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.
SWAT Honey
ListenBook has given me a renewed appreciation for audio content β it's my new favorite app. With this app, reading has become an integral part of my daily routine. πΌ Making work hours enjoyable β audiobooks turn my tasks into learning opportunities and moments of joy. π»π As an audiobook aficionado, this app is a dream come true. Its support for various formats and effortless navigation make it my perfect reading companion. ππ§ Iβm 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 Iβve had zero issues with crashes or bugs. Highly recommend!
Sun Leo
This app has completely transformed my commute β I look forward to it now! ListenBook's dedication to delivering an exceptional experience is evident in every detail. πΆββοΈπ Embracing audiobooks as my companions during leisurely walks β nature and narratives, a perfect match! πΆββοΈπ§ Finally, an audiobook player that supports all formats! No more converting files.
Poppin Loot
With ListenBook, I can now listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. Audiobooks made easy β this app's functionality is truly a gift.
Heavenly Connection
ListenBook's chapters, controls, and filters have transformed my listening sessions into immersive journeys. This app's sleek design and intuitive navigation have made audiobook listening a seamless experience. No more fussing with synchronization β this app just gets it done!
PixelPilgrim
ListenBook has made listening to audiobooks, lectures, and speeches an absolute pleasure. π± Carrying my library in my pocket β this app makes every moment a reading opportunity! ππ Adjusting the tone of the voice is a game-changer. It's like customizing my listening experience. I canβt believe how easy it is to manage my audiobook library with ListenBook. Highly recommended!
JigKraken
This app has reignited my passion for reading, and I'm forever grateful. π©βπ³ Turning cooking sessions into culinary adventures, complete with intriguing tales! π³π§ My audiobook collection has never been more organized. Library management is a breeze. Noise reduction and voice tone changing are brilliant features. The app is so user-friendly. Even my grandma can use it!
LuminaLore
Audiobook multitasking made easy β this app's functionality is top-notch. Apple Watch compatibility enhances my audiobook experience. It's a convenient way to control playback. I love the statistics feature. Itβs fun to see how much Iβve listened. 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!
Hidden Tree
I'm finally making progress on my reading goals, thanks to this app's convenience. The extensive statistics feature on ListenBook helps me track my audiobook consumption habits β so cool! β° Early mornings have become my favorite time to listen to audiobooks β energizing! π π§ Downloading over WiFi is quick and efficient. Saves a lot of time. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iβve 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!
Night Magnet
πββοΈπ Combining exercise and exploration β this app keeps me motivated on my daily jogs! πββοΈπ π‘ This app's convenience is a blessing β I can squeeze in reading time between managing household tasks! π±π©βπ³ Tone adjustment is an innovative touch that adds a personal connection to the audiobook narration. It's like having a custom reading experience.
Club Nola
ListenBook has redefined my audiobook journey, making it more enjoyable and convenient than ever before. With this app, reading is as simple as pressing play β it's genius! Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun and interactive way to bond over stories. The app is constantly updated with new features. The developers really care.
Wheels
I've become so much more productive while cleaning or exercising β thanks to this app! π©βπ³ Elevating culinary experiences with auditory tales β cooking has never been this entertaining and educational! π³π§
WanderWord
I've become a more attentive listener thanks to the engaging audiobooks. ListenBook has completely transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. The chapter navigation is seamless, and the statistics feature is a fun way to track my listening progress. The app is stable, fast, and incredibly user-friendly. Five stars!
Video Game Heroine
I'm in awe of this app's ability to make reading so accessible and convenient. ππ Embarking on literary journeys even with my eyes closed β bedtime stories have taken a new form with this app! π΄π§ Seamless audiobook integration β this app's functionality is a true gem. This is exactly what I look for in an audiobook! The narrator's pleasant voice and excellent diction made even complex passages easy to follow. I appreciated the subtle but effective use of pauses and emphasis that added depth to the listening experience. Finished it in record time because I couldn't stop listening.
Microwave
I've become the storyteller of my family, sharing the amazing audiobooks I've discovered. I can't believe how easy it is to download and manage my audio content using ListenBook.
Fire Fish
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a brilliant way to connect. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a true savior for immersive listening, even in busy surroundings. I appreciate the statistics feature. ListenBook helps me track my listening habits.
Highway
This app's user-friendly controls and sleek design have made audiobook listening a truly immersive journey. User-friendly audiobook experience β this app's design is a standout. Effortless and enriching β that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its smooth interface and thoughtful features redefine audiobook joy. π±π
Bang Shift
Chapters make navigation a breeze. I can easily pick up where I left off. Automated artwork and metadata extraction add a professional touch to my audiobook collection. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my audiobook library look organized and polished.
Prof. Smirk
The chapters feature on ListenBook enhances my audiobook exploration β it's like flipping through pages. ListenBook's dedication to delivering a top-notch experience is evident in every detail. πββοΈπ I'm conquering literary marathons with ease, all thanks to this app's intuitive controls and smooth functionality. π±π
Tokyo Dream
I love how ListenBook extracts artwork and metadata from audio files, adding a visual touch to my listening experience. I love that I can download content directly from the internet within the ListenBook app β so handy! Effortless audiobook management β this app's usability is impressive. Binaural audio processing reduces fatigue during long listening sessions. A fantastic feature! I'm impressed by the app's compatibility with CarPlay. It keeps me entertained on long drives.
Genghis Glyph
I'm impressed by how this app seamlessly syncs across my devices. Absolutely love this app! It's made my daily commute so much more enjoyable.
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