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

In this groundbreaking blend of art and science, neuroscientist and former rock musician Daniel J. Levitin explores how music shapes the human brain, influences our emotions, and connects deeply to our evolution. Challenging the idea that music is merely an evolutionary accident, Levitin argues that it is fundamental to our species—perhaps even more essential than language. Drawing on cutting-edge research and musical examples from Mozart and Duke Ellington to Fleetwood Mac and Dr. Dre, he reveals how composers trigger pleasure in the brain, why the songs we loved as teenagers stay with us for life, how practice—not talent—is the foundation of musical skill, and why catchy jingles become unforgettable earworms. A finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Award, This Is Your Brain on Music offers an eye-opening investigation perfect for readers of Oliver Sacks, David Byrne, and anyone fascinated by the science behind our universal love of music.

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