Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain

I just finished reading book number two for 2009: Oliver Sacks’ Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain. The book provides a broad look at music, its effects on the brain and certain disorders or psychological problems relating to music.

The book was enjoyable overall, being for the most part anecdotal. Sacks, a neurologist, provides countless stories of cases he and his colleagues have experienced over the years, and he sprinkles them with personality and identity with the patients so as not too be too impersonal.

However, on the whole, the book seems slightly elevated, giving a sense that one might appreciate it a bit more if they knew more of the terminology of neurology and psychology than the average reader. Coming from a musical rather than psychological perspective, this was certainly the case for me. That said, I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested first and foremost in psychology and music second.

The part of the book I enjoyed most was where the subject of music therapy was discussed. He looks at several severe mental conditions — Alzheimer’s, Tourette’s, Parkinson’s, etc. — and describes how music has played a part in not only easing the pain and frustration of those experiencing such issues, but also showing how in some cases music-based therapy can reverse some of the effects of these conditions.

I think I need to find something a bit less cerebral — pun intended — to read as book number three of 2009.