Book description
Solitude has always had an ambivalent status: the capacity to enjoy being alone can make sociability bearable, but those predisposed to solitude are often viewed with suspicion or pity. Drawing on a wide array of literary and historical sources, David Vincent explores how people have conducted themselves in the absence of company over the last three centuries. He argues that the ambivalent nature of solitude became a prominent concern in the modern era. For intellectuals in the romantic age, solitude gave respite to citizens living in ever more complex modern societies. But while the search for solitude was seen as a symptom of modern life, it was also viewed as a dangerous pathology: a perceived renunciation of the world, which could lead to psychological disorder and anti-social behaviour. Vincent explores the successive attempts of religious authorities and political institutions to manage solitude, taking readers from the monastery to the prisoner's cell, and explains how western society's increasing secularism, urbanization and prosperity led to the development of new solitary pastimes at the same time as it made traditional forms of solitary communion, with God and with a pristine nature, impossible. At the dawn of the digital age, solitude has taken on new meanings, as physical isolation and intense sociability have become possible as never before. With the advent of a so-called loneliness epidemic, a proper historical understanding of the natural human desire to disengage from the world is more important than ever. The first full-length account of its subject, A History of Solitude will appeal to a wide general readership.
Firedog
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Chapstick
Audiobooks on this app have turned my travels into explorations of new narratives. I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks, and this one stands out for its professional quality. The narrator struck the ideal balance between dramatic interpretation and letting the text speak for itself. The audio engineering was superb with consistent volume levels and crystal-clear recording.
Red Woman
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QuestQuill
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay is a huge plus during long drives. Solid performance overall though some character voices sounded too similar. I occasionally got confused about who was speaking in dialogue-heavy scenes.
Bliss
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Marine Dre
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Charms
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Show Boat
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TrinitySoul
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Jack Cassidy
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Lucky Aurora
Seamless audiobook integration β this app's functionality is truly remarkable. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice adds a layer of personalization that I never knew I needed.
AlertXis
The quality of the audio is top-notch, making the experience truly immersive. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has significantly improved the audio quality of my recordings. Perfect for listening to educational materials. Highly efficient and useful. I love the auto-bookmark feature. It saves my place automatically.
ManMaker
ListenBook's support for various download methods and audio formats ensures that I can always find what I'm looking for. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear dictaphone recordings. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a delightful way to share the joy of storytelling with friends and family. It fosters connections and conversations.
Honey
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Uncle Buddy
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Feral Filly
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X-Dew
This app has made multitasking a breeze β I can listen while I work, cook, or exercise. I can't imagine my daily rituals without this app β it's a constant source of joy. ListenBook's compatibility with various formats ensures that my audio needs are met. This audiobook was an absolute pleasure to listen to! The narrator's voice was rich and expressive, perfectly capturing the tone of the material. I found myself completely immersed in the story, often sitting in my car longer than necessary just to hear what happened next. The production quality was excellent with clear audio throughout.
Morbid Angel
With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me. I can't believe how easily this app has fit into my daily routine. Tone adjustment is so cool. It's like customizing the reader's voice to my liking. Good for background listening. I didnβt get fully immersed, but it was pleasant enough to have on while doing chores. The narratorβs voice was easy to listen to, even if the delivery lacked some energy. This audiobook was an absolute pleasure to listen to! The narrator's voice was rich and expressive, perfectly capturing the tone of the material. I found myself completely immersed in the story, often sitting in my car longer than necessary just to hear what happened next. The production quality was excellent with clear audio throughout.
Taffy Duchess
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Jo Jo Spooky
Thanks for making my daily commute to work enjoyable and engaging! I'm amazed by ListenBook's smooth drag-and-drop downloads in my web browser β a time-saver! Simplifying my audiobook experience β this app's design is a game-changer. The app's integration with CarPlay enhances my road trips with immersive audiobook journeys. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the love of literature.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience