Musicophilia: A Review

A Review of Oliver Sacks’ "Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain" By Seth LaJeunesse Blending the experience of a practitioner with the insight of a sage, Oliver Sacks capably purveys findings from medical research and thought. His latest volume, Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain is yet another example of his contribution to a broader understanding of the human condition. Using inviting prose and erudite wit, Sacks provides supple narration about the mysterious, appealing, and infectious nature of music. Indeed, he provides compelling explanations for why certain songs continuously invade our conscious thought, how particular afflictions are treated using music (e.g. Parkinson’s and Tourette’s syndromes), and how music affects our mood states, among several other fascinating realities. Not only does Dr. Sacks illuminate music’s inherent healing power, he also helps us understand its pivotal role in our lives. He accomplishes this on several fronts. Some outstanding examples include, why certain melodic phrases tend to provoke nostalgia or simply add substance to the mundane. Among all of this work’s achievements, however, I believe its most triumphant is its capacity to demonstrate that the rhythm of music facilitates the presentation of our more natural, fluid selves. Broadly speaking, Musicophilia is an engaging and relevant work, one that will inevitably incite discussion long after its initial release.