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| | Description | Two crackerjack science journalists from NPR look at why some things (and some people!) drive us crazyIt happens everywhere?offices, schools, even your own backyard. Plus, seemingly anything can trigger it?cell phones, sirens, bad music, constant distractions, your boss, or even your spouse. We all know certain things get under our skin. Can science explain why? Palca and Lichtman take you on a scientific quest through psychology, evolutionary biology, anthropology, and other disciplines to uncover the truth about being annoyed. What is the recipe for annoyance? For starters, it should be temporary, unpleasant, and unpredictable, like a boring meeting or mosquito bites - Gives fascinating, surprising explanations for why people react the way they do to everything from chili peppers to fingernails on a blackboard
- Explains why irrational behavior (like tearing your hair out in traffic) is connected to worthwhile behavior (like staying on task)
- Includes tips for identifying your own irritating habits!
How often can you say you're happily reading a really Annoying book? The insights are fascinating, the exploration is fun, and the knowledge you gain, if you act like you know everything, can be really annoying. | |
| | Product Details | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 15 reviews |
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| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 15 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 found the following review helpful:
 Well Done on Topic Unfortunately Well-Known to Us All Apr 28, 2011
By M. Glickman, Author of Beyond the Breath: Extraordinary Mindfulness Through Whole Body Vipassana Meditation (Tuttle Publishing)
In the tradition of Malcolm Gladwell or in a way a literate and scientifically oriented Seinfield-esque exploration (of course without the humor focus) of the nuances and depth of the "little things." Annoying actually looks at what is a big deal: our sense of feeling vexed. As a Buddhist oriented practitioner, I'm interested in this question from a mindfulness perspective: bringing greater awareness to our underlying sense of dis-ease. While Annoying doesn't address this from a spiritual perspective, it does give insights in what bothers us from a variety of angles.
For example: consider this paragraph:
There is a "paradox of good annoyances. Most people would probably agree that a little annoyance from sirens is a small price to pay to live in a society where people can get medical care quickly. Good annoyances are fragile, however--make them a little more annoying and they're no longer good. They're simply annoying."
Lots of vantage points and filters considering the annoying, in a well-written--NOT annoying--way. Goes down well.
23 of 29 found the following review helpful:
You will enjoy reading about how you are annoyed Apr 26, 2011
By Shalom Freedman
"Shalom Freedman"
Every once in a while a writer or as in this case co- writers come along who choose a subject which everyone is concerned about but no one seems to have written about. Malcolm Gladwell has become one of the world's great non- fiction writers by doing this repeatedly. And too by exploring the subject by making use of the best academic research available on it. Here the subject chosen is certainly one which speaks to every person on the planet, 'annoyance'. This book is an exploration of many of the most common annoyances and what exactly it is which is annoying about them. It provides insights beyond common sense and in some cases will enable readers to better cope with what has in the past driven them crazy. Everyone of course has their own special list. And I hope I will be excused for indulging myself here and listing a few of my own: I am annoyed by 1) Those who litter the streets of the beautiful city I live in 2) I am annoyed by those who talk loudly on cellphones in public places (An annoyance very thoroughly examined in this book) 3) I am annoyed by any sign of rudeness or cruelty to another 4) I am annoyed by those who push ahead unfairly in lines 5) I am annoyed by those people who cannot take any kind of 'hint' and when one wants to finish a conversation, most often a phone conversation persist in it 6) I am annoyed by dogowners who do not clean up after their dogs 7) I am annoyed by inconsiderateness in any of its forms ( Another subject the book in various ways has much to say about)
One more important point about this book. It is a guide not only how to feel less annoyed by others but also about how to be less annoying to them. I know for instance that often I annoy by being in 'good humor' when others are in the mood for being serious.
In any case I believe this is a book one will not be annoyed by reading but rather enjoy very much.
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
 Know what bugs me? Me neither. Aug 05, 2011
By Jean E. Pouliot
Joe Palca and Flora Lichtman picked a great subject - the science of why and how we get annoyed. Starting with the scenario that irritates most of us -- a cell phone "halfalogue" of which you can only hear one side, they progress to other items that annoy: fingernails screeching down blackboards, skunk smells, subway fingernail clippers and the horror of having perfect pitch in a noisy world.
But while I enjoyed the book, I found it unsatisfying and unconvincing. While Palca/Lichtman identified lots of annoying things, they did not get to the heart of the matter. Take fingernails screeching down a blackboard. The authors claimed that this sound was reminiscent of a primate's warning screech. Interesting hypothesis! But aside from stating this, they provided little evidence. Where were the sound graphs showing the similarity? Where were the zoo stories, anecdotal or otherwise, of how irritating primate screams are to humans? Where were the experiments? Nowhere. I found unconvincing explanations like these repeated throughout the book.
Palca and Lichtman's arguments on irritating social moral transgressions were weak as well. Take the guy cutting his toenails on the subway. Is this act irritating merely because it transgresses a rule of American etiquette? Or is there something just GROSS about imposing (even just suggesting) the sights and smells of your unkempt bare feet in public?
The authors do make good points. It seems true that unpredictably repetitive noises are annoying. Take snoring. Part of what makes it annoying is the loud and rasping noise itself. But certainly something comes from the listener's inability to know just when the noise will come next. This is especially true when the person stops snoring. Are they still breathing? The element of unknowing makes it hard to stop attending to the snorer. But is the annoyance in the lack of predictability? The startling volume? Or does the irritation come from being tired and unable to get any rest? The distinction didn't make the copy.
These problems made "Annoying," well, annoying. I wish the authors had spent a little more time pursuing the science and less on speculation. For being an NPR science contributor, I found the Joe Palca's lack of scientific rigor surprising. "Annoying" is a good starting point on an interesting topic that sadly, never gets where it was going.
26 of 35 found the following review helpful:
Somewhat Interesting But Not That Useful May 08, 2011
By Book Fanatic
This is a really hard book for me to rate. I wanted to give it 4 stars because there isn't much wrong with it (with the exception in the next paragraph). It reasonably covers the topic of what annoys us and why. It was moderately interesting and I learned some things from it. I thought the discussion on why other people's cell phone conversations are universally annoying was very enlightening.
However, the book is disappointingly lacking in any real solutions. In fact the last chapter basically says there isn't much you can do. I actually don't agree with that and I think a mark against this book is a robust chapter on techniques to reduce your levels of annoyance.
Nothing grabbed me about this book. It is rather small in size and length and in the end I recommend not spending the money for a hardcover edition. Check it out from the library if you really want to read it. You probably would never go back to it again.
Check out the "look inside" feature on Amazon for sure before you buy and read the conclusion and scan the table of contents. Not recommended unless you feel the need to be really informed on the topic of being annoyed. This book has little practical value.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Engaging, interesting a true treat for the ear, the mind and the senses. Jun 15, 2011
By Autumn Blues Reviews
I found ANNOYING the Audiobook very interesting and at times very amusing. The voices of the authors Palca and Lichtman are pleasant and easy to listen to and I like how they take turns throughout the chapters of the audiobook by alternately speaking, which makes the audiobook less annoying. Other than Palca maybe being a little close to the microphone which I could tell by the sound of his slight breathing the book recording was clear, consistent and kept my interest throughout all five Cd's. This is an audio book I can listen to over and over again and not get tired of it. In Palca and Lichtman's quest to find out the true science behind what irritates people ANNOYING is a combination of scientific studies, thought provoking ideas and conclusions that will leave you stirred and pleasantly surprised. The chapter of the book about chili peppers brought on a heated conversation between my husband and I. My husband loves to eat hot peppers raw and he doesn't considered it to be annoying in the least bit. So he tried to contradict this part of the study when I had him listen to it. I could see his point, however I on the other hand think the opposite and do find chili peppers annoying and wonder why he consumes them like this. I tend to think sometimes in black and white, so I found myself thinking that maybe it is just a matter of sensitivity. I am a very sensitive person in many ways and my husband is the opposite. Noise can send me through the roof, it is a painful stimuli for my senses and it just seems to vibrate through me. Something I have tried to explain many times to others while feeling like an alien because I know they never understand. If you would like some insight into the how and why people react or behave a certain way to particular noises. Whether it be cell phone chatter from a stranger next to you or a buzzing fly invading your ear space this audio book is for you.
See all 15 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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