We know what happens when we consume cheeseburgers or cigarettes. But we know less about the effects of a toxic-noise diet. This book aims to change that.
Don Campbell, author of The Mozart Effect (co-author Alex Doman's background is in sound studies), builds on his earlier work by expanding the sound spectrum. He wants us become mindful of all sounds, not just music, because they hold the power to both heal and harm. A whisper can soothe; however, many everyday sounds, such as those emanating from television sets or busy highways, inhibit our capacity to think. To illustrate his point, Campbell shows us how to make sounds suit our natures and environments. He doesn't suggest we listen to Bach all day and, in fact, he sings the praises of total sound breaks. But he wants us to know that everything from how we speak to whether we sing in the shower affects our heartbeat, breathing and brain function. Pleasant noise, he says, "can reduce stress and stimulate cognitive processing and memory in measurable, substantive, and lasting ways."
Campbell goes so far as to say that sound is a "miracle cure." He's a passionate advocate and a persistent marketer. This self-help book's many overt commercial reminders--trademarks atop pages, advertisements for the authors' other work and dozens of website links--strike a distracting chord. Nonetheless, the worthwhile message comes though as clear as a calm voice: this book shows us how to get our audiological veggies. --Tom Swift, author of Chief Bender's Burden.