Have you ever wondered why pop songs are roughly three minutes long, or how improvisation in jazz began? Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne answers these questions and more in his ambitious survey of musical creation. How Music Works combines a unique array of topics, looking at music from anthropological, historical, economical and autobiographical angles. A great read for music lovers!

I expected this to be an "aging rock star bio", but it's much more than that. Byrne does describe his own musical genesis, the formation and career of Talking Heads, and his own solo projects. But he uses this as grist for the mill in his larger discussion of what is music, how did it go from being something one played in a social context to a consumable object. I followed most of what he said about space determining the type of music which works best in it, the technology of recording, the business of music. But he lost me (through my own ignorance, I admit) when he started talking about scales and the music of the spheres. Great book, much to think about.

A true Renaissance man, David Byrne is a painter, photographer, and writer in addition to being a Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame inductee and co-founder of the new wave band Talking Heads. In How Music Works, which Booklist calls "endlessly fascinating, insightful, and intelligent," he presents a celebration of music that offers insight into a plethora of topics. From mixtapes and venues to birdsong and technology, the book ranges broadly - and entertainingly. Though his topic of choice is the evolution of music, Talking Heads fans will appreciate his riffs on the band, as well. Review in Next Reads Popular Culture newsletter November 2012 http://www.nextreads.com/Display2.aspx?SID=5acc8fc1- 4e91-4ebe-906d-f8fc5e82a8e0&N=568377