Sound Affects

How Sound Shapes Our Lives, Our Wellbeing and Our Planet

Julian Treasure

$34.99

Paperback

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English

Quercus
25 March 2025

Mathematics & Sciences; Popular science; Wave mechanics (vibration & acoustics); Acoustic & sound engineering; Popular psychology

'Transformative and a fascinating read; this book will open your ears to the world of sound and change your life' Steven Bartlett, bestselling author of The Diary of a CEO

'A fascinating insight into the power of sound' Susan Cain, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of QUIET

Every day, the sounds around us affect every aspect of our human experience, and thus fundamentally alter our quality of life, for better or worse. It is only recently that scientists have realised that sounds connect us to the world in ways that are every bit as vivid and evocative as visual landscapes. Hearing is the first sense we develop, and as our primary warning sense it is hardwired into

our brains. And yet, in an increasingly noisy and distracted world, most people pay scant attention to the sounds around them, causing them to lose contact with the essential skill of listening.

Sound Affects is about rediscovering the wonder of sound, and understanding how powerfully it affects us, whether we are paying attention or not. It is also a manual for taking back responsibility for the sounds we consume and the sounds we make, so we can enhance our own happiness, effectiveness and well-being.

In the process, the reader will discover that:

- stars are like bells, ringing with sound black holes make sound 50 octaves below what we can hear

- snapping shrimp may be only 1cm long but they make sound that's as loud as a rock concert

- whales can communicate underwater over hundreds of miles with very low frequency sound that travels five times as fast as sound in air

- individual cells make unique sounds, enabling scientists detect early signs of metastases

- dolphins have names and call each other by them

By: Julian Treasure
Imprint: Quercus
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 30mm
Weight: 420g
ISBN: 9781529428810
ISBN 10: 1529428815
Pages: 352
Publication Date: 25 March 2025
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Julian Treasure is a British top-rated international speaker and collectively, his five TED talks on various aspects of sound and communication have been viewed more than 120 million times. His talk How to Speak So That People Want to Listen is in the top 10 TED talks of all time. He has been featured as a sound and communication expert across international media, including TIME Magazine; The Economist; The Times; and many international TV and radio stations and podcasts. Julian is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Marketers, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a long-time musician, remembering with affection his two 1981 BBC John Peel sessions (the bands were Transmitters and Missing Presumed Dead). He is also the author of two specialist books: Sound Business (Management Books, 2000) and How to Be Heard (Mango, 2017). How to Be Heard was 2019 Audie Award Winner for Best Audio Book in Business and Personal Development, HuffPost 20 Best Business Books of 2017 and Best Voiceover-Audiobook Narration at the 2018 Voice Arts Awards.

Reviews for Sound Affects: How Sound Shapes Our Lives, Our Wellbeing and Our Planet

Transformative and a fascinating read; this book will open your ears to the world of sound and change your life -- Steven Bartlett, author of The Diary of a CEO A fascinating insight into the power of sound -- Susan Cain, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of QUIET Julian Treasure has long argued for increased attention to sound in commerce and culture. Here is his most extended presentation on listening to the world in its widest form. An engaging and exuberant book -- David Rothenberg, author of Why Birds Sing and Secret Sounds of Ponds Julian Treasure has long argued for increased attention to sound in commerce and culture. Here is his most extended presentation on listening to the world in its widest form. An engaging and exuberant book * David Rothenberg, author of Why Birds Sing and Secret Sounds of Ponds *