The de-voicing of society

the long version

The Information Age has arrived - but not in person. Technology is overwhelming us with information, much of it unwanted, driving out the sound of human voices. We now spend our days exchanging factoids, often in print, leaving us little time to "just talk." But it's ordinary social talking, including gossip and small talk, that keeps us together. If we lose these intimate forms of self-expression, says John Locke, we lose more than we realize. The tradition of communities gathering to publicly discuss and debate important issues seems to be giving way to isolated individuals communicating electronically from the privacy of their homes. In every aspect of our lives, vocal intimacy is on the wane. To compensate, we turn on TV and radio talk shows to hear other people talk. Talking has become America's leading spectator sport. The De-Voicing of Society is a provocative look at the world we live in. Thought-provoking and troubling in its implications, it will leave readers wanting to ring the neighbors' doorbell and invite them over for dinner.