Prehistoric drums used natural acoustics to recreate natural sounds. In classical Europe, orators turned the human voice into a lyrical instrument. In Buddhist temples, the ears of the icons were exaggerated to represent their spiritual power. And in modern metropolises, we are exposed to the noise that surrounds us.

In the first narrative history of the subject that places humans at the center, and following the author's significant BBC Radio 4 series on noise, distinguished historian David Hendy describes the history of sound - which is also the history of listening. As he says: 'Thinking about sound and listening, I want to get closer to what it was like to live in the past.'

This unusual book reveals fascinating changes in how we understood our fellow humans and the world around us. Because, although we may see ourselves as living in a visual world, our lives are shaped by our need to hear and be heard.

Pages: 400, Dimensions: 12.8x12.8cm