Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to How music works by David Byrne

10 Great Books for Music Lovers

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. How music works by David Byrne launched in 2015; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   How Music Works▲65

   Everything David Byrne knows about music

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   How Music Works by David Byrne▲61

   The joy, physics and business of making music

   2015 · its alternatives →

3. 3
   How Music Works▲5

   How profoundly music is shaped by its time and place

   2015 · its alternatives →

4. 4
   This Is Your Brain on Music▲63

   Exploring the connection between music and the human brain

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Why You Love Music▲63

   From Mozart to Metallica. The power of beautiful sounds

   2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   How Music Works▲6

   Updated with a new section on digital curation

   2017 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Ableton: Making Music▲124

   A book of creative strategies for electronic music producers

   2015 · makingmusic.ableton.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   How We Listen Now▲63

   Essays and conversations about music and technology

   2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Musicophilia▲8

   How music can affect the brain

   2015 · amazon.co.uk · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Lucky: Professor Green ▲59

    A rare insight into one of the most exciting musicians

    2015 · amazon.co.uk · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Show Your Work!▲84

    10 ways to share your creativity and get discovered

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    This Business of Music▲62

    The music business Bible

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Daily Rituals: How Artists Work▲11

    How inspiring minds get done the work they love

    2015 · audible.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Einstein: His Life And Universe▲81

    How did his mind work? What made him a genius?

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Show Your Work ▲58

    Ten Ways To Show Your Creativity and Get Discovered!

    2015 · austinkleon.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    #MusicTech▲69

    Data science, music discovery, and lots of fun use-cases!

    2015 · leanpub.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    How the Mind Works▲71

    Tackles the workings of the human mind

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Feynman Genius▲62

    The Life and Science of Richard Feynman

    2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Music Theory Cheat Sheet▲106

    Keys, scales, chords, notes & intervals - all on one page

    2022 · its alternatives →

20. 20
    The Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory▲16

    A history of how music is made

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    How to Read a Book▲92

    The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

    2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    How Games Move Us: Emotion by Design ▲70

    A look at how games make us feel

    2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Infinite Music Trivia▲99

    How much do you know about music?

    2016 · its alternatives →

24. 24
    All You Need to Know About the Music Business▲1

    A fantastic guide to how the music industry works

    2015 · amazon.co.uk · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →