Book description
NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK BY: Time, USA Today, People, AARP, Harper's Bazaar, Today.com, BookRiot, Bustle, LitHub, BookPage, The Millions, Ms., Our Culture, Electric Literature, W, and VultureA surprising and beautiful meditation on the color blue—and its fascinating role in Black history and culture—from National Book Award winner Imani PerryThroughout history, the concept of Blackness has been remarkably intertwined with another color: blue. In daily life, it is evoked in countless ways. Blue skies and blue water offer hope for that which lies beyond the current conditions. But blue is also the color of deep melancholy and heartache, echoing Louis Armstrong’s question, “What did I do to be so Black and blue?” In this book, celebrated author Imani Perry uses the world’s favorite color as a springboard for a riveting emotional, cultural, and spiritual journey—an examination of race and Blackness that transcends politics or ideology.Perry traces both blue and Blackness from their earliest roots to their many embodiments of contemporary culture, drawing deeply from her own life as well as art and history: The dyed indigo cloths of West Africa that were traded for human life in the 16th century. The mixture of awe and aversion in the old-fashioned characterization of dark-skinned people as “Blue Black.” The fundamentally American art form of blues music, sitting at the crossroads of pain and pleasure. The blue flowers Perry plants to honor a loved one gone too soon.Poignant, spellbinding, and utterly original, Black in Blues is a brilliant new work that could only have come from the mind of one of our greatest writers and thinkers. Attuned to the harrowing and the sublime aspects of the human experience, it is every bit as vivid, rich, and striking as blue itself.
About the Author
Imani Perry is the National Book Award-winning author of South to America, as well as seven other books of nonfiction. She is the Henry A. Morss Jr. and Elisabeth W. Morss Professor of Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, and is a 2023 MacArthur Fellow. Perry lives between Philadelphia and Cambridge with her two sons.
Slinger
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Indigo Red
As a language enthusiast, this app has been a fantastic tool for learning new languages. ListenBook is a prime example of user-centered design. It's clear that the developers understand audiobook lovers' needs.
Lucifurious
The ability to switch between different books effortlessly is a major plus. Kudos to ListenBook for the intuitive design and easy-to-use controls. It's evident that they've put a lot of thought into user experience. Automatic artwork and metadata extraction add a professional touch to my audiobook library.
Pinball Wizard
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Woodland Beauty
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Pusher
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Classy Dancer
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Romance Princess
I'd love to see more classic titles, but the current selection is already fantastic. I'm blown away by the range of non-fiction audiobooks available – so much to learn! I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device. I love the ability to change the background color. It’s a nice touch.
Metal Star
The layout is not only beautiful but also intuitive. Controls are easy to access. I'm impressed by the app's compatibility with CarPlay. It keeps me entertained on long drives. Listening stats motivate me to read more. Great feature! The app is worth every penny. It’s packed with features and works flawlessly. I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Athens Fire
This app has made my road trips and flights infinitely more enjoyable. The statistics tracking feature is a gem. I'm surprised by how much time I spend on audiobooks!
White Snare
The audio filters on ListenBook enhance the sound quality, making every listening session a treat for my ears. 💼 Workday blues? Not anymore – this app turns my office hours into reading time! 💻📖 ListenBook's statistics feature is eye-opening. I had no idea how much time I spent immersed in audiobooks until I started using it. ListenBook's customizable audio filters are a game-changer for tailoring my audiobook playback.
Red Delicious
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Bearded Angler
The ability to highlight passages and take notes while listening is a fantastic feature. With this app, audiobook listening has become an integral part of my daily routines – it's a game-changer. With this app, my daily routines have become moments of intellectual discovery and personal fulfillment. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. 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!
Mental
ListenBook is a true audio treasure! It turns my own audio files into immersive listening experiences. The intuitive chapter navigation and quick access to controls make my audiobook experience seamless. ListenBook’s interface is clean and intuitive. It’s a joy to use.
The Flying Mouse
As a language enthusiast, this app has been a fantastic tool for learning new languages. The drag-and-drop download feature on ListenBook is incredibly convenient – no more complicated processes. The library organization feature is a blessing. My audiobooks are finally organized and easy to find.
MindfulMingle
I'm hooked on this app's ease of use – it's a reader's dream come true. 📚 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. 📱📖 Effortless audiobook management – this app's usability is a winner. The narration elevated an already good book to greatness! The performer's subtle vocal variations conveyed nuance I might have missed while reading. Their ability to maintain consistent character voices across many hours was impressive. Technical quality was flawless throughout.
Twitch
I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my daily dose of literary magic. 🎙️ Elevating grocery shopping to a whole new level – audiobooks make it an adventure! 🛒📚
Lilac Lizard
ListenBook has become my trusted companion, guiding me through the realms of imagination. I can't get enough of this app – it's a true game-changer for book lovers. ListenBook's interface is not just aesthetically pleasing; it's also highly functional. Navigating through chapters and controls is a breeze.
LerveDr
💡 Enriching my daily routines with wisdom and wonder – thank you, this app! 📱📖 CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature for those who enjoy organized and structured listening. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances the audio quality to an impressive degree.
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