4.5 stars.

I have read a lot of Genova's fiction and love the way she is so great at being scientifically accurate. Her neurologist background has always been intriguing to me. Still...I was apprehensive about going into a nonfiction read. I was worried it might be dry and droning. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised.

This book is full of great explanations for how the brain works with regard to memory. The information is accessible and presented with relatable examples. I sped right through my read and learned some interesting things about my brain. This would be a great primer for anyone interested in neurology and memory. I honestly think it would be great for academic use. Heaven knows we need more accessible academic texts.

Genova does a great job with the book overall. The only sticking point for me was the way it was wrapped up. There is an appendix that summarizes the contents of the book --super helpful and a great way to really get the information absorbed. However, both the main portion of the book and the appendix are wrapped up a little loosely. It wasn't bad. I just felt a bit awkward.

A really good nonfiction read. Good writing, good wit, and a lighthearted feel for a usually highly complicated subject.