You Are What You Hear: How Music and Territory Make Us Who We Are

by Harry Witchel

Have you ever wondered why music makes you feel so good? Why did we evolve to have music, and what does music do to us? You Are What You Hear is a bit of a romp compared to the usual science book. Dr. Witchel, a specialist in music, pleasure and the brain, explains how the body and the brain are influenced by different kinds of music, why some music makes us joyous, while other music makes us sad, or angry, or anxious, and how the brain interprets this music. He also shows how music plays with your mind - what you think, how you decide what to buy, and even how smart you are. Dr. Witchel's interests run the gamut from music and laughter to the body language of the British Prime Minister, which he has analyzed on the BBC. In this book he brings together amusing historical anecdotes and engaging scientific evidence to explore how and why different groups use different music to claim their space and their identities.

Genres: Music

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Alex Foot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interested in musics use as a social tool? This book is an excellent starting point. A light, non-academic breakdown of why we listen to the things we listen to. If you've ever trawled through your friends spotify playlists or posted what you're listening to on Instagram...this is for you!

[Eric Levy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! Very engaging, and many interesting facts about the psychology of music based on academic research (endnotes are clearly labeled, with the citations at the bottom of the page). The author uses a conversational style that any intelligent reader could enjoy and appreciate.

I was a bit wary after reading "This is Your Brain on Music", which was somewhat unfocused, heavy on anecdote, and which left me wondering about what research the author was referring to. But "You Are What You Hear" was an engaging page-turner for me, that music-lovers who are also interested in psychology should enjoy. Highly recommended!

[Bender · Rating 2 out of 5]

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