In the times in which we live, memory is shorter if it is possible than in any previous era in the history of man. They flood us all the time with a torrential rain of information, but we know it, and we remember less. The brain symbolically bursts us. As the new information enters, the previous memories are being left in mental landfills. If our memories palace were real, the level of water of that constant rain would have risen a lot in its rooms.
In today's world, the pace of life is dominated by a constant influx of information, making our memories seem increasingly fleeting. As we are bombarded with new data, the brain struggles to retain past memories, leading to a decline in our recollections. This overwhelming stream of content causes our minds to prioritize new over old, essentially discarding previous memories to make space for what is current.
The metaphor of a "memory palace" illustrates this phenomenon well. If such a palace existed, it would be flooded with new information, drowning out earlier memories that once occupied its rooms. Mankell’s observation highlights a significant challenge of modern life: while we have access to vast amounts of knowledge, we often remember less than ever before, leaving our mental landscape cluttered and submerged in a sea of distractions.
