Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software, 2nd Edition

Chapter Nineteen

An Assemblage of Memory

As we rouse ourselves from sleep every morning, memory fills in the blanks. We remember where we are, what we did the day before, and what we plan to do today. These memories might come in a rush or a dribble, and maybe after some minutes a few lapses might persist (“Funny, I don’t remember wearing my socks to bed”), but all in all we can usually reassemble our lives and achieve enough continuity to commence another day.

Of course, human memory isn’t very orderly. Try to remember something about high school geometry and you’re likely to start thinking about the day there was a fire drill just as the teacher was about to explain what QED meant.

Nor is human memory foolproof. Indeed, writing was probably ...