I wrote Carved in Sand because anyone older than forty knows that forgetfulness can be unnerving, frustrating and sometimes terrifying.

In a book that examines these feelings with compassion and humor, I explain what midlife forgetfulness is all about – from the perspectives of physiology, psychology and sociology. Relentless in my search for answers to questions about my own unreliable memory, I explore the factors that determine how well – or poorly – one’s brain will age. I consult experts in the fields of sleep, stress, traumatic brain injury, hormones, genetics and dementia, as well as specialists in nutrition, cognitive psychology and the burgeoning field of drug-based cognitive enhancement. 

The stories of a wide array of midlife men and women have resonated with readers, who have described this book about brain science as “a page-turner,” and told me that they recognized their own foibles and could not stop laughing. Beyond the guffaws, they came away with real insight into how to elicit the very best performance from a middle-aged brain. This is a timely, highly readable and much-needed book for anyone whose memory is not what it used to be.  A New York Times bestseller, it has found readership around the world; to date, Carved in Sand has been published in nine languages.