For most Americans, silence is rare. Traffic and airplane noise fill major cities. Cellphone conversations have taken over parks, buzzing electronics have invaded homes and each store has its own carefully shaped "sonic environment." In his new book, "In Pursuit of Silence: Listening for Meaning in a World of Noise," George Prochnik argues that noise poses a real threat to our cardiovascular system, mental health and our ability to concentrate. A lover of silence, Prochnik goes to competitions where car owners compete to create the loudest sounds, visits a shopping mall sound designer, and attends European "soundscaping" projects, where designers use technology to decrease noise pollution. He even explores how Hitler's vocal pitch and volume may have seduced his followers!
