William Forde Thompson, PhD, is distinguished professor of psychology at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. He is author of Music, Thought, and Feeling: Understanding the Psychology of Music, second edition, and editor of Music in the Social and Behavioral Sciences: An Encyclopedia.

Kirk N. Olsen, PhD, is a post-doctoral researcher and lecturer at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, where he is also the research manager of the Music, Sound, and Performance Lab and the Centre for Elite Performance, Expertise, and Training.

Endorsements

"If you read only one book about the psychology of music, this is the one to get. It is both the most up-to-date and most comprehensive book on the market, masterfully presented. You know you want it—what are you waiting for?"—Dr. Daniel J. Levitin, Author of This Is Your Brain on Music; Dean Emeritus, The Minerva Schools at Keck Graduate Institute

"This fascinating and important book describes and thoroughly explores how important music is to us all, and why. It is beautifully written and edited, and provides a fascinatingly wide coverage of its subject. In addition, interested readers will find a huge reservoir of additional references. Reading it will deepen your appreciation of what it means to be human."—Brian Jersky, Ph.D. (Cornell), Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, California State University, Long Beach

"Bill Thompson, who has carried out highly influential research concerning many aspects of musical function and emotional wellbeing, reaches out to a general audience in his new book, The Science and Psychology of Music, edited with Kirk Olsen. The book is remarkable for its accessibility, expansive coverage, clarity of exposition, and thoughtful and far-reaching discussions. All readers with an interest in music will be fascinated by the research and theory that are so eloquently described in this engaging book, and generations of students will be inspired to enter into the study of how music affects the mind."—Professor Diana Deutsch, author of Musical Illusions and Phantom Words: How Music and Speech Unlock Mysteries of the Brain, professor of Psychology, University of California San Diego

"Thompson and Olsen have assembled an A-team of world experts in music psychology and created a compelling encyclopedia of major topics on the many ways we experience music. The result is a valuable volume with entries that offer depth and insight, while remaining wholly accessible to the non-expert reader."—David Huron, Academy Professor Emeritus, Ohio State University

"Everyone knows the appeal of music. Yet, very few know the science behind it. Here, you will find a remarkable collection of short stories that are diverse, accessible and lucid."—Isabelle Peretz, CM OQ FRSC, Professor and Canada Research Chair in neurocognition of music, International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Department of Psychology, University of Montreal

"This book is the perfect introduction to the exciting field of music psychology. The wide-ranging, up-to-date, and socially relevant coverage, and the concisely written and uniquely accessible chapters, will surely inspire a new generation of music researchers. The book is a real treat even for someone who is already familiar with the field. Both the editors and the authors have done a splendid job."—Patrik N. Juslin, Author of Musical Emotions Explained: Unlocking the Secrets of Musical Affect

"This is the first book to concisely and objectively provide a comprehensive panorama of all possible topics explored by researchers in the field of Psychology and Science of Music. Anyone interested in understanding why and how music touches upon virtually all aspects of our lives should read it! Undoubtedly, it will stimulate readers and inspire young adults to immerse themselves in this fascinating area of knowledge that has been growing exponentially over the past few years."—Patrícia Vanzella, Pianist, Associate Professor, Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition, Head of the Neuroscience and Music Group, Universidade Federal do ABC, Brazil