- Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Phoenix; New Ed edition (2 Mar 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 075382051X
- ISBN-13: 978-0753820513
- Product Dimensions: 13.5 x 3 x 21.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 348,435 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Singing Neanderthals
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'An interesting attempt to probe the long-term history of feeling as well as of thought... [This] book is intelligent, important and clear. Anyone who likes to ask broad questions about intelligence, religion and experience, as well as anyone interested in long-term human history, will be able to read and argue with [this] book with enjoyment and profit.' (THES (3/3/06) )
'There is much illuminating and thought-provoking material.' (Ross Leckie THE TIMES )
'Wonderfully evocative... a highly original view of our musical origins.' (GUARDIAN (1/4/06) )
'There is much illuminating and thought-provoking material.' (Ross Leckie THE TIMES )
'Wonderfully evocative... a highly original view of our musical origins.' (GUARDIAN (1/4/06) )
Book Description
A fascinating and incisive examination of our language instinct.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What is music and why does it have such an effect upon us? And why, despite songbirds, whalesong and the singing gelada monkeys of Ethiopia, is music, like language, unique to humans?
In 1997, the influencial linguist Steven Pinker, dismissed music as being "useless" in evolutionary terms, a mere by-product of evolution: that premise triggered this book. Mithen argues that music was not only 'useful,' it was vital for human evolution. Mithen is an anthropologist and along side reviewing the paleoarcheological record he draws on many areas of science, from neurology to musicology, to refute Pinker. In the process he demolishes Pinker, and shows convincingly that music is as fundamental to the human condition as language. An absolutely brilliant book!
In 1997, the influencial linguist Steven Pinker, dismissed music as being "useless" in evolutionary terms, a mere by-product of evolution: that premise triggered this book. Mithen argues that music was not only 'useful,' it was vital for human evolution. Mithen is an anthropologist and along side reviewing the paleoarcheological record he draws on many areas of science, from neurology to musicology, to refute Pinker. In the process he demolishes Pinker, and shows convincingly that music is as fundamental to the human condition as language. An absolutely brilliant book!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I loved this book- at last there is a literature emerging that examines music in its entirety- looking at neurological, anthropological, physilogical, sociological and artisctic perspectives to try to really grapple with what music is, why it has evolved and why it is so meaningful to us. The correlations with langauge development especially fscinating. This book is accessible to non -experts but not in the least simplistic- it is written in a very readable style- excellent.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The power of music is undeniable, and evolutionary psychology has the challenge of producing a credible explanation for its ubiquity.
Professor Mithen convincingly rises to the task in this book, in which music is explained as `pre-verbal' language. (This is certainly a more compelling view than the idea of music being an accidental irrelevance, as some have proposed.)
Drawing from cognitive psychology, neurophysiology, archaeology, and primatology, Mithen carefully assembles the evidence for his theory. He includes an examination of the possible roles for music in sexual selection, socialisation, and spirituality.
His conclusion is elegant and satisfying : Homo Sapens' ancestors evolved a primitive music, which went on to form the core of Neanderthal communication. Homo Sapiens, however, subsequently evolved verbal communication; this left music partially redundant, but it retained for us its capacity to convey emotion.
Next time you find yourself serenading your loved one, this excellent book will help you to understand what you're doing, and why !
Professor Mithen convincingly rises to the task in this book, in which music is explained as `pre-verbal' language. (This is certainly a more compelling view than the idea of music being an accidental irrelevance, as some have proposed.)
Drawing from cognitive psychology, neurophysiology, archaeology, and primatology, Mithen carefully assembles the evidence for his theory. He includes an examination of the possible roles for music in sexual selection, socialisation, and spirituality.
His conclusion is elegant and satisfying : Homo Sapens' ancestors evolved a primitive music, which went on to form the core of Neanderthal communication. Homo Sapiens, however, subsequently evolved verbal communication; this left music partially redundant, but it retained for us its capacity to convey emotion.
Next time you find yourself serenading your loved one, this excellent book will help you to understand what you're doing, and why !
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Review
This is a well written book which I would recommend to anyone. I've never enjoyed one of my modules texts more than this Mithen book!It is really interesting. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Book Worm
Frustrating to a musician
Despite the fact that Steven Mithen makes a welcome and convincing case for singing having evolved in early homo long before he could talk, and that singing was an essential part... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Josquine
An excellent book
This book represents a synthesis of many recent researches in different fields, archeology, neurology, psychology, which, together, brought a revolution in our conception of music.
Published 24 months ago by Lambert Jean
A fascinating global vision, with two shortcomings
That book is an essential hoard of knowledge on the history of humanity, of the human species and of some of its capabilities. Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2010 by Jacques COULARDEAU
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