AUTHOR’S BOOKSHELF

Five books that inspired Trevor Cox while writing Now You’re Talking

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON MUSIC: UNDERSTANDING A HUMAN OBSESSION BY DANIEL LEVITIN (£7.99, DUTTON PENGUIN) My favourite book that explores the neuroscience of music. MUSICOPHILIA: TALES OF MUSIC AND THE BRAIN BY OLIVER SACKS (£8.99, KNOPF) Case studies of people struggling with neurological conditions reveal how the brain works. PERFECTING SOUND FOREVER: AN AURAL HISTORY OF RECORDED MUSIC BY GREG MILNER (£9.99, GRANTA BOOKS) Reading Greg’s account of early sound recording inspired me to research how the voice is changed by technology. SWEARING IS GOOD FOR YOU: THE AMAZING SCIENCE OF BAD LANGUAGE BY EMMA BYRNE (£12.99, PROFILE BOOKS) For all connoisseurs of potty-mouthed speaking. THE EVOLUTION OF LANGUAGE BY W. TECUMSEH FITCH (£40.99, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS) A comprehensive account of language evolution, including drawing on Fitch’s fascinating research.