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.
Saturnalia
Say hello to audiobook nirvana! This app's user-friendly design and comprehensive features have made my reading routine smoother than ever. ππ ListenBook's dedication to providing an exceptional listening experience shines through in every aspect of the app.
Journeyman
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EchoEnigma
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Bug Blitz
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Cool Iris
The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books at night. Iβve tried several audiobook players, but ListenBook stands out for its reliability and ease of use. The equalizer and voice boost features make every book sound amazing. Plus, the dark mode is perfect for nighttime listening. Great job, developers!
Springheel Jack
ListenBook's intuitive controls and beautiful layout make my audiobook experience a delightful one. This audiobook app is an absolute lifesaver! It brings my favorite stories to life with unparalleled convenience. π Unveiling the joy of reading once again β this app is my gateway to literary wonders! ππ No more interruptions β the auto-rewind feature is a genius solution for seamless listening.
NecroBull
βοΈ Kudos to the developers for creating an app that's both functional and user-friendly. I can navigate and enjoy my books effortlessly. ππ β° Maximizing my time with efficient features β this app's functionality lets me dive into stories even in the busiest moments. πβ³ πββοΈπ Experiencing stories while staying active β this app's functionality enhances my walks and runs like never before. π§ποΈ ListenBookβs support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily. The ability to organize my library is a huge plus. Everything is so neat and tidy.
Sky Trinity
I can't believe how much time I've gained by listening while cooking and doing chores. This app has transformed my long flights into productive and enjoyable experiences. Navigating chapters and genres is a breeze with this app's functionality.
Blizzard Vixen
ListenBook's dedication to excellence shines through in its performance and features. Audiobook multitasking made easy β this app's functionality is a marvel.
Trixie
Who knew that commuting could become such an enjoyable reading session? Audiobook enthusiasts, celebrate! This app's thoughtful features, like auto-rewind and easy chapter navigation, cater perfectly to our reading cravings. ππ Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my library look organized and professional. Packed with useful features. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook app. This audiobook spoiled me for others! The narrator's professional delivery set a high bar - perfect diction, ideal pacing, and emotional authenticity. The recording quality was equally impressive with no distracting artifacts. I finished it far too quickly because I couldn't stop listening.
Kingfisher
Mood-based playlists help me choose books that suit my current state of mind. Thanks to ListenBook, I can enjoy my audiobooks without the need for constant synchronization. This app's intuitive features and easy navigation make it the perfect companion for any audiobook lover. Downloading over WiFi is quick and efficient. Saves a lot of time.
Muzish
I've never been so excited about my daily commute β thanks to this app. ListenBook's interface is so intuitive. I was up and running in no time. ListenBook is more than just an app β it's a doorway to a world of knowledge and imagination.
Purity Catnip
ListenBook's integration of artwork and metadata adds a visually appealing touch to my library. Library organization and book groups make managing my audiobook collection a breeze. The app is perfect for long commutes. It keeps me entertained for hours.
Dancing Madman
Thanks to ListenBook, I'm now exploring different genres and formats I never thought I would. Great for listening to lectures and educational content. Very useful!
Twinkle Cocoa
I've fallen in love with genres I never thought I'd explore, all thanks to this app. ListenBook has completely changed my audiobook experience β it's like having a personal audio library. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a playful addition that lets me tweak the audiobook experience. The user-friendly interface and precise controls make listening to audiobooks an absolute delight.
Feral Filly
The app's layout is clean and intuitive, making it a pleasure to navigate. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a feature I can't live without. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer for immersive listening in any environment. I'm impressed by the extensive statistics feature, allowing me to track my audiobook consumption over time.
Eight Patrol
Audiobooks have made my long drives enjoyable, and this app is my co-pilot. I'm finally making progress on my reading goals, thanks to this app's convenience. This app has transformed my daily commute into a captivating journey of knowledge and entertainment.
Rope
π The simplicity and functionality of this app are top-notch. I can start a book with just a tap and immerse myself in the story instantly. π±π ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback features add versatility to my audiobook listening experience. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun and interactive way to connect. Absolutely loved the narration! The voice actor brought the characters to life with distinct tones and emotions. The production quality was top-notch, with no background noise or distractions. A truly immersive experience!
Lord Nikon
The audio filters on ListenBook enhance the sound quality, making every listening session a treat for my ears. Audiobooks have become a source of inspiration and motivation, thanks to this app. π§ Elevating my reading experience β this app's intuitive controls and organization features make audiobook enjoyment effortless. π±π Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks from various sources has become effortless. Iβd 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.
QuestWeaver
Audiobook excellence simplified β this app's functionality is a true delight. ListenBook has become an essential part of my routine. It's more than an app β it's a companion. Downloading books over WiFi is quick and hassle-free. Very convenient. ListenBook makes organizing my audiobooks simple. The app is very user-friendly.
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