How Music Works

people's neurological response to aesthetic experience, apply to all creative fields The Economist 20121006 * Given the vastness of the subject, calling a treatise How Music Works seems intellectually arrogant, but it could also be seen as disarmingly frank, a fresh perspective from a down-to-earth mind. David Byrne's book, although a self-conscious art object (backwards pagination, upholstered cover and so on) contains plenty of plain-spoken, sensible observations: a dichotomy typical of the man Guardian * It's a great book to pick up and start at any chapter, a hugely rewarding and enriching read. A fascinating look at music from many angles, I would receommend it to anyone who plays or simply has an interest in the history and evolution of the musical form, the culture of music, both as a well of inspiration and as a simple commodity Irish Times * The finest music book of the year ... Handsomely bound, beautifully printed, wittily illustrated, it would make a beautiful collector's item but there is much more going on between the covers ... bursting with a sense of free-flowing curiosity -- Neil McCormick The Daily Telegraph * By investigating how music works, Byrne shows us how best it can be used. We are all the richer for his effort -- Yo Zushi New Statesman * Fascinating look at music's power to move -- Alexis Petridis The Guardian * Disarmingly frank, a fresh perspective from a down-to-earth mind -- Michel Faber The Guardian * A big beautiful work of art... As you might expect from someone as intelligent and open-minded as Byrne, How Music Works is a far ranging and astute look at all the facets of music -- Doug Johnstone The Big Issue 20121001 * Inspiring Financial Times * An ambitious attempt at understanding a phenomenon to which the former Talking Head has dedicated his life's work -- John Doran Quietus * Extraordinary Guardian * Unique among a deluge of music biographies and autobiographies coming out this Christmas, this wildly ambitious book breaks the mould -- Arthur House The Sunday Telegraph * Byrne is a crisp and enthusiastic guide -- Rob Fitzpatrick The Sunday Times * Creators of all stripes will find much to inspire them in Mr Byrne's erudite musings on the biological and mathematical underpinnings of sound, from Plato to Copernicus and from John Cage to Tantric Buddhists. How Music Works should be required reading for all writers and publishers The Economist * Brilliantly original New York Times Book Review * As accessible as pop yet able to posit deep and startlingly original thoughts and discoveries in almost every paragraph ... this book will make you hear music in a different way -- Oliver Keens The Sunday Telegraph * Wildly ambitious Observer * How Music Works in as entertaining and erudite book ... The chapter on the economics of music should be required reading for all 16-year-olds tinkering with their GarageBand software and dreaming of dollar signs -- Peter Aspden Financial Times * Absorbing Independent * [A] wide-ranging tome -- Geeta Daval Wired Magazine * A fluid, intelligent analysis -- Patrick Freyne The Irish Times * Not just a noticeably handsome book ... but a beguiling and hugely perceptive one too -- Jonathan O'Brien Sunday Business Post * Satisfying MOJO