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.
Tan Stallion
ListenBook has made my commutes more enjoyable, transforming them into learning sessions. My productivity has soared since I started using ListenBook for my study materials.
Cross Thread
πΌ Making work hours enjoyable β audiobooks turn my tasks into learning opportunities and moments of joy. π»π Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to share the joy of storytelling with friends, sparking engaging conversations and connections that transcend boundaries. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a game-changer.
Kevlar Wanted
This app has become my go-to companion, making my daily routine more exciting and insightful. ListenBook has become my constant companion. It's like having a personal audiobook assistant.
Eerie Mizzen
This app has made my road trips and flights infinitely more enjoyable. This app's compatibility with different formats has made my audiobook collection diverse and enjoyable. Organization made simple β this app's efficient management of my audiobook collection ensures that every story is just a tap away. Convenience at its finest. ππ±
Freeze Queen
Audiobooks have brought a new level of enjoyment to my daily workout routine. Listening to audiobooks has become my ultimate way to unwind after a long day.
Despair
With this app, I've discovered a whole new way to enjoy literature. π§ Fueling my audiobook addiction with this fantastic app β pure listening pleasure! ππ₯ With this app, every moment becomes an opportunity to indulge in fantastic stories. The controls, layout, and seamless playback are a reader's dream. ππ§
Gingersnap Woman
ListenBook has redefined my audiobook journey, making it more enjoyable and convenient than ever before. The app's performance is beyond impressive. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature that adds a personal touch. 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.
GuTzd
Audiobooks have made long flights feel like a breeze β a true travel essential. ListenBook Pro offers an unbeatable deal β unlimited audiobook length and noise reduction. With ListenBook, every moment is an opportunity to explore new stories and gain knowledge. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature elevates my listening experience, allowing me to focus on the content. What a fantastic listening experience! The narrator brought the characters to life with distinct voices and emotional depth. The pacing was perfect - not too fast to lose details, not too slow to become boring. I particularly appreciated how well the narrator conveyed the atmosphere of key scenes.
High Heel Goddess
I'd love to see more classic titles, but the current selection is already fantastic. This app's compatibility with different formats ensures that I never miss out on a great audiobook. This app's ease of use has made my daily activities more enjoyable and educational. Audiobooks on demand β this app's functionality is a true technological gem. The app is perfect for people with visual impairments. Itβs so easy to navigate.
Sugar Apple
The seamless integration with my car's audio system is a road trip dream. This app is my secret weapon for staying entertained during mundane tasks. This app has turned my mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for reading. Audiobook pleasure simplified β this app's design is a true winner. Tone adjustment adds a personalized touch to the narration, making the audiobook experience even more immersive.
DuckDuck
With ListenBook, I can enjoy my own audio content with unparalleled ease and comfort. βοΈ A round of applause for an app that prioritizes functionality β I can seamlessly switch between audiobooks and other tasks. ππ§ I love the auto-bookmark feature. It saves my place automatically. The app is perfect for people with busy schedules. I can listen on the go.
Earl of Arms
With this app, audiobook listening has become an integral part of my daily routines β it's pure bliss. ListenBook has truly transformed my audiobook experience. The sleek interface, extensive format support, and easy downloading options make it my go-to app! ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances my audiobook experience, ensuring I catch every detail. Book groups are a thoughtful addition. They help me keep related titles together for a seamless experience.
Low Menace
ListenBook's versatile player features are like having a personal audio assistant β it's that good! The ability to adjust playback speed is a fantastic study aid. I'm absorbing information faster than ever.
Ba1t
This app makes traffic jams a breeze β time flies by while I'm engrossed in a story. π Adding excitement to each day β this app ensures that every moment is an opportunity to explore new stories. ππ 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!
Sir Squire
With this app, reading has become an integral part of my daily routine. ListenBook has become my go-to workout companion. It keeps me motivated and entertained.
PixelPilgrim
The adjustable playback speed is a revelation. It's like having a personal audiobook narrator at my pace. Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment are excellent additions. I love the ability to change the playback speed. Itβs perfect for my needs. A functional audiobook production that met basic requirements. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough to listen to for extended periods, though their performance didn't add much interpretation to the text. The audio engineering was competent without being remarkable.
Canary Apple Red
ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats makes it a versatile and essential app for audiobook enthusiasts. I can't imagine my life without this app β it's my constant source of books. Easy chapter access and smooth playback. Love this app! The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time.
Shay
This app has turned my daily commute into a source of inspiration and entertainment. ππ Reigniting my passion for books β this app is my newfound reading obsession! π₯π§ π Embracing reading in the busiest of times β this app is my everyday escape! ππββοΈ π‘ Seamlessly weaving audiobooks into my daily routine β this app's functionality has redefined how I enjoy books. π±π The user-friendly interface and precise controls make listening to audiobooks an absolute delight.
Red Delicious
My kids are hooked on the children's audiobook collection β it's a parenting win! This app's dedication to providing high-quality narration has made all the difference. Downloading over WiFi is super efficient. Saves a lot of time.
Sugar Apple
Kudos to the app for making literature accessible to those with busy schedules. This app has made my road trips and flights infinitely more enjoyable. Streamlining my audiobook journey β this app's design is top-notch. Automated artwork and metadata extraction make my audiobook library look neat and professional.
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