Paperback. Black cover with white title.

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Why does music have such a powerful effect upon the mind and body? The author of this book believes that music is one example of how humans make sense out of the chaos of sounds and other stimuli which impinge upon us. Music exemplifies the human need for coherence – putting us in touch with our feelings and giving them structure. Anthony Storr is a practising psychiatrist and author of “Solitude”.

Review: Some of the most illuminating books about music are not written by musicians but by thinkers who ask why music affects us so profoundly. I purchased Music and the Mind by Anthony Storr on 31 December 2000 while building a personal library exploring the connections between psychology, creativity, and the deeper structures of human experience.

Anthony Storr approaches music from the perspective of a psychiatrist interested in the inner life of the mind. Rather than analysing musical technique, he explores the psychological power of music and why it has such a unique ability to shape emotion, memory, and personal identity. What makes the book particularly engaging is Storr’s ability to draw on insights from psychology, philosophy, and the lives of composers to explain how music provides a form of structure for inner experience. He suggests that music gives coherence to feelings that are often difficult to express in words, helping people reconnect with deeper aspects of themselves.

Reading the book today, it remains striking how clearly Storr captures the universal experience of music as something both intensely personal and culturally shared. His reflections help explain why music can feel so meaningful across different times and traditions. Readers interested in psychology, creativity, or the emotional power of music will find this a thoughtful and accessible exploration of one of the most mysterious forms of human expression.

I purchased this copy myself and continue to keep it as part of a long-term reading archive documenting the thinkers and traditions that shaped modern understanding of the human mind.