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.
Mallow Man
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for enjoying clear audio in any environment. Audiobooks on this app have made me look forward to my long commutes. The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that makes a big difference. It enhances my listening experience. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has significantly improved the audio quality of my recordings.
Willow Dragon
๐ฑ My secret to staying well-read โ this app ensures that I'm never without a book, no matter where I am! ๐๐ฑ Bookmarking my favorite parts of audiobooks is now a breeze. Love this feature! ListenBook is a game-changer for audiobook lovers. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history featureโitโs so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Red Hot Kevorkian
ListenBook's player features, like chapters and bookmarks, make it a versatile tool for any listener. Decent audiobook but I think I would have enjoyed reading it more. Some of the more subtle humor didn't quite land in the audio format.
Magenta
I can't imagine my daily activities without this app โ it's the perfect way to stay engaged and informed. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun and interactive way to connect. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to inspire others to read.
Old Orange Eyes
Thank you for making my reading goals more achievable and enjoyable. I love that ListenBook offers both basic and advanced features, catering to all types of users. I'm blown away by how this app has made my workouts more enjoyable and my mind more active. Bookmarking favorite parts of audiobooks is a breeze. It's like having a personalized study guide. Drag and drop downloads directly from my web browser? That's a level of convenience I appreciate.
Chicago Blackout
The statistics feature on ListenBook helps me track my audiobook consumption โ a fantastic way to measure my progress. ๐โโ๏ธ๐ Running through chapters has never been smoother โ the app's streamlined functionality keeps me on track with my reading goals. ๐โโ๏ธ๐ง Discovering new literary worlds has never been this easy. This app's compatibility with various formats ensures that my audiobook library is at my fingertips. ๐๐ Library organization has never been easier thanks to ListenBook. My collection is well-managed.
3P-own
ListenBook's intuitive controls and features have made it my preferred choice for audiobooks. ๐ Bedtime stories for adults? Yes, please! This app is a dream come true. ๐๐ Sharing audiobooks with friends is a breeze thanks to ListenBook Pro's AirDrop and sharing options. Spread the joy of a good story! Iโm 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!
Magenta
The narrator's voices are so engaging, it's like having a personal storytelling session. ListenBook is a prime example of user-centered design. It's clear that the developers understand audiobook lovers' needs. Navigating chapters is a breeze with ListenBook. It's a user-friendly and seamless experience. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to jump between sections.
Toy Town
CUE playlist support is a brilliant feature that allows me to create customized listening experiences for different moods, activities, and moments of the day. I love how I can adjust the skip intervals. Itโs perfect for my listening style.
Storm Master
With ListenBook, my iPhone and iPad have become a gateway to a world of captivating stories. I'm amazed at how effortlessly I can immerse myself in stories with this app. Audiobook enthusiasts, rejoice! This app's thoughtful features, such as auto-rewind and chapter navigation, cater perfectly to our storytelling cravings. ๐๐ Adjustable playback speed is a fantastic feature. It allows me to customize my listening experience. The app is perfect for bedtime listening. The sleep timer is a must-have.
Alley Cat
๐ถ Forget background music, I've got enchanting stories to accompany my chores! ๐ต๐ ๐ช Flexing my reading muscles with this app's easy-to-use controls โ I'm devouring books while managing my busy schedule. ๐ผ๐ ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances the audio quality to a whole new level. The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile.
Father Abbot
The statistics feature is a fantastic addition โ knowing how much time I spend on audiobooks is eye-opening, and ListenBook makes tracking it a breeze. ListenBookโs interface is clean and intuitive. Itโs a joy to use.
Kazmii
I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily routines more enjoyable and intellectually fulfilling. Tone adjustment adds a unique touch to my listening experience. I'm hooked!
The Dude
๐ผ Balancing responsibilities with relaxation โ audiobooks make even mundane tasks feel like an escape. ๐ป๐ The chapter navigation is a lifesaver. It makes finding my place so easy.
Vixen
I'd love to see more classic titles, but the current selection is already fantastic. Great app for listening to lectures and speeches. Highly useful! Quick access to chapters and smooth playback. Fantastic app!
Darth 44
โญ๏ธ Loving the fact that I can learn and listen at the same time โ multitasking made easy! ๐ง ๐ง The app is perfect for multitaskers. I can listen while working out.
Sprinkle Lovenuts
ListenBook has given me a renewed appreciation for audio content โ it's my new favorite app. Audiobooks on this app have turned my exercise sessions into moments of education. Downloading audiobooks over WiFi is super easy. Saves time.
SpellTansy
Audiobooks have turned my quiet moments into imaginative journeys โ thank you, app! ๐ Accessing my favorite authors and genres is a breeze with this app's user-friendly functionality. ๐ฑ๐ง ListenBook has become my workout buddy. It's seamlessly integrated with Apple Watch. I'm blown away by the silky-smooth playback, even for high-quality formats like FLAC. Top-notch performance!
Sultan of Speed
Frequent updates ensure there's always something new and exciting to listen to. ListenBookโs bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book. 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.
Necromancer
Audiobooks have become my companions during long hours of household chores. The interface is beautiful and functional. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks.
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