Your Brain on Art

How the Arts Transform Us

By: Susan Magsamen, Ivy Ross

Narrated by: Ellyn Jameson

Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A life-altering journey through the science of neuroaesthetics, which offers proof for how our brains and bodies transform when we participate in the arts—and how this knowledge can improve our health, enable us to flourish, and build stronger communities.

“This book blew my mind!”—Angela Duckworth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grit

A BLOOMBERG BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • Finalist for the Inc. Non-Obvious Book Award and the Porchlight Business Book Award

Many of us think of the arts as entertainment—a luxury of some kind. In Your Brain on Art, authors Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross show how activities from painting and dancing to expressive writing, architecture, and more are essential to our lives.

We’re on the verge of a cultural shift in which the arts can deliver potent, accessible, and proven solutions for the well-being of everyone. Magsamen and Ross offer compelling research that shows how engaging in an art project for as little as 45 minutes reduces the stress hormone cortisol, no matter your skill level, and just one art experience per month can extend your life by ten years. They expand our understanding of how playing music builds cognitive skills and enhances learning; the vibrations of a tuning fork create sound waves to counteract stress; virtual reality can provide cutting-edge therapeutic benefit; and interactive exhibits dissolve the boundaries between art and viewers, engaging all of our senses and strengthening memory. Doctors have even been prescribing museum visits to address loneliness, dementia, and many other physical and mental health concerns.

Your Brain on Art is a portal into this new understanding about how the arts and aesthetics can help us transform traditional medicine, build healthier communities, and mend an aching planet.

Featuring conversations with artists such as David Byrne, Renée Fleming, and evolutionary biologist E. O. Wilson, Your Brain On Art is an authoritative guide to neuroaesthetics. The book weaves a tapestry of breakthrough research, insights from multidisciplinary pioneers, and compelling stories from people who are using the arts to enhance their lives.

©2023 Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“This book blew my mind! An authoritative yet practical guide to neuroarts—a term that, if you haven’t heard it before, is even more reason to join these brilliant coauthors on a romp through the latest science on how art transforms the brain and the body.”—Angela Duckworth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grit

“Your Brain on Art will change how you think about the creative world, both around you and within you.”—Charles Duhigg, author of the bestsellers The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better

“This wonderful book demonstrates that art is essential for health, healing, community, and bliss. Your Brain on Art is well researched and well written. I couldn’t put it down.”—Mary Pipher, author of Women Rowing North and A Life in Light

Art and your life

An artful way to improve your life and the world around us. I recommend this book to. my adult children.

Fascinating

It was a bit dry and hard to follow in places, so I had to go back and re-read some places, but overall a fascinating read.

This is one of the most interesting and compelling books I have ever read. I have Parkinson’sAnd am currentlymake unable to msk

And compelling books i have
Ever read.
I have Parkinson’s disease. and am currently unable to make art

amazing read! replace meds

this was such an amazing book! working for Google helps with arts in learning!!

Practical, even utilitarian ways of leveraging art

A fun and easy listen that's inspiring and encouraging. It explores how different usages of art, both consuming and producing art, can alter our mood and open up new possibilities. It makes me want to make crafts and write a story. I also feel hopeful and empowered to learn how I can potentially alter my feelings.

Unlike art, which we can approach with an open mind and exploration. How much you will like this book depends on your expectation. You will find it enjoyable and informative if you want something quick, light, and practical.

On the other hand, although it gives the basic knowledge of the human brain, the discussion focuses more on behavior and psychology than biological or neurological. For example, it describes some case studies of people feeling better (mood) after writing down or drawing out what happened or how they feel (production of art) - the utility of leveraging art. But it doesn't explain why.

If you want to read how colors or sound affect our brain from the biological and neurological perspective, check out "Zero to Birth: How the Human Brain Is Built' by W.A. Harris (2022). If you want to read about your brain's neurological reaction to act, check out "This is your brain on music, the Science of a Human Obsession" by Daniel J. Levitin (2020, expanded edition). If you want to read more on how your brain perceives and reacts to its surrounding, check out "Phantoms in the Brain, Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind" by Sandra Blakeslee, V. S. Ramachandran (2013).

Fascinating book, distracting narrator

This was a meaningful book that I hope to re-read in print. The authors share many ways art influences our lives for the better and the science behind it—how art improves well being, learning, memory and more. Unfortunately, as the book progressed I found the narrator to be distracting. She sounded bored/annoyed, and it became difficult to listen to and finish on audiobook, even though the content was good. I hope they can record it with a different narrator at some point. I’ve heard an interview with the authors and they would do a much better job than this narrator.

Very informative

But I wish they used their own concepts of involving art to make this audio book easier to swallow

So Fascinating!

I’ve been meaning to do a review of this book. I have already personally recommended it to several of my friends. There is so much content in this book, that it’s hard to find a place to begin. The author did an excellent job citing sources and studies. It went into so many topics: chronic pain, ptsd, TBI’s, raising children, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, etc. It gives an in depth look at how the arts (from visual to dance to music) react within and alter the brain. About how living a life full of art effects you. Did you know that even just going to live art events regularly increases your life span? I highly recommend this book.

Inspirational

Many great ideas connected to valuable studies and cohesive stories. Read and reread chapters 4-6. Looking forward to putting these nodes into practice

The Arts Are the Human Part of Us

This is a fabulous overview of research into the value the arts bring to our individual and community life. As a life long artist, arts educator and creativity coach for others seeking to find and build their relationship to creativity this book validated all of my observational experience.