By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Books & Books in Coral Gables continues its tradition of intellectually ambitious author events with Mark Rowlands, who will discuss his latest work, The Book of Memory: How We Become Who We Are, in a free public program on Thursday, January 8 at 7 p.m.
A philosophical inquiry into how memory shapes identity
In The Book of Memory, Rowlands offers a lucid and deeply human examination of how memory operates—not as a static archive, but as a living, evolving process. Drawing on philosophy, neuroscience, psychology, and literature, he argues that memory is less about faithful retrieval than about ongoing interpretation.
Rowlands describes remembering as a form of negotiation with the past. Each act of recall subtly reshapes what is remembered, softening certain details, reinforcing others, and sometimes distorting even our most cherished experiences. Over time, these shifts influence how individuals understand their own histories, personalities, and moral frameworks.
The book explores episodic memories, fleeting impressions, and what Rowlands terms deeper, often unarticulated memories that underlie temperament and style. He also examines memories that originate outside the self—stories absorbed from parents, partners, or communities—and how these inherited narratives become embedded in personal identity.
Bridging philosophy, neuroscience and lived experience
A longtime professor of philosophy at the University of Miami, Rowlands is known for making complex ideas accessible without flattening their nuance. His writing blends formal philosophical argument with personal reflection, including meditations on his father and on the emotional texture of memory across time.
That approach has earned wide critical praise. The Wall Street Journal noted Rowlands’ exploration of how porous the boundaries between different kinds of memory can be, while Publishers Weekly highlighted the book’s expansive view of identity as fluid and relational rather than fixed. Library Journal awarded the book a starred review, praising its balance of scientific rigor and warmth.
From cult favorite to Coral Gables conversation
Rowlands first gained international attention with The Philosopher and the Wolf, a memoir-philosophy hybrid translated into fifteen languages that examined meaning, morality, and companionship through his relationship with a wolf. That earlier work established his reputation for pairing philosophical depth with narrative clarity—an approach that continues in The Book of Memory.
At Books & Books, Rowlands’ discussion is expected to range from the mechanics of memory formation to broader questions about selfhood, authorship, and responsibility. The evening offers an opportunity for audiences to engage directly with ideas that sit at the intersection of science, humanities, and everyday life.
An intimate setting for big questions
Books & Books long served as a forum for thoughtful exchange, hosting writers whose work invites reflection rather than spectacle. An evening with Mark Rowlands fits squarely within that tradition, offering a space where abstract ideas meet personal experience in real time.
For readers interested in philosophy, psychology, or the quiet ways stories shape lives, The Book of Memory provides a framework for reconsidering what it means to remember—and what it means to become who we are. Readers may also wish to revisit our previous coverage of author talks and literary programming at Books & Books, which has highlighted the store’s role as a cultural anchor in the City Beautiful.
Event details
What: The Book of Memory | An Evening with Mark Rowlands
When: Thursday, January 8 at 7 p.m.
Where: Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables
Admission: Free; RSVP encouraged, seating not guaranteed
Books: Available for purchase at the event
