Musicophilia: Tales Of Music And The Brain

3.10 out of 5 (29 ratings)

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Format:: Paperback
Pages:: 448
Publisher:: Pan Macmillan
Publication Date:: 02 September 2011
Category:: Theory of Music & Musicology
ISBN:: 9780330523592

Description

'A humane discourse on the fragility of our minds, of the bodies that give rise to them, and of the world they create for us. This book is filled with wonders' Daily Telegraph Oliver Sacks' compassionate tales of people struggling to adapt to different neurological conditions have fundamentally changed the way we think of our own minds. In Musicophilia, he examines the powers of music through the individual experiences of patients, musicians and everyday people those struck by affliction, unusual talent and even, in one case, by lightning to show not only that music occupies more areas of our brain than language does, but also that it can torment, calm, organize and heal. Always wise and compellingly readable, these stories alter our conception of who we are and how we function, and show us an essential part of what it is to be human. 'Fascinating. Music, as Sacks explains, "can pierce the heart directly". And this is the truth that he so brilliantly focuses upon that music saves, consoles and nourishes us' Daily Mail 'Irresistible, astonishing and moving' Spectator 'Deeply warm and sympathetic' Guardian

Reader Reviews

Showing 1-4 out of 32 reviews. Previous | Next

This is a very interesting book. The case studies he mentions are fascinating. The book will be hard going for those who have no knowledge at all of brain structure. Sacks is a very well read, musically trained neurologist, who writes well about difficult subjects. One of the stories is about a gifted musician, choral leader, who suffers a brain infection and loses his short term memory completely. One day his wife, also a musician, brings in a piece of music and starts to sing it, and he joins in, remembering the words completely. Able to conduct a chorale, although he would need help getting to the session, being unable to remember the time, date, or place.

5.00 out of 5

gophergolfer
I have been a fan of Oliver Sacks for many years. His books are extremely well written, although they can be a little esoteric at times. His insights into the neurological aspects of mental deficits via injury, illness, or other circumstances really bring to light the reality of how incredible the human brain is. In Musicophilia, we learn how music really is the universal language and how our brain can use it in spite of debillitations such as Parkinson's. He introduces us to the phenomenom of synthesia, the remarkable story of Clive Wearing, and other instances of the incredible plasticity of the mind. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the relationship between music and the brain - I promise you'll find it fascinating.

5.00 out of 5

TheFlamingoReads
This is a fascinating study of the effect music can have on the brain's ability to adapt itself to trauma and loss using music. Sometimes it gets to be a bit tedius, yet it never fails to present something that is just awesome. Unless you are a neuroscientist, you would probably never imagine the things that can happen when the brain deals with music...very captivating.

4.50 out of 5

justmeRosalie
I found the first part of the book a bit boring and repetitive, but the latter part when Sacks talks about the role of music in therapy for Parkinson's patients and dementia patients or others with brain injuries was absolutely fascinating.

4.00 out of 5

Scrabblenut