Book description
Winner of the Studs and Ida Terkel PrizeA groundbreaking look at how ordinary people are fighting back against their local and state governments to keep their communities safe, by an award-winning journalist Most Americans are likely to encounter the effects of government malfeasance or neglect close to home-from their governors, mayors, town councils, school boards, police, and prosecutors. In fact, deals shrouded in darkness are regularly made at the state and local levels, often the result of closed-door discussions between governments and industry without any scrutiny whatsoever from the public. Too often, as this groundbreaking new work of investigative reporting reveals, residents are intentionally kept on the outside, struggling to get information about significant issues affecting their communities-from car crashes and dirty drinking water, to failing safety gear-until the backroom deals are done and it's too late to challenge them. A work of riveting narrative nonfiction based on years of original reporting, Backroom Deals in Our Backyards tells the story of five "accidental activists"-people from across the United States who started questioning why their local and state governments didn't protect them from issues facing their communities and why there was a frightening lack of transparency surrounding the way these issues were resolved. The secret deals, lies, and corruption they uncover shake their faith in government but move them to action. For readers of Chain of Title and Superman's Not Coming, Spivack's revealing take on a hidden dimension of American politics will outrage and educate anyone who cares about the forces shaping their own communities.
360
I can't believe how much time I've gained by listening while cooking and doing chores. With this app, I'm discovering the joy of reading during my commutes. Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very user-friendly. Downloading over WiFi is quick and efficient. Saves a lot of time.
Mustard Centaur
ListenBook is a game-changer! Finally, an app that lets me enjoy my favorite audio files with ease. 🚶♀️🌌 This app's functionality makes every walk an adventure – I'm immersed in stories as I explore the world around me. 🏞️📖 Simplifying my reading routine – this app's ease of use is remarkable. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the clarity of recordings and makes my listening sessions more enjoyable. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
Noisy Girl
Audiobooks have become a cherished part of my daily life, all thanks to this app. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the love of literature. 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. I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks and this narrator is now in my top 5. Their timing and inflection were masterful. Never a dull moment in the entire performance.
Delicious Cupid
Library organization has never been this easy. My audiobook collection is finally tidy. CUE playlist support is a fantastic addition. It helps me organize my audiobooks effortlessly. ListenBook has become an integral part of my daily routine. Its compatibility with Apple Watch and CarPlay makes it the ultimate companion for various activities.
Swampmasher
I'm in awe of how this app has made reading a part of my busy life. The sleep timer is a lifesaver. I fall asleep listening to my books every night.
Sneaky Lady
Audiobooks have brought a new level of enjoyment to my daily workout routine. ListenBook's audiobook player is a true workhorse – chapters, controls, and filters are all seamlessly integrated. Unlimited length audiobooks with ListenBook Pro are a huge plus!
Twinkle Cutlass
ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. 🚶♀️📖 Walking my way through exciting narratives – this app makes exercise more fun! 🏞️🎧 Unlimited length audiobooks with ListenBook Pro are a huge plus! I love the ability to share my progress with friends. It’s a fun feature. An unobjectionable but unexceptional audiobook experience. The narrator's performance was serviceable and the audio quality was fine, but nothing about the production particularly stood out or elevated the material. It was decent background listening.
Patton Digger
I can't thank this app enough for making my audiobook experience exceptional. Its intuitive interface and diverse compatibility are a true game-changer. 📱🎧 Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to spread the joy. Automatic metadata retrieval is a neat touch. My library is well-organized. I love the ability to import books from my computer. It’s so easy.
57 Pixels
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a fantastic addition that enhances my audio experience. Thanks to ListenBook's binaural audio processing, my extended listening sessions are fatigue-free. Navigating audiobooks seamlessly – this app's design is top-notch. CUE playlist support is a brilliant feature that allows me to create customized listening experiences for different moods, activities, and moments of the day. The app is so user-friendly. Even my grandma can use it!
Sir Squire
I've become a loyal fan of audiobooks, and this app is the reason why! 📱 Carrying my library in my pocket – this app makes every moment a reading opportunity! 📚👜 No need to convert files anymore – ListenBook's seamless playback of various formats is a game-changer for audiobook enthusiasts like me! The ability to organize my library is a huge plus. Everything is so neat and tidy.
Pockets
I love how this app allows me to enjoy books even when I'm on the move. 💡 This app is a brilliant way to squeeze in reading time amidst my busy schedule! 📱👩🍳 ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature is a time-saving convenience that I greatly appreciate. The app's seamless integration with Apple Watch makes it my perfect workout companion.
Mr. Alien
I can't imagine my daily activities without this app – it's the perfect way to stay engaged and informed. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend!
Eerie Mizzen
As a language enthusiast, this app has been a fantastic tool for learning new languages. This app's efficient downloading process ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks whenever and wherever. AirDrop and sharing make it easy to spread the audiobook love with friends. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval add a professional touch to my audiobook library. Perfect for listening to lectures and speeches. Highly useful app.
9Lives
Listening to audiobooks has become my ultimate way to unwind after a long day. Seamless audiobook integration – this app's functionality is a technological marvel. ListenBook Pro has taken my audiobook experience to the next level. No regrets!
DreamWeaver
I'm hooked on this app's ability to transform my ordinary moments into exciting opportunities for learning. The app's performance is beyond impressive. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. Finally, an app that supports a wide range of audio formats! It's a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. The app is very user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a breeze.
Sun Leo
I've fallen in love with literature all over again, thanks to this incredible app. Seamless integration with all my devices and flawless synchronization – top-notch. I can't believe how convenient this app has made my reading experience. ListenBook's audio filters have given me the power to tailor my listening experience to my preferences. Auto-rewind feature is extremely helpful. Great functionality.
Austin Shamrock
With ListenBook, I've unlocked a world of educational and entertaining content right at my fingertips. With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. 🎉 Finding the perfect audiobook is a breeze with this app's robust search and recommendation features. My reading list has never been better! 📚💫
1st Degree
The convenience of downloading audiobooks for offline listening is a game-changer. ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch is a game-changer for my on-the-go listening.
360
I can't get enough of this app's intuitive design – it's like a personal library right at my fingertips. Every moment is an adventure with this app by my side. Its intuitive features and diverse format support ensure that my audiobook journey is seamless and exciting. 🌌🎧 ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has significantly enhanced my audio quality. I’d listen to this narrator read anything! Their voice was so expressive and fitting for the material. The story itself was great, but the narration took it to the next level. Definitely a 5-star experience. Solid performance overall though some character voices sounded too similar. I occasionally got confused about who was speaking in dialogue-heavy scenes.
Cool Iris
Navigating audiobooks with ease – this app's functionality is a standout. Downloading books directly in the app is so easy. Highly recommend! Decent audiobook but I think I would have enjoyed reading it more. Some of the more subtle humor didn't quite land in the audio format.
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