Searching for Silence in a Culture of Noise

Soundcheck | May 3, 2010
For his new book In Pursuit of Silence, author George Prochnik went on a personal quest to examine how we came to be so loud as a society, and what gets lost when we can no longer find quiet. Along the way he met with monks, a soldier in Afghanistan, a sound designer, and a group of commuters who successfully revolted against piped-in music at Grand Central Terminal. Prochnik joins us for this month's installment of our noise series "Sound Off."

Tell us: What do you do to cope with noise? Do you enjoy or seek out some forms of environmental noise? Leave a comment.

Blog: John Schaefer on the sound of silence [WNYC Culture]

WNYC Homepage - Top Stories

Why single domestic violence survivors can't get shelter in NYC despite empty beds

The History Wars and America at 250, with the Historian Jill Lepore

What Péter Magyar's Election in Hungary Says About 'Strongmen' Today

Mayor Mamdani says he's balanced NYC's budget

How they handle crises in Brownsville, often without police

YOU ARE ONLINE