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.
DARK HQ
ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats makes it a versatile and essential app for audiobook enthusiasts. The attention to detail is commendable. Artwork and metadata are sorted automatically. Noise reduction and tone changing enhance the listening experience. Love it!
Duke Electro
I've become the storyteller of my family, sharing the amazing audiobooks I've discovered. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch is a testament to its innovation. Every moment is a chance to dive into a new adventure with this app. Its smart controls and comprehensive format support ensure that my audiobook journey is a seamless one. ๐๐ง ListenBookโs audio quality is excellent. The app enhances my listening experience.
RawSkills
Unlocking a world of literary possibilities, this app's extensive compatibility and user-friendly controls have made audiobook enjoyment an everyday joy. ๐ฑ๐ ListenBook Pro's noise reduction is a lifesaver. I can hear clearly even in noisy environments.
Fennel Dove
ListenBook's thoughtful inclusion of chapters, controls, and filters has enhanced my audiobook experience. ๐ผ Making work hours fly by with captivating stories โ a true work-life balance! ๐ป๐ Auto-rewind feature is very useful. Excellent app!
Campfire Mama
I can't believe how much time I've saved thanks to this efficient app! This app is my travel companion โ making long journeys enjoyable and insightful. I can't imagine a day without this app โ it has made my audiobook journey effortless and rewarding. Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a revelation. It enhances the audio quality and makes listening comfortable. WiFi downloads save a lot of time. Great feature!
Delicious Cupid
๐ฅ Simplifying my reading routine โ the app's functionality ensures I'm always one click away from literary adventures. ๐๐ The ability to adjust the tone of the narrator's voice is a creative touch that adds depth to my listening. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the clarity of recordings and makes my listening sessions more enjoyable. Not bad, but not amazing either. The narratorโs voice was pleasant, though some parts felt a bit rushed. The story had its moments, but I wouldnโt necessarily recommend it over similar titles in the genre.
Nueva Nova
ListenBook's sleek design and easy chapter access make navigation a breeze. ๐ Reading has never been this easy โ this app fits right into my fast-paced lifestyle. ๐๐ซ Automated artwork and metadata retrieval add a professional touch to my audiobook library. With ListenBook Pro, I can enjoy super long audiobooks. It's fantastic!
Ember Rope
Audiobooks have become my go-to gift for friends โ and they all love it! This app has introduced me to authors I'd never heard of โ now they're my favorites! With this app, my daily routines have become moments of intellectual discovery and personal fulfillment. With ListenBook Pro, I can enjoy super long audiobooks. It's fantastic!
Mad Rascal
I'm constantly amazed by the variety of genres โ there's something for everyone. The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook consumption habits. Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a creative feature that adds a personal touch to the experience.
RDTN
ListenBook's commitment to excellence shines through in its powerful features and seamless performance. ๐ง An audiobook treasure trove in the palm of my hand โ this app is pure convenience! ๐๐
Forger
๐๐ Falling asleep to audiobooks has never been easier โ this app's soothing voices ๐ด๐ง ๐ง Fueling my audiobook addiction with this fantastic app โ pure listening pleasure! ๐๐ฅ Sharing audiobooks with friends is a thoughtful gesture that ListenBook makes seamless. The app is very user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a breeze.
Twix Esses
ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats makes it a versatile and essential app for audiobook enthusiasts. Audiobooks on this app have made my workouts more enjoyable and productive. ๐๐ Falling asleep to audiobooks has never been easier โ this app's soothing voices ๐ด๐ง The app is so easy to use. I was up and running in minutes.
Mr. Fabulous
I've become a loyal fan of audiobooks, and this app is the reason why! Effortlessly enjoying audiobook journeys โ this app's ease of use is a delight.
ThoughtTrailblazer
ListenBook's support for various audio formats makes it a versatile app for all kinds of audiobook enthusiasts. ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback options are essential for my audiobook enjoyment and study.
Bang Shift
ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. ListenBook has become my workout companion. It keeps me engaged and entertained during exercise. is a breeze with ListenBook. It's convenient and efficient. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to inspire others to read.
Silver Agent
I can't believe how much time I've saved thanks to this efficient app! ๐ก The future of audiobook listening is here โ this app's sleek functionality redefines how we enjoy our favorite stories. ๐ง๐ฎ Automated extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my library.
Stud
I love how this app seamlessly integrates into my busy schedule, making multitasking a breeze. This app has become my go-to companion, making my daily routine more exciting and insightful. This app's support for various formats ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks without any limitations. ListenBook's controls for looping and shuffling playback have made studying and revisiting content a breeze. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer for immersive listening in any environment.
DZE
Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is impressive. My recordings sound crystal clear. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my recordings sound clearer than ever. This app is a game-changer for audiobook lovers! The interface is clean and easy to use.
Whistler
This app's convenience has turned my daily chores into moments of intellectual discovery โ a win-win! The app is so well-designed. Itโs clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Bad Bunny
This app has rekindled my passion for literature in a whole new way. ListenBook's support for various download methods and audio formats ensures that I can always find what I'm looking for. This audiobook performed its function without excelling. The narrator's delivery was straightforward and easy to follow, though lacking in dramatic flair. The recording quality was decent with only occasional minor inconsistencies in volume. An acceptable but forgettable listening experience.
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