Book description
A vivid look at 10 astonishing people who are maintaining some of the world's oldest and rarest cultural traditions. Eliot Stein has traveled the globe in search of remarkable people who are preserving some of our most extraordinary cultural rites. In Custodians of Wonder: Ancient Customs, Profound Traditions, and the Last People Keeping Them Alive, Stein introduces readers to a man saving the secret ingredient in Japan's 700-year-old original soy sauce recipe. In Italy, he learns how to make the world's rarest pasta from one of the only women alive who knows how to make it. And in India, he discovers a family rumored to make a mysterious metal mirror believed to reveal your truest self. From shadowing Scandinavia's last night watchman to meeting a 27th-generation West African griot to tracking down Cuba's last official cigar factory "readers" more than a century after they spearheaded the fight for Cuban independence, Stein uncovers an almost lost world. Climbing through Peru's southern highlands, he encounters the last Inca bridge master who rebuilds a grass-woven bridge every year from the fabled Inca Road System. He befriends a British beekeeper who maintains a touching custom of "telling the bees" important news of the day. And he crunches through a German forest to find the official mailman of the only tree in the world with its own address - to which countless people from across the world have written in hopes of finding love. These are just some of the last custodians preserving age-old rites on the brink of disappearance against all odds. Let Eliot Stein introduce you to all of them.
Voodoo Queen
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Classy Luck
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Solo Kill
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Duchess
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Nutmeg
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Demand Chopper
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Light Despair
The app's interface is sleek and modern, making it a joy to use. This app's convenience has turned my exercise sessions into enlightening moments. The app never crashes. It’s reliable and stable.
California Goddess
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Nola
The bookmark feature is a lifesaver – no more losing my place in the story! I'm grateful for this app, as it allows me to keep up with my reading even while multitasking. This app has made me realize that there's always time for a good book.
Sun Lemon
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DriftDetector
Seamless audiobook integration – this app's design is a true delight. The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my audiobook library.
Mindless Bobcat
No more straining my eyes – this app lets me 'read' with my ears! ListenBook’s support for CarPlay and Apple Watch is fantastic. I can listen anywhere.
Star Killer
This app is a boon for book lovers who are always on the go. Audiobooks have become a part of my self-care routine, thanks to this app. 🎧 Finally, an app that understands my need for convenience and ease of use! Audiobooks have never been this accessible. 📚📱 Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to share stories and connect with friends. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while exercising.
Baby Brown
I'm blown away by the silky-smooth playback, even for high-quality formats like FLAC. Top-notch performance! Looping playback is a game-changer for my study sessions. I can focus on challenging content.
Moxie
The ListenBook app is a fantastic companion for my long walks, helping me learn and explore at the same time. ListenBook's looping playback, shuffle feature, and configurable controls make learning a breeze. Listening to audiobooks on this app has become my favorite way to relax. Chapters make it so easy to pick up where I left off. No more hunting around. Automated artwork and metadata extraction make my audiobook library look neat and professional.
Upper D3ckR
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Ladybird
ListenBook has made listening to audiobooks, lectures, and speeches an absolute pleasure. This app has made audiobook listening an integral part of my daily routine – it's a habit I cherish. User-friendly audiobook experience – this app's design is a standout. Kudos to the developers for crafting an app that understands readers' needs. The smooth playback and sleek design are pure perfection. 📚👏 I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
Devil Bread
Audiobooks anytime, anywhere – this app's functionality is a reader's delight. ListenBook's noise reduction feature in the Pro version is a game-changer. I can now focus on the story even in noisy environments. ListenBook’s playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace. A functional audiobook. It kept me entertained, but I wasn’t blown away. The narrator’s performance was competent, though some emotional scenes fell a bit flat.
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