Book description
Let's get one thing straight: Jeanine Cummins's American Dirt is the audiobook version of that friend who insists they "get" your culture while wearing a sombrero to a party. It's the #1 New York Times bestseller Oprah picked, sold two million copies, and now, in paperback, it's finally available for your earbuds. You know, to really experience the journey of a Mexican mother fleeing cartels with her son.
Lydia's life in Acapulco? Picture a postcard: husband's a journalist (read: not a cartel member), son Luca's adorable, and the only "cracks" in her world are the ones you'd find in a fancy hotel lobby. Then her husband publishes a tell-all about a drug lord, and suddenly, poof-comfort evaporates. Cue the escape.
The audiobook's narrator (a solid, unflappable voice) guides you through Lydia's panic as she realizes: Everyone's running from something. But what are they running to? The answer, it turns out, is "a better life"... or at least, a life where the narrator doesn't keep calling it "the journey."
Here's the irony you can't ignore: A book sold as a searing immigrant story was criticized for its shallow portrayal of Mexican culture, yet it's still being hailed as "essential." The audiobook makes it worse-its smooth, almost calm delivery of harrowing scenes (like a family huddled in a train car) feels like watching a documentary about a disaster you've never experienced. You're not in the journey; you're being told about it, with all the cultural nuance of a travel brochure.
And let's talk about the title: American Dirt. Because nothing says "authentic Mexican experience" like a white author writing a book that's, frankly, more about her moral awakening than the people she claims to represent. The audiobook's polished, relatable voice makes it easy to overlook the elephant in the room: This isn't a story from the border. It's a story about the border, written by someone who probably took a weekend trip to Tijuana for research.
So, yeah, it's a bestseller. It's got Oprah's seal. But the real story? It's the silence from the very communities it claims to champion. The audiobook's smooth narration makes you almost forget how deeply uncomfortable it is to hear a white savior narrative packaged as "empathy." Just remember: If you're listening to this on your commute, you're probably not the one running from a cartel. You're probably just running late for work. And that's the funniest part of all.
Sleek Assassin
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Reno Monarch
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Parallax Sugar
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Combo Saw
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Jelly Camber
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Trigger Warming
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Willow Dragon
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QuantumQuill
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Commando
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Mr. Alien
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Beetle King
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ThoughtTrail
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Highway
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Clang Glyph
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Chuckles
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Honey
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NexusNavigator
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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