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midici's review against another edition
4.0
I know almost nothing about either music or neurology, and I found this book fascinating. Oliver Sacks takes his knowledge of neurology and music, his collection of case studies, anecdotes, and correspondence and a basis of well-researched science literature and turns it into a compelling read.
Music is incredibly important to me, despite being functionally music illiterate. I don't sing well and I don't play any musical instrument. But I play music constantly and sing whenever I can do so without annoying people. It's such a constant staple in my life but I've never considered what it looks like from a scientific investigation. Sacks looks into both how we process music in our brain but also the impact music has on us.
There's 30 chapters, but only 4 major parts: I. Haunted by Music; II. A Range of Musicality; III. Memory Music and Movement. IV> Emotion, Memory and Music. There’s way too much to delve into everything, but in short I learned a lot about just how complicated the human relationship is with music – and how integral it is, to us as a species. I am definitely going to keep my eye open for more of his books, and I’ll keep listening to my music too, with a bit more appreciation.
Music is incredibly important to me, despite being functionally music illiterate. I don't sing well and I don't play any musical instrument. But I play music constantly and sing whenever I can do so without annoying people. It's such a constant staple in my life but I've never considered what it looks like from a scientific investigation. Sacks looks into both how we process music in our brain but also the impact music has on us.
There's 30 chapters, but only 4 major parts: I. Haunted by Music; II. A Range of Musicality; III. Memory Music and Movement. IV> Emotion, Memory and Music. There’s way too much to delve into everything, but in short I learned a lot about just how complicated the human relationship is with music – and how integral it is, to us as a species. I am definitely going to keep my eye open for more of his books, and I’ll keep listening to my music too, with a bit more appreciation.
bookshelfmystic's review
I just couldn't get into this book. I found that the stories were relatively interesting, but they were disjointed and didn't go into enough depth to hold my interest. Gave up around chapter 4.
adammuly's review
4.0
This is a very interesting collection of stories. It’s a good mix between thought-provoking tales and scientific explanations and theories. I will say, you need a healthy interest in abnormal disorders, psychology, neuroscience, music, or some combination of those topics to really stick with the book. Sacks does do a good job of making it read like a story most of the time while still exercising his scientific knowledge throughout.
geekwayne's review
4.0
I was as riveted by this book as I am with all of Oliver Sacks previous works that I have read. That the subject was music made it immensely more enjoyable and pertinent to me as a musician.
Interesting topics included disorders where music is played incessantly in whole or in part, The ability of the brain to use music to carry out minute tasks in subjects who are unable to remember small details, and patients with intense dementia who could not remember the slightest details about themselves, but were able to remember bits of music they had performed.
The brain and how it normally (or abnormally) functions are of great interest to me and Sacks presents in a very readable manner. This book does refer back to previous case studies in other works (The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat, Awakenings, An Anthropologist On Mars, etc.), but there was fresh insight into these cases in relation to music.
Very recommended.
Interesting topics included disorders where music is played incessantly in whole or in part, The ability of the brain to use music to carry out minute tasks in subjects who are unable to remember small details, and patients with intense dementia who could not remember the slightest details about themselves, but were able to remember bits of music they had performed.
The brain and how it normally (or abnormally) functions are of great interest to me and Sacks presents in a very readable manner. This book does refer back to previous case studies in other works (The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat, Awakenings, An Anthropologist On Mars, etc.), but there was fresh insight into these cases in relation to music.
Very recommended.
moi_stephanie's review
3.0
Not really my cup of tea, which doesn't mean it's a bad book. It's actually really well written and goes into enough detail to interest people wanting to go beyond, but I can't see myself going past the 1/3 I made it to.
vkaz's review
3.0
Sacks' anectdotes are fascinating, and i love that he, as a scientist, pulls back to document and consider the effects of music on the brain. But he is not a musician, and never gets past a very clinical description of music and its effect. The book intrigued me, yet i was looking for a more satisfying take on the music end of things.