Soundtrack of Silence

Love, Loss, and a Playlist for Life

By: Matt Hay

Narrated by: Matt Hay

This program is read by the author.

An inspiring memoir of a young man who discovered he was going completely deaf just at the moment he’d fallen in love for the first time.

As a child, Matt Hay didn’t know his hearing wasn’t the way everyone else processed sound—because of the workarounds he did to fit in, even the school nurse didn’t catch his condition at the annual hearing and vision checks. But by the time he was a prospective college student and couldn’t pass the entrance requirements for West Point, Hay’s condition, generated by a tumor, was unavoidable: his hearing was going, and fast.

A personal soundtrack was Hay’s determined compensation for his condition. As a typical Midwestern kid growing up in the 1980s whose life events were pegged to pop music, Hay planned to commit his favorite songs to memory. He prepared a mental playlist of the bands he loved and created a way to tap into his most resonant memories. And the track he needed to cement most clearly? The one he and his new girlfriend, Nora—the love of his life—listened to in the car on their first date.

Made vivid with references to instantly recognizable songs—from the Eagles to Elton John, Bob Marley to Bing Crosby, U2 to Peter Frampton—Soundtrack of Silence asks listeners to run the soundtrack of their own lives through their minds. It’s an involving memoir of loss and disability, and, ultimately, a both unique and universal love story.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

Critic reviews

<p>"[P]oignant. . . [Hay's] optimism in the face of adversity is stirring. This moving memoir makes magic out of facing the music." - <i>Publishers Weekly<br></i><br> “What’s a music lover to do when the music stops? …A medical odyssey told sensitively.” -<i>Kirkus</i></p>

Inspiring!!

I’ve lost my hearing due to Meniers Disease. Having Matt express his emotions & experiences that closely mirrored my own was so valuable to me. This was a beautiful story!

Music titles & artists

Enjoyed this. I live in Indiana and the references are familiar in my own like. Music & Artists being the center of living life good & bad. It was a great listen.

What a remarkable story of continuing on even when an expected bad outcome gets even worse. The ending was perfect

I loved that the author read it himself. His emotions were clearly communicated and it really added to the experience.

Wow! An incredible book read by the author ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Matt Hay's audiobook is a masterfully crafted narrative that stands out among the hundreds I've listened to. The author's personal touch, reading it in his own voice and accentuating each section with renowned music lyrics, adds a poignant layer to the experience. Hay's bravery shines through as he shares his story, touching on relatable themes from hearing loss and navigating the frustrations of disease. This book resonates deeply with many, offering coping mechanisms and inspiration to thrive despite challenges. I loved this book and will undoubtedly revisit it; a solid 10 out of 10. Highly recommended and worthy of multiple listens.

A story of bravery & love

One doesn’t even consider the impact of losing one of their senses, until it happens to them or a family member. My brother was profoundly deaf, my husband very hard of hearing, so I read Matt’s story from a position of great empathy. His hardships were described with depth of emotions and determination to overcome the mighty obstacles underscored by a soundtrack of songs.
I found myself pausing the playback so I could warble the song he referenced. Such a pleasure to listen to this young man’s account of perseverance and success in life.
Good on Matt!