Human Memory: Theory and Practice (by Nelson Cowan)

"Human Memory: Theory and Practice" by Nelson Cowan explores how our memory works, focusing on the capacity and processes involved. It explains that our short-term memory, or working memory, holds only a limited amount of information temporarily—usually around 4 to 7 items—while long-term memory stores information more permanently. Cowan discusses theories about how we selectively pay attention, encode, and retrieve memories, emphasizing the importance of understanding these processes for learning and cognitive functioning. The book combines scientific research with practical insights, making complex concepts accessible and applicable to real-world situations.