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.
Infinite Hole
Audiobooks on this app have made my daily walks a time of reflection and inspiration. Looping playback has taken my language learning to new heights. Highly recommended! This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work!
Pistol Hydro
πββοΈπ Experiencing stories while staying active β this app's functionality enhances my walks and runs like never before. π§ποΈ Navigating through chapters is a breeze with ListenBook. It's easy to jump to specific sections. With ListenBook Pro, I can enjoy super long audiobooks. It's fantastic! Listening to audiobooks has never been this enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook!
Mother Night
With this app, I can seamlessly switch between audiobooks and real life. πΆββοΈπ§ Walking and listening has never been this smooth β this app's user-friendly interface makes it a breeze to enjoy my favorite stories. ποΈπ Effortless audiobook exploration β this app's functionality is a true delight.
Spooky Yellowjacket
The sound quality is outstanding β it's like having a movie theater in my ears! No more straining my eyes β this app lets me 'read' with my ears! Finally, an app that caters to audiobook enthusiasts like me. The diverse format support and user-friendly design are a game-changer. π±π ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch has made audiobook listening a part of my daily routine. I can't believe how seamless the integration with Apple Watch is. My workouts just got better.
Vicious Street
The app's layout is clean and intuitive, making it a pleasure to navigate. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook is a fun feature that adds a unique touch to my audiobook experience. ListenBook has redefined the way I experience stories, turning every moment into an adventure. This app's convenience has turned my exercise sessions into enlightening moments. Tone adjustment is so cool. It's like customizing the reader's voice to my liking.
Sly Silvermoon
With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. Gone are the days of waiting for the right time to read β this app is always ready. Effortlessly exploring audiobook worlds β this app's functionality is genius. Automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a touch of elegance to my audiobook collection.
Vixen
ListenBook Pro offers amazing value with unlimited audiobook length and noise reduction features. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is fantastic. Tone adjustment is a brilliant addition that lets me personalize the narration to my liking. It adds an extra layer of connection to the audiobooks. Looping playback is a game-changer for my study sessions. I can focus on challenging content.
Proper
This app is like having a personal library with me wherever I go. Audiobooks on this app have turned my travels into explorations of new narratives. ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback options have made audiobook revisiting and studying a breeze. WiFi downloads save a lot of time. Great feature!
Grave Digger
ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats ensures that my audiobook collection is always accessible. ListenBook's intuitive layout and quick access to chapters make audiobook navigation a breeze. I'm blown away by the attention to detail in every aspect of this app. The app's performance is exceptional, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted audiobook experience. It's clear that it's designed with audiobook enthusiasts in mind. Looping playback has transformed my study sessions. It's an invaluable tool for retaining information.
Mr. 44
Audiobooks have become my escape from reality β a journey into captivating worlds. ListenBook's dedication to providing a top-quality audio player is evident in every aspect of the app. Looping playback is my secret weapon for language learning. It's revolutionized my approach. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections.
Drugstore Cowboy
The ability to adjust the playback speed has made my commute even more efficient. With this app, reading has become an integral part of my daily routine. π§ Elevating my reading experience β this app's intuitive controls and organization features make audiobook enjoyment effortless. π±π Effortless and enriching β that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its functionality, from seamless downloads to binaural audio processing, has truly raised the bar. π±π I don't have strong feelings about this one either way. The narration was competent but forgettable. The story itself was more engaging than the performance.
VisionVortex
With ListenBook, every moment is an opportunity to explore new stories and gain knowledge. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique touch β it's like having a personalized reading.
Gov Skull
ListenBook has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary adventures through stories. I'm hooked on this app's ability to transform my ordinary moments into exciting opportunities for learning. π± An app that respects my time and delivers on functionality β audiobook listening has never been this effortless. ππ Library organization and book groups make managing my audiobook collection a breeze.
Bowie
Audiobook enthusiasts, rejoice! This app's design focuses on seamless interaction. ListenBook's interface is not just aesthetically pleasing; it's also highly functional. Navigating through chapters and controls is a breeze.
Brick Mooch
ListenBook's audio filters have transformed the way I experience audio content β it's a real game-changer. Tone adjustment is so cool. It's like customizing the reader's voice to my liking. Perfect for listening to educational materials. Highly efficient and useful.
Poptart AK47
The statistics feature is a fantastic addition β knowing how much time I spend on audiobooks is eye-opening, and ListenBook makes tracking it a breeze. No more fussing with synchronization β this app just gets it done! Adjusting playback speed has transformed the way I consume audiobooks. I can tailor the pacing to match my learning style and preferences.
Winter Underdog
This app has enriched my daily routine with the joy of stories and knowledge. Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks is a hassle-free process, regardless of the source. Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I learn and enjoy audiobooks. I can adapt the pace to my needs, maximizing comprehension and retention.
Cosmic Presence
The vast selection of titles on this app is a book lover's dream come true. The app's interface is so sleek and modern. It's a joy to use. Looping playback is a game-changer for my study sessions. It helps me absorb information more effectively.
Hog Butcher
The quality of the audio is top-notch, making the experience truly immersive. This app's convenience has turned my exercise sessions into enlightening moments. Playback speed and volume controls are top-notch. Highly recommend. Iβm so impressed with ListenBook. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Highly recommend this app!
Feral Filly
Listening to audiobooks has never been this convenient and enjoyable! The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app.
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