The Search for Silence
David Hendy considers the modern quest for quiet, and asks whether what really makes us happy is as little noise as possible.
In the noisy modern world, silence has become an ever more desirable - and fashionable - state. We read books about it, go on retreats to find it, and soundproof our living and working spaces in its name. But when we have it is it what we want?
Professor David Hendy of the University of Sussex considers the modern quest for quiet and asks whether what really makes us humans happy is a little noise.
Conclusion of the 30-part series made in collaboration with the British Library Sound Archive.
Signature tune composed by Joe Acheson.
Producer: Matt Thompson
A Rockethouse production for BBC Radio 4.
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Blog: A world full of noise
British Library curator Dr Janet Topp Fargion previews the final week of the Noise series.
Readings
Series readings director: Cherry Cookson.
Broadcasts
Fri 26 Apr 201313:45BBC Radio 4- Fri 27 Nov 201514:15BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Sat 28 Nov 201502:15BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Fri 28 Jun 201914:15BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Sat 29 Jun 201902:15BBC Radio 4 Extra
Noise retold by Matthew Herbert
The head of the New Radiophonic Workshop retells the Noise series using only the sounds.
