About this title: Neuroscientist and professional musician Levitin presents a fascinating exploration of the relationship between music and the mind--and the role of melodies in shaping our lives. Photos throughout.
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Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Very Good. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Acceptable. Former Library book. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Plume/Penguin, NY
Date Published: 2007
ISBN-13:9780452288522ISBN:0452288525
Description: Very Good. 9780452288522. Two faint creases to covers, and edges are lightly rubbed. Previous owner's name penned to inside front cover; otherwise a clean copy.; 0.8 x 7.9 x 5.3 Inches; 322 pages. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Plume/Penguin
Date Published: 2007-08-28
ISBN-13:9780452288522ISBN:0452288525
Description: New. New paperback book with publisher's inventory mark. We ship 6 days a week, generally within 24 hours; single CDs and DVDs upgraded to 1st class! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Dutton Books
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780525949695ISBN:0525949690
Description: Fine in very good dust jacket. Glued binding. Paper over boards. With dust jacket. 314 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade. Clean unmarked copy...An intelligent book! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Dutton Adult
Date Published: 2006-08-03
ISBN-13:9780525949695ISBN:0525949690
Description: New in New jacket. New, unread copy with publishers inventory markWe ship 6 days a week, generally within 24 hours; single CDs and DVDs upgraded to 1st class! read more
Edition: First edition. First printing
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Dutton Books
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780525949695ISBN:0525949690
Description: Fine in fine dust jacket. Book like new inside, slight shelf wear to cover and DJ. Cloth and paper over boards, sewn binding, 314 pgs., illustrations, index. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Dutton Books
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780525949695ISBN:0525949690
Description: New in new dust jacket. Glued binding. Paper over boards. With dust jacket. 314 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade. Brand New-Gift Quality In a plastic cover read 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 interesting to me were whenever the author explained scientifically why particular songs created the desired effect on people. It was even more interesting to me when I was familiar with the song and could bring it up in my head.
Other interesting subjects included explanations for specific music-mind/brain phenomena that happen to everyone or to music lovers (such as getting a song stuck in your head or why you like particular music), the scientific evidence for in utero exposure to music as well as early childhood, and exploring what goes into making a music expert and a famous musician (not the same thing it turns out).
Overall, okay, but probably definitely not for people who aren't interested in music and the scientific reasons for its perplexities."
"Interesting combination of music and its effect on our brains. It has long been known that music can actually heal people's emotional states (1 Samuel 16:23) and bring them back to health from amnesia ... like Melody Gardot. Great reading!"
"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 thematic approach in examining how the brain functions when listening to music. Although the first chapter, which explains the basics of music like pitch, timbre, meter, may be sow-going for the musically-challenged, the remaining chapters are enlightening. With topics including how the brain remembers and recalls music, why music can impact our moods, and why musical preferences can vary from person to person, Levitin explains the processes occurring in the brain without overwhelming the reader with overly-technical and academically-dry details.
Perhaps the most interesting chapter is the final one, which makes a case for the evolutionary origins of music, arguing against scientists who believe music was a happy accident or an unplanned byproduct of language development. Levitin shows how music may have played a role in human survival and evolution, including aiding in cognitive development, serving as a key factor in promoting early human interactions, and giving musical males an extra advantage in the grand reproductive race.
Written for non-experts who might not know the difference between a hippocampus and a hippopotamus, This Is Your Brain On Music successfully manages to explain how we listen to music without reducing music to a series of neurons and brain waves. Levitin writes in an intelligent but not overbearing or condescending tone; his passion for music is apparent throughout the book. An excellent integration of science and music, Levitin's book examines the brain's role in listening to and processing music without downplaying any of the emotions we experience when listening to music. I enjoyed the book, particularly the science of the brain and its relation to music."
"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 it to subjects I'm interested in (math, cognition) if I'd looked, and there it was, for free.
Surely an expert or someone who'd learned more of music or neuroscience would find it basic, but I'd recommend it for a good catchup on the subject and how our understanding of it is changing."
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