Book description
“With elegance, wit and precision, John Thorn traces the lineage of baseball, a melting pot of cultures and diversions that became quintessentially American. Baseball in the Garden of Eden is a must read for anyone who claims to know the game.” —Jane Leavy, Author of The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and The End of America’s Childhood and Sandy Koufax: A Lefty’s Legacy “Baseball’s creation myth—Abner Doubleday in a Cooperstown pasture in 1839—has the merit of being enchanting but the defect of being false in every particular. Now comes another of John Thorn’s many contributions to our understanding of baseball, proof that the game is even older and more interesting than most fans know.” —George F. Will, Author of Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball “What a garden of delight! John Thorn takes us through the tangled history of the game’s origins with great good humor and flair. He accepts nothing on face value, but gives all sides their due. A pleasure for fans, but also for anyone with an interest in history and myth.” —Kevin Baker, Author of Strivers Row “No one knows baseball history as well as John Thorn or writes about it more ably. And there is no one better suited to record—with affection, amusement and sometimes hilarity—the chicanery, misrepresentation and downright lies that have obfuscated the fascinating story of the origins and development of our national game.” —Robert W. Creamer, Author of Babe: The Legend Comes to Life and Stengel: His Life and Times “No sport clings to its myths like baseball, which means it takes a baseball historian of the first rank like John Thorn to turn those myths upside down and inside out. Baseball in the Garden of Eden offers enlightenment for every fan. It is also a joy to read.” —Michael Shapiro, Author of Bottom of the Ninth and The Last Good Season “An invaluable, enduring and unique history of the early game and how it swiftly changed, in some ways for the worse, and yet survived and thrived." —David Nemec, Author of The Great Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Baseball “The One True Game’s old creation myths are nowhere near as interesting and as much fun as the truths that Thorn digs up about the conspiracies, vices, and raucous behavior of baseball’s earliest innings.” —Robert Lipsyte, author of An Accidental Sportswriter “No one, absolutely no one, knows more about the history of our national pastime than John Thorn, and this new book ought to settle once and for all many of the questions fans have about baseball’s origins. Superb.” —Ken Burns “John Thorn's Baseball in the Garden of Eden reveals a secret history of the early game that is more fantastical (and funny) than any concocted story.” —Jim Bouton, Author of Ball Four "If you love history or baseball, you will enjoy Thorn’s impeccably researched tome; if you love both, you will be mesmerized." —Dave Sheinin, The Washington Post jQuery(function() { jQuery( "#tabs" ).tabs(); });
Saturnalia
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personal touch to my experience. With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my downtime more enriching and meaningful. AirDrop sharing is a very convenient feature. Thanks, ListenBook!
Bombay Shivers
Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a delightful way to connect with fellow book lovers. ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. It's my go-to app for literary adventures. The app's compatibility with CarPlay enhances my driving experience. Audiobooks on the road have never been better. Bookmarks are a lifesaver for audiobook lovers. They help me keep track of important moments.
Troubled Pie
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Bleach
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CZR
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Bazooka Har-de-har
ListenBook's support for various download methods and audio formats ensures that I always have access to my favorite content. I love that ListenBook Pro allows me to customize the tone of the sound – it adds a personal touch. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and quick access to chapters enhance my overall listening experience. CUE playlist support is a rare gem. Perfect for organizing content efficiently. ListenBook’s interface is sleek and user-friendly. Finding and playing my audiobooks has never been easier.
Are Ess Tee
The app's features, like the sleep timer, make it clear that it's designed with readers in mind. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and precise controls make it a joy to use every day. Quick access to chapters and controls ensures a seamless listening experience with ListenBook. It's effortless to use.
LunaStar
The compatibility with Apple Watch is a huge plus. I can control my audiobooks from my wrist! Binaural audio processing really helps reduce fatigue.
Most Wanted
This app's customizable features, from playback speed to filters, are fantastic. The app’s design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player.
Ginger Chaos
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Palomino Cake
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Earl of Arms
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Golden Cougar
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Steel Heart
The ability to listen to books while multitasking is a game-changer for me. This app is a treasure trove of knowledge, entertainment, and imagination. ListenBook's sleek design and easy chapter access make navigation a breeze. Audiobooks have never been this accessible and enjoyable. This app's compatibility with various formats and its emphasis on user experience have made it an essential tool for me. 📱🔊
Mauve Cactus
This app has enriched my daily routine with the joy of stories and knowledge. ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats ensures that my audiobook collection is always accessible. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a playful addition that lets me tweak the audiobook experience. Love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device.
Darth 44
Audiobook joy made simple – this app's ease of use is commendable. Library organization has never been this easy. My audiobook collection is finally tidy. ListenBook's versatility with various audio formats means I can enjoy audiobooks from multiple sources effortlessly. Automated artwork and metadata extraction add a professional touch to my audiobook collection.
FearLeSS
ListenBook's seamless audio player has turned my listening sessions into moments of pure delight. Audiobooks have never been this engaging – this app takes them to the next level. 🎧 This app has changed my reading game! Now I can 'read' while I work – genius! 📚💼 🔥 Adding a spark of excitement to my daily routine – this app is my secret weapon! ✨📖 Bookmarks are a lifesaver for my study materials. I can easily revisit important sections.
NexusNomad
The intuitive interface and seamless navigation make this app a joy to use. Shuffle playback is a fun feature. It keeps me engaged with my audiobooks. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a thoughtful and enjoyable way to share my favorite stories with friends and introduce them to new worlds of literature. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun and interactive way to connect.
Alberta
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Sass Burst
I can't believe how much more I'm able to read with the help of this app. This app is a blessing for those with busy schedules – it's like time travel through stories. Finally, an app that respects my busy lifestyle. Whether I'm commuting or exercising, this app's smooth playback and smart controls keep me engaged. 🏃♀️🎧 Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique touch – it's like having a personalized reading.
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