Diving for Seahorses ― Exploring the Science and Secrets of Human Memory

A novelist and a neuroscientist uncover the secrets of human memory.

With playfulness and intelligence, Diving for Seahorses answers these questions and more, offering an illuminating look at one of our most fascinating faculties: our memory. The authors—two Norwegian sisters, one a neuropsychologist and the other an acclaimed writer—skillfully interweave history, research, and exceptional personal stories, taking readers on a captivating exploration of the evolving science of memory from its humble Renaissance beginnings up to the present day. They interview experts of all stripes, from the world’s top neuroscientists to famous novelists, from taxi drivers to quizmasters, to help explain how memory works, why it sometimes fails, and what we can do to improve it. Filled with cutting-edge research and nimble storytelling, the result is a charming—and memorable—adventure through human memory.

Hilde Ostby is a writer and editor and the author of Encyclopedia of Love and Longing, a novel about unrequited love that was published to critical acclaim in Norway. She has a master’s degree in History of Ideas from the University of Oslo.

Ylva Ostby is a clinical neuropsychologist with a PhD from the University of Oslo who devotes her research to the study of memory. She is also vice-president of the Norwegian Neuropsychology Association.

Sam Kean is the New York Times bestselling author of The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons, Caesar’s Last Breath, The Disappearing Spoon, and The Violinist’s Thumb. His stories have appeared in the New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, Mental Floss, and Slate, and his work has been featured on NPR's Radiolab, Science Friday, and Fresh Air.