The Power of Music

"Recent research on music's effect on the brain has created a firm scientific footing for a proposition that has been evident for millennia, namely, that music is a powerful force in our lives. In The Power of Music, Elena Mannes cites this emerging research in a personal and compelling account of music's impact on us. This is a must read for anyone who, like the author, has felt the transformative influence of music."—Jamshed Bharucha, president, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

"Reading this book will give teachers ammunition to respond to people who question the value of music education, music's effects on the body and brain, and how music goes beyond entertainment . . . It behooves us as music educators to read about music cognition and this book provides us with rich ideas in this new scientific arena."—Claudia Bossard, American Music Teacher

"Truly powerful and fascinating! Elena Mannes examines the reasons for the way music lifts, inspires, and heals us, and opens new paths of intuition and hope in our sometimes clouded lives. Her exploration of science, poetry, history, biology, and literature in relation to music is riveting and she connects these with the elegance of a song, the clarity of a lyric set to an unforgettable melody."—Judy Collins, singer, songwriter, and author


"Why does music move us? In a wide-ranging book that spans science and culture, documentary-maker Elena Mannes—who hails from a long line of musicians and patrons, including the building of New York's Carnegie Hall—describes what the latest cognitive biology and neuroscience tell us about our emotional responses to music. She points to evidence that music can heal, and looks to why music seems to be almost universal across different cultures."—Nature

"I knew nothing about music—except for knowing what music I like—until I took this journey with Elena Mannes. What a trip! Elena Mannes has always crafted exquisite stories for television, winning all the top awards for excellence over her long career at CBS and PBS. Now she has brought that gift for storytelling to The Power of Music, laying out even for an untutored layman like me a captivating account of how music connects mind and body. She digs deeply into stunning new research into music's importance in our lives and reveals that science and art are muses that nourish each other and enrich individual lives."—Bill Moyers

"An important book for anyone who loves music, from the professional performer to the young person listening on earbuds. By the end of this fascinating story, Elena Mannes has led us to realize just how much we take music, its mysteries, and power for granted. This is a refreshing and exciting read that makes everything new again. If this book were required reading in every high school, we would start seeing generations of music scientists, and perhaps even better-equipped performers and audience members—which would naturally lead to music becoming a better-funded and respected subject in our schools than it currently is."—Deborah Voigt, internationally acclaimed opera soprano

"We've always known that music is a transformative, spiritual experience—now modern science can explain how and why. Elena Mannes explores this groundbreaking and often poetic new territory."—Bobby McFerrin, vocalist, pianist, and conductor

"Preliminary but striking investigations into the effects of music on everything from string theory to a baby's cry . . . A well-tempered introduction to music's far-reaching influence on man, beast and cosmos."—Kirkus Reviews

"This title will be welcomed by those who accept music as a positive force and by readers interested in current scientific trends."—Barry Zaslow, Library Journal