Book Review: This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession by Daniel J. Levitin - Page 3

And he tells about meeting and working with John R. Pierce who had also been noted for his work while serving as vice president of research at Bell Labs in New Jersey. He relates how Pierce asked him once to explain rock and roll music to him, something Pierce had never paid attention to and didn't understand. Pierce wanted Levitin to come up with six rock and roll songs that he felt would capture the essence of rock and roll. No easy feat! Levitin's offerings were
1. 'Long Tall Sally' Little Richard
2. 'Roll Over Beethoven' The Beatles
3. 'All along the Watchtower' Jimi Hendrix
4. 'Wonderful Tonight' Eric Clapton
5. 'Little Red Corvette' Prince
6. 'Anarchy in the U.K.' the Sex Pistols.

This list alone has you going over in your head which six songs would you have picked? And if any one of yours is among the ones he picked? This is Your Brain on Music also surprised me because I thought I pretty much had a full understanding of the impact music had on my brain. But he opened whole new thoughts about that by bringing a scientific perspective to it. I caution that this book does not read like a textbook, but it does talk about research on how the brain processes music and discusses things like pitch, timbre, rhythm, loudness, and harmony and how they affect the human body. It is a fascinating read and if you have any interest in music whatsoever, this should be a book on your MUST READ list.

Article Author: Ginger Haycox

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