Overview

But why is it so evocative? There’s no logical reason why a rousing, percussive tune should invoke swashbuckling pirates, or a slow melody on the flute remind you of a summer day from childhood. And yet, as research shows, it consistently does – and what’s more, if you hear pirates, others likely hear pirates as well. For all that listening to music can feel like an intensely subjective experience, it holds objective, measurable power over the way our brains function. Exploring the strange and magical science of music perception, musician and psychologist Elizabeth Margulis examines the nature of ‘musical daydreams’. From the intense link between music and memory (music is more likely to prompt Proustian-style flashbacks than food, madeleines or otherwise) to why you keep returning to the music you loved at sixteen – and for that matter, the music your parents loved at sixteen – Transported reveals the compelling new science behind why music is so integral to who we are.

Full Product Details

9781836431732

Table of Contents

Reviews

'Transported pushes forward how we understand the nexus between music and humans. And by ""we,"" I mean academics, musicians, music listeners, and even those people scratching their heads and wondering what all the fuss is about. Even better, Margulis’s writing is at the same time elegant and accessible.' —Daniel J. Levitin, author of This Is Your Brain on Music 'This vivid and insightful book provides an entirely new perspective on music’s power to evoke scenes and stories in our imagination. Weaving together surprising scientific discoveries with a humanist’s sensitivity to cultural and historical context, Margulis brightly illuminates a valuable aspect of musical experience that we are just beginning to understand.' —Aniruddh Patel, author of Music, Language and the Brain 'A fascinating exploration of the mysterious and important connection between music and daydreams, and a deeply enjoyable path toward understanding what imbues music with its undeniable power.' —Béla Fleck, 17-time Grammy Award-winning musician 'Margulis writes in an easy, conversational style, never solemnly scholarly, and raises as many enticing questions as she answers. Moving deftly between the subjective experience of those listening to music and the brain activity of those same subjects, she considers how the mind makes metaphors and how various senses influence each other. The book is sure to make readers ponder their own encounters with music. A refreshingly original look at an ordinary phenomenon.' —Kirkus 'With striking intellectual range and an inviting voice, Elizabeth Margulis reframes everyday music listening as a subject of rigorous scientific inquiry. Bringing together insights across disciplines with a balance of precision and accessibility, she broadens our understanding of music’s capacity to foster creativity and nurture wellbeing.' —Assal Habibi, director of USC Center for Music, Brain, and Society

Author Information

Margulis has served as President of the Society for Music Perception and Cognition. Her work has been featured in outlets ranging from NPR's All Things Considered to the BBC, and she's given public lectures at venues ranging from South by Southwest to the World Science Festival. She was also trained as a pianist.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available