Sounds Wild and Broken: Sonic Marvels, Evolution's Creativity, and the Crisis of Sensory Extinction

Author David Haskell delves into the wonders of music and speech on Earth, from insect sounds in rainforests to frog calls in swamps. The sonic vibes of animals on different continents reveal the legacies of plate tectonics, the history of animal groups, and aesthetic evolution.

Haskell traces the origins of animal song and illuminates the emergence of varied sounds worldwide. From mammoth ivory flutes to modern concert halls and electronic music, human music and language are part of this ecological and evolutionary story. Yet, we are destroying many of the living Earth’s sounds. Sonic crises are not just sensory losses; sound is a generative force. Eroding sonic diversity makes the world less creative, just, and beautiful. Appreciating the beauty and brokenness of sound is crucial in today’s crises of change and inequity.

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