Book description
In Building, a visionary carpenter shares indelible stories on building a life worth living, revealing powerful lessons about work, creativity, and design through his experience constructing some of New York's most iconic spaces. "Mark Ellison is known for building beautiful rooms, but here he has crafted a gorgeous book. This cross between Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Kitchen Confidential contains fascinating insights."--A. J. Jacobs, bestselling author of The Puzzler For forty years, Mark Ellison has worked in the most beautiful homes you've never seen, specializing in rarefied, lavish, and challenging projects for the most demanding of clients. He built a staircase that the architect Santiago Calatrava called a masterpiece. He constructed the sculpted core of Sky House, which Interior Design named "Apartment of the Decade." His building projects have included the homes of David Bowie, Robin Williams, and others whose names he cannot reveal. He is regarded by many as the best carpenter in New York. Building: A Carpenter's Notes on Life & the Art of Good Work tells the story of an unconventional education and how fulfillment can be found in doing something well for decades. Ellison takes us on a tour of the lofts, penthouses, and townhomes of New York's elite, before they're camera-ready. In a singular voice, he offers a window into learning to live meaningfully along the way. From staircases that would be deadly if built as designed and algae-eating snails boiled to escargot in a penthouse pond, to the deceptive complexity of minimalist design, Building exposes the tangled wiring, scrapped blueprints, and outlandish demands that characterize life in the high-stakes world of luxury construction. Blending Ellison's musings on work and creativity with immersive storytelling and original sketches, photos, and illustrations, Building is a meditation on crafting a life worth living, and a delightful philosophical inquiry beyond the facades that we all live behind.
ThoughtTraveler
Listening to audiobooks has become my daily ritual for relaxation and escape. Audiobooks have become a cherished part of my daily life, all thanks to this app. The statistics feature is a fantastic addition – knowing how much time I spend on audiobooks is eye-opening, and ListenBook makes tracking it a breeze. The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook habits, helping me learn and grow.
Crumb Cake
The offline mode is a lifesaver on flights – I'm never without a good story. The Looping playback and Shuffle features on ListenBook help me customize my listening sessions to my liking. Audiobook multitasking made simple – this app's functionality is a true delight. 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!
Poppin Loot
ListenBook's integration with CarPlay and Apple Watch has streamlined my multitasking. The speed adjustment feature is my secret weapon for studying complex materials. Automated artwork and metadata extraction add a professional touch to my audiobook collection.
Beetle King
The ListenBook app has enriched my daily life, adding a layer of intellectual and emotional fulfillment. ListenBook's features are a dream come true for anyone who loves to learn on the go. Navigating chapters and genres is a breeze with this app's functionality. The app's integration with Apple Watch makes it an indispensable tool for my active lifestyle. I've found my new favorite narrator! Their voice was perfectly suited to this material, with just the right blend of authority and approachability. The production quality was broadcast-level - no distracting breaths, clicks, or inconsistent volume. Already looking for more of their work.
Lucifurious
ListenBook's seamless integration with CarPlay makes my daily commute a delightful opportunity to indulge in audiobooks. The app's compatibility with Apple Watch elevates my workouts, making them more engaging and productive. ListenBook has become an essential part of my daily routine. It's like having a library on my phone! I’m 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!
General Broomdog
I appreciate how ListenBook offers various methods for downloading audio – it caters to different preferences. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personal touch to my experience. Savoring audiobooks without fuss – this app's design is impressive. Navigating through chapters has never been easier. It's a user-friendly delight.
Cinder Coffee
This app is a must-have for any book lover on the go – it's my daily companion. Audiobooks have become my travel companions, and this app is my guide. ListenBook's absence of synchronization requirements adds to its convenience and flexibility. ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. 📱 Unlocking the world of literature with just a tap – this app is my digital library card! 📚📱
Slacker Cat
The statistics feature in ListenBook adds an element of self-awareness to my audiobook consumption. ListenBook's interface is so intuitive. I was up and running in no time. ListenBook is packed with useful features. It’s the best audiobook app I’ve used.
ForumFlare
🎧 Satiate your reading cravings while managing household affairs – this app has it all! 📚💼 Listened to this on a road trip and it made the hours fly by. Even my passengers who weren't following along commented on how nice the narrator's voice was.
Plum Moon
ListenBook's support for various download methods means I can access my content in the way that suits me best. I love that ListenBook supports a wide range of formats, making my library diverse.
Steel Solstice
Audiobooks have become a part of my self-care routine, thanks to this app. 🌟 This app is a game-changer – its intuitive design and seamless functionality make listening to audiobooks a joy. 🎉🎧 Kudos to the developers for optimizing this app for iOS 16. It runs like a dream on my device. I love the ability to import books from my computer. It’s so easy.
Helmet Destroyer
I love the ability to import books from my computer. It’s so easy. ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
Fire Bite
ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. Now I can enjoy my favorite lectures and speeches with ease! 💼 Making every minute count – this app's ease of use ensures I'm always making progress in my audiobook adventures. 📱📖 Supports all my playlists and bookmarks perfectly. Finally, an audiobook player that supports all formats! No more converting files. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with it—the narration was fine, and the story was okay—but nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
Polar Bee
📱 Accessing my favorite stories has never been this straightforward – this app's functionality is a bookworm's dream come true. 📚💫 ListenBook's dedication to providing an excellent audiobook experience is evident in its smooth and silky playback. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature simplifies the process of adding new audiobooks to my collection. ListenBook's versatility with various audio formats means I can enjoy audiobooks from multiple sources effortlessly. The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time.
9Lives
I'm hooked on this app's ability to make every moment a reading moment. Audiobooks on the go – this app's design prioritizes convenience. ListenBook has transformed my daily routine into an opportunity to learn, relax, and enjoy. An acceptable audiobook that met basic expectations. No complaints about quality but nothing remarkable either. Would listen to this narrator again but wouldn't seek them out.
Tan Stallion
If you love stories but have a busy schedule, this app is your solution! CarPlay compatibility is a fantastic addition. It enhances my driving experience with seamless audiobook integration. Finally, an app that supports a wide range of audio formats! It's a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
Petite Flurry
Audiobooks have never been this engaging – this app takes them to the next level. Navigating through chapters has never been easier. It's a user-friendly delight. Binaural audio processing really helps reduce fatigue. The chapter navigation is a lifesaver. It makes finding my place so easy. A serviceable audiobook that met basic expectations. The narration was clear if somewhat unremarkable, and the production quality was standard without any noticeable technical issues. It kept me moderately engaged during workouts but didn't leave a lasting impression.
Evil Smith
ListenBook's detailed statistics feature helps me keep track of my listening habits. It's amazing to see how much I've learned from all those audiobooks! I can’t believe how easy it is to manage my audiobook library with ListenBook. Highly recommended! This was a competent audiobook production with no major flaws. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough and the audio quality was acceptable, though not exceptional. While the performance didn't particularly stand out, it served its purpose adequately for my daily commute.
Toy Peep
Finally, an app that lets me organize my audiobooks effortlessly. The library organization and book groups feature make navigation a breeze. ListenBook's customizable audio filters add a new dimension to my audiobook enjoyment. A functional audiobook production that met basic requirements. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough to listen to for extended periods, though their performance didn't add much interpretation to the text. The audio engineering was competent without being remarkable.
MicroStar
This app has turned audiobook listening into a daily ritual for me. ListenBook's compatibility with various audio formats ensures that I can enjoy a wide range of content hassle-free. The app is so easy to use. I was up and running in minutes.
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