Book description
Halley's Comet visits the earth every seventy-five years. Since the dawn of civilization, humans had believed comets were evil portents. In 1705, Edmond Halley liberated humanity from these primordial superstitions (or so it was thought), proving that Newtonian mechanics rather than the will of the gods brought comets into our celestial neighborhood. Despite this scientific advance, when Halley's Comet returned in 1910 and astronomers announced that our planet would pass through its poisonous tail, newspapers gleefully provoked a global hysteria that unfolded with tragic consequences. In Comet Madness, author and historian Richard J. Goodrich examines the 1910 appearance of Halley's Comet and the ensuing frenzy sparked by media manipulation, bogus science, and outright deception. The result is a fascinating and illuminating narrative history that underscores how we behave in the face of potential calamity - then and now. As the comet neared Earth, scientists and journalists alike scrambled to get the story straight as citizens the world over panicked. Popular astronomer Camille Flammarion attempted to allay fears in a newspaper article, but the media ignored his true position that passage would be harmless; weather prophet Irl Hicks, publisher of an annual, pseudo-scientific almanac, announced that the comet would disrupt the world's weather; religious leaders thumbed the Bible's Book of Revelation and wondered if the comet presaged the apocalypse. Newspapers, confident that there was gold in these alternate theories, gave every crackpot a megaphone, increasing circulation and stoking international hysteria. As a result, workmen shelved their tools, farmers refused to plant crops they would never harvest, and formerly reliable people stopped paying their creditors. More opportunistic citizens opened "comet insurance" plans. Others suffered mental breakdowns, and some took their own lives. Comet Madness reveals how humans confront the unknown, how scientists learn about the world we inhabit, and how certain people--from outright hucksters to opportunistic journalists--harness fear to produce a profit.
Redneck Giorgio
I'm amazed by how this app effortlessly turns my daily routines into enjoyable learning sessions. πΆ Forget background music, I've got enchanting stories to accompany my chores! π΅π Apple Watch compatibility enhances my audiobook experience. It's a convenient way to control playback. 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! 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.
MindfulMingle
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SunnySnap
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Tornado Maker
ListenBook's versatile features have made my audiobook experience more enjoyable than ever. Love how I can adjust playback speed and audio volume. ListenBook caters to all my needs.
Stone Boomstick
I appreciate the dark mode option. Itβs easy on the eyes during nighttime listening. The voice boost feature is amazing. It makes every word crystal clear.
Bad Princess
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Apple Nola
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Zorkle Sporkle
ListenBook's dedication to delivering top-notch audio quality is evident in every detail. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances my immersion in every audiobook, regardless of surroundings. Quick access to chapters and controls makes ListenBook a joy to use. It's a seamless experience. ListenBookβs support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily.
Troubled Pie
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Sick Saurus
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Thunder Nut
With ListenBook, I can explore new genres, learn new topics, and enjoy classic literature with ease. Great app! ListenBook supports so many formats, and the playback is always smooth. ListenBookβs audio quality is excellent. The app enhances my listening experience. This audiobook was an absolute pleasure to listen to! The narrator's voice was rich and expressive, perfectly capturing the tone of the material. I found myself completely immersed in the story, often sitting in my car longer than necessary just to hear what happened next. The production quality was excellent with clear audio throughout.
Twinkle Cutlass
I love how this app's user-friendly interface allows me to navigate through chapters and controls effortlessly. Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very pleased. Great for listening to a variety of content. Highly recommend!
Danger Menace
I'm blown away by how this app has made my commutes productive and my downtime entertaining. This app's sleek design and intuitive features make it my trusted partner in exploring new narratives. The app's interface is so sleek and modern. It's a joy to use.
Third Moon
I'm blown away by the range of non-fiction audiobooks available β so much to learn! This app has reignited my passion for literature β I'm devouring books like never before. With ListenBook, every moment is an opportunity to explore new stories and gain knowledge. π‘ Nurturing my curiosity with audiobooks β this app adds a touch of wonder to my daily routines. π±π No need for file conversion is a game-changer. Love using ListenBook on my iPhone.
Chicago Blackout
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Athens Fire
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Vagabond Warrior
Audiobook enthusiasts, gather round! This app's remarkable features, including audio filters and compatibility, have transformed my commutes into captivating journeys. ππ§ The playback speed control is a game-changer. ListenBook lets me listen at my own pace. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iβve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
ByteBard
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ZenZone
This app has transformed my daily routine into moments of literary delight. Audiobooks at my fingertips β this app's functionality is truly impressive. I've never experienced such silky-smooth playback even with high-quality FLAC files. Downloading books directly in the app is so easy. Highly recommend!
Murder Cherry
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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