The World in Six Songs by Daniel Levitin

The World in Six Songs by Daniel Levitin

Regular price
Checking stock...
Regular price
Checking stock...
Summary

Unpicks the pathways of the brain to reveal how human beings have been hard-wired for music. Blending art and science, the author unveils his theory of 'Six Songs', and describes how music played a pivotal role in the creation of human culture and society. He shows how music has been instrumental in the evolution of language, thought, and culture.

The feel-good place to buy books
  • Free US shipping over $15
  • Buying preloved emits 41% less CO2 than new
  • Millions of affordable books
  • Give your books a new home - sell them back to us!

The World in Six Songs by Daniel Levitin

'This is the worst idea for a book I've ever heard - it makes me want to vomit. The idea encapsulates the very worst part of Western thought.' One week later...'I take it back - I'm sorry! This is great!' Joni Mitchell In his enthralling and revelatory This is Your Brain on Music Daniel Levitin unpicked the pathways of the brain to reveal how human beings have been hard-wired for music. Now, in an astonishing blend of art and science, he unveils his revolutionary theory of 'Six Songs', and describes how music played a pivotal role in the creation of human culture and society. Dividing the sum total of human musical achievement, from Beethoven to The Beatles, Busta Rhymes to Bach, into just six fundamental forms, Levitin illuminates, through songs of friendship, joy, comfort, knowledge, religion and love, how music has been instrumental in the evolution of language, thought and culture. And how, far from being a bit of a song and dance, music is at the core of what it means to be human. A one-time record producer, now a leading neuroscientist, Levitin has composed a catchy and startlingly ambitious narrative that weaves together Darwin and Dionne Warwick, memoir and biology, anthropology and a jukebox of anecdote to create nothing less than the 'soundtrack of civilisation'. The World in Six Songs will change the way you listen to music for ever. Daniel Levitin is the James McGill Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at McGill University. Before entering academia he worked as a session musician, sound engineer and record producer. He lives in Montreal, Canada.
"'Music seems to have an almost wilful, evasive quality, defying simple explanation, so that the more we find out, the more there is to know, leaving its power and mystery intact, however much we may dig and delveDaniel's book is an eloquent and poetic exploration of this paradox.' Sting 'This is the worst idea for a book I've ever heard - it makes me want to vomit. The idea encapsulates the very worst part of Western thought.' 'I take it back - I'm sorry! This is great!' Joni Mitchell"
Daniel Levitin is the James McGill Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at McGill University. Before entering academia he worked as a session musician, sound engineer and record producer. He lives in Montreal, Canada.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9781845134778
ISBN 10 184513477X
Title The World in Six Songs
Author Daniel J Levitin
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Paperback
Publisher Quarto Publishing PLC
Year published 2009-03-25
Number of pages 368
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.