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This is Your Brain on Music

Understanding a Human Obsession

Daniel Levitin author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd

Published:4th Jul '19

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This is Your Brain on Music cover

Exploring the profound connection between music and humanity, This Is Your Brain On Music reveals insights into our emotional and evolutionary ties to music.

In This Is Your Brain On Music, Daniel Levitin explores the intricate relationship between music and the human experience. He delves into how music is not just an art form but a fundamental aspect of our evolution and identity. By examining our musical preferences, which begin to take shape even before birth, Levitin sheds light on why music elicits such profound emotional responses. He argues that music has played a crucial role in shaping human culture and consciousness throughout history.

Levitin draws connections between various musical styles, from classical composers like Bach to contemporary artists like Depeche Mode, illustrating the universal elements that link diverse musical expressions. This exploration reveals that music transcends mere entertainment; it is a vital part of what it means to be human. Through a blend of neuroscience and psychology, the book offers insights into how our brains process music and why it resonates with us on such a deep level.

Ultimately, This Is Your Brain On Music presents a compelling case for understanding music as an essential component of human life. Levitin's eloquent narrative invites readers to reconsider their relationship with music and appreciate its significance in shaping our thoughts, emotions, and social connections. This book promises to change the way we perceive music and its impact on our lives.

Fluent and readable... [Levitin] rightly insists that we are all better equipped to perform and appreciate music than we think... We are, he says, hard-wired for music. * Observer *
Consistently interesting... Music, Levitin argues, is not a decadent modern diversion but something of fundamental importance to the history of human development * Literary Review *
Endlessly stimulating -- Oliver Sacks
Music seems to have an almost willful, evasive quality, defying simple explanation, so that the more we find out, the more there is to know... Daniel Levitin's book is an eloquent and poetic exploration of this paradox -- Sting
You'll never hear music in the same way again * Classic FM magazine *

ISBN: 9780241987353

Dimensions: 196mm x 127mm x 20mm

Weight: 234g

336 pages