White Noise

White Noise

1985 • 337 pages

Ratings120

Average rating3.8

15

The trials and tribulations of a professor of Hitler studies.

White Noise is the story of Jack, his wife, Babette, and their four ultramodern offspring. They live in a college town where Jack is Professor of Hitler Studies (and conceals the fact that he does not speak a word of German), and Babette teaches posture and volunteers by reading tabloids to a group of elderly shut-ins. They are happy enough, until a deadly toxic accident and Babette’s addiction to an experimental drug make Jake question everything.

White Noise is considered a postmodern classic and its unfolding of themes of consumerism, family and divorce, and technology as a deadly threat have attracted the attention of literary scholars since its publication.

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Reviews

Popular Reviews

Reviews with the most likes.

Exactly. Look past the violence, Jack. There is a wonderful brimming spirit of innocence and fun.

March 6, 2022

Funny, frightening and horribly real, this is a masterful satire of a culture which has lost its moorings. Brilliant.

September 2, 2018

This was hard...
I wanted to like it, I liked a lot of it, but it overall didn't seem to work for me. I struggled to get into it, it felt meandering and self satisfied.

Honestly, if section two “The Airborne Toxic Event” was a standalone short story with no other edits, it would be incredible.

June 4, 2021

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