This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession

Editorial Review:

In this groundbreaking union of art and science, rocker-turned-neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin explores the connection between music--its performance, its composition, how we listen to it, why we enjoy it--and the human brain. Drawing on the latest research and on musical examples ranging from Mozart to Duke Ellington to Van Halen, Levitin reveals:
· How composers produce some of the most pleasurable effects of listening to music by exploiting the way our brains make sense of the world
· Why we are so emotionally attached to the music we listened to as teenagers, whether it was Fleetwood Mac, U2, or Dr. Dre
· That practice, rather than talent, is the driving force behind musical expertise
· How those insidious little jingles (called earworms) get stuck in our heads
And, taking on prominent thinkers who argue that music is nothing more than an evolutionary accident, Levitin argues that music is fundamental to our species, perhaps even more so than language. This Is Your Brain on Music is an unprecedented, eye-opening investigation into an obsession at the heart of human nature.

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0

SHOULD, perhaps MUST know music terminology:

this book is extremely informational....however, it REALLY helps if you understand music terminology.....Although the aurhter defines some of the terminology, it still helps to understand more about music than an average person.

Excellent informative read!:

I really loved this book because unlike many books related to this subject it has not been too watered down. It is accessible but still contains loads of information. Somehow Levitin has managed to fit an 800 hundred page draft into a 200 page book! I will continue to refer to this book for a long time to come.

Interesting & informative, but at points difficult to grasp:

This book satisfactorily examines the components of music and the brain's perception of them. Though I wish that some of the song examples used would have been more contemporary so that I could better follow what the author was describing in terms of musical mechanics, I really enjoyed the book and found it very enlightening. I have been reminded of its contents while I listen to music and it has also spawned many discussions among my friends and me.
The book is written in three key parts: mechanics of... more info

Your Brain on Music:

This was a fascinating book more so because I am a deafened adult. I had my memories when I lost all hearing in 1977. Experiences I've had since seem weird to me because I remember. Now I understand why. This is a very informative book from both the music lover and indifferent listener points of view.

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