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Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us
Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us
Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us
Audiobook6 hours

Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us

Written by Flora Lichtman and Joe Palca

Narrated by Flora Lichtman and Joe Palca

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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About this audiobook

It happens everywhere: offices, schools, even your own backyard. And, 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? NPR's Joe Palca and Flora Lichtman take you on a scientific quest through psychology, evolutionary biology, anthropology, and other disciplines to uncover the truth about being annoyed. Annoying:Gives fascinating, surprising explanations for why people react the way they do to everything from chili peppers to fingernails on a blackboardExplains 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!With fascinating insights and fun explanations, Annoying is anything but.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateApr 29, 2011
ISBN9781611744897

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Reviews for Annoying

Rating: 3.4642856892857146 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

84 ratings19 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Definitely informative, but it was really easy to put down and pick back up.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Joe Palca and Flora Lichtman did well to tie so many disparate branches of study together to explore the nature of what annoys people. The book describes branches of psychology, biology, chemistry and physics (acoustics) and the researchers and experiments designed to elicit understanding of why it is that certain things irritate us and why we can't just ignore them.

    What I most liked about the book was that it wasn't a simple factual regurgitation of the scientific literature. The authors take you into the labs of the researchers and explain how the research was done, what the scientists concluded and what questions are left to be answered.

    It was not a perfect book: there were some oversimplifications of acoustic phenomenon and I would suspect other experts in other sciences would have similar critiques about the chemistry or neurology sections. However, for non-experts reading these sections the introductions were good enough to get a reader a basic understanding and not wrong enough to lead them astray.

    A fun, quick, and informative read highlighting the scientific process, Annoying is great for scientist or science-curious alike.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Not bad. Learned a few choice concepts like "cognitive overlay" and "social allergen". Didn't like the animal experiments they referenced, though.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Entertaining and informative I couldn't really recommend this book. There isn't really a lot of "science" behind the story teller although they talk a lot about science experiments they completed. The book also spends too much time explaining background such as explaining the biology of the skunk, how it does it's spray, and how it fends of others does little to explain why it is annoying. The author does a great job of storytelling, but I'm not sure there is enough to make this book worth more than a quick skim or perusal. For example they spend a great deal of time explaining how we smell, the variety of different smells that we have etc. Very little time is spent on the explanation of why one thing or another is more annoying another. More build-up and back ground and a little bit of information of what actually makes something annoying. Also, most of what is written in the book is not proven but theory with no credible supportive information.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Really enjoyed. Highly recommend if you're into science books (but ones that don't get technical to understand)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I'm still not quite sure why there is a picture of Christmas lights on the cover, but I'm not going to let it annoy me. :)
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Kind of like Joe Palca's radio stories, this book breaks down some science into short, easy to understand chunks. I would have liked more depth and more information, but I imagine many people would be satisfied. The book was also written a little too cutesy for me, too many meant-to-be-funny asides and puns. I can do without that, thank you.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Very interesting, and very well narrated.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A scientific look at all the little things that drive us crazy, from strangers on cell phones to that guy at work who just won't shut up about how great he is. As the authors are careful to point out, this isn't actually an area into which a lot of research has been done; in fact, many scientists who study human brains and behavior don't even recognize annoyance as a separate emotion. So there are times when it feels like this book is stretching a bit for subject matter, and it's much more about questions than it is about conclusions. But the little experiments and scientific insights it describes are interesting, and the style is pleasantly breezy. I'd say it's well worth reading for the chapter about fingernails on a chalkboard alone.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us is an interesting little book about what gets under our skin. I was heartened to learn that there are real reasons behind my annoyance with loud cell phone talkers...it's not just an irrational annoyance. The same goes for other pet peeves. This is an enjoyable read but not very substantive. Expect a few hours' diversion rather than something more substantial and life-changing, and you won't be disappointed with this book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I received the audio version of "Annoying," and it was a joy to listen to. The authors are wonderful speakers and do a great job with their material.The book is about what annoys us and why. It's very interesting. I highly recommend it. I found myself learning new things as each chapter proceeded. Sometimes we can't control what annoys us, but there are times when we can.The authors provide excellent and vivid examples to elucidate the material. They use humor to their advantage. Sometimes the book spends too much time with the particular details of a study, but for the most part this is a necessary distraction in any science book. With an audiobook, the reader's voice is an important part of the experience. Both authors have great speaking voices and sound clear on the speakers. They were quite easy to listen to.Overall, "Annoying" provides a wonderful look at the things that bug us. It's very helpful and practical for real-world situations. It was a fun and fast read (or listen). I highly recommend it!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Everyday was like NPR’s Science Friday while I listened to Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us. Joe Palca and Flora Lightman read alternating chapters in great, conversational voices, about the things that bug us, from bugs themselves to loud cell phone talkers to skunks to ailments that induce irritability. Scientific studies, psychological insights, and humor all come together to make this an entertaining look at what bugs us and why. I loved learning why hearing a cell phone “halfalogue” is not only annoying but next to impossible to ignore. And sometimes understanding why something bugs us makes it easier to tolerate. I’m not sure if I’d have liked reading this, but as an audio, it was entertaining and fun. There’s nothing really deep or even terribly important discussed, because, after all, annoyances really are just annoyances. The book ends with this:“So, as a last-ditch effort, remember that bad feelings – on the whole - usually aren’t so bad. They signal that something is wrong, which throws into relief that things usually aren’t. If overhearing an annoying halfalogue is your biggest problem, buy some earplugs and be thankful.”
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I bought this book as a gift for my son, who seems to always be talking about something that he finds annoying. The book holds out the promise that you will learn something about yourself if you pay attention to the things that annoy you. Turns out, there isn't much agreement about whether annoyances and irritations are an emotion or a feeling but it seems pretty clear that they are mostly cultural.Who would've thought that anyone could find the smell of a skunk pleasant, or even neutral? I did learn a very practical tip for how to neutralize skunk smell (and it doesn't involve tomato juice).This book was a very enjoyable summer diversion. I was annoyed by the multiple misspellings of Huntington (wait, did they do that on purpose?)We have a lot to learn from the Ifaluk, who express their anger and annoyance using words rather than actions.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a fascinating book that explains a great deal of scientific exploration of annoyance and annoyances. It comes at the question from a wide variety of perspectives: from animal behavior, from music, from food, among others. A great deal of time is spent staking out what annoyance even is, whether it is even a separate emotion from anger. I found this to be a very convincing and careful part of the book. I listened to an audio version, and really looked forward to another trip in the car, so I could hear some more. Paradoxically, Flora Lichtman's reading is afflicted by her rather, well, annoying nasal voice. But now that I have finished it, I am quite willing to admit that it might have been just me. The book provides a number of coping strategies for why a given annoyance might be annoying, and even how to cope with it. I think there is a great deal more to say about this subject, but this was a great introduction to a complicated problem.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This Library Thing Early Reviewers audiobook ask what the following things have in common: listening to someone else's cell phone conversation, Zinedine Zidane's World Cup Final, Huntington's chorea, Joba Chamberlain & midges, chili peppers and skunks. They all involve annoyances, and what annoys is apparently something scientists are only beginning to study. There's a basic 3-step process to annoyance: 1. something is unpleasant or distracting, 2. it's hard to predict when it will end, and 3. it's impossible to ignore. The stories illustrating annoying things and the scientific studies are entertaining. The authors make pleasant if not professional readers and I like that they alternate voices. The book reads like a long episode of Radiolab.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Engaging, interesting a true treat for the ear, the mind and the senses. 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.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I received this book on CD through the early reviewers program here on LT. The book is narrated by the authors in alternating chapters. I listen to quite a few books via wma or mp3 in my car and I thoroughly enjoyed Annoying. I learned quite a bit about current theories as to how the brain works. One of my favorite sections used the example of music, specifically whether people have an inherent preference for concordance and aversion to dissonance, or whether this is just a western phenomenon. Turns out, it may be universal and the story of the study conducted to determine this was fascinating. The only portion of the book I did not enjoy and pretty much tuned out was using sports to illustrate certain points about annoyance. I just don't like sports or talking about them so it didn't work for me, but I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority about them. Overall, if you are fan of The TIpping Point and Freakonomics type non-fiction, I think you'll enjoy Annoying.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us offers an interesting and multidisciplinary perspective on what tends to be the most annoying to us, and possible ways to define and operationalize "annoyance." (For anyone out there who isn't a psychology nerd, operationalize means the act of taking an abstract concept and defining it so that you can measure it in experiments.) All of the research in this book is accompanied by citations as well as interviews with experts in various disciplines who study concepts related to annoyance (emotion in general, and anger). Readers without a background in psychology and biology might find some of the material in this book a bit difficult to enjoy on a purely casual level. It isn't as accessible as Randy Frost's book, Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things or even Cordelia Fine's A Mind of its Own: How Your Brain Distorts and Deceives. Also, the audiobook is read by the authors who are probably better researchers than readers; they're not terrible, but this wasn't the most professional recording I've ever heard.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Do you realize annoyance is a field of study? Well, not directly, but for good or ill, science does have an interest studying what it is that annoys us. The primary benefit of such research appears to be marketers, who, depending on the product may wish to annoy us or not. However, the study of annoyance also intersects research in evolution -- our aversion to certain sound, smells, and tastes has developed in response to dangerous causes.Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us jumps around to disparate fields of research, extracting relevant outcomes to fit the theme of the book. It is a snapshot of current scientific studies, some which are interesting, some not, some fall into the category of "they give grants to study THAT?" In the end, you don't really feel like you learned a whole lot -- the premise of the book was more interesting than it's execution. The book is brain candy for those who want a sometimes amusing synopsis of some scientific research.