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 Beyoncรฉ 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
Scarlet Mary
ListenBook's dedication to delivering top-notch audio quality is evident in every detail. I'm blown away by the silky-smooth playback, even for high-quality formats like FLAC. Top-notch performance! Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a fun and convenient way to share the magic of storytelling with friends and family, sparking meaningful discussions.
ByteBard
ListenBook's support for chapters and bookmarks ensures that I never lose my place in a story. I love how this app's user-friendly interface allows me to navigate through chapters and controls effortlessly. Quick access to chapters is so handy. Navigating through content is a breeze. CUE playlist support helps me organize my audiobooks efficiently. It's a great organizational tool. ListenBook is a game-changer for audiobook lovers. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history featureโitโs so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Toy Town
I love that ListenBook supports a wide range of formats, making my library diverse. ListenBook's statistics feature is eye-opening. I had no idea how much time I spent immersed in audiobooks until I started using it. As someone who listens to audiobooks daily, I can confidently say ListenBook is the best player out there. The sleep timer and auto-rewind features are lifesavers, and the sound quality is exceptional. Thank you for such a great app!
Cardinal Rebel
This app has become my ultimate travel companion, ensuring that I'm always entertained and inspired. ๐ Accessing my favorite authors and genres is a breeze with this app's user-friendly functionality. ๐ฑ๐ง I'm amazed by the attention to detail, from automatic metadata extraction to customizable settings.
Mother Night
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Light Despair
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High Kingdom Warrior
The sheer variety of genres available ensures there's something for everyone. This app is a blessing for those with busy schedules โ it's like time travel through stories. Chapters make it so easy to pick up where I left off. No more hunting around. Quick access to chapters and controls makes ListenBook a joy to use. It's a seamless experience. ListenBookโs audio filters are great. The app provides a high-quality listening experience.
Cuff Queen
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Cream
ListenBook's dedication to delivering an exceptional experience is evident in every detail. The app is very user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a breeze. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history featureโitโs so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Prez Dog
This app has made literature accessible and engaging for all ages. The ease of downloading content via WiFi, WebDAV, and more has made ListenBook my audiobook hub. I'm grateful for ListenBook's support for a wide range of formats, making it a one-stop solution for audio content. I'm addicted to this app's seamless performance and impressive library. This app's intuitive controls and user-friendly layout have made audiobook listening a true pleasure.
EchoExplorer
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Twitch
This app's ease of use has made my downtime more enriching and enjoyable. With this app, reading is no longer a luxury โ it's an essential part of my day.
Vagabond Warrior
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Aqua Monsoon
This app has enriched my daily routine with the joy of stories and knowledge. Effortlessly enjoying audiobook journeys โ this app's ease of use is a winner. Kudos to the creators for crafting an app that understands audiobook lovers. With smooth playback and thoughtful design, it's a true companion for book enthusiasts. ๐๐ Every moment is a chance to explore new stories with this app. Its intuitive features and compatibility ensure my audiobook journey is seamless. ๐๐ง Noise reduction feature is magic. Now I can listen to recordings even in noisy settings.
Pigeon Woman
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Pluto
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun and unique feature I can't get enough of. Listening to audiobooks has never been this convenient and enjoyable! Listening to audiobooks on this app has become my favorite way to relax. Finally, an app that caters to audiobook enthusiasts like me. The diverse format support and user-friendly design are a game-changer. ๐ฑ๐ The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
Stallion Patton
Listening to audiobooks has never been this convenient and enjoyable! This app has become my go-to for audiobooks, adding a layer of convenience and enjoyment to my days. ListenBook has broadened my horizons by introducing me to a diverse range of audiobooks. It's a gateway to endless knowledge, entertainment, and inspiration. Great app! ListenBook supports so many formats, and the playback is always smooth.
MuseMaster
ListenBook's dedication to optimizing for iOS 16 ensures a seamless experience on the latest devices. I can't imagine my daily activities without this app โ it's my go-to for staying informed and entertained. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a breeze thanks to ListenBook Pro's AirDrop and sharing options. Spread the joy of a good story! Binaural audio processing really helps reduce listening fatigue. Great feature!
WonderWords
I can't get enough of ListenBook's silky-smooth playback and intuitive design. It's my go-to app for both leisurely listening and study sessions. From novels to speeches, this app's versatility in playing different formats has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary listening sessions. ๐ฑ๐ Looping playback is an invaluable tool for my study sessions. It helps me grasp complex concepts. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length feature is fantastic. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iโve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
Crossing Guard
I'm impressed by how much more I'm learning through audiobooks compared to traditional reading. This app has made multitasking a breeze โ I can 'read' while I work! I can't thank this app enough for making my audiobook experience so effortless. From downloading to playback, it's a true companion for book lovers. ๐๐ซ The app's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a true companion for all occasions. This audiobook kept me company during a long road trip and made the miles disappear! The narrator's engaging performance and the crisp production quality made for an immersive experience. I appreciated how well they balanced drama with clarity - never sacrificing understanding for effect.
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