Joe Palca
Author of Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us
About the Author
Image credit: After crisping his first attempt, Joe Palca succeeds at toasting — and eating — the perfect marshmallow.
Works by Joe Palca
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- male
- Short biography
- Joe Palca is a science correspondent for National Public Radio, where he covers a range of science topics from biomedical research to astronomy. In addition to science reporting, Palca fills in as guest host on Talk of the Nation Science Friday.
образец гражданско правовой договор продавца какие налоги открыто ип с ндс какие деньги платят после рождения ребенка гражданин как субъект гражданского права гражданство белоруссии для внука белорусса заявление на отказ от отпуска тк рф получить белорусское гражданство из казахстана коллекторакак быть с ними что делать проверка обэп отсрочка от армии в среднем учебном заведении воспитание ребенка после развода умер отец ребенка содержание закона рф о защите прав потребителей придомовая территория первый этаж право авторское право на проектную документацию
Palca began his journalism career in television in 1982, working as a health producer for the CBS affiliate in Washington, DC. In 1986, he left television for a seven-year stint as a print journalist, first as the Washington news editor for Nature, and then as a senior correspondent for Science Magazine.
He has won numerous awards, including the National Academies’ Communications Award, the Science-in-Society Award of the National Association of Science Writers, the American Chemical Society James T. Grady-James H. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry for the Public, the American Association for the Advancement of Science Journalism Prize, and the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Writing.
http://annoyingbook.com/authors/
Members
Reviews
A title like this is certainly eye-catching. As someone who finds a tremendous number of things annoying, I definitely wanted to read this book. I finished it in a couple of days but am not sure whether it actually met my expectations. It began well, with a discussion on why cell phone conversations are particularly annoying, then a generalized recipe for annoyance (temporary, unpleasant, unpredictable things). The second half of the book was also good, basically what I was after, with show more stories about why people find their spouses' habits so irritating and what happens to annoyance levels when various parts of the brain are injured. Where the book was weakest was when it talked about animals being "annoyed" in lab tests. Since it's hard to determine whether animals actually experience annoyance the same way we do (and we can't exactly ask them to describe their thoughts), the results didn't seem to have much of an impact.
Part of the problem with the idea of studying "the science of what bugs us" is the fact that it's such a new discipline, as is stated repeatedly throughout the book. There isn't as much scientific literature to draw upon and so the book can feel a bit repetitive or padded in places (the part about skunk spray, for example). Still, it doesn't take long to read, so read it if you're interested. show less
Part of the problem with the idea of studying "the science of what bugs us" is the fact that it's such a new discipline, as is stated repeatedly throughout the book. There isn't as much scientific literature to draw upon and so the book can feel a bit repetitive or padded in places (the part about skunk spray, for example). Still, it doesn't take long to read, so read it if you're interested. show less
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 show more “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.” show less
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.” show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.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 show 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. show less
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 show more 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. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 2
- Members
- 258
- Popularity
- #88,949
- Rating
- 3.3
- Reviews
- 29
- ISBNs
- 9
