The Making of Memory: From Molecules to Mind

by Steven Rose

Steven Rose's The Making of Memory is about just that, in both its the biological processes by which we humans - and other animals - learn and remember, and how researchers can explore these mechanisms. But it is also about much more. When the first edition of this fascinating book won the Science book Prize in 1993, the judges described it as 'a riveting read...a first-hand account by a practicing scientist working at the forefront of medical research and Rose does not duck the issues which that raises.' Now ten years on, research has itself moved forward, and Rose has taken the opportunity to fully revise the book. But this is more than mere revision. Where ten years ago he argued the case for research on memory because it is the most extraordinary of human attributes, Rose's own research has now opened the doors to a potential new treatment for Alzheimer's Disease undreamed of a decade ago, and in an entirely new chapter he describes how this potential breakthrough has occurred.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Psychology, Neuroscience, Popular Science, Biology, Research

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Steven Peter Russell Rose was an English neuroscientist, author and social commentator. He was an emeritus professor of biology and neurobiology at the Open University and Gresham College, London.

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book as it not only covers the state of neurology up until the time of its publication in 1992, but also gives a sociologically astute description of the actual processes of modern scientific research with considerable attention to the author's own work. The focus, however, is on memory and on the theories about its relation to the brain. Rose himself subscribes to a redundancy model, for what that's worth.

Throughout, Rose clearly presents himself and his democratic socialist values. This is interested science and he is at some pains to show how all science reflects the value-assumptions of practioners. Rose is, of course, known as a vocal anti-reductionist and as a proponent of human freedom.

I read this book at the old Panini, Panini Cafe on Sheridan and Pratt in East Rogers Park, Chicago. It went much more quickly and enjoyably than I had expected.

[Friedrich Mencken · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rose couldn't resists the temptation to make this about himself instead of the subject matter. So, if you want to know what Steven Rose thinks about stuff, this book is for YOU!

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readability 5. Rating 5. This book is an attempt by Rose, a neurochemist, to give a glimpse of what scientists do on a day-to-day basis, from designing and executing experiments to publishing to raising money to traveling to conferences. He also shares his part of the scientific pursuit, the defining and understanding of memory. He covers the history, some major developments in other disciplines (and the use of other animal subjects in the pursuit), and then his own work in tracking the effects on the brains of chicks after they peck a bead that has an unpleasant substance on it. Rose is thoughtful, and much of what he covers is interesting. The problem is that he is a poor writer - something he seems to recognize to a degree - and much of what he writes is lifeless (no pun intended), badly organized, or excessively complicated. A worthwhile effort, but only barely so.

[Kelly]

Lent to ACP

[Kayson Fakhar · Rating 4 out of 5]

even memories are matters and patterns.

[R Bharathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book needed conscious effort to read, but worth every minute spent.