Michael Spitzer
Bloomsbury
2022
466
Paperback
Non-Fiction
Xmas Gift
165 million years ago saw the birth of rhythm.
66 million years ago was the first melody.
40 thousand years ago Homo sapiens created the first musical instrument.
Today music fills our lives. How we have created, performed and listened to this music throughout history has defined what our species is and how we understand who we are. Yet music is an overlooked part of our origin story. The Musical Human takes us on an exhilarating journey across the ages – from Bach to BTS and back – to explore the vibrant relationship between music and the human species. With insights from a wealth of disciplines, world-leading musicologist Michael Spitzer renders a global history of music on the widest possible canvas, looking at music in our everyday lives; music in world history; and music in evolution, from insects to apes, humans to AI. Through this journey we begin to understand how music is central to the distinctly human experiences of cognition, feeling and even biology, both widening and closing the evolutionary gaps between ourselves and animals in surprising ways.
The Musical Human boldly puts the case that music is the most important thing we ever did; it is a fundamental part of what makes us human.
I received a copy of The Musical Human as a Secret Santa gift at work, and it was certainly a good pick on the part of the buyer. This is a non-fiction work with an interesting premise, looking at human history through the evolution of music. The book is split into three parts and I was fully engaged through parts one and two. The final chapters I found a little less compelling and I noticed I was starting to skim-read at certain times towards the end. I thought a few of the author's ideas were a bit of a stretch, but for the most part it was intriguing and thought-provoking reading and I learnt a few new things along the way. I am giving it four stars. Recommended for music fans who also enjoy a bit of history on the side.
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