Jill Price can remember everything she did and any major or minor events that took place on any date from the time she was about 11 years old. Before that, she remembers some, starting from when she was 2- or 3-years old. Problem is, the memories bombard her all the time; it just doesn’t turn off. When she was younger, she didn’t know this wasn’t the case for everyone. But, as she got older and tried to explain, people didn’t understand.

Her memories include both the good and the bad, everything. This book explains what’s going on in her head, then goes back to explain how it has affected her at various points throughout her life.

I found this really interesting. I don’t understand the low ratings, though from reading reviews, it seems like some didn’t like the biography/memoir part of the book, but I thought that really illustrated things. Apparently, she was the first person (in the early 2000s?) diagnosed with this: what they called “hyperthymestic syndrome”, but there are others now, as well. Scientists have been studying her (and she seems happy to have them do so to figure out how her brain works), and papers have been written about her, using a pseudonym. ( )

Interesting story. ( )

It was shocking to me that a memoir about having a singularly unique neurological condition could be so horrifically boring. If you are interested in the boring life story of a privileged but vapid girl, go ahead, but if you want to hear about the science of memory, avoid this book. ( )

The science aspect of this was much more interesting to me than the memoir aspect of it; and, as the subtitle indicates, it's really more of a memoir than a science book.

I liked these two quotes:

"It is necessary to write, if the days are not to slip emptily by. How else, indeed, to clap the net over the butterfly of the moment?" -Vita Sackville-West, Twelve Days

"The brain is wider than the sky." -Emily Dickinson ( )

Biography of Jill Price and the perks and downfalls of having an autobiographical superior memory. She remembers everything that happened, including all the good, mundane or bad. Each time she remembers it - it is like it happens again. Very interesting at the beginning, but began to grow dull as the story wore on. Other titles are out there with people with this condition including Marilu Henner (Elaine Nardo from the TV series Taxi.) Her book is titled: Total Memory Makeover: Uncover Your Past, Take Charge of Your Future. ( )