Golden The power of silence in a world of noise

Policymaker and meditation teacher Zorn and leadership consultant Marz take readers on a journey to understand the meaning of silence, which they define as "both the absence of noise and this presence unto itself." Drawing on scientific reports, anecdotes, interviews, newspapers, and academic journals, the book delves into different kinds of silences from historical, philosophical, and cultural perspectives. Silence, the authors explain, can be part of the solution to a wide range of issues. Meanwhile, the concept of noise ("unwanted distraction at the auditory, informational, and internal levels of perception") has changed drastically over time, especially considering the incorporation of technology into everyday life. And while it isn't necessarily a cure-all, meditating in silence with intention can transcend one's experience, self, and consciousness, and open up new possibilities. The final section, "Thirty-Three Ways to Find Silence," offers key practices and strategies. This book fits at the nexus of spirituality, behavioral sciences, psychology, and self-help, making it a natural fit for readers looking for help navigating a world that's drowning in constant noise and distraction.

Zorn and Marz, the founders of a strategy consultancy, debut with a perceptive if bloated examination of the benefits of silence. Drawing on the science of quietude, the authors encourage readers to "understand and manage the noise so that we can more consciously tune in to nature, to one another, and to the sonic essence of life itself." Zorn and Marz examine the negative effects of noise, citing Florence Nightingale's recognition that a noisy hospital caused stress for recovering soldiers and a WHO study that found noise pollution costs western Europeans hundreds of thousands of life years annually. Noise's detriments aren't limited to humans, the authors warn, reporting that maritime scientists have found the decrease in global trade at the beginning of the Covid pandemic led to a drop in ocean noise, which reduced stress levels in sea mammals. Zorn and Marz recommend creating more public quiet spaces (such as "pocket parks" in cities), noting that "noise drives the fight-or-flight response, pulling our physical and cognitive systems out of equilibrium," and suggest that readers carve out "snack-sized" moments of silence with loved ones, slow down when dealing with stressful professional situations, and practice not speaking for a full day to better connect with oneself and one's environment. It's all well written, but the advice starts to feel repetitive, such as when the authors distinguish between "appreciating the silence and space in a micro-moment" and "finding pockets of silence in your day." Even if overlong, this is worth spending some quiet time with. (May)