I Heard There Was a Secret Chord

Music as Medicine

By: Daniel J. Levitin

Narrated by: Daniel J. Levitin

Music is one of humanity’s oldest medicines. From the Far East to the Ottoman Empire, Europe to Africa and the pre-colonial Americas, many cultures have developed their own rich traditions for using sound and rhythm to ease suffering, promote healing, and calm the mind.

In his latest work, neuroscientist and New York Times best-selling author Daniel J. Levitin (This Is Your Brain on Music) explores the curative powers of music, showing us how and why it is one of the most potent therapies today. He brings together, for the first time, the results of numerous studies on music and the brain, demonstrating how music can contribute to the treatment of a host of ailments, from neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, to cognitive injury, depression, and pain.

Levitin is not your typical scientist—he is also an award-winning musician and composer, and through lively interviews with some of today’s most celebrated musicians, from Sting to Kent Nagano and Mari Kodama, he shares their observations as to why music might be an effective therapy, in addition to plumbing scientific case studies, music theory, and music history. The result is a work of dazzling ideas, cutting-edge research, and jubilant celebration.

I Heard There Was a Secret Chord highlights the critical role music has played in human biology, illuminating the neuroscience of music and its profound benefits for those both young and old.

“Daniel J. Levitin is a visionary neuroscientist, an extraordinary musician, a brilliant writer—and this is his best book yet. I Heard There Was a Secret Chord is inspiring and illuminating, as deep as it is delightful. I couldn’t put it down. So full of great ideas and delicious stories, it made me want to rewind my entire life and spend more of it making music.”—Daniel Gilbert, New York Times best-selling author of Stumbling on Happiness

This enhanced audiobook features original music by the author.©2024 Daniel J. Levitin (P)2024 Recorded Books

Music Therapist Approved

An excellent overview of how music affects us and how we can use it to our advantage for health and wellness. Highly recommend!

Fascinating combination of science, humor and artistic wisdom

The author is equally masterful at narrative and narration. His voice reflects his deep knowledge of brain research and quick wit together with a profound understanding of music from the inside out. When I had completed the book, I started listening to it all over again. There’s so much to enjoy to learn.

Various health issues impacted by music.

Enjoyed this a lot. A collection of many themes I’ve read short news items on. Wonderful to see it all in one place and elucidated so fully.

A kaleidoscopic treatment of mind and music

As a composer who has Parkinson’s disease, this book spoke to me in a way that was deeply personal yet full of profound scientific insights. Brilliant!

Daniel Levitin on the benefits of music

Levitin has written previously about music and the human brain so I expected technical information which is hard to follow in an audiobook. All the same, there is plenty of interesting information here. Recommended for all who enjoy music, whether or not they need its healing qualities.