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This Is Your Brain on Music The Science of a Human Obsession
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This Is Your Brain on Music The Science of a Human Obsession Hardback - 2006

by Daniel J. Levitin


Summary

Whether you load your iPod with Bach or Bono, music has a significant role in your life—even 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 emerging field of evolutionary psychology. Both a cutting-edge study and a tribute to the beauty of music itself, This Is Your Brain on Music unravels a host of mysteries that affect everything from pop culture to our understanding of human nature, including:
• Are our musical preferences shaped in utero?
• Is there a cutoff point for acquiring new tastes in music?
• What do PET scans and MRIs reveal about the brain’s response to music?
• Is musical pleasure different from other kinds of pleasure?

This Is Your Brain on Music explores cultures in which singing is considered an essential human function, patients who have a rare disorder that prevents them from making sense of music, and scientists studying why two people may not have the same definition of pitch. At every turn, this provocative work unlocks deep secrets about how nature and nurture forge a uniquely human obsession.

From the publisher

Whether you load your iPod with Bach or Bono, music has a significant role in your life--even 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 emerging field of evolutionary psychology. Both a cutting-edge study and a tribute to the beauty of music itself, This Is Your Brain on Music unravels a host of mysteries that affect everything from pop culture to our understanding of human nature, including:
- Are our musical preferences shaped in utero? - Is there a cutoff point for acquiring new tastes in music?
- What do PET scans and MRIs reveal about the brain's response to music? - Is musical pleasure different from other kinds of pleasure?
This Is Your Brain on Music explores cultures in which singing is considered an essential human function, patients who have a rare disorder that prevents them from making sense of music, and scientists studying why two people may not have the same definition of pitch. At every turn, this provocative work unlocks deep secrets about how nature and nurture forge a uniquely human obsession.

Details

  • Title This Is Your Brain on Music The Science of a Human Obsession
  • Author Daniel J. Levitin
  • Binding Hardback
  • Edition First Edition
  • Language EN
  • Publisher Dutton Adult, New York
  • Date August 3, 2006
  • ISBN 9780525949695

Media reviews

"I loved reading that listening to music coordinates more disparate parts of the brain than most anything else—and playing music uses even more! Deepens the beautiful mystery that is music." —David Byrne, musician, artist, and founder of Talking Heads

"Every musician, at whatever level of skill, should read this book. And that means all of us." —Howie Klein, former president, Sire and Reprise/Warner Brothers Records

"Dr. Levitin is an unusually deft interpreter full of striking scientific trivia." —The New York Times

About the author

Daniel J. Levitin runs the Levitin Laboratory for Musical Perception, Cognition, and Expertise at McGill University, where he holds the Bell Chair in the Psychology of Electronic Communications. Before becoming a neuroscientist, he was a record producer with gold records to his credit and professional musician. He has published extensively in scientific journals and music trade magazines such as Grammy and Billboard.
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This Is Your Brain on Music : The Science of a Human Obsession

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

by Daniel J. Levitin

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

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

by Levitin, Daniel J.

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Dutton Books, 2006. Hardcover. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession

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

by Levitin, Daniel J.

  • Used
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  • Hardcover
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Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780525949695 / 0525949690
Quantity Available
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Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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NZ$11.18
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Show Details

Description:
Dutton Books, 2006. Hardcover. Good. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
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FREE shipping to USA
This Is Your Brain on Music : The Science of a Human Obsession

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

by Daniel J. Levitin

  • Used
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  • Hardcover
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Used - Acceptable
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Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780525949695 / 0525949690
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Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2006. Hardcover. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$11.18
FREE shipping to USA
This Is Your Brain on Music : The Science of a Human Obsession

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

by Daniel J. Levitin

  • Used
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  • Hardcover
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Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780525949695 / 0525949690
Quantity Available
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Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2006. Hardcover. Good. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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NZ$11.18
FREE shipping to USA
This Is Your Brain on Music : The Science of a Human Obsession

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

by Daniel J. Levitin

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession

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

by Levitin, Daniel J.

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  • Hardcover
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Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780525949695 / 0525949690
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This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession
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This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession

by Daniel J. Levitin

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

by Levitin, Daniel J

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

by Levitin, Daniel J

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