The Sound Book

November 4, 2013
In a world dominated by sight, it’s worth asking: “What fascinating sounds are out there if we just ‘open’ our ears?” British acoustic engineer Cox, an interior acoustics expert and enthusiastic collector of exotic noises, takes readers on a quest for “the most surprising, unexpected, and sublime sounds—the sonic wonders of the world.” Concert halls, classrooms, and open-plan office space illustrate the acoustics of “dead” rooms, whose soft furnishings absorb noise, as opposed to “live” rooms, where reverberating sounds linger in a “bloom” to enhance tone. Cox explores reverberations in caves, churches, oil storage tanks, and the vast emptiness of an old concrete reservoir, while Neolithic burial chambers, Stonehenge, “chirping” Mayan pyramids, and classical Greek theaters give insight into how ancient cultures exploited and enhanced sound. He also looks into how the varied sounds of nature offer insight into human moods as well as animal lifestyles, from the killer shockwaves created by snapping shrimp, to the frequently disastrous impact of human-made noises on whales and dolphins. From the invigorating hiss of a waterfall to the bizarrely metallic twang of rocks striking a frozen lake, Cox reminds us not only of the sonic marvels we often miss, but also how those sounds affect us. 35 illus.