Description

pp. 354, “Daniel Levitin’s new book showcases his daring theory of “six songs,” illuminating how the brain evolved to play and listen to music in six fundamental forms- for knowledge, friendship, ceremony, joy, comfort, and love. Levitin shows how music and dance enabled the social bonding and friendship necessary for human culture and society to evolve. Blending cutting-edge scientific findings with his own sometimes hilarious experiences as a musician and music-industry professional, Levitin’s sweeping study also incorporates wisdom gleaned from interviews with icons ranging from Sting and Paul Simon to Joni Mitchell,Willie Nelson, and David Byrne. The result is a brilliant revelation of the prehistoric yet elegant systems at play when we sing and dance at a wedding or cheer at a concert-or tune out quietly with an iPod.”