Amazon 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.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

putting in carliss's cd audiobook box

Selected from Carlissa's CD Audio Bookbox. Yay!

I hate to admit it, but I left this midway (2.5 CDs) into it. I found myself more frustrated than fascinated. I think it's because while I have a very good auditory memory, I have a crap memory for titles and names. I can hear a piece of music once and sing it back to you, but I may not remember the name or composer (which is very frustrating for an alto in a choir that sings everything from Gregorian Chant and Renaissance motets to more modern pieces.) Though there were many examples of what the author meant in distinguishing things like tone, pitch, etc, he often referred to musical pieces by name (without a hint of melody) and described what they were doing. I'd have to trudge off and dig up the piece of music in order to understand his point, or trust my memory that the piece which came to mind was indeed the correct piece. I finally got too frustrated to continue, and abandoned the book, through no fault of its own.

Passed on to Rebekkila after we did a release walk at the Charleston Food + Wine Festival. She is leaving Charleston to return to Michigan, and this audio book will keep her company as she travels.

Somewhere along the way I had heard this is a really good book, I will be listening to this on CD on my way to Michigan.

This Is Your Brain On Music Abridged Compact Discs by Daniel J. Levitin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I am glad that I listened to this on CD rather than reading it. I am familiar with the parts of the brain and their functions but I know zip about music other than I like some types and not others. I think it was very interesting. And I now think I know why I don't like jazz. The author posits that many people don't like jazz because there is so much going on in a short space of time. This is one of those books I could read again in 10 years and get something new out of it.



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I am adding this to Booklady331's audio only book box.

Arrived home in my CD only bookbox. I am going to keep it to listen to. It sounds interesting.

This was an interesting listen. I believe that this was one book that is better to listen to than to read. It has made me think about music.

Reserved for an audio bookbox.

Enjoy! off to Erishkigal as a RABCK and KTM release for the audio sweepstakes. Trust you enjoy this book, Erishkigal.

This arrived in today 's mail what a nice surprise ~~Thank You, booklady!!! This looks like one I'll really enjoy :-)

Oops; I listened to this about 6 months ago, and see I didn't journal....in my defense, I was in the process of moving/downsizing.

This is most definitely a book I got much more out of by listening than I would have by reading. I was fascinated by it, and learned from it. I do wish there had been more auditory samples/examples.

Thanks for sending this my way, booklady!

selected from audio vbb~~ Enjoy!

Thanks much. Looking forward to it.

I'm not at all music-literate -- don't know notes ABC from XYZ -- so much of the lingo was lost on me. Any student of the art would understand infinitely more of what the author's talking about. Still, I learned a lot about how and why we process and appreciate music of all types.

Passing to "The World's Worst Bookcrosser". Goodbye book, it was nice knowing 'ya! :)

Oh, I wouldn't say "world's worst" - she did eventually pass this on to me, after all. ;)

Received today in a very nice surprise package from allysther.