Silence (Object Lessons)

Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things. What is silence? In a series of short meditations, novelist and playwright John Biguenet considers silence as a servant of power, as a lie, as a punishment, as the voice of God, as a terrorist's final weapon, as a luxury good, as the reason for torture-in short, as an object we both do and do not recognize. Concluding with the prospects for its future in a world burgeoning with noise, Biguenet asks whether we should desire or fear silence-or if it is even ours to choose. Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic. Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 8 Part 1 10 Chapter 1 What Is Silence? 12 Part 2 16 Chapter 2 Selling Silence 18 Chapter 3 Seeking Silence 27 Chapter 4 Silence Versus Solitude 32 Chapter 5 Voluntary Silences 42 Part 3 50 Chapter 6 The Representation of Silence 52 Chapter 7 Silent Reading 64 Chapter 8 Silence on Stage 74 Chapter 9 The Unspeakable 80 Part 4 84 Chapter 10 The Silenced Moment 86 Chapter 11 The Silence of Dolls 90 Chapter 12 Silencing 103 Chapter 13 Silence and Secrets 109 Part 5 118 Chapter 14 The Future of Silence 120 Notes 124 Bibliography 135 Index 142 4e de couv: Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things. What is silence? In a series of short meditations, novelist and playwright John Biguenet considers silence as a servant of power, as a lie, as a punishment, as the voice of God, as a terrorist's final weapon, as a luxury good, as the reason for torture-in short, as an object we both do and do not recognize. Concluding with the prospects for its future in a world burgeoning with noise, Biguenet asks whether we should desire or fear silence-or if it is even ours to choose "What is silence? In a series of short meditations, novelist and playwright John Biguenet considers silence as a servant of power, as a lie, as a punishment, as the voice of God, as a terrorist's final weapon, as a luxury good, as the reason for the torture - in short, as an object of we both do and do not recognize. Exploring the prospects for its future in a world burgeoning with noise, Biguenet asks wheter we should desire or fear silence - or if it is even ours to choose"--Résumé de l'éditeur "What is silence? In a series of short meditations, novelist and playwright John Biguenet considers silence as a servant of power, as a lie, as a punishment, as the voice of God, as a terrorist's final weapon, as a luxury good, as the reason for the torture - in short, as an object of we both do and do not recognize. Exploring the prospects for its future in a world burgeoning with noise, Biguenet asks whether we should desire or fear silence - or if it is even ours to choose"--Jacket.