettable true stories of what happens when people remember what they've tried to forget--plus one case of genuine false memory. In the best detective-story fashion, using her insights as a psychiatrist and the latest research on the mind and the brain, Lenore Terr helps us separate truth from fiction.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Counselling, Short Stories

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1994

About the author

Lenore Terr, M.D., is the author of Too Scared to Cry. Her prizewinning research on the kidnapped children of Chowchilla and other childhood trauma victims has established her as one of the world's foremost experts on trauma and memory.

Reviews

[Carrie Poppy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, what a romp this book is. While certainly well-written, it is anything but even-handed and fair. The author clearly believes in repressed/recovered memory and performs endless acrobatics to make some of these so-called memories make sense, when much simpler explanations are available. Perplexingly, she also seems more than happy to support whoever is paying her in court. If a defendant claims repressed memory, there's no telling if Terr will agree. But if the prosecution calls her first, wow, turns out this particular person is lying or mistaken. If the defense comes knocking, bam, we have a genuine repressed memory. Her theories are incredibly tortured and impossible to make into a coherent, working paradigm. My fiancé gave me this book for Christmas, as I am endlessly fascinated by human memory. I'm so glad he did because it gave me a peak into one of the "experts" in the recovered memory field, and while I am wowed by her ability to make sense of her cognitive dissonance, if this is one of the best arguments for recovered memory on offer, I'll take Elizabeth Loftus.

[Meg Tuite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most enlightening and frightening books I've ever read! Lenore interviews and tells the true stories of people who have recalled trauma from their childhood many years later. Not only are these mesmerizing stories uncovered, but Lenore Terr works with cognitive and behavioral therapists and the scientific information on how memory returns and which parts of the brain are activated when long-term memories are retrieved. I had to put the book down a few times and then return. It is fascinating and unforgettable. WOW!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fucking frightening. The fact that horrible, horrible things may have happened to us in childhood that we do not consciously remember as adults but which are stored in our memory systems nonetheless and are technically recoverable under certain circumstances - frightening.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm reading this right now for work - it's a narrative discussion of how memory functions in trauma.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down. True stories/case studies of repressed memories recovered, well written and engaging from start to finish.

[The Lady Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really fascinating stuff about really really difficult stuff. Highly recommend for psychology buffs!

[Devin Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very affecting and accurate. Great overview of traumatic memory processing

[Heather Telford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as well as Too Scared to Cry by Terr. A most fascinating read!

[Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of good information on memory. It’s really intense and talks about a lot of traumatic events vividly. Made my stomach hurt at points. Interesting read!

[Lizzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked her previous book, Too Scared To Cry: Psychic Trauma In Childhood, which is about research into whether children remember traumatic events or just forget and get over them (they remember). This one isn't as good; it's a collection of stories of recovered memory. Some are interesting, others aren't but go on too long. The best one is about the fiction of James Ellroy and how his memories of his mother, who was murdered when he was ten, show up in his fiction.

[Brigid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very compelling topics, but long winded for me. I lost interest about two thirds of the way through the book.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was less interesting than you would expect, given the subject. It was a little too academic and dry for my taste.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I benefited greatly from reading Lenore Terr's book. Great insights and educated me on memory processing and survival. Don't read unless...you are ready, willing, and open.

[Jeni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, interesting and somewhat convincing.