Book description
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST - A sweeping, genre-bending "masterpiece" (Minneapolis Star Tribune) exploring Black art, music, and culture in all their glory and complexity--from Soul Train, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Whitney Houston, and BeyoncΓ© ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Dallas Morning News, Publishers Weekly "Gorgeous essays that reveal the resilience, heartbreak, and joy within Black performance."--Brit Bennett, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing Half "I was a devil in other countries, and I was a little devil in America, too." Inspired by these few words, spoken by Josephine Baker at the 1963 March on Washington, MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellow and bestselling author Hanif Abdurraqib has written a profound and lasting reflection on how Black performance is inextricably woven into the fabric of American culture. Each moment in every performance he examines--whether it's the twenty-seven seconds in "Gimme Shelter" in which Merry Clayton wails the words "rape, murder," a schoolyard fistfight, a dance marathon, or the instant in a game of spades right after the cards are dealt--has layers of resonance in Black and white cultures, the politics of American empire, and Abdurraqib's own personal history of love, grief, and performance. Touching on Michael Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Billy Dee Williams, the Wu-Tan Clan, Dave Chappelle, and more, Abdurraqib writes prose brimming with jubilation and pain. With care and generosity, he explains the poignancy of performances big and small, each one feeling intensely familiar and vital, both timeless and desperately urgent. Filled with sharp insight, humor, and heart, A Little Devil in America exalts the Black performance that unfolds in specific moments in time and space--from midcentury Paris to the moon, and back down again to a cramped living room in Columbus, Ohio. WINNER OF THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL AND THE GORDON BURN PRIZE - FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD AND THE PEN/DIAMONSTEIN-SPIELVOGEL AWARD ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, Time, The Boston Globe, NPR, Rolling Stone, Esquire, BuzzFeed, Thrillist, She Reads, BookRiot, BookPage, Electric Lit, The Rumpus, LitHub, Library Journal, Booklist
Flash
π The ease and functionality of this app make it my go-to choice for immersive audiobook experiences. π±π§ My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thank you, ListenBook!
Fast Draw
Listening to audiobooks has become my daily ritual for relaxation and escape. I love how this app turns even the dullest tasks into exciting storytelling moments. ListenBook has made me fall in love with audiobooks all over again β it's a must-have app. This app's convenience has made reading a priority in my busy schedule. Great for listening to a variety of content. Highly recommend!
Easy Mac
I'm amazed at how effortlessly I can immerse myself in stories with this app. π‘ This app is a brilliant way to squeeze in reading time amidst my busy schedule! π±π©βπ³ Flawless support for various audio formats. Highly satisfied.
Whipsaw
The ListenBook app is a must-have for anyone who loves to learn and be entertained through audiobooks. I'm blown away by how this app has revolutionized my reading experience. This audiobook made my workouts fly by! The engaging narration kept me motivated to keep listening, which meant longer gym sessions. The narrator's energy matched the material perfectly - upbeat when needed, somber when appropriate. A great example of how narration can enhance text.
DragonBlood
The seamless integration with my car's audio system is a road trip dream. πββοΈπ Running through chapters, literally! This app keeps me motivated on the track. πββοΈπ This was my first audiobook in this genre and I'm hooked! The performance brought the story to life in a way reading never could. Already downloaded another by the same narrator.
Alley Cat
Finally, a way to enjoy literature on the go without straining my eyes. I've discovered authors I'd never heard of before, and now they're among my favorites. Finally, an app that handles all my audiobook formats effortlessly. ListenBook is a must-have!
VisionVoyager
ListenBook's focus on quality and user experience has made it my go-to app for audiobooks and educational content. Kudos to ListenBook for optimizing the app for iOS 16 β it shows their dedication to excellence. With this app, reading has become an integral part of my daily routine.
ForumFlare
π± A world of books at my fingertips β this app's user-friendly design makes it a true reading companion. ππ± ListenBook has become my workout companion of choice. It keeps me motivated and entertained during exercise. Sharing audiobooks via AirDrop is incredibly convenient. Great feature!
Flint Cast-Iron
I'm impressed by ListenBook's commitment to providing a silky-smooth playback experience. This app's compatibility with different formats has made my audiobook collection diverse and enjoyable. With this app, every moment is an opportunity to dive into a new story.
Lightweight
The app's design is sleek and modern β it's a pleasure to navigate. With this app, my daily routines have become moments of intellectual discovery and personal fulfillment. πΆπ Enriching my environment with the power of storytelling β audiobooks infuse my home with literary magic. π§π Automatic metadata retrieval adds a professional touch to my audiobook collection.
Spitfire
This app is a treasure trove of knowledge, entertainment, and imagination. I can't believe I waited this long to discover the joy of audiobooks through this app. ππ Transforming traffic jams into opportunities for literary exploration β this app keeps me engaged on the road! ππ§ ListenBook Pro's noise reduction makes sure that background distractions don't interfere with my listening. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval add a professional touch to my carefully curated audiobook collection.
THRESHmSTR
The vast selection of titles on this app is a book lover's dream come true. Audiobooks on this app have made studying and learning a more enjoyable process. Elegant design and easy-to-use interface. Very happy with ListenBook.
Electric Player
This app has made my road trips and flights infinitely more enjoyable. Audiobooks have turned my mundane activities into opportunities for learning and enjoyment. ListenBook's extensive format support makes it the ultimate audiobook app for any audiobook lover. ListenBook has enriched my life with a world of captivating stories and knowledge. It's not just an app; it's a portal to endless possibilities. Drag and drop downloads are genius. It simplifies the entire process.
Petite Flurry
ListenBook's focus on quality and user experience has made it my go-to app for audiobooks and educational content. This app's sleek design and intuitive features make it my trusted partner in exploring new narratives. I love the ability to change the background color. Itβs a nice touch.
Ella of Light
π± Accessing my favorite stories has never been this straightforward β this app's functionality is a bookworm's dream come true. ππ« Book groups feature keeps series and related titles together. Neat and tidy! ListenBook's versatility with various audio formats means I can enjoy audiobooks from multiple sources effortlessly. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time.
Steel Cut Toe
π§ Making housework more enjoyable β audiobooks turn mundane chores into moments of discovery. π§Ήπ Effortless audiobook management β this app's usability is a triumph. ListenBook's player features are incredibly helpful. Chapters and bookmarks make navigation easy.
Predator
Seamless audiobook integration β this app's functionality is a technological marvel. Automatic artwork and metadata extraction keep my audiobook library organized and visually appealing. I love the ability to change the playback speed. Itβs perfect for my needs. This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work!
JigKraken
ListenBook Pro offers an unbeatable deal β unlimited audiobook length and noise reduction. Every moment is a chance to dive into a new adventure with this app. Its smart controls and comprehensive format support ensure that my audiobook journey is a seamless one. ππ§ ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature is a time-saving convenience that I greatly appreciate. Bookmarks are a fantastic organizational tool. They help me keep track of important moments in my audiobooks. Adjustable playback speed and volume controls are fantastic features.
Lightening Trip
ListenBook's powerful audio downloading features make it easy to keep my content at my fingertips. This audiobook exceeded all my expectations! The narrator's ability to convey emotion through voice alone was remarkable. I laughed, I gasped, I might have even teared up at points - all because of the incredible vocal performance. The story came alive in a way reading alone couldn't achieve.
Twisty Dew
π My audiobook haven β this app is like a door to endless adventures and knowledge! ππ Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to inspire others to read. The interface is so clean and clutter-free. Itβs a pleasure to use.
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