Audiobooks by Daniel Levitin

Music as Medicine: How We Can Harness Its Therapeutic Power

"Brought to you by Penguin. From the bestselling author of This Is Your Brain on Music and The Organized Mind, a surprising and inspiring exploration of the healing power of music. We are only just beginning to appreciate the healing power of music. In recent years, a wave of scientific research has upended everything we once knew about its effects on our brains: not only in reducing stress, but also in enhancing cognitive function, slowing the spread of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, even strengthening our immune systems. Here, a neuroscientist and celebrated musician introduces a bold new paradigm for medical treatment, rooted in the unexpected influence of music on our minds and bodies. From explaining how ‘rhythmic auditory stimulation’ can fight multiple sclerosis, to examining why Tracy Chapman’s songs might just help cure PTSD, Professor Daniel Levitin offers surprising insights into the new science of music as medicine. Along the way, he explores how each of us can use music to calm our thoughts, repair our memories and heal our deepest psychological wounds. The result is both a surprising tour through the science of music, and a joyful celebration of humanity’s oldest obsession. ‘As knowledgeable a guide to neuroscience as one might hope for.’ New York Times Book Review ‘Music as Medicine showcases Daniel J. Levitin’s expertise in all genres of music as well as experimental neuroscience. No one else in the universe could have written this book.’ Neil deGrasse Tyson ‘For many years I have wondered why a bunch of frequencies organised into a piece of music has the ability, even without words, to make the listener cry and become emotional. Although I know this happens to me and many people, I have often wondered how this can be. Dr Levitin, in this latest book, Music as Medicine, has some fascinating insights into this great phenomenon.’ Paul McCartney ‘Daniel J. Levitin is a visionary neuroscientist, an extraordinary musician, a brilliant writer - and this is his best book yet. Music as Medicine is inspiring and illuminating, as deep as it is delightful.’ Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness © Daniel Levitin 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Daniel Levitin (Author), Daniel Levitin (Narrator)

Audiobook

The World in Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Nature

"Brought to you by Penguin. Dividing the sum total of human musical achievement, from Beethoven to The Beatles, Busta Rhymes to Bach, into just six fundamental forms, Levitin illuminates, through songs of friendship, joy, comfort, knowledge, religion and love, how music has been instrumental in the evolution of language, thought and culture. And how, far from being a bit of a song and dance, music is at the core of what it means to be human. A one-time record producer, now a leading neuroscientist, Levitin has composed a catchy and startlingly ambitious narrative that weaves together Darwin and Dionne Warwick, memoir and biology, anthropology and a jukebox of anecdote to create nothing less than the ' soundtrack of civilisation'. © Daniel Levitin 2019 (P) Penguin Audio 2021"

Daniel Levitin (Author), Daniel Levitin (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Changing Mind: A Neuroscientist's Guide to Ageing Well

"Brought to you by Penguin. THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ** THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER More of us are living into our eighties than ever before - what if the best was yet to come? The bestselling author of The Organized Mind reveals the evolving power of the human brain through the ages. Recent studies show that our decision-making skills improve as we age, and that our happiness levels peak at age 82. Dr Daniel Levitin draws on cutting-edge research from neuroscience and psychology to demonstrate the cognitive benefits of getting older. He challenges the beliefs that surround the ageing process, including our assumptions around memory loss and our focus on lifespan instead of 'healthspan'. Packed with engaging interviews with individuals who have thrived far beyond the conventional age of retirement, this book offers a realistic plan full of practical, cognitive enhancing tricks for everyone to follow during each decade of their life. The Changing Mind is a radical exploration of what we all can learn from those who age joyously. © Daniel Levitin 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020"

Daniel Levitin (Author), Daniel Levitin (Narrator)

Audiobook

This is Your Brain on Music: Understanding a Human Obsession

"Brought to you by Penguin. Using musical examples from Bach to the Beatles, Levitin reveals the role of music in human evolution, shows how our musical preferences begin to form even before we are born and explains why music can offer such an emotional experience. Music is an obsession at the heart of human nature, even more fundamental to our species than language. In This Is Your Brain On Music Levitin offers nothing less than a new way to understand it, and its role in human life © Daniel Levitin 2019 (P) Penguin Audio 2020"

Daniel Levitin (Author), Daniel Levitin (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Field Guide to Lies and Statistics: A Neuroscientist on How to Make Sense of a Complex World

"Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of a Field Guide to Lies by David Levitin, read by Dan Piraro. The bestselling author of The Organized Mind explains and debunks statistics in the information age We live in a world of information overload. Facts and figures on absolutely everything are at our fingertips, but are too often biased, distorted, or outright lies. From unemployment figures to voting polls, IQ tests to divorce rates, we're bombarded by seemingly plausible statistics on how people live and what they think. In a world where anyone can become an expert at the click of a button, being able to see through the tricks played with statistics is more necessary than ever before. Daniel Levitin teaches us how to effectively ask ourselves: can we really know that? And how do they know that? In this eye-opening, entertaining and accessible guide filled with fascinating examples and practical takeaways, acclaimed neuroscientist Daniel Levitin shows us how learning to understand statistics will enable you to make quicker, better-informed decisions to simplify your life. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio."

Daniel Levitin (Author), Dan Piraro (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Organized Mind: The Science of Preventing Overload, Increasing Productivity and Restoring Your F

"Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of The Organized Mind by Daniel Levitin, read by Luke Daniels. 'Thought-provoking and practical ... Good advice based on sound neuroscientific principles' Sunday Times In The Organized Mind, New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author and neuroscientist Daniel Levitin offers solutions for the problems of information overload. Overwhelmed by demands on your time? Baffled by the sheer volume of data? You're not alone. Even the smartest mind can't beat the organized mind - when we're unable to make sense of it all, our creativity plummets, our decision making suffers and we grow absent-minded. Nowadays, we drown under emails, forever juggle six tasks at once and try to make complex decisions ever more quickly. This is information overload. Using a combination of academic research and examples from daily life, Daniel Levitin explains how to take back control of your life, from healthcare to online dating to raising kids, showing that the secret to success is always organization. You'll discover life-changing facts about: - How to make the most of your brain's daily processing limit - Why pressing Send or clicking Like are addictive - Why daydreaming is your brain at its most productive - What the most successful people keep in their drawer - Why multitasking is a bad way to do nearly everything In a world where information is power, The Organized Mind holds the key to harnessing that information and making it work for you."

Daniel Levitin (Author), Luke Daniels (Narrator)

Audiobook