Bad Singer

A remarkable story of dogged determination to prove his own body wrong and, as such, is one of the more illuminating cultural studies of modern times. * Globe and Mail *
Falconer is old school in his traditional approach to journalism. He conducts lengthy interviews and fluidly articulates complex scientific concepts. He's the protagonist yet he doesn't digress into self-indulgence. The result is fresh, intelligent prose. While he may be a bad singer, he's a thorough researcher and gifted raconteur. What Falconer lacks in pitch he makes up for in curiosity and passion. * Toronto Star *
An engaging, step-by-step look into how scientists study tone deafness . . . an essential tale about how human beings, even those of us with tin ears, can't help but be drawn to music . . . Over the last decade there have been a number of books published about the science of music - such as Daniel Levitan's This Is Your Brain on Music, Oliver Sacks's Musicophilia, and David Byrne's How Music Works - and Bad Singer is a doubly successful effort because it doesn't retread the same ground of these books, with Falconer couching his subject in a personal journey that's enjoyable to follow. * National Post *
Bad Singer deftly combines a memoir of Falconer's personal musical history with a scientific look into how humans hear music. * Maclean's *
A spirited, even adventurous look at the mysteries of how the human brain perceives and processes sound - and even, on occasion, manages to make beautiful music. * Kirkus Reviews *
Falconer's self-deprecating humour keeps Bad Singer's tone lighthearted and as entertaining as the photos of him hamming it up as a singer on the book cover. Lines like 'I'm a bad singer. And deep down, it matters' produce an undercurrent of sorrow, but far more pronounced are his curiosity, vulnerability, and perseverance. It's a deeply human book, and his most personal. * Quill & Quire *
An engaging tale. * Winnipeg Free Press *