I personally find that I am much more distracted by people who are trying to get my attention than I am by background noise. This article reminds of an anecdot

I personally find that I am much more distracted by people who are trying to get my attention than I am by background noise. This article reminds of an anecdote about Poincare that can be found on page 533 of the excellent book "Men of Mathematics"[1] "...when a distinguished mathematician had come all the way from Finland to Paris to confer with Poincare on scientific matters, Poincare did not leave his study to greet his called when the maid notified him, but continued to pace back and forth - as was his custom when mathematizing - for three solid hours. All this time the diffident caller sat quietly in the adjoining room, barred from the master only by flimsy portieres. At last the drapes parted and Poincare's buffalo head was thrust for an instant into the room. "Vois me derangez beaucoup" (You are disturbing me greatly) the head exploded, and disappeared. The caller departed without an interview..." [1]http://books.google.com/books?id=BLFL3coT5i4C&q=533#v=snippet&q=533&f=false http://books.google.com/books?id=BLFL3coT5i4C&q=533#v=snippe...