Book description
2023 One Maryland One Book Finalist Winner of the 2022 Paris Book Award for General Nonfiction New York Public Library's Best Books for Adults Shelf Awareness 2022 Best Books of the Year Kirkus Review's 2022 Best Nonfiction Books and 2022 Best Books About Black Life in America Aspire TV's Top 5 Celebrity Memoirs of 2022 "If I had two wishes, it would be that D. Watkins spend an entire book writing through the terrifying wonder of Black boyness in America, and for every human to read and share this book. I am shaken. Black Boy Smile changed my relationship to writing and me."โKiese Laymon, author of Heavy and winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal At nine years old, D. Watkins has three concerns in life: picking his dad's Lotto numbers, keeping his Nikes free of creases, and being a man. Directly in his periphery is east Baltimore, a poverty-stricken city battling the height of the crack epidemic just hours from the nation's capital. Watkins, like many boys around him, is thrust out of childhood and into a world where manhood means surviving by slinging crack on street corners and finding oneself on the right side of pistols. For thirty years, Watkins is forced to safeguard every moment of joy he experiences or risk losing himself entirely. Now, for the first time, Watkins harnesses these moments to tell the story of how he matured into the D. Watkins we know today--beloved author, college professor, editor-at-large of Salon.com, and devoted husband and father. Black Boy Smile lays bare Watkins's relationship with his father and his brotherhood with the boys around him. He shares candid recollections of early assaults on his body and mind and reveals how he coped using stoic silence disguised as manhood. His harrowing pursuit of redemption, written in his signature street style, pinpoints how generational hardship, left raw and unnurtured, breeds toxic masculinity. Watkins discovers a love for books, is admitted to two graduate programs, meets with his future wife, an attorney--and finds true freedom in fatherhood. Equally moving and liberating, Black Boy Smile is D. Watkins's love letter to Black boys in concrete cities, a daring testimony that brings to life the contradictions, fears, and hopes of boys hurdling headfirst into adulthood. Black Boy Smile is a story proving that when we acknowledge the fallacies of our past, we can uncover the path toward self-discovery. Black Boy Smile is the story of a Black boy who healed.
Digital Moonshine
๐๐ Embarking on literary journeys even with my eyes closed โ bedtime stories have taken a new form with this app! ๐ด๐ง Automatic metadata extraction keeps my library organized. It's a time-saver!
RightN0w2
This app has made me appreciate the art of storytelling even more. ListenBook has made my daily activities more interesting and meaningful โ I'm hooked! I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time.
Sherm
ListenBook is my daily companion, turning mundane tasks into exciting audio adventures. This app's convenience has turned me into an avid audiobook listener.
DreamDiver
I'm amazed at how this app has turned my errands into exciting reading sessions. 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.
DollFaceKillah
Seamless integration with all my devices and flawless synchronization โ top-notch. This app's ease of use has made reading more accessible and enjoyable than ever before. ListenBook has all the features I need in an audiobook app. My top choice! I'm so glad I chose the audiobook version! The narrator added layers of meaning I might have missed reading silently. Their interpretation of the material felt thoughtful and authentic. The recording was technically perfect - no reverb, no peaking, just clean, pleasant audio. This was an adequate audiobook for casual listening. The narrator maintained a consistent pace and clear diction throughout, though their performance lacked some emotional range. The audio quality was fine with no significant technical distractions.
Back Bett
ListenBook has turned my daily routines into audiobook-driven journeys of imagination. Flawless support for various audio formats. Very happy with it. What a delightful listening experience! The narrator's timing was impeccable, knowing exactly when to pause for effect or let the words flow. Their character voices were distinct yet natural - no over-the-top accents or distracting vocal tics. The audio quality was consistently excellent.
Berlin Kamikaze
The 'Discover' section is a treasure trove for finding hidden literary gems. I'm blown away by ListenBook's ability to play diverse formats flawlessly โ it's a game-changer. ListenBook's integration with AirDrop and sharing options makes it simple to spread the joy of storytelling. Finally, an app that supports all my audiobook formats! ListenBook is a game-changer. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iโve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
White Snare
The extensive audiobook collection for children is a blessing for my little ones. ListenBook's dedication to enhancing the audiobook experience has made it my preferred app for listening to content on the go. Effortlessly managing my audiobook library โ this app's design is commendable. ListenBook's compatibility with a wide array of audio formats makes it my ultimate audiobook companion. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun and interactive way to connect.
VenusLion
I appreciate how ListenBook offers various methods for downloading audio โ it caters to different preferences. With this app, I can switch seamlessly between my iPhone and iPad, making my reading experience continuous. Effortlessly immersing in stories โ this app's ease of use is a game-changer. ListenBook has become an essential part of my daily routine. It's like my personal audiobook oasis. ListenBook has rekindled my passion for learning. I'm exploring new topics every day.
Hemlock
ListenBook's library organization and book groups have made managing my audiobooks a breeze. I'm addicted to this app โ it's like having a library in my pocket.
Serendipity
Packed with useful features. My favorite audiobook app! 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!
Bleachers
ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a dream come true for those epic tales. It's like having a personal audiobook library in your pocket. ListenBook has become my trusted companion. It's my go-to app for expanding my knowledge and enjoyment. A textbook example of great audiobook narration! The performer's diction was flawless, their pacing ideal, and their emotional range impressive. I never felt like I was being "read to" but rather like I was experiencing the story firsthand. The audio engineering was equally professional.
Sylvester Eye
ListenBook has made managing and enjoying audiobooks, lectures, and speeches effortless and enjoyable. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a game-changer.
Twisty Dew
Thanks to ListenBook's extensive statistics, I can track my audiobook consumption and celebrate my progress. ListenBook has become my ultimate audiobook companion. It enhances every listening session. I canโt believe how easy it is to manage my audiobook library with ListenBook. Highly recommended! A wonderful performance! The narrator captured the mood of the book perfectly, making it easy to visualize each scene. The audio quality was crisp, and the pacing kept me hooked from start to finish.
CuriousCrafter
This app has turned my gym sessions into immersive storytelling experiences โ time flies by! Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment are excellent additions.
Skirble
Frequent updates ensure there's always something new and exciting to listen to. With ListenBook, I can listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my audiobook library look organized and visually appealing. Not the best audiobook I've heard but far from the worst. The production quality was good and there were no major issues with the narration.
Swampmasher
๐ Making every moment count โ this app turns everyday activities into a reading adventure! ๐๐ซ ๐ฅ Simplifying my reading routine โ the app's functionality ensures I'm always one click away from literary adventures. ๐๐ ListenBookโs playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
Bitmap
This app is a must-have for any book lover on the go โ it's my daily companion. This app has turned my cooking sessions into culinary adventures with a side of stories. The app's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch is a huge plus. Solid performance overall though some character voices sounded too similar. I occasionally got confused about who was speaking in dialogue-heavy scenes.
VileHero
I'm grateful for this app, as it allows me to keep up with my reading even while multitasking. ListenBook's seamless integration with CarPlay enhances my daily commute, making it a productive and enjoyable experience.
Mauve Cactus
Managing my audiobook collection is a pleasure thanks to this app's usability. Automatic artwork and metadata retrieval is a time-saver. My library looks fantastic. Adjusting the tone of the voice is genius. It's like having a customizable audiobook narrator. The app's compatibility with CarPlay has made my road trips so much more enjoyable. The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time.
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