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."βKiese 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.
Opulent Gamer
This app is not just about convenience β it's a gateway to new horizons of knowledge. ListenBook is my constant companion during workouts. The controls are so easy to use. Perfect for my daily walks. The story was engaging enough to keep me motivated to exercise but not so complex that I got lost in thought. Great production quality too.
Crash Override
I'm rediscovering my love for literature through this app β it's revitalizing. Drag and drop downloads are genius. It simplifies the entire process.
Firedog
ListenBook's basic audio filters allow me to fine-tune the audio playback to suit my preferences. ListenBook's beautiful layout and quick access to chapters make every listening session a pleasure. Audiobooks have become my constant companions, and this app's seamless functionality and broad compatibility ensure every story is a captivating ride. ππ§
Spooky Electric
π Turning my phone into a portal of stories β this app's ease of use is remarkable! π±π« The statistics feature in ListenBook is a valuable tool for monitoring and optimizing my audiobook consumption. Sharing audiobooks via AirDrop is incredibly convenient. Great feature!
InsightInkwell
Audiobooks have made my workouts more enjoyable, and I'm seeing results! ListenBook has transformed my listening habits, making them more engaging and enjoyable. π‘ Seamlessly weaving audiobooks into my daily routine β this app's functionality has redefined how I enjoy books. π±π
Innocent Ghost
I'm discovering books I wouldn't have considered before, and my reading horizons are expanding. ListenBook is more than just an app β it's a doorway to a world of knowledge and imagination.
Tomcat
CUE playlist support helps me organize my audiobooks efficiently. It's a great organizational tool. Bookmarks are a lifesaver for my study materials. I can easily revisit important sections. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience. An absolutely stellar production from start to finish! The narrator's command of pacing and tone was masterful, knowing exactly when to speed up for excitement or slow down for dramatic effect. The audio quality was pristine with no distracting mouth sounds or uneven volume.
Mum Mary
Audiobook excellence simplified β this app's functionality is a true delight. ListenBook's controls for looping and shuffling playback have made studying and revisiting content a breeze. ListenBook has redefined how I enjoy audiobooks. It's an essential tool for my literary pursuits. ListenBook has streamlined my audiobook experience. It's a must-have app for enthusiasts. Looping playback is a study tool that I can't live without. It helps me master challenging content.
Thumb Candy
This app is not just about convenience β it's a gateway to new horizons of knowledge. The customer support team is responsive and always ready to assist. ListenBookβs support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily. As someone who struggles to focus on audiobooks, this kept my attention the whole way through. The narrator's clear diction and expressive delivery were perfect.
Shady Prairie
My kids are hooked on the children's audiobook collection β it's a parenting win! The convenience of having an entire library at my fingertips is a dream come true. Tone adjustment is such a unique feature. It's like customizing the narrator's voice. The playback speed control is a game-changer. ListenBook lets me listen at my own pace.
GoldTouch
This app has turned audiobook listening into a daily ritual for me. π± My pocket-sized library β this app makes reading accessible anytime, anywhere! ππ± Effortless and enriching β that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its smooth interface and thoughtful features redefine audiobook joy. π±π Adjusting the tone of the voice is a unique feature that adds a personalized touch to the listening experience.
Indestructible Potato
I can't believe I waited so long to start listening to audiobooks β this app has converted me! I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's intuitive and user-friendly design. The app's performance is nothing short of impressive β smooth, responsive, and designed with audiobook lovers in mind.
London Fox
The sheer variety of genres available ensures there's something for everyone. Audiobooks have turned road trips into unforgettable journeys of imagination. Audiobooks on this app have turned my exercise sessions into moments of education. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. Itβs a unique feature.
Mammoth 2
ListenBook's support for various download methods and audio formats ensures that I always have access to my favorite content. I love that I can download content directly from the internet within the ListenBook app β so handy! The app's compatibility with CarPlay is a dream for road trips. It keeps me entertained. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
Lewd Dice
ListenBook's variety of ways to download audio makes it incredibly convenient. Efficiency and ease combined β this app is a must-have for book lovers. Bookmarking favorite parts of audiobooks is a breeze. It's like having a personalized study guide. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iβve 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!
Curio
Unwinding with a good audiobook has become my favorite self-care ritual. ListenBook's thoughtful inclusion of chapters, controls, and filters has enhanced my audiobook experience. Kudos to the developers for creating an app that caters to audiobook lovers like me. From sleek design to functional features, it's a true gem. ππ This is exactly what I look for in an audiobook! The narrator's pleasant voice and excellent diction made even complex passages easy to follow. I appreciated the subtle but effective use of pauses and emphasis that added depth to the listening experience. Finished it in record time because I couldn't stop listening.
Spitfire
This app has transformed my daily routines into immersive storytelling experiences. I'm hooked on this app's curated content β it's like having a personal librarian. π Adding a touch of magic to mundane tasks β this app turns errands into epic quests! ππ The tone adjustment feature is an exciting touch, allowing me to immerse myself even more in the content. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iβve 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!
Nice Gnome
Effortless audiobook exploration β this app's functionality is a true delight. Sharing books with friends via AirDrop is so convenient. Thanks, ListenBook!
360
This app has ignited my passion for reading once again β but in a modern, convenient way. I can't get enough of the celebrity narrators β they add a unique charm to each book. With ListenBook, every moment is an opportunity to explore new stories and gain knowledge. πββοΈπ Running through chapters has never been smoother β the app's streamlined functionality keeps me on track with my reading goals. πββοΈπ§ Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature that adds a personal touch.
White Swan
Unwinding with a good audiobook has become my favorite self-care ritual. I'm in awe of how this app has made reading seamlessly fit into my lifestyle. I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks, and this one stands out for its professional quality. The narrator struck the ideal balance between dramatic interpretation and letting the text speak for itself. The audio engineering was superb with consistent volume levels and crystal-clear recording.
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