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The Sound of Being Human

How Music Shapes Our Lives

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The Sound of Being Human

By: Jude Rogers
Narrated by: Jude Rogers
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About this listen

 'Too often we treat popular music as wallpaper surrounding us as we live our lives. Jude Rogers shows the emotional and cerebral heft such music can have. It's a personal journey which becomes universal. Fascinating'
Ian Rankin

'Moving and absorbing, The Sound of Being Human mixes memoir, analysis, anecdote and personal chronicle into a mosaic that evokes what music means to the individual and the human tribe. A candid, beautiful read'
Stuart Maconie

The Sound of Being Human explores, in detail, why music plays such a deep-rooted role in so many lives, from before we are born to our last days. At its heart is Jude's own story: how songs helped her wrestle with the grief of losing her father at age five; concoct her own sense of self as a lonely adolescent; sky-rocket her relationships, both real and imagined, in the flushes of early womanhood, propel her own journey into working life, adulthood and parenthood, and look to the future.

Shaped around twelve songs, ranging from ABBA's 'Super Trouper' to Neneh Cherry's 'Buffalo Stance', Kraftwerk's 'Radioactivity' to Martha Reeves and the Vandellas' 'Heat Wave', the book combines memoir and historical, scientific and cultural enquiry to show how music can shape different versions of ourselves; how we rely upon music for comfort, for epiphanies, and for sexual and physical connection; how we grow with songs, and songs grow inside us, helping us come to terms with grief, getting older and powerful memories. It is about music's power to help us tell our own stories, whatever they are, and make them sing. Entertainment & Celebrities Grief & Loss Music Personal Development Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Celebrity Heartfelt

Critic reviews

Too often we treat popular music as wallpaper surrounding us as we live our lives. Jude Rogers shows the emotional and cerebral heft such music can have. It's a personal journey which becomes universal. Fascinating (Ian Rankin)
A stunning hybrid of memoir and music, soundtracking the indelible nature of sound. Rogers' moving, lyrical sentences sing and stop you in your tracks (Sinéad Gleeson)
I absolutely loved this book. It's a fabulously moving memoir, gorgeous and unique, and beautifully written - tender, funny, nostalgic and insightful, elegantly revealing so much about the power of music. It's given me a completely new take on the songs I have loved in my life and why I love them. What a joy.
Moving and absorbing, The Sound Of Being Human mixes memoir, analysis, anecdote and personal chronicle into a mosaic that evokes what music means to the individual and the human tribe. A candid, beautiful read (Stuart Maconie)
I've not read a warmer, deeper or truer evocation of the intense and unique connection between person and song. In untangling her own life, Jude Rogers helped me understand mine. This book is truly beautiful (David Whitehouse)
A beautifully written memoir of love, loss and the ways in which music can move us in unseen ways. Jude is a rare talent (Sirin Kale)
Jude Rogers is one of our very finest music writers, and The Sound of Being Human shows us exactly why: tender, whip-smart, passionate and meticulous. All music fans will relish this book (Laura Barton)
There are books that have made me cry and books that have taught me about the psychological effects of music, but Jude's is the only one that has done both. It's a wonderful thing - real food for the heart and head. A book that lots of people will treasure (Mat Osman)
Jude Rogers is one of my favourite writers and one of my favourite people. Having been interviewed by her many times I'm always bowled over by her constant passion for music, new and old, and the way she can take you to a time and a place in a few words. This is a beautiful memoir about how music can shape your life, sometimes change your life, and I defy anyone not to have a little cry along the way (Sarah Cracknell)
Both heavy and light, dark and sweet - I very much like this book (Kristin Hersh)
Evocative, intelligent and touching. So brilliant on that rush you get from the music that shapes, describes, soundtracks & changes your life. I love Jude's writing and her power to conjure the emotions you felt when you first heard a certain song (Mhairi McFarlane)
Personal but universal, The Sound Of Being Human is a moving, funny and very smart exploration of what music does to you and how it does it (Alexis Petridis)
All stars
Most relevant
Such a moving and heartfelt book - I loved every minute of it. If music is something that is woven into the fabric of your being, then I know you’ll enjoy it too.

An utter joy

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Thoroughly enjoyed this book poignant and truly heartfelt, some really interesting song facts in there

Great read

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This is a beautiful and moving musical memoir,
But Jude Rogers also weaves in some fascinating science about why we listen to music and why it’s important to the human experience.
Plus the featured songs make a very cool playlist.
I also love that she reads it herself, evoking those personal memories and the songs that have meant so much to her. It adds another layer to what is already a superb book.

A brilliant exploration of music and its influence on what it it is to be human

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Lessons about humanity's multifaceted relationship with song, spliced with wonderful anecdote and feeling. I found the book absolutely fascinating and the musicality of Rogers' voice was like a verbal comfort blanket. I loved the weaving of autobiography through the medium of song. Diolch x

This will change the way you listen to music

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I had heard Jude Rogers recently talking to Joel Morris on his latest brilliant podcast show which investigates those pieces of music or film that acted like a ‘comfort blanket’ to the interviewee. I had read Jude Rogers’ articles but what struck me here was her dissection of a Wham song. I had recently allowed my inner pop music fan out - I’m nearly 60 and too old to be ‘cool’ anymore - and was walked through why Freedom (the first one) was even better a composition that I had originally realised. And so I thought I had to read her book and promoted it to the top of my Wish List. And I’m so glad I did. This is a beautiful and very personal account - with snippets of neuroscience interwoven to underpin her hypothesis and attempt to grasp why music can mean so much to us - which you either ‘sing along with’, divert off to listen to the ‘tracks of her years’ or simply listen to her homage to music and her dad. Read beautifully as well - voice cracking here and there maybe? - Jude’s lovely Welsh lilt means you read the book just as you were supposed to. Wonderful book, so glad she shared. Stuart

A beautiful and uplifting account

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