TRANSPORTED:
THE EVERYDAY MAGIC OF MUSICAL DAYDREAMS
Forthcoming from Liveright, May 19, 2026
Also available in the UK (Oneworld)
DESCRIPTION
A song comes on—and suddenly, you’re somewhere else.
Reliving past heartbreak. Picturing a serene future. Imagining a fantastical scene. Across genres, music has an uncanny ability to carry us into distinct inner worlds.
In Transported, acclaimed music cognition researcher Elizabeth Margulis explores the phenomenon of musical daydreams—the vivid, spontaneous, emotionally charged images, stories, and memories we lapse into while listening to music—and argues that these everyday reveries offer a powerful and underappreciated window into how we think, feel, and connect.
Combining cutting-edge neuroscience, psychology, ethnography, and revelations from her own teaching and pathbreaking research, Margulis shows not only that musical imaginings are widespread and meaningful—but also that daydreams which seem deeply personal are often widely shared. Music can alleviate anxiety, ignite creativity, and foster connection in our increasingly fragmented era.
At a time when attention is perpetually under siege, Transported makes a powerful case for music as one of the last spaces where the mind is still free to wander—and reminds us that these wanderings are more meaningful and more important to our individual and collective well-being than we’ve ever realized.
“Margulis writes in an easy, conversational style, never solemnly scholarly, and raises as many enticing questions as she answers. Moving deftly between the subjective experience of those listening to music and the brain activity of those same subjects, she considers how the mind makes metaphors and how various senses influence each other. The book is sure to make readers ponder their own encounters with music. A refreshingly original look at an ordinary phenomenon.”
“Transported: The Everyday Magic of Musical Daydreams is fascinating and timely. In today’s landscape of screens, algorithms, and anxiety, there couldn’t be a better moment to explore the power of music to free our minds, inspire our imaginations, and awaken lost memories. The science behind these effects, explained so coherently in the book, has huge implications for healthcare; and it is woven seamlessly into real-world accounts with feeling and humor. ”
“ Transported pushes forward how we understand the nexus between music and humans. And by ‘we,’ I mean academics, musicians, music listeners, and even those people scratching their heads and wondering what all the fuss is about. Even better, Margulis’s writing is at the same time elegant and accessible.”
“A fascinating exploration of the mysterious and important connection between music and daydreams, and a deeply enjoyable path toward understanding what imbues music with its undeniable power.”
“This vivid and insightful book provides an entirely new perspective on music’s power to evoke scenes and stories in our imagination. Weaving together surprising scientific discoveries with a humanist’s sensitivity to cultural and historical context, Margulis brightly illuminates a valuable aspect of musical experience that we are just beginning to understand.”
“With striking intellectual range and an inviting voice, Elizabeth Margulis reframes everyday music listening as a subject of rigorous scientific inquiry. Bringing together insights across disciplines with a balance of precision and accessibility, she broadens our understanding of music’s capacity to foster creativity and nurture well-being.”