Book description
What does it mean to be blessed? Are Christians entitled to happiness, fulfilment, and perfect peace? Holy Unhappiness explores these questions and challenges the false beliefs many in the church hold about "the good life" and what it means to walk in communion with God. American Christians have developed a long list of expectations about what the life with God will feel like. Many Christians rightly deny the Prosperity Gospel--the idea that God wants you to be healthy and wealthy-- but instead embrace its more subtle spin-off, the Emotional Prosperity Gospel, or the belief that God wants you to always experience happiness and fulfillment. Our society has become increasingly averse to sadness and emotional discomfort. Too often, people of faith assume that difficult feelings are a result of either God's judgment or our own lack of spiritual maturity. Some even equate happiness with holiness. In Holy Unhappiness, Amanda Held Opelt, author of A Hole in the World, grapples with her own experience of disillusionment when life didn't go the way she expected. She examines some of the historic, religious, and cultural influences that led to the idolization of positive feelings and the marginalization of negative feelings. Unpacking nine elements of life that have been tainted by the message of the Emotional Prosperity Gospel - including work, marriage, parenting, calling, community, and church - she points to a new path forward, one that reimagines what the "blessed" life can be like if we release some of our expectations and seek God in places we never thought to look. While Opelt acknowledges the dignity of desiring happiness, she ultimately pleads for the normalization of sadness, anger, grief, disappointment, and other uncomfortable feelings as a part of the Christian experience, making a case that there is holiness to be found even in our unhappiness.
Snowflake Pixie
The import process is seamless. I had no trouble adding my audiobooks. The app is perfect for bedtime listening. The sleep timer is a must-have.
Vortex
Kudos to ListenBook for the intuitive design and easy-to-use controls. It's evident that they've put a lot of thought into user experience. Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a revelation. It enhances the audio quality and makes listening comfortable. is a breeze with ListenBook. It's convenient and efficient.
Dr. WMD
This app has helped me achieve my reading goals and explore new genres effortlessly. The app is so versatile. It works with all my devices.
Stud Buster
The minimalist interface and intuitive settings make for an amazing user experience. ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily routine, enhancing my workouts, commutes, and moments of relaxation. It's a true companion.
Darling Peacock
ListenBook has redefined my audiobook journey, making it more enjoyable and convenient than ever before. ListenBook has revolutionized my audio experience, making it both personalized and engaging. The app is so well-designed. Itβs clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Mud Pie Man
With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me. πΌ Elevating my work-from-home routine with this app's delightful audiobook selection! π»π Perfect for studying with its playback controls and audio filters. Excellent app! Decent audiobook but I think I would have enjoyed reading it more. Some of the more subtle humor didn't quite land in the audio format.
Ice
I'm in awe of how technology has enhanced my reading experience through this app. This audiobook app is a true gem β it brings stories to life with every click. Finally, an app that handles all my audiobook formats effortlessly. ListenBook is a must-have! ListenBookβs bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
PP Dubs
This app's user-friendly interface has made audiobook listening a breeze, even for a tech novice like me. ποΈ Basking in the sun while indulging in literary adventures β this app makes outdoor relaxation even better. βοΈπ Looping playback is an invaluable study tool. It helps me absorb complex information effortlessly.
Stick Shift
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Admiral Tot
ListenBook has turned my everyday moments into extraordinary journeys of imagination. I'm addicted to this app's ability to turn mundane moments into opportunities for intellectual growth.
Ba1t
Say goodbye to monotony β this app's diverse format support and intuitive controls have turned my daily activities into thrilling audiobook adventures. π±π Listening stats feature keeps me motivated to read more. Love it!
Solitaire
ListenBook's dedication to optimizing for iOS 16 ensures a seamless experience on the latest devices. With this app, I've found a way to turn every moment into an opportunity for learning and enrichment. Gone are the days of fumbling with different formats β this app's comprehensive support ensures I can enjoy any audiobook without a hitch. ππ I love the ability to import books from my computer. Itβs so easy.
Manimal
This app is my secret weapon for making the most of my free time. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a dream come true for those epic tales. It's like having a personal audiobook library in your pocket.
Judge
ListenBook has reignited my love for storytelling and learning, one audio file at a time. This app is a time-saver β I can 'read' even when I'm on the move. π Embracing reading in the busiest of times β this app is my everyday escape! ππββοΈ Effortlessly exploring new worlds β this app's design is user-centric and efficient.
Blood Taker
π‘ Seamlessly weaving audiobooks into my daily routine β this app's functionality has redefined how I enjoy books. π±π Bravo to the creators of this app β they've truly captured the essence of convenient audiobook enjoyment. The smooth playback and thoughtful design have won me over. ππ The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that has a big impact on my listening experience. I love it! This audiobook was a fantastic listen! The narrator's voice was clear and engaging, making it easy to follow along. The pacing was just rightβnot too fast, not too slow. Perfect for long commutes or relaxing at home. Highly recommend!
Bliss
The bookmark feature is a lifesaver β no more losing my place in the story! Listening to audiobooks has become a ritual, thanks to this incredible app. With this app, I've turned mundane tasks into moments of inspiration and education β it's brilliant! The layout is not only beautiful but also intuitive. Controls are easy to access. Fairly enjoyable, but forgettable. I didnβt have any major complaints, but I also donβt see myself revisiting this one. It was a decent way to spend a few hours, though.
Noisy Girl
I'm exploring new genres and authors I wouldn't have considered otherwise. ListenBook's attention to detail in design and functionality sets it apart from other audiobook apps.
Nice Gnome
The bookmark feature is a lifesaver β no more losing my place in the story! I've become the go-to storyteller at bedtime with the help of this magical app. ListenBook's dedication to delivering high-quality sound and user-friendly features has won me over. I'm hooked on this app's ability to turn even the most mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for learning. The app is well-designed and user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a joy.
Bearded Angler
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personal touch to my experience. The basic audio filters are a game-changer. Adjusting playback speed is a breeze. The range of supported formats is astounding. No more compatibility issues!
PepperBurst
I'm addicted to this app's seamless integration with my daily activities. π₯ Elevating my reading routine to new heights β this app is a real page-turner! ππ
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