Managing Your Memory: Practical Solutions for Forgetting

I am a gerontologist in private practice and I am extremely grateful that Dr. Beckwith has provided me with a much-needed guide for helping those with MCI and their families. This book has been invaluable in helping people understand the biopsychosocial process of memory and possible reasons why we forget. Dr. Beckwith stresses the fact that memory can be managed and people can be proactive in taking steps to improve memory. He offers hope to people who think that any forgetfulness is a sign of incipient Alzheimer's Disease. I urge my patients to read this book. Its practical advice provides comfort, knowledge and peace of mind.

In his book Dr. Beckwith describes how memory works, what causes people to forget, changes that can be expected with the aging process, and thus effective ways people can better manage and improve their memory. Dr. Beckwith describes memory disorders,i.e. Mild Cognitive Impairment, Dementia, Alzheimers Disease and provides detailed tables of commonly used diagnostic criteria and signs and symptoms of memory changes. Throughout his book Dr. Beckwith skillfully combines up to date research and proven clinical interventions with pertinent "real life" situations and scenarios which people can easily relate to. I found Dr. Beckwith's book to be comprehensive and practical and thus suitable for caregivers and professionals who are dealing with individuals with memory loss and changes. Dr.Beckwith uses examples that clearly define memory changes and then follows these with practical and easily understandable solutions to help individuals better manage their memory loss. Lastly, the book serves as a tool not only to inform but to give support to those who now have to deal with the stresses that come with memory loss and management.

This book is an extraordinary guide to helping one overcome and deal with memory loss, whether it is becoming a major problem or just garden variety forgetting. MANAGING YOUR MEMORY is also a common sense and practical instructional handbook to aid the Baby Boomers in understanding and preparing ourselves for the ever increasing "senior moments". Not only has this book been helpful to me but it has also been a wonderful tool in supporting my 91 year old mother. I owe you, Dr. Beckwith. I now can remember where I put down my damn reading glasses!

As a reformed book dealer and collector, there are now very few books that I keep on my greatly-diminshed shelves. Managing your Memory is one of them. This fine book is both reference and inspiration, personally and professionally. And how reassuring to know 1) that my fifty-something year-old memory lapses are normal, 2) that my Virgo-ish organizational streak is going to stand me in good stead in years to come, and 3) that the value of the life-review I often recommend to my clients has so many powerful benefits. The writing is both authoritative and engaging, the subject thoroughly covered. This is the only book you need on managing your memory. Thank you, Dr. Bill, for sharing your work with us!