Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain by Oliver Sacks explores the intriguing place music occupies in the brain and its profound effects on the human condition. With his trademark compassion and erudition, Sacks presents a variety of what he calls musical misalignments.

Among the fascinating stories are:

• A man struck by lightning who suddenly desires to become a pianist at the age of forty-two.
• An entire group of children with Williams syndrome, who are hypermusical from birth.
• Individuals with amusia, to whom a symphony sounds like the clattering of pots and pans.
• A man whose memory spans only seven seconds—for everything but music.

This illuminating, inspiring, and utterly unforgettable book delves into the mysterious power of music, highlighting its ability to evoke memories, emotions, and sometimes uncontrollable forces within us. Musicophilia is a masterpiece that not only contributes to our understanding of the elusive magic of music but also sheds light on the strange workings, and misfirings, of the human mind.