Rating: 
Summary: marketing on the back of an unverifiable theory
Review: This book is basically an advertisement for the author's line of CDs and cassettes. The author is highly biased towards an obscure 1993 study (which the author did not participate in) that seems to undoubtedly show that listening to Mozart for 10 minutes before a spatial/temporal test increased relative IQ by 9 points. Since then the term "mozart effect" has been trademarked but no government or university researcher has been able to duplicate the effect. One analysis of the results of 700 students showed a very slight (2 points) improvement in those who listened to the music, but it was deemed statistically insignificant. These research results were conveniently left out of the book. Notice that the "Customers who bought this book also bought" section here on Amazon shows that there is a strong correlation between the purchase of this book and the purchase of overpriced tapes and CDs from Don Campbell. That's the marketing tail wagging the dog. Before buying this book, search the Internet for "mozart effect" and find out the truth for yourself. Don't bother with this self-hyped panacea.
Rating: 
Summary: Really?
Review: This is a readable, amiable book. Music certainly is fascinating, and enjoyable, a human universal in one form or another, as the author's examples show. But the dumb as well as the smart listen to it, the warlike as well as the peaceful. In other words, not a convincing thesis. It may be the physical activity that music accompanies (playing, singing, dancing) that is effective, instead. One also wonders why it is Mozart (rather than, say, the religious musical tapestries of Bach) that is featured and favored here. To his contemporaries Mozart was a controversial genius and full of jokes, human rather than devine and worshipful. One of these years we can hope for studies of the real effects of the experiment whereby the State of Georgia provides a Classical music disk to all newborns: does their rate of acceptance to college go up, the number enrolling in the Army go down, etc.? I recommend Music, the Brain, and Ecstasy, by Robert Jourdain, instead (equally well-written, but far more systematic).
Rating:
Summary: Book doesn't do the scientific research justice
Review: When I first picked up this book, I was hoping that it would talk about the research done at UC Irvine by Gordon Shaw and his lab. I was shocked to find only a brief mentioning of it. Most of the book seemed non-scientific, and I felt that it tricked me into buying another New Age pseudo-science book.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent introduction to the healing power of music.
Review: When I was led to The Mozart Effect in an out of town bookstore, I was interested to learn more about the topic. I found Campbell's writing style easy to follow and the many individual stories instructive. The book provides just the right blend of science and human reality to bring the topic to life for me. I'm sure that it will for other readers. There has been more Mozart playing in our home since reading the book!
Rating: 
Summary: The Music of the Mozart Effect
Review: Wonderful music! I've been convinced ever since listening has helped me through a long struggle with lyme disease. The music helped enormously. Now I'm fine and I still listen often. I will undoubtedly forever.It truely soothes my soul. I wish everyone could fill their life with this healing, beautiful music. Whatever you're up to, the music works for you . So enjoy! And Thanks, Kathleen
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