Rating: 
Summary: Humbug
Review: There is no scientific basis for the "Mozart effect," none at all. The experiment in question was conducted on adults, not babies. The results of that experiment implied that the subjects actively listening to music immediately before taking intelligence tests performed slightly better on those tests because they were more alert than the subjects who had been day dreaming in silence.
Those seeking scientific papers thoroughly debunking this silliness will find them in "The Biological Foundations of Music," published by the New York Academy of Sciences (ISBN 1-57331-307-6), which is currently out of print, but is probably available at your local library.
"Music, the Brain and Ecstasy" by Robert Jourdain is an excellent introduction to music cognition. Howard Goodall's "Big Bangs" and Dowling and Harwood's "Music Cognition" can be purchased used and will be appreciated by advanced musicians and novices alike.
Parents wishing to introduce their children (and themselves) to music might consider purchasing "Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts," which are insightful and an absolute joy to watch.
Do not buy "The Mozart Effect." It is a waste of your time and money. Instead, just order some Mozart or Brahms or Bach, sit down, and listen to it: you don't need Campbell's manipulative schlock to help you "unlock the creative spirit" within.
Rating: 
Summary: pseudoscience worse than no-science
Review: A fascinating book! Well-supported with evidence and inspoiring case examples, and a good read as well. Quality bedtime or pleasure reading, whether you think you're a music lover or not. Highly recommended
Rating: 
Summary: inspiring
Review: A fascinating book! Well-supported with evidence and inspoiring case examples, and a good read as well. Quality bedtime or pleasure reading, whether you think you're a music lover or not. Highly recommended
Rating:
Summary: Bravo from a piano teacher in NYC
Review: After 35 years of teaching piano, there is finally a book that empowers MUSIC. I've used imagery and a variety of styles of music to lead my students to quality classical music. This book has included the powers of music beyond our traditional uses: for performance, entertainement. Mr. Campbell uses the mind, the body and the heart as part of the great world of music. I wish every music teacher would read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointingly un-scientific
Review: As a musician and a music teacher, I really wanted to like this book. I already agree with the authour on many points having to do with the value of music in overall well being. However, what I need most are not unsubstantiated anecdotes or third person hearsay, but some actual scientific evidence of music's ability to heal. This pseudo-science does a disservice to serious music teachers, especially those who need objective scientific data to justify the existence of music in the public school. No rational person is going to be convinced by this volume of wishful thinking and new age fantasy. Sorry, Don.
Rating: 
Summary: Provocative, but not conclusive
Review: Don Cambell writes in a personal, engaging style, making the readers enjoy pursuing the premises which he purports to explore. Ranging in style from personal anecdotes to hard scientific evindence from peer-reviewed journals, Campbell attempts to build a case for the ability of music to heal a wide range of mental and physical ills. Unfortunately, the evidence simply is not there on a scientific level. Though there are an impressive number of success stories in the book, the actual, citable research is scarce, especially for effects of music on physical health. Most of the replicable research to date concerns itself with effects mediated though stress reduction pathways: heart rate, blood pressure, and the like. When one looks for evidence of music altering immune function and disease course, the evidence becomes almost nonexistent. Campbell seems to treat almost all forms of evidence as equal; from anecdotes to articles in the popular press, to scientific ! ! studies. A more stringent review of these pieces of evidence would be of greater service to the reader, if more difficult to get through. This is especially the case in the last segment of the book, which reads like a "laundry list" of disorders ranging from cancer to international aggression (!), but is generaly one "success story" after another, with little evidence and no critical review of how general these phenomena are. Many other books in press today fall into similar traps. In defense of Mr. Campbell, it should be pointed out that when he writes of "healing," he does not generally mean "improvement in physical integrity." Rather, he appears to be more concerned with emotional/spiritual well-being. Unlike many other writers, Campbell does the reader the courtesy of explicitly stating this at several points during the book. Mr. Campbell also displays more integrity than most in the disclaimer on the bibliographic inform! ! ation page: that the book, and its recommendations, are no! substitute for care by a competent trained health care professional. Overall, then, the book is enjoyable to read, but does not succeed in building a credible scientific case for the "healing" powers of music.
Rating:
Summary: Music Therapist supports the big picture
Review: Don Campbell had the courage to show the big picture of how music has helped many people. He writes beautifully on how to inspire , focus and empower our lives through the inspired art. As a music therapist for many years, I help patients regain their hope and power with music. Science will never be able to measure the power of music. I hope science will begin to appreciate that no one piece of music will make us smart, make us well or creative. Good research comes from the antedotal observatrions. Pay attention to this book, it may open many new possibilities for music in hospitals and schools.
Rating:
Summary: Music Therapist supports the big picture
Review: Don Campbell had the courage to show the big picture of how music has helped many people. He writes beautifully on how to inspire , focus and empower our lives through the inspired art. As a music therapist for many years, I help patients regain their hope and power with music. Science will never be able to measure the power of music. I hope science will begin to appreciate that no one piece of music will make us smart, make us well or creative. Good research comes from the antedotal observatrions. Pay attention to this book, it may open many new possibilities for music in hospitals and schools.
Rating:
Summary: pseudoscience worse than no-science
Review: Don Campbell is a gifted lecturer, lightweight and appealing, who deserves credit for his ability to present complex material in a palatable way. I have also enjoyed his metaphysical musings, like in the book "The roar of silence", replete with valuable exercises. But where this book goes wrong, is Campbell trying to fill us in on "the newest research on music", revealing Mozart`s music to be a Rosetta stone of healing, toilets that play Mary had a little lamb as treatment for incontinence, resonant music as a cure for diabetes, etc. Campbell has never undergone the first steps of the rigorous training anyone even dabbling in research has to undertake. Thus, when he refers "the latest research", his conclusions are his own, and would be decried even by the authors of the papers themselves - it sometimes seems that the frontpage eyecatch entertainment value takes priority over facts.
I think D. C. has written an entertaining and inspiring book. But he should have kept it at that (like Anthony Storr`s Music and the mind) and not mislead the public with confusing and distirted pictures of where science is at as regards music.
Rating:
Summary: A powerful contribution explaining the power of music !
Review: Don has truly been a pioneer in the effects of music on mind, body, and spirit. His life has been focused on music, no doubt since his womb experiences! Don has been a personal friend and cohort in music with me for 15 years. Together we wrote "Rhythms of Learning", an educational book published by Zephyr Press. Don has spent years exploring and experimenting with sound both with thousands of people through his music institute, for his own growth, and with many leading-edge professionals in the field. His book is intended to present the spectrum of effects music has the power to create. It is intended to lead others to appreciate music more, and will, in fact, direct you to people in the field who can explain more about specific issues. I suggest you use it to inform yourself and as a resource for learning who has specialized in different music fields. In 300 or so pages you can only do so much so we can't expect it to fulfill all needs! If you desire to know more about research, this book will point you towards those who have more information for you. Read and enjoy this book--you will gain insights from it, I assure you!
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