Book description
In a world increasingly marked by division and discord, beloved Jesuit priest Gregory Boyle offers a transformative vision of community and compassion—a perfect message for readers of Anne Lamott, Mary Oliver, and Richard Rohr.Over the past thirty years, Gregory Boyle has transformed tens of thousands of lives through his work as the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention program in the world. The program runs on two unwavering principles: 1) We are all inherently good (no exceptions), and 2) we belong to each other (no exceptions). Boyle believes that these two ideas allow all of us to cultivate a new way of seeing the world. Rather than the tribalism that excludes and punishes, this new narrative proposes a village that cherishes. Pooka, a former gang member, puts it plainly: “Here, love is our lens. It is how we see things.” In Cherished Belonging, Boyle calls back to Christianity’s origins as a spiritual movement of equality, emancipation, and peace. Early Christianity was a way of life—not a set of beliefs. Boyle’s vision of community is a space for people to join together and heal one another in a new collective living, a world dedicated to kindness as a constant and radical act of defiance. As one homie, Marcus, told a classroom filled with inner-city teenagers, “If love was a place, it would be Homeboy.” Cherished Belonging invites us to nurture the connections that are all around us and live with kindness. Boyle believes that “the answer to every question is, indeed, compassion.” Through colorful and profound stories brimming with wisdom, humor, and inspiration, we understand that love is the light inside everything.
About the Author
Gregory Boyle is an American Jesuit priest and the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and reentry program in the world. In 2024, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’s highest civilian honor. He has received the California Peace Prize and been inducted into the California Hall of Fame. He received the University of Notre Dame’s 2017 Laetare Medal, the oldest honor given to American Catholics. He is the acclaimed author of Tattoos on the Heart, Barking to the Choir, and The Whole Language. Cherished Belonging is his fourth book, and he will be donating all net proceeds to Homeboy Industries. Visit the author at HomeboyIndustries.org.
Shamrock
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Stallion Patton
Chapters, configurable auto-rewind, and bookmarks on ListenBook keep me in control of my content. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature for those who enjoy organized and structured listening. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
DragonBlood
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Lilac Lizard
As a visually impaired person, this app has opened up a new world of stories for me. Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is impressive. My recordings sound crystal clear. The app is so reliable. I’ve never had any issues with it.
DriftDetector
Thanks to ListenBook, I've rediscovered the joy of exploring my favorite content on multiple devices. ListenBook has become an indispensable part of my daily routine – it's my ultimate audio companion. I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily activities more enjoyable and intellectually stimulating.
Lord Theus
This app has become my go-to companion, making my daily routine more exciting and insightful. Effortless audiobook exploration – this app's design is a reader's dream.
Guillotine
This app has reignited my passion for reading, and I'm forever grateful. This app has brought storytelling into every corner of my life – it's incredible. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature simplifies the process of adding new audiobooks to my collection. ListenBook has become my go-to app for exploring a diverse range of audiobooks. It offers a wide array of features that cater to different preferences and needs. I’m blown away by how feature-rich ListenBook is. From the customizable themes to the car mode, everything is designed with the user in mind. The app works flawlessly, and I’ve had zero issues with crashes or bugs. Highly recommend!
RealmRanger
ListenBook's extensive library and user-friendly interface have made it my go-to app. Perfect for listening to educational materials. Highly efficient and useful.
CZR
Savoring audiobooks without complications – this app's design is top-notch. The user-friendly interface and precise controls make listening to audiobooks an absolute delight. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique touch – it's like having a personalized reading. A reasonable choice for casual listening. The audiobook was well-produced, but the pacing felt uneven in places. I didn’t dislike it, but I also didn’t feel strongly about it one way or another.
Star Jammer
With ListenBook, my iPhone and iPad have become a gateway to a world of captivating stories. Supports extensive playlists and bookmarks. Very user-friendly. A perfectly acceptable audiobook that fulfilled its purpose. The narration was competent if not particularly memorable, and the production quality was standard for the genre. It served as decent background entertainment during mundane tasks.
Mum Mary
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Vortex
I've recommended ListenBook to all my fellow bookworms. It's a true companion for audiobook lovers. Supports extensive playlists and bookmarks. Very user-friendly.
RightN0w2
I'm addicted to the personalized recommendations – it's like the app knows me! The app's design is sleek and modern – it's a pleasure to navigate. Great app for listening to lectures and speeches. Highly useful! I’d 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.
MysticMingle
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Find It Girl
This app has turned long waits into exciting opportunities to dive into a new story. I can't believe how easy it is to download and manage my audio content using ListenBook.
Little Drunk Girl
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Miss Nova
I'm so grateful for this app – it's like having a personal storyteller wherever I go. With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me.
Kitchen
The 'Explore' feature has introduced me to authors I might never have discovered otherwise. This app has turned my daily commute into a source of inspiration and entertainment. With this app, audiobook listening has become a seamless and enjoyable part of my everyday life. My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thank you, ListenBook! Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice adds a layer of personalization that I never knew I needed.
Speedwell
ListenBook's basic audio filters allow me to fine-tune the audio playback to suit my preferences. The narrator's voice was like butter - smooth, rich, and utterly pleasant to listen to for hours. They handled complex sentences with ease, making even dense material accessible. I never had to rewind because I missed something due to unclear delivery. Perfection!
DuckDuck
Audiobooks have transformed my daily walks into a time of inspiration and learning. With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me. 🧘♂️ Finding serenity through the soothing tones of audiobooks – mindfulness and stories in perfect harmony. 🧘♂️🎧 🎶 Saying goodbye to tangled headphones and complex controls – this app's easy navigation has made audiobook listening a breeze. 🎵📖 A perfectly acceptable audiobook that fulfilled its purpose. The narration was competent if not particularly memorable, and the production quality was standard for the genre. It served as decent background entertainment during mundane tasks.
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