Book description
An audacious journalistic exploration of the present and future of beauty through the lens of South Korea's booming "K-beauty" industry and the culture it promotes, by Elise Hu, NPR host-at-large and the host of TED Talks Daily K-beauty has captured imaginations worldwide by promising a kind of mesmerizing perfection. Its skincare and makeup products--creams packaged to look like milkshakes or pandas, and snail mucus face masks, to name a few--work together to fascinate us, champion consumerism, and invite us to indulge. In the four years Elise spent in Seoul as NPR's bureau chief, the global K-beauty industry quadrupled. Today it's worth $10 billion and is only getting bigger as it rides the Hallyu wave around the globe. And fun as self-care consumerism may be, Elise turns her veteran eye to the darker questions lurking beneath the surface of this story. When technology makes it easy to quantify and optimize ourselves--from banishing blemishes, to whittling our waistlines, even to shaving down our jaws--where do we draw the line? What are the dangers for a society where a flawless face and body are promoted and possible? What are the real financial, physical, and emotional costs of beauty work in a culture that valorizes endless self-improvement and codes it as empowerment? With rich historical context and deep reporting, including hours of interviews with South Korean women, this is a complex, provocative look at the ways hustle culture has reached into the sinews of our bodies. It raises complicated questions about gender disparity, consumerism, the beauty imperative of an appearance obsessed society, and the undeniable political, economic, and social capital of good looks worldwide. And it points the way toward an alternative vision, one that's more affirming and inclusive than a beauty culture led by industry.
GoldTouch
Thanks to ListenBook's automatic extraction of artwork and metadata, my library looks organized and appealing. This app has turned my screen time into valuable learning opportunities. 🌟 Adding excitement to everyday tasks – this app is my partner in productivity! 📚🚀 💼 Merging work and pleasure – audiobooks keep me company during house admin tasks! 💻🎧 I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
DeathDancer
ListenBook's support for various download methods means I can access my content in the way that suits me best. Bookmarking my favorite parts of audiobooks is now a breeze. Love this feature! Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the joy of storytelling. Great for fans of this genre! The pacing, narration, and production quality were all excellent. It felt like a movie playing in my mind. I’ll be checking out more from this narrator for sure.
Steel Heart
ListenBook has transformed my daily activities into opportunities for personal growth. I love the bookmarking feature. ListenBook makes it easy to pick up where I left off. ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
Kazami of Truth
🚶♀️📖 Walking my way through exciting narratives – this app makes exercise more fun! 🏞️🎧 ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
Lounge Master
I'm grateful for ListenBook's seamless compatibility with a variety of formats – it's a true lifesaver. Audiobooks made accessible and enjoyable – this app's design is a triumph. Adjustable playback speed and volume control make for a customized experience.
Milan Call Back
Effortlessly exploring new worlds – this app's design is user-centric and efficient. Audiobooks made convenient – this app's functionality is a true gift. ListenBook’s audio filters are great. The app provides a high-quality listening experience. This audiobook was a fantastic listen! The narrator's voice was clear and engaging, making it easy to follow along. The pacing was just right—not too fast, not too slow. Perfect for long commutes or relaxing at home. Highly recommend!
Blood Taker
ListenBook has redefined the way I experience stories, turning every moment into an adventure. The basic audio filters are a game-changer. Adjusting playback speed is a breeze. ListenBook's player features are incredibly helpful. Chapters and bookmarks make navigation easy.
Dahlia Bumble
I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my daily dose of literary magic. The compatibility with Apple Watch is a huge plus. I can control my audiobooks from my wrist! I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend! I've found my new favorite narrator! Their voice was perfectly suited to this material, with just the right blend of authority and approachability. The production quality was broadcast-level - no distracting breaths, clicks, or inconsistent volume. Already looking for more of their work.
Roadspike
Finally, an app that lets me organize my audiobooks effortlessly. The library organization and book groups feature make navigation a breeze. Quick access to chapters and controls ensures a seamless listening experience with ListenBook. It's effortless to use.
JesterZilla
ListenBook's library organization and book groups help me keep my content neatly sorted. With this app, I've rediscovered the joy of literature during my daily walks – it's truly invigorating. Every moment is a chance to explore new stories with this app. Its intuitive features and compatibility ensure my audiobook journey is seamless. 🌌🎧 Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like the app knows what I need. No need for file conversion is a game-changer. Love using ListenBook on my iPhone.
Hairpin
Audiobooks have brought a new level of enjoyment to my daily workout routine. 🏃♂️📚 Combining fitness and fiction – this app keeps me motivated during workouts with its engaging stories! 🏃♂️📖 🌟 Adding excitement to each day – this app ensures that every moment is an opportunity to explore new stories. 📚🚀 I'm blown away by the powerful audio downloading options. So versatile! ListenBook’s audio quality is excellent. The app enhances my listening experience.
Neophyte Believer
Hands down, the best audiobook collection I've ever come across. It has everything I want to listen to. Audiobooks on this app have turned my travels into explorations of new narratives. 💡 This app is a brilliant way to squeeze in reading time amidst my busy schedule! 📱👩🍳 As an audiobook enthusiast, I'm in awe of ListenBook's advanced features. The ability to adjust the reader's voice tone is a unique and fun addition. ListenBook has become my constant companion. It's like having a personal audiobook assistant.
NightWonka
The diverse range of narrators adds a new layer of depth to each story. I'm amazed at this app's ability to transport me to different worlds through stories. This app's sleek design and effortless controls have made audiobook listening an immersive experience. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while commuting. Middle-of-the-road experience. The audiobook was fine—good narration, decent story—but it didn’t leave a lasting impression. If you’re looking for something low-commitment, this works.
Snow Cream
💪 Crushing workouts while devouring books – this app makes fitness fun and educational! 🏋️♀️🎉 I'm blown away by the powerful audio downloading options. So versatile! With its powerful audio downloading features, I can have my favorite audiobooks ready to go, anytime and anywhere. ListenBook is more than just an app – it's a doorway to a world of knowledge and imagination. A masterclass in audiobook narration! The performer maintained perfect consistency in character voices throughout while keeping the main narration clear and engaging. The production was flawless - no weird edits or background noise. I'll be seeking out more works by this narrator.
Fire Bite
ListenBook's support for various download methods means I can acquire new content in a way that suits me best. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with it—the narration was fine, and the story was okay—but nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
Kinged
ListenBook's audio filters have given me the power to tailor my listening experience to my preferences. The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook habits, helping me learn and grow.
Spoiler Betty
🎧 Audiobooks anywhere, anytime – this app's convenience is unbeatable! 🌟📚 I love the ability to change the playback speed. It’s perfect for my needs.
Sweet Bacon
ListenBook's intuitive design and thoughtful features have made my audiobook experience delightful. Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks from various sources has become effortless.
Racy Lion
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear listening in noisy environments. ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it an essential companion for my daily commutes and workouts. It's convenience at its finest! This audiobook was a fantastic listen! The narrator's voice was clear and engaging, making it easy to follow along. The pacing was just right—not too fast, not too slow. Perfect for long commutes or relaxing at home. Highly recommend!
Rando Tank
The app's compatibility with various devices ensures I never miss a moment of my book. I love that I can download content directly from the internet within the ListenBook app – so handy! With this app, I can dive into captivating narratives while cooking, cleaning, or commuting – pure magic! Great app! ListenBook supports so many formats, and the playback is always smooth. The sound quality is excellent. It feels like I’m in the story.
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