How to Change a Memory: One Neuroscientist’s Quest to Alter the Past
Alter Past: How to Change a Memory is neuroscientist Steve Ramirez’s account of memory research, told alongside reflections on friendship, family, loss and recovery. It explores how memories can change and the scientific and ethical questions raised by attempts to manipulate them.
At a glance
- Combines neuroscience with the author’s personal reflections on memory, family, loss and recovery.
- Discusses how memories can change, be reactivated or manipulated in laboratory research.
- Considers ethical questions around attempts to alter memory and possible applications in mental and neurological disorders.
Often bought together
Pros and cons
Pros
- The mix of memoir and science offers both personal context and an introduction to memory research.
- Includes ethical discussion rather than treating memory manipulation only as a technical possibility.
Technical specifications
8 specifications| Publisher | Princeton University Press |
|---|---|
| Publication date | Nov. 4 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 256 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0691266689 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0691266688 |
| Weight listed | 499 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 16.51 x 2.54 x 24.13 cm |
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Readers interested in neuroscience, memory research and the ethics of emerging science.
- Readers looking for science writing that includes personal memoir.
Less suited to
- Readers seeking a clinical guide, treatment instructions or a strictly technical neuroscience textbook.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
53% 53% - 4 stars
20% 20% - 3 stars
13% 13% - 2 stars
4% 4% - 1 star
10% 10%
The supplied evidence contains aggregate ratings but no customer-comment summary, so it does not establish what readers liked or disliked. The distribution spans positive through low ratings, suggesting varied responses, but it cannot explain the reasons or show how readers judged the book’s blend of memoir, science and ethics.
Frequently asked questions
What is How to Change a Memory about?
It explores the science of memory manipulation alongside Steve Ramirez’s personal reflections, including discussion of how memories change and the ethical questions raised by attempts to alter them.
Is this a memoir or a science book?
The listing describes it as a blend of memoir and neuroscience, combining the author’s personal experiences with discussion of memory research.
Does the book provide treatment advice?
The supplied description presents it as a work on neuroscience, memory and ethics. It does not describe it as a clinical guide or treatment manual.
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