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Stephen Kurczy

The Quiet Zone: Unraveling the Mystery of a Town Suspended in Silence Paperback – Aug. 23 2022

by Stephen Kurczy (Author)

243 ratings

3.5 on Goodreads

1,851 ratings

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In this riveting account of an area of Appalachia known as the Quiet Zone where cell phones and WiFi are banned, journalist Stephen Kurczy explores the pervasive role of technology in our lives and the innate human need for quiet.

“Captures the complex beauty of a disconnected way of life.” —The Nation

With a new afterword to the paperback edition

Deep in the Appalachian Mountains lies the last truly quiet town in America. Green Bank, West Virginia, is a place at once futuristic and old-fashioned: It’s home to the Green Bank Observatory, where astronomers search the depths of the universe using the latest technology, while schoolchildren go without WiFi or iPads. With a ban on all devices emanating radio frequencies that might interfere with the observatory’s telescopes, Quiet Zone residents live a life free from constant digital connectivity. But a community that on the surface seems idyllic is a place of contradictions, where the provincial meets the seemingly supernatural and quiet can serve as a cover for something darker.

Stephen Kurczy embedded in Green Bank, making the residents of this small Appalachian village his neighbors. He shopped at the town’s general store, attended church services, went target shooting with a seven-year-old, square-danced with the locals, sampled the local moonshine. In The Quiet Zone, he introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters. There is a tech buster patrolling the area for illegal radio waves; “electrosensitives” who claim that WiFi is deadly; a sheriff’s department with a string of unsolved murder cases dating back decades; a camp of neo-Nazis plotting their resurgence from a nearby mountain hollow. Amongst them all are the ordinary citizens seeking a simpler way of living. Kurczy asks: Is a less connected life desirable? Is it even possible?

The Quiet Zone is a remarkable work of investigative journalism—at once a stirring ode to place, a tautly wound tale of mystery, and a clarion call to reexamine the role technology plays in our lives.

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Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Dey Street Books
Publication date

Aug. 23 2022
Dimensions

13.49 x 2.01 x 20.32 cm
ISBN-10

0062945505
ISBN-13

978-0062945501

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Product description

Review

"An expressionistic new work of nonfiction. Part folk history, part gonzo travelogue, The Quiet Zone colorfully annotates an elaborate contradiction: a last bastion of the disconnected world. ... Kurczy finds high drama and dark secrets in the woods, but he also captures the complex beauty of a disconnected way of life that is dying out at an alarming rate. ... A time capsule of a not-so-distant past, of an approach to life that is rapidly slipping from collective memory." — The Nation

“[Readers] needing a reminder of the simple pleasure of reconnecting with real people in real life will enjoy the journey.” — Nir Eyal, New York Times Book Review

"Kurczy's deep reporting uncovers... strange things in these hills. ... What makes this book formidable is Kurczy's relentless investigating." — USA Today

"What a fascinating book! This corner of America is unique for its electromagnetic silence—but once Stephen Kurczy starts looking he finds that it's unique in other ways too. The Quiet Zone will live on in your memory." — Bill McKibben, New York Times bestselling author of The End of Nature

"[A] fascinating, deeply reported and slightly eerie look at an unusual corner of America. ... With compassion and a journalist's eye [Kurczy] delivers a compelling portrait." — BookPage (Starred Review)

“Captivating. … A multilayered illustration of a unique community where things aren’t always what they seem.” — Kirkus Reviews

"A vividly written book that captures an unusual place with a story-teller's touch, perfectly timed to this moment of confronting our complicated relationships to technology." — ELIZABETH CATTE, author of What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia

"A quest for our most precious substance—peace and quiet—leaps with exuberant aplomb in to the murk of American kookery—electrosensitives, Nazis, unsolved murders—and reveals that simplicity is far more complicated, far more weird and wonderous, than the self-proclaimed #simplelife." — MARK SUNDEEN, author of The Man Who Quit Money and The Unsettlers

"Colorful. ... Kurczy succeeds in unlocking many secrets of this insular community." — Publishers Weekly

“Cleareyed and compassionate. … Surprising and deeply enlightening” — Shawangunk Journal

"An engaging and sympathetic study of the myriad people who call this unique place home." — Booklist

"An enthralling story." — The Parkersburg News and Sentinel (West Virginia)

"Readers discover a corner of America relatively untouched by technology's influence. ... The Quiet Zone is more than just a celebration of one of the few quiet places the world might offer those seeking refuge from a tech-driven world: It is a celebration of the unique people and fortitude that shapes an area most outsiders would overlook. ... Gives voice to many memorable people. ... One of the many beauties of Kurczy’s book is the respect and admiration the author gives the people of Pocahontas County." — Southern Review of Books

"Gripping." — Daily Mail (UK)

"A captivating read. ... A remarkable work of deep reporting." — Engineering & Technology Magazine (UK)

About the Author

Stephen Kurczy is an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Christian Science Monitor, among other outlets. He graduated from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where he was a 2016-2017 Knight-Bagehot Fellow in Business and Economics Journalism. Kurczy has lived without a cell phone for over a decade.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dey Street Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ Aug. 23 2022
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062945505
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062945501
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 kg
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.49 x 2.01 x 20.32 cm
�鶹�� Rank: #692,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #92 in Rural Communities
- #256 in Social Aspects
- #527 in United States Biographies
Customer Reviews:
243 ratings

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Stephen Kurczy

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Stephen Kurczy is an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Economist, The Christian Science Monitor, and Vice, among other outlets. He graduated from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where he was a 2016–2017 Knight-Bagehot Fellow in Economics and Business Journalism. Kurczy has lived without a cell phone for more than a decade.

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Luanne Ollivier
Ironically, I listened to this one on my phone
Reviewed in Canada on September 4, 2021

"What if there was a place where people weren't constantly scrolling? Where forest hikes weren't tainted by a ringtone? Where getting lost meant really getting lost? These questions led me through rugged Appalachian backcountry and into the heart of ... The Quiet Zone."-- Stephen Kurczy.

I had watched a news feature about The National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ) and was fascinated by the idea that there was a town that was just 'turned off'. By choice? Well, in Green Bank, West Virginia, radio transmissions are restricted by law "to facilitate scientific research and the gathering of military intelligence."

Kurczy spent a lot of time in Green Bank over the course of a couple of years. Rather than just accepting what could be seen on the surface (which the news feature I had watched did), Kurczy took the time to meet and interact with many residents of the Quiet Zone. Those born there, the electrosensitive - those who are escaping radio frequencies for health reasons - and those just looking for a quiet place to live. But is it really quiet? Kurczy's investigation takes an in depth look at Green Bank. What he finds is fascinating, including unsolved deaths, hippies, a nearby Neo-Nazi compound, many opinions … and noise.

There's lots of food for thought in The Quiet Zone. I couldn't help but stop and ponder what it would be like to just turn off my devices. To live more 'in the moment'. To be more conscious of the time spent on aimless scrolling. Kurczy himself does not have a cell phone. His reasons are compelling and thought provoking.

I enjoyed Kurczy's writing style. This was his debut book and I would happily pick up his next.

Here's the ironic bit - I chose to listen the The Quiet Zone - and did so on my iPhone. The reader was Roger Wayne. He has worked as a broadcast journalist in the past and that experience adds much to his reading. His voice is clear, easy to understand, has a nice gravelly undertone and is quite pleasant to listen to. He brings Kuczy's work alive with his pacing, intonation, emphasizing. His reading matched the subject and I felt like I was listening to an investigative show. His presentation easily held my attention.

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Rich Carmona
Loved the writing about such an interesting place!
Reviewed in Canada on November 15, 2021
There seem to be so few places like Green Bank left in North America and I'm so glad I got to read this deeply researched and incredibly candid account of life there. The stories are really only held together by the thread of this strange town, but that in itself is a testament to the power of such a unique place. Controversial to some readers perhaps but honest to the place, which makes for a memorable read.

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Haltona
Country roads, don't take me home, PLEASE. . .
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2021
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I was interested in this book because I lived in the heart of the Quiet Zone for several years. Before reading it, I was looking forward to writing a scathing review based on the author's sure to be superficial coverage of a "natural scenic wonderland full of friendly homey people living together amicably, welcoming outsiders with open arms, its children unencumbered by screentime - a pocket of utopia". Thank God he didn't write THAT book. To my astonishment I found this author taking mega hikes in the wilderness, crawling through caves with neo nazis, dining with electro-sensitive people, attending target practice with 7 year old locals and hanging out with toothless ex meth addicts. He covered such vast subjects as The National Alliance (never even knew they were there), Patch Adams, murders, suicides, cults, caves and communes. The situations described in his book might leave people inclined to think this is a work of fiction but believe me, it is not.

During and after my tenure in this area I would always remark to my spouse that, "Someone should make a movie about this place or at least write a book or a song a'la Alice's Restaurant". And when I say make a movie or book, I am not referring to just the fact that there is an astronomy center that requires complete radio silence from its surrounding communities - that has been covered a bazillion times. I was talking about the utter weirdness, and eerie force that this particular piece of land seems to exert on any living thing that transgresses its boundaries. I suspect the author felt this, albeit unconsciously. He makes comparisons to Twin Peaks and Stranger Things - I suggest more pf a "Lost" like presence - an island that forces you into its drama and never lets you leave. A friend once mentioned it was like the Stephen King Novel "Under The Dome". Can't argue with that one either. Even the Indians avoided this area sensing that it was cursed.

There is a certain pervasive paranoia endemic to this area. Unlike the man in this book who claimed that if his car broke down it would be a short time before a friendly local will come to his rescue, both we (and other outsiders we spoke to) had different experiences. Pulling over to the side of the road resulted in one of three scenarios - 1) People called cops ON you (not FOR you) for suspicious activity. 2) A local would come booking it over - but not to help you. Instead, weapon in hand, he would accuse you of stealing his apples, 3) One of the many members of Pocahontas county's finest would pull up and start suspiciously interrogating you as if you were a druggie (or terrorist if you happen to be Eastern European or Arabic looking).

There is very low tolerance for any cultural practices that are different from those of the big fish in this small pond. Hence the comment in the book that the author was "running around in a bikini" when he used to jog shirtless. This attitude spilled over to the electro-sensitives who came to the county for relief from cell phone radiation. They are very poorly misunderstood by the community and even by the author. I spent much time with them because they were a welcome relief from the intolerant locals. Every single one of them was well educated and successful in both their personal and business lives until an initial exposure to some sort of mold, chemical or strong EMF reprogrammed their nervous system to overreact to stuff most people can tolerate. After speaking at length with some of them I did not sense any kind of hypochondriac tendencies. On the contrary most of them would have done anything to break free and return to their previous lives. Many of them left the county because they did not get as much relief as they expected from the not so quiet zone.

I am surprised that the author missed interviewing the local pastor who started an online news source to cover what he felt was not being addressed by the local newspaper. It was a controversial move and the officials didn't like him, but many were grateful for his efforts. Perhaps the author will interview him for "The Quiet Zone: Part II". The author should also be on the lookout for the homeless man who claims to have invented the fax machine. He is contantly being shuffled in and out of jail so look for him there if he's not on the streets.

After many years of trying to plan our exit strategy (and many strange failed attempts, as if the island wouldn't let us leave), we knew we had to get out when our newly moved in neighbor, who lived in a camper, threatened to throw a jar of "thousands of spiders" (which he had painstakingly collected) through our window. This was due to the fact that he had decided that several cinder blocks (which had been sitting on our property since we moved in) were, in fact, his and that we must have stolen them. When we spoke with another neighbor about his accusation that we had stolen his cinderblocks, her response was not, "How ridiculous, who would steal cinderblocks" or "How insane to throw spiders through somebody's window". No. Instead, her response was, "Well, did you steal them?" Needless to say, we moved out within a month. Last we heard, those two neighbors were having some legal disputes, something about trespassing and peeping in windows.

We now live in a wonderful community with 2 great neighbors. One is a member of the LGBT community, the other is a Baptist preacher. We ourselves are naturalized immigrants. And we all get along splendidly. There will be no spiders thrown in our house here. Good to be back in the real world.

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P. Castronovo
Cell and WiFi Abound Even in the Quiet Zone
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2021
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Not quite what I expected, but still enjoyable. Surprisingly, The Quiet Zone is not tech-free. While the radio telescopes in the area require little to no interference by cell and WiFi signals, this book reports that every house in the Appalachian area hosting the quiet zone boasts WiFi. The author also observed that almost all of the zone's residents use cell phones. It is not the tech-free haven advertised by other media outlets. It seems that no one is truly free of electronic tethers, except the author who does not even have a flip phone.

The remoteness of the zone has attracted a diverse collection of communities. On top of the long-time rural residents, the zone hosts a dwindling neo-Nazi enclave, back-to-nature hippies, and a growing cache of the "sensitives." The sensitives suffer from electromagnetic hypersensitivity. Any electrical pulse sears their bodies and senses. But, so far, this is an illness lacking credible scientific support and appears to spring from the nocebo affect.

The bulk of the book focuses on this interesting and sometimes disturbing assemblage of residents. It's an engaging read that implicitly concludes nothing can arrest the unfortunate march of smart phones and social media. It wasn't the cell-free Shangri-La I wanted to see, but it's the truth nonetheless.

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G. Baynham
Enjoyed so much.. I went there!
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2022
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I truly enjoyed this books so much, that I rode my motorcycle 800 miles to Green Bank, WV. It was so cool to see all the places described in the book.. heck I even stayed at the same airbnb as the author!

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michael Campbell
Not what I expected.
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2022
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Not on the author's part but it was a book of contradictions. Potential for murder mystery that never fully manifested. Not what I hoped for.

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Buffetteer
Excellent book
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2021
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Well written. Very interesting characters (and they are real people!). Digs beneath the surface of this region showing many very interesting facets of the people and their lives there. Held my interest and read it over just a few days.

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