World Famous Comics: Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, Revised and Expanded Edition
Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, Revised and Expanded Edition
By: Oliver Sacks Publisher: Vintage Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Vintage Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 448 Publication Date: September 23, 2008 Release Date: September 23, 2008
With the same trademark compassion and erudition he brought to The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Oliver Sacks explores the place music occupies in the brain and how it affects the human condition. In Musicophilia, he shows us a variety of what he calls “musical misalignments.” Among them: a man struck by lightning who suddenly desires to become a pianist at the age of forty-two; an entire group of children with Williams syndrome, who are hypermusical from birth; people with “amusia,” to whom a symphony sounds like the clattering of pots and pans; and a man whose memory spans only seven seconds-for everything but music.
Illuminating, inspiring, and utterly unforgettable, Musicophilia is Oliver Sacks' latest masterpiece.
Amazon.com Review: Amazon Best of the Month, December 2007: Legendary R&B icon Ray Charles claimed that he was "born with music inside me," and neurologist Oliver Sacks believes Ray may have been right. Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain examines the extreme effects of music on the human brain and how lives can be utterly transformed by the simplest of harmonies. With clinical studies covering the tragic (individuals afflicted by an inability to connect with any melody) and triumphant (Alzheimer's patients who find order and comfort through music), Sacks provides an erudite look at the notion that humans are truly a "musical species." --Dave Callanan
Sounds good! Really interesting book. I work on music with relation to science so this book is really interesting for me. It has actually been recommended by one of my professors that Sacks actually referred to in the book. Besides, the stories Sacks is telling are really fascinating. I do recommend this book, for everybody who loves music. I have actually sent a french version to one of my friends in France.
Musicophillia I loved this book. It gives multiple examples of an area that is not generally covered in neuropsychology. It provides multiple examples of various types of neurological disorder having to do with music. If you've ever experienced musical hallucinations, a deterioration in he appreciation of music or any of the other conditions noted it will help with diagnostic clarification. Since I do evaluations of people I find it a handy reference.
Painful to read unfortunately This book is so poorly written as to make it's fascinating subject matter almost uninteresting. Oliver Sacks is so narcissistic, self absorbed and self referential that is it a distraction. Keep looking for the ultimate book on music and the brain.
brilliant book This book is a brilliant discussion of the neurology of music. It discusses the 'musical brain' and how the brain is connected to musical perception and expression. Oliver Sachs is a wonderful writer. If you have any interest in music, this book will captivate you.
Terrific for musicians As a retired professional musician (orchestra, professorship, teacher of youngsters, and a jazzer too), I certainly wish I had read this book earlier! Very enlightening. Sachs as usual employs slightly abnormal or above-normal patients to introduce important issues about musical perception, learning, memory, memorization and practice, and more. I have learned so much here! A great gift to anyone in the music business. Might be a bit difficult for a junior reader.
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