The Struggle to Turn Down the Volume

Noise is everywhere. Whether you suffer it, embrace it, or tune it out, it surrounds you: the incessant chirping of crickets, the static-y hum of power lines, the wail of inconsolable infants, the blare of subwoofers cruising through your neighborhood at night. The Unwanted Sound of Everything We Want: A Book About Noise isn’t so much a sustained look at sound pollution as it is a collection of sobering facts, historical precursors to his own research, and empowerment tales: Garret Keizer’s extensive, erudite study is peopled by noise-abatement crusaders, public health experts, reformers, and regular everyday people who’ve either had more than their fill of noise attacks or who are modifying their behavior to make the world around them a slightly quieter place to live.