This is the Voice

By: John Colapinto

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

A New York Times bestselling writer explores what our unique sonic signature reveals about our species, our culture, and each one of us. Finally, a vital topic that has never had its own book gets its due.

There’s no shortage of books about public speaking or language or song. But until now, there has been no book about the miracle that underlies them all—the human voice itself. And there are few writers who could take on this surprisingly vast topic with more artistry and expertise than John Colapinto. Beginning with the novel—and compelling—argument that our ability to speak is what made us the planet’s dominant species, he guides us from the voice’s beginnings in lungfish millions of years ago to its culmination in the talent of Pavoratti, Martin Luther King Jr., and Beyoncé—and each of us, every day.

Along the way, he shows us why the voice is the most efficient, effective means of communication ever devised: it works in all directions, in all weathers, even in the dark, and it can be calibrated to reach one other person or thousands. He reveals why speech is the single most complex and intricate activity humans can perform. He travels up the Amazon to meet the Piraha, a reclusive tribe whose singular language, more musical than any other, can help us hear how melodic principles underpin every word we utter. He heads up to Harvard to see how professional voices are helped and healed, and he ventures out on the campaign trail to see how demagogues wield their voices as weapons.

As far-reaching as this book is, much of the delight of reading it lies in how intimate it feels. Everything Colapinto tells us can be tested by our own lungs and mouths and ears and brains. He shows us that, for those who pay attention, the voice is an eloquent means of communicating not only what the speaker means, but also their mood, sexual preference, age, income, even psychological and physical illness.

It overstates the case only slightly to say that anyone who talks, or sings, or listens will find a rich trove of thrills in This Is the Voice.

A comprehensive view of The voice

This is a remarkably comprehensive view of the voice - it's role in human socialization and history. a few of the topics covered include the mechanics of the voice, the difficulty of repairing polyps on the vocal cord, the evolution of the voice along with homo sapiens, how infants learn to speak, the parts of the brain that influence the voice, the impact of the voice in swaying audiences and armies throughout history. It's truly remarkable.

Truly eye opening

So much information! It's worth reading and reading to catch what you missed while thinking! In my case of listening to the book; a plan to listen-again has already formed. so much information and important content especially regarding the power of the voice on persuasion!

A “must-listen” Experience!!

This is the voice is a very unusual book, combining history, anthropology, physiology, the arts, and more into an insightful treatise on what turns out to be the very essence of humanity. My humanity and yours. I picked it up, so to speak, in an audiobook format and I’m really glad to have done so. The narrator does more than justice in his performance about the subject all the way to the raspy tones in the last chapter appropriately in titled “coda“.For me, at age 84, that was the capstone and it’s message resonated as I resolve to, as the author says, project my voice with new confidence that what I have to say has meaning.

I cannot believe how much there is to learn about this subject and its connection to so many contemporary issues, Bj how we manage technology in the future, coping with systemic racism, I’m connecting with my fellow human beings in a hyper political society.

I would give this book 6 stars in all three readings if it were allowed. You’ll find it captivating, wonderful to return to, and I believe best listen to rather than read because of the outstanding production and audio performance by the narrator. After all, a book about the voice is best enjoyed using our ears assimilating the nuances of accent timber and prosody; a word new to me and oh so rich in meaning.

Very Informative

This was a good listen. The voiceover artist was pleasant, but pretty robotic for a book about the unique sounds of the voice.

The information was interesting. While I enjoyed the sections about how the voice can essentially manipulate the listener, I wish it would have stayed more on the ins and outs of the voice.

Overall a good listen! If they were to re-record it, I think it would be neat to have a different reader for each chapter.

Exceeded my expectations

This is a great book because it addresses not only the topic of voice but also issues of linguistics, politics, cultural, accent, population of migration in terms of how sounds move and even the evolution of the voice.

I was a bit surprised that we got into politicians until I realized that it was really the only way to address the issue which was brought up by Cicero. At the same time it always came back to how the voice was used so I’m just incredibly impressed with this author’s work.