Description
About the Author
Dr Mike Goldsmith has a PhD in astrophysics from Keele University, awarded for research into variable supergiant stars and cosmic dust formation. From 1987 until 2007 he worked in the Acoustics Group at the UK's National Physical Laboratory and was Head of the group for many years. His work there included research into automatic speech recognition, human speech patterns, environmental noise, and novel microphones. He continues to work with NPL on a freelance basis and has recently lead a three-year project to develop a new type of environmental noise mapping system. He has published over 40 scientific papers and technical reports, and since 1999, he has written over 30 science books for readers from babies to adults. Two of his books have been short-listed for the Aventis prize (now the Royal Society prize) for science books.
Reviews
This is an engaging book on a topic that concerns us all yet about which we remain strangely inarticulate - noise ... The book is a veritable tour de force - an entertaining and highly informative tour through the weird and wonderful (and often wacky and worrisome) world of noise. * Sean LEstrange, Dublin Review of Books *
When is sound enjoyable? When is it an irritation? When is it actually dangerous? These are some of the themes of Mike Goldsmith's enjoyable history of "sound out of place". * Wall Street Journal *
A treasure trove of curious facts and anecdotes ... Discord is an extremely attractive and accessible, well-written and engaging book, an excellent starting place for readers who want to understand the physics and politics of noise. * Peter Pesic, American Scientist *
[an] engaging, often entertaining, history of noise from prehistoric times to the present day * Andrew Robinson, The Lancet *
an entertaining and informative history, written by someone with scholarly enthusiasm, which raises important issues and merits a wide readership. * Rupert Christiansen, Literary Review *
[a] spectacularly good book. * New Scientist *
Book Information
ISBN 9780199600687
Author Mike Goldsmith
Format Hardback
Page Count 332
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 522g
Dimensions(mm) 219mm * 153mm * 31mm