Waiting in traffic, a tapping pencil, someone checking their blackberry when you're trying to talk to them- all of these actions may be summed up with one word... annoying. However, we might be able to scientifically justify the frustration we often feel with these things that annoy us.

We'll discuss a new book, Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us, that aims to provide scientific explanations for annoyances in our lives. Perhaps learning about the aspects of certain actions and events that annoy us can help us better shield ourselves from them.

Guests:

Joe Palca (NPR Science Correspondent)