THE SCIENCE OF SONG

Technology, science, culture, and art collide in this friendly introduction to the way humans make and experience music.

Nowadays people have instant access to millions of songs thanks to streaming services, but that could never have been made possible without the technological advances in music-making and listening that have taken place over thousands of years. This eye-catching introduction provides a chronological evolution of music and technology interspersed with explorations of neurological, psychological, and physiological responses to music. The book wraps up with a few pages devoted to pondering the impact of future technological advances on the way people (and robots!) make, listen to, and interact with music. Each double-page spread tackles a different topic, presenting easy-to-digest chunks of information and fun facts supported by clean visuals. Some pages feature diagrams that show how technology works, such as how a CD stores binary code that is translated into sound, while others include pictures of famous musicians, singers, or composers. Finally, each section includes a playlist with a trio of songs to seek out for further exploration. Inspired by a museum exhibit made by the book’s creators, this book is best read from cover to cover, rather than browsed, due to the way each section builds upon the last.

Engaging and relevant, this attractively designed book will inspire further exploration.