Tvornica nostalgije: Pamćenje, vrijeme, starost
An essay novel by Dutch psychologist Douwe Draaisme, a follow-up to his hit Why Life Speeds Up as We Get Older. The author combines neuroscience, philosophy, and literature to debunk myths about brain aging.
The book explores how memory changes with age, influencing our experience of time and the future source of nostalgia for a lost world of memories. Draaisma challenges popular belief and argues that forgetfulness is not just a flaw of old age, but part of wisdom that comes later. Wisdom comes after forgetting, he says, criticizing the "brain training" and vitamin industries as commercial gimmicks. Instead, he celebrates aging memory - the kind that evokes intense childhood memories through the "reminiscence effect", where autobiographical records from an early age (2-3 years old) are more vivid than ever, bringing unexpected pleasure.
The main themes are the interrelationship of time and memory - time shapes memories, but memories change time, creating nostalgia for the past. The author tells the story through personal anecdotes and scientific examples: elusive memories of smells, music or objects that take us back to our youth; forgetfulness as a filter that preserves the essence. Questions such as "Can memory be trained?" or "Does forgetting go hand in hand with old age?" lead to the insight that aging is not a loss, but a transformation - nostalgia becomes a factory that enriches the present.
Draaisma writes subtly, movingly and convincingly, without being dry, making the book perfect for those facing aging. "Memory is not just a warehouse, but a narrator who shapes us," he whispers through the pages, reminding us that in memories lies our true chronicle. For lovers of psychology and philosophy of life - a must-read that calms the fear of forgetting.
One copy is available
