George Prochnik would like the world to_put_a_sock_in_it. He makes his case in a new book, Listening for Meaning in a World of Noise. Here he explains himself (using his indoor voice)£º

“We’ve become so accustomed to noise, there’s almost a deep prejudice against the idea that silence might be beneficial. If you tell someone to be quiet, you sound like an old man. But it’s never been more important to find continuing quiet. Silence focuses us, improves our health, and is a key to lasting peace and satisfaction.”