The Burden of Perfect Memory

A journalist once interviewed a man known only as “S,” who had a memory so powerful he could

recall entire books word-for-word years after reading them. He could replay conversations in

his mind like audio recordings and even remember the exact shape of clouds from a random Tuesday

decades earlier. At first, it seemed like a superpower. But it turned out

to be a curse. He couldn’t forget arguments, embarrassing moments, or painful experiences.

His mind was so crowded with memories that he struggled to live in the present. Scientists studying

him realized that forgetting isn’t a flaw — it’s necessary for a healthy mind. His story changed

how psychology understands memory forever.