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This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession
A fascinating exploration of the relationship between music and the mindand the role of melodies in shaping our lives
Whether you load your iPod with Bach or Bono, music has a significant role in your lifeeven if you never realized it. Why does music evoke such powerful moods? The answers are at last be- coming clear, thanks to revolutionary neuroscience and the emergin...more
Whether you load your iPod with Bach or Bono, music has a significant role in your lifeeven if you never realized it. Why does music evoke such powerful moods? The answers are at last be- coming clear, thanks to revolutionary neuroscience and the emergin...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
July 27th 2006
by Dutton Adult
(first published May 12th 2006)
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There's a lot of amazing stuff in this book to contemplate, but the author tries too hard to make it relevant for readers who listen to the Eagles and Mariah Carey (musicians he specifically sites), and he gets caught up in the most mundane details of his personal interactions with his colleagues at meetings and dinners and such, and who ordered what, and how everybody was dressed, and where everybody got their degrees.
My girlfriend got me interested in it because I found her passion...more
My girlfriend got me interested in it because I found her passion...more
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Patricia
rated it
Recommends it for:
Any musician who has the patience to really pay attention to what the author is saying.
It wasn't until I was half-way through this book that things started to get really interesting. As a musician, the first half was like retaking Music 101, but I felt this was a book I need to read, so I plowed on. I am looking for answers to the questions: "Why, when I near any musical interval, my brain automatically zips through all the tunes I know which start with that interval, and I start humming one of them?" and "Why the hell have I had '76 Trombones' on my mind for the...more
This is one of those books that I think is a valuable read but not necessarily an enjoyable one..at least for the general reader. If you bring a background in neuroscience then this is a treasure chest of information. My personal interest lies in music specifically and I saw this as an opportunity to better understand how our brains engage with music. Coupled with Oliver Sacks collection "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" we begin to unlock the mysterious properties of music to h...more
From the reviews I've seen here, the material seems to have passed over most people's heads (by being too rough, or the phrase you'll come across a few times, "I didn't feel like I walked away exclaiming 'eureka!'"... or the book angered more expert readers by its simplicity, but it wasn't meant to talk of new discoveries as much as it was meant for a general public.
The book takes a while for an average person, and I'd say you have to have some knowledge of chorded instrum...more
The book takes a while for an average person, and I'd say you have to have some knowledge of chorded instrum...more
I really despise myself for giving what should be an awesome book only 2 stars. I know I am mentally feeble, but was this ever dry!!! Interesting topic - neuroscience & music - but the author did go on at times (too much music theory, god I hated studying that and I'm a musician) and took the scientific aspects to a degree where I often found myself stopping to ponder "what the hell is he talking about?" It read like it could be someone's dissertation. The second half is slightly more ...more
A book is the wrong medium for this information. As I read this book, I kept wishing I was watching a PBS show version of it instead, where I could HEAR the music Mr. Levitin was referencing, and see visuals of the brain showing what parts are being affected by music, and how they all link up.
Instead of having to tell us in excruciating detail what an octave is, he could demonstrate on an instrument, and we could hear it for ourselves. When discussing half steps and whole steps, we ...more
Instead of having to tell us in excruciating detail what an octave is, he could demonstrate on an instrument, and we could hear it for ourselves. When discussing half steps and whole steps, we ...more
Someone left this behind in the cubby of the plane seat on a flight I took in December. As I'd finished my magazines, I picked it up, and then couldn't put it down. What was most fascinating about the book was the ease at which concepts I'd struggled with years ago were made crisp, clear, and, well, obvious, as they should have been back then. Introductory concepts of music were never made as clear to me than from this. I don't think I could have found a fuller survey of the subject, tying i...more
So far it's off to a sort of dry start. I'm led to believe that it will get better when he starts getting into the subject matter a bit more, but the first chapter is basically a quick and dirty introduction to music theory, most of which I am already quite familiar with. I'll force myself to get into the second chapter and see how it goes from there.
After finishing, I can say this book has a lot of information in it. Levitin explores the Cerebellum's role in processing music, which ...more
After finishing, I can say this book has a lot of information in it. Levitin explores the Cerebellum's role in processing music, which ...more
In Daniel Levitin's own words, "This book is about the science of music, from the perspective of cognitive neuroscience…. I'll discuss some of the latest studies I and other researchers in our field have conducted on music, musical meaning, and musical pleasure…. [H]ow can we account for wide differences in musical preference -- why is it that one man's Mozart is another man's Madonna?" (p. 11) After reading these 270 pages, I'm sure I can't tell you. I'm pretty disappointed, but then...more
Seemingly for musicians or composers this book is more fitting a read for scientists and doctors. Not much content is musicianship related. Middle third is a bore.
What I learned:
- There is no sound in space
(there are no molecules to vibrate)
- Virtuosity comes from hours of practice
(talent and absolute pitch play a small role)
- Learning to play an instrument after 20 is hard
(the brain is done developing)
- Percussion is a primitive musical t...more
What I learned:
- There is no sound in space
(there are no molecules to vibrate)
- Virtuosity comes from hours of practice
(talent and absolute pitch play a small role)
- Learning to play an instrument after 20 is hard
(the brain is done developing)
- Percussion is a primitive musical t...more
People often ask me about how I can be a musician and into sign language. It occurs for them like there is a dichotomy at play. I've never experienced my work in either area to be at odds with the other.
This week I'm reading the coolest book I've read in a while: This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel J. Levitin. He was once a musician and sound engineer, but now is a neuroscientist (another set of odd-bedfellow occupations). A Publishers Weekly review says "This is likely the on...more
This week I'm reading the coolest book I've read in a while: This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel J. Levitin. He was once a musician and sound engineer, but now is a neuroscientist (another set of odd-bedfellow occupations). A Publishers Weekly review says "This is likely the on...more
Have you ever wondered how you can listen to an orchestra and pick out the melody, or pick out the violins from the whole ensemble, or pick out the first violin from the violin section, or separate the orchestra from the car alarm outside? If you ever wondered about music and why it is so appealing to us, you'll find this book interesting.
Beginning with the basics of how musicians and scientists define music, it moves on to discuss how our brain and mind have evolved to understand...more
Beginning with the basics of how musicians and scientists define music, it moves on to discuss how our brain and mind have evolved to understand...more
Really cool book on the the brain's relationship with and to music. Although written for a general audience, Levitan doesn't significantly dumb down or shy away from the neuroscience at the very heart of the book. At the same time, Levitan let's a very wry, witty sense of humor season his writing. Finally, he's got both the musical and scientific chops to understand the subject matter from both sides. This means there's enough science and detail to impart some pretty technical information, bu...more
Levitin goes too far out of his way to make the book appeal to the layman. His tone isn't condescending, but he came across as an academic out of his element. Much of the research he cites is very fascinating. When it's all said and done though, I didn't walk away feeling like I had a much better grasp of what my brain is actually like on music. Levitin spends most of the book citing other research and did not assert his own opinions until the very end. I found his own views fascinating, bu...more
KIM
rated it
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in music, but especially musicians
Shelves:
non-fiction
This is full a lot of technical information about the brain, but I've learned some interesting facts. 1)Humans have never existed without music. 2)It has only been in the past 500 or so years that we have differentiated between music-makers and music listeners. 3) Scientists are still unclear why we evolved an ability to make, understand or appreciate music. They theorize it may be tied into mating rituals since those who make music and dance well seem to attract more mates--even today. Ther...more
I found myself reading this book very, very quickly. Why? Well, the sections explaining the language and technical aspects of music all consisted of information I already knew, so I zipped through them. The sections explaining the science of the brain while playing or listening to music were so over my head that I subconsciously decided to speed-read rather than really engage with the complexity of the material. And this is neuroscience for dummies! All that said, the work and studies done...more
Daniel J. Levitin’s This Is Your Brain On Music: The Science of a Human Obsession is a fascinating study about what happens in the brain when we listen to music. Levitin, a neuroscientist and former session musician and producer, has crafted an excellent study that both scientists and lay readers whose grasp of science is somewhat limited will find informative.
Perhaps best of all, Levitin’s book doesn’t ruin the enjoyment of listening to music.
Levitin primarily takes a th...more
This book is one I read to place in my final thesis. I wasn't expecting anything from it and the plan was to skim it in hopes of finding some really good quotes.
BUT, I hadn't planned on being so caught up and enjoying the book as much as I did. I started reading the first chapter to get the hang of his writing style and I was hooked within the first few pages. I basically read it from cover to cover and I am really glad that I did!
The book has taught me sooooo much new and interestin...more
BUT, I hadn't planned on being so caught up and enjoying the book as much as I did. I started reading the first chapter to get the hang of his writing style and I was hooked within the first few pages. I basically read it from cover to cover and I am really glad that I did!
The book has taught me sooooo much new and interestin...more
So much content! Unfortunately I found it a little haphazard. I guess that's the balance between being a neuropsychologist/musician/writer.
Depending on your level of music appreciation, you may get more/less out of this book. I enjoyed it, but lack a solid education in music and particularly in American bands from the 70s/80s. However, I do have a background in psychology, so I could relate with the dialogue on another level. I gained a better understanding, but didn't come away with too ma...more
Depending on your level of music appreciation, you may get more/less out of this book. I enjoyed it, but lack a solid education in music and particularly in American bands from the 70s/80s. However, I do have a background in psychology, so I could relate with the dialogue on another level. I gained a better understanding, but didn't come away with too ma...more
An awesome idea with a deep theoretical basis. All arguments are clearly well founded. However, and please note this is my opinion, it is extremely oversimplified. The physics of sound might not be known by everyone, but Levitin shouldn't forget them later to explain why the brain hears the fundamental frequency of any given note, namely resonance. Funnily enough he does mention resonance in a previous chapter, but he forgets about it altogether, and this clearly detracts from some of his explan...more
Easy to read, but not for lack of depth. Levitin combines his knowledge and love for music with his education and research in cognitive psychology in this fascinating look at our brains and the music we love. The introductory chapters lay the basic groundwork about music itself; rhythm, pitch, meter, scales, etc. It's smooth sailing for those who are less familiar with these technicalities, and his witty prose can also keep the more advanced reader engaged. Levitin makes substantiated arguments ...more
Whilst a reasonably interesting read, I was not completely satisfied or convinced by this book. As a musician, I quite enjoyed the manner in which the author made music theory somewhat clear (?) and maybe somewhat 'accessible' to those not versed in formal understandings (semantics) of music theory.
I think much of my dissatisfaction with this book is that it is heavily weighted with anecdotes, stories and quotes, rather than rigorous scientific data and explanation - maybe I expect too much - a...more
I think much of my dissatisfaction with this book is that it is heavily weighted with anecdotes, stories and quotes, rather than rigorous scientific data and explanation - maybe I expect too much - a...more
I read this as a follow-up to Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks (which I enjoyed reading -- and reviewing!) It answered the questions that Sacks does not address, such as what parts of our brains process music, why music affects us emotionally, and whether musicianship conferred an evolutionary advantage on our ancestors. Plus Levitin also discusses the basics, like pitch and frequency, timbre, and rhythm. I liked the part where he explains how composers and performers move us and interest us by viol...more
I brought this along on vacation last week only to have three or four friends see the cover and say, "I started reading that since it sounded really interesting but gave up because it sucked". I have to agree to some extent, although I stuck it out to the end.
The subject matter is intriguing (like, how are we able to recognize songs even after changes in key or tempo? And how are humans able to determine the tempo of a song so easily?). But oh man, I couldn't stand the w...more
The subject matter is intriguing (like, how are we able to recognize songs even after changes in key or tempo? And how are humans able to determine the tempo of a song so easily?). But oh man, I couldn't stand the w...more
This is an interesting treatment of how we respond to music, and what the response reveals about brain structure and functioning. Daniel Levitin is a neuroscientist and music industry professional, and he includes a broad range of music to illustrate concepts explained in the book.
For example, Levitin explains how the brain processes information in terms of earlier experiences, citing the evolutionary benefit of the faster reaction time that results, then describes the human abili...more
For example, Levitin explains how the brain processes information in terms of earlier experiences, citing the evolutionary benefit of the faster reaction time that results, then describes the human abili...more
The author provides some fundamentals about sound qualities and characteristics, then goes into how the brain processes sounds/music and discusses some aspect of cognition. He also touches on topics such as the potential adaptive value of music in human evolution (or lack thereof). So the book was a general overview of what I guess could be called Music Cognition Science, which is a work in progress. It’s an interesting topic but I didn’t come away feeling somehow “enlightened”, only a little...more
I read this after reading Oliver Sacks book "Musicophilia" and it is a great follow up. Did you know that what goes in the ear exists in the brain ... I mean really exists. If you hear a frequency of 440hz, an 'A' on the piano keyboard, there exists an electrical signal in your brain with a frequency of exactly 440Hz. Did you know that every natural tone rings a series of mathematically related tones called the overtone series. The relative volume of these overtones creates timbre. ...more
While admittedly this is a book which will appeal to a limited audience, I loved it! Levitin runs the Laboratory for Musical Perception, Cognition, and Expertise at McGill University, and has the unique resumé of professional recording artist turned sound engineer turned neuroscientist. This is a highly academic (difficult to read) book which seeks to educate three audiences: Scientists, Musicians and Music-lovers.
The first chapter of the book manages to do something I would previous...more
The first chapter of the book manages to do something I would previous...more
I was keen on this book in the beginning for two reasons. First, it give me the basics of music theory 101 in a concise manner. I really needed that. Second, and more important, he went to some length to separate the universal elements of music from the culturally relative aspects. For example, an octave, he argues is a quality of sound itself -- an aspect of the physical world. But how different societies treat octaves depends on their musical traditions. Levitin is very compelling and cl...more
Not nearly as good as I thought it would be. Music + psychological neuroscience? Sounded right up my alley. Actually it was very interesting in some places, but very dry and boring in others. A lot of it was reviewing musical and psychological concepts with which I'm already familiar. I can see why the author reviewed these things, but I ended up skimming them. To others not familiar with these concepts, though, I suspect it would be very boring.
The parts that were the most interest...more
The parts that were the most interest...more
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“Music may be the activity that prepared our pre-human ancestors for speech communication and for the very cognitive, representational flexibility necessary to become humans.”
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4 people liked it
“A bowl of pudding only has taste when I put it in my mouth - when it is in contact. with my tongue. It doesn't have taste or flavor sitting in my fridge, only the potential.”
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1 person liked it
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