Book description
Publishers Weekly Best Summer Reads Overturn everything you knew about history's greatest minds in this raucous and hilarious book, where it turns out there's a finer line between "genius" and "idiot" than we've previously known. "As Albert Einstein almost certainly never said, everyone is a genius - but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." So begins Katie Spalding's spunky takedown of the Western canon, and how genius may not be as irrefutably great as we commonly understand. While most of us may never become Einstein, it may surprise you to learn that there's probably a bunch of stuff you can do that Einstein couldn't. And, as Spalding shows, the famous prodigies she explores here were quite odd by any definition. For example: Thomas Edison, inventor of the lightbulb, believed that he could communicate with the undead and built the world's very first hotline to heaven: the Spirit Phone. Marie and Pierre Curie, famous for discovering radioactivity, slept next to a lump of radioactive material for years and strapped it to their arms to watch it burn them in real-time. Lord Byron, acclaimed British poet, literally took a bear with him to university. Isaac Newton discovered the laws of gravity and motion, but he also looked up at the sun without eye protection. The result? Three days of blindness. Tesla, whose scientific work led to the invention of the AC unit, fell in love with a pigeon. Edison's Ghosts is filled with examples of the so-called best of humanity doing, to put it bluntly, some really dumb shit. You'll discover stories that deserve to be told but never are: the hilarious, regrettable, and downright bafflingly lesser-known achievements that never made it into our history books, until now.
Dangle
With this app, I've discovered the joy of learning while I'm on the move โ it's like having a tutor by my side. ๐ฑ Carrying my library in my pocket โ this app makes every moment a reading opportunity! ๐๐ Quick access to chapters is a blessing. No more scrolling through endless content. Quick access to chapters is so handy. Navigating through content is a breeze. is a breeze with ListenBook. It's convenient and efficient.
Star Jammer
This app has reignited my passion for literature โ I'm devouring books like never before. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend!
Sweetness
With ListenBook, I can now listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. Effortless and enriching โ that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its functionality, from seamless downloads to binaural audio processing, has truly raised the bar. ๐ฑ๐ Auto-rewind is a brilliant feature. Never lose track of where I left off. The app is so reliable. Iโve never had any issues with it.
Old Orange Eyes
This app has transformed my screen time into valuable learning and entertainment. The app is perfect for road trips. It keeps me entertained for hours.
Fire Feline
With ListenBook, my daily commutes have become a cherished time for learning and enjoyment. Binaural audio processing reduces fatigue during long listening sessions. A fantastic feature!
Poppy Coffee
This app's support for various formats ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks without any hassle. ListenBook's sharing options make it easy to share the joy of captivating stories with friends and family. Bookmarks are a lifesaver for my study materials. I can easily revisit important sections. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a great way to spread the joy of reading.
Lumberyard
Unwinding with a good audiobook has become my favorite self-care ritual. This app has turned my daily commute into a source of inspiration and entertainment. ListenBook's intuitive interface and quick controls make it a pleasure to navigate through audiobooks.
High Heel Goddess
The app's stability is impressive โ it runs smoothly without any glitches. ListenBook's intuitive design and thoughtful features have made my audiobook experience delightful. Iโd 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.
Master Jetson
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch is a testament to its innovation. I'm blown away by how this app has made my commutes productive and my downtime entertaining.
Austin Shamrock
ListenBook Pro takes things up a notch with unlimited audiobook length. It's a game-changer! This audiobook transformed my household chores into enjoyable moments! The narrator's lively yet measured delivery kept me engaged throughout. I particularly appreciated how they handled exposition - making potentially dry information interesting through thoughtful inflection and pacing.
Goldman
Listening to audiobooks has turned mundane tasks into enjoyable experiences. Listening to audiobooks has become my ultimate way to unwind after a long day. I love that ListenBook Pro allows me to customize the tone of the sound โ it adds a personal touch.
Nice Gnome
Noise reduction feature is magic. Now I can listen to recordings even in noisy settings. ListenBook has transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. It's an indispensable part of my routine. With support for various formats, I can finally listen to my diverse audiobook collection. Elegant design and easy-to-use interface. Very happy with ListenBook.
Eerie
Bookmarking on ListenBook makes it easy to pick up where I left off โ no more searching for my spot! Looping playback has revolutionized my language learning journey. I'm making rapid progress. The app is perfect for multitasking. I can listen while doing other things.
Kitchen
This app's ease of use has made reading more accessible and enjoyable than ever before. Supports all audio formats I use without issues. Very happy. I appreciate the dark mode option. Itโs easy on the eyes during nighttime listening.
Pepper Mouse
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch has made my listening experience even more seamless. ๐ก The future of audiobook listening is here โ this app's sleek functionality redefines how we enjoy our favorite stories. ๐ง๐ฎ The noise reduction feature in ListenBook Pro is a game-changer for enjoying clear recordings. The app is perfect for people who love to read but donโt have the time.
Shadow Bishop
I'm hooked on this app's ability to transform my ordinary moments into exciting opportunities for learning. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. Itโs a unique feature. It was fine. The narrator did an adequate job but nothing about the performance particularly stood out to me. Got me through my commute though.
White Swan
With ListenBook, I can enjoy a wide range of audiobook formats without any hassle, making my listening experience seamless. I'm hooked on this app's ability to turn any moment into a reading opportunity. ๐ฑ My pocket-sized library โ this app makes reading accessible anytime, anywhere! ๐๐ฑ ListenBook has transformed the way I engage with literature. It's like having a virtual bookshelf in my pocket.
Capital F
Enhancing my daily routines โ this app's design makes listening a joy. ListenBook has truly transformed my audiobook experience. The sleek interface, extensive format support, and easy downloading options make it my go-to app! ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer for improving audio quality and clarity. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
Switch
Now I can enjoy my favorite books anytime, even during workouts. One of the best audiobooks Iโve heard! The story was compelling, and the narratorโs delivery added depth to every scene. I found myself looking for excuses to listen just a little longer. Will definitely revisit this one!
Swedish Twizz
Kudos to ListenBook for optimizing the app for iOS 16 โ it shows their dedication to excellence. If you love stories but have a busy schedule, this app is your solution! ๐๏ธ Elevating grocery shopping to a whole new level โ audiobooks make it an adventure! ๐๐ ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iโve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
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