Book description
A groundbreaking journey tracing America's forgotten path to global power―and how its legacies shape our world today―told through the extraordinary life of a complicated Marine. "Far more extraordinary than even the life of Smedley Butler."―The Washington Post Smedley Butler was the most celebrated warfighter of his time. Bestselling books were written about him. Hollywood adored him. Wherever the flag went, "The Fighting Quaker" went--serving in nearly every major overseas conflict from the Spanish War of 1898 until the eve of World War II. From his first days as a 16-year-old recruit at the newly seized Guantánamo Bay, he blazed a path for empire: helping annex the Philippines and the land for the Panama Canal, leading troops in China (twice), and helping invade and occupy Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Mexico, and more. Yet in retirement, Butler turned into a warrior against war, imperialism, and big business, declaring: "I was a racketeer for capitalism." Award-winning author Jonathan Myerson Katz traveled across the world--from China to Guantánamo, the mountains of Haiti to the Panama Canal--and pored over the personal letters of Butler, his fellow Marines, and his Quaker family on Philadelphia's Main Line. Along the way, Katz shows how the consequences of the Marines' actions are still very much alive: talking politics with a Sandinista commander in Nicaragua, getting a martial arts lesson from a devotee of the Boxer Rebellion in China, and getting cast as a P.O.W. extra in a Filipino movie about their American War. Tracing a path from the first wave of U.S. overseas expansionism to the rise of fascism in the 1930s to the crises of democracy in our own time, Gangsters of Capitalism tells an urgent story about a formative era most Americans have never learned about, but that the rest of the world cannot forget.
Hella Fella
🎉 Finding the perfect audiobook is a breeze with this app's robust search and recommendation features. My reading list has never been better! 📚💫 Effortless and enriching – 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. 📱📖 ListenBook’s interface is clean and intuitive. It’s a joy to use.
London Fox
🎧 Elevating my reading experience – this app's intuitive controls and organization features make audiobook enjoyment effortless. 📱📖 🎉 This app's functionality is a masterpiece – it seamlessly integrates audiobooks into my daily routine. 📚🎨
Fresh Peper
Thanks for making my daily commute to work enjoyable and engaging! ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is an innovative way to make each audiobook unique. Finally, an app that supports all audiobook formats! Flawless playback. The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is amazing. ListenBook is top-notch.
Bambi Benz
The selection of classics is a treasure trove for literature enthusiasts. Love how I can adjust playback speed and audio volume. ListenBook caters to all my needs.
Bleachers
Kudos to the developers for crafting an app that understands readers' needs. The smooth playback and sleek design are pure perfection. 📚👏 Great for multitasking! I listened while cooking, driving, and even working out, and it kept me entertained the whole time. The narrator’s voice was pleasant, and the story flowed smoothly. Very enjoyable!
Tweety Bun Bun
I appreciate the minimal ads – it's all about uninterrupted enjoyment. Kudos to the developers! ListenBook's drag and drop downloads from web browsers are a time-saving feature I can't live without. 💼 Balancing responsibilities with relaxation – audiobooks make even mundane tasks feel like an escape. 💻📖 Effortless audiobook exploration – this app's design is a reader's dream. ListenBook has become my workout buddy. It's seamlessly integrated with Apple Watch.
ThreadTrail
ListenBook's integration with CarPlay and Apple Watch has streamlined my multitasking. I'm hooked on this app's effortless integration with my daily activities. This audiobook made my workouts fly by! The engaging narration kept me motivated to keep listening, which meant longer gym sessions. The narrator's energy matched the material perfectly - upbeat when needed, somber when appropriate. A great example of how narration can enhance text. Solid performance overall though some character voices sounded too similar. I occasionally got confused about who was speaking in dialogue-heavy scenes.
Energy
The Looping playback and Shuffle features on ListenBook help me customize my listening sessions to my liking. 💡 Balancing learning and living effortlessly – audiobooks on demand, thanks to this app! 🎧💫
Zero Corn
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch integration ensures that I can enjoy my content wherever I go. With this app, every moment becomes an opportunity to indulge in fantastic stories. The controls, layout, and seamless playback are a reader's dream. 📚🎧 The app is worth every penny. It’s packed with features and works flawlessly.
Miss Twilight
I've been recommending this app to all my friends – it's a true game-changer. With this app, I can devour books like never before – it's incredibly efficient. ListenBook is like a personal audiobook curator, allowing me to enjoy my favorite speeches and lectures with unmatched comfort and convenience.
WanderWord
I can't believe how quickly I finish books now, all thanks to this app. Audiobook lovers, meet your new best friend! This app's smooth playback and easy organization have transformed my reading experience. 🎉🎧 Sharing audiobooks with friends is so easy with AirDrop. It's a great way to spread happiness. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has transformed the audio quality. It's crystal clear now.
Admiral Tot
Automated extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my library. The subtle background music at key moments enhanced the experience without being distracting. More audiobooks should use this technique when appropriate!
Mental
Seamless audiobook integration – this app's functionality is a technological marvel. Say goodbye to monotony – this app's diverse format support and intuitive controls have turned my daily activities into thrilling audiobook adventures. 📱🔊 Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a delightful way to spread the joy of storytelling. A fun feature! ListenBook makes organizing my audiobooks simple. The app is very user-friendly.
Firefly
Now I can enjoy my favorite books anytime, even during workouts. Tone adjustment is such a unique feature. It's like customizing the narrator's voice. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances the audio quality to an impressive degree. Excellent support for various audio formats. Very satisfied. The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Lucifurious
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a fantastic way to spread the joy of audiobooks. Audiobooks on demand – this app's functionality is a true technological gem.
Easy Mac
I'm amazed at how this app seamlessly integrates into my life, enhancing every moment with stories. I'm amazed by the extensive statistics tracking. It's fascinating to see my listening habits.
Scare Stone
Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature. I'm loving it! Listening statistics motivate me to read more. Excellent feature! The app is super intuitive. I was up and running in minutes. 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! Not bad, but not amazing either. The narrator’s voice was pleasant, though some parts felt a bit rushed. The story had its moments, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it over similar titles in the genre.
Romance Guppy
ListenBook has made my daily activities more interesting and meaningful – I'm hooked! Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true winner. Tone adjustment is so cool. It's like customizing the reader's voice to my liking.
Grave Digger
The narrator's voice in some audiobooks is so soothing, it's like a spa for the ears. This app's features, from bookmarking to customizable playback speed, are fantastic. 💼 Workday blues? Not anymore – this app turns my office hours into reading time! 💻📖 Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment are simply amazing.
Metal Star
This app is a game-changer for busy individuals who miss reading. 🚗📖 Beating traffic blues with engaging audiobooks – driving has never been this fun! 🚗🎧 The range of audio formats supported is incredible. No need to worry about file conversion.
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