Book description
"A wise and wonderfully enjoyable book. Mark Lilla treats weighty matters with a light touch, in an elegant prose style that crackles with dry wit . . . Invigorating." -John Banville, The GuardianA dazzling exploration of our wish to remain innocent and ignorant-and its consequences. Aristotle claimed that "all human beings want to know." Our own experience proves that all human beings also want not to know. Today, centuries after the Enlightenment, mesmerized crowds still follow preposterous prophets, irrational rumors trigger fanatical acts, and magical thinking crowds out common sense and expertise. Why is this? Where does this will to ignorance come from, and how does it continue to shape our lives?In Ignorance and Bliss, the acclaimed essayist and historian of ideas Mark Lilla offers an absorbing psychological diagnosis of the human will not to know. With erudition and brio, Lilla ranges from the Book of Genesis and Plato's dialogues to Sufi parables and Sigmund Freud, revealing the paradoxes of hiding truth from ourselves. He also exposes the fantasies this impulse lead us to entertain-the illusion that the ecstasies of prophets, mystics, and holy fools offer access to esoteric truths; the illusion of children's lamb-like innocence; and the nostalgic illusion of recapturing the glories of vanished and allegedly purer civilizations. The result is a highly original meditation that invites readers to consider their own deep-seated impulses and taboos.We want to know, we want not to know. We accept truth, we resist truth. Back and forth the mind shuttles, playing badminton with itself. But it doesn't feel like a game. It feels as if our lives are at stake. And they are.
Thumb Candy
With ListenBook, I can immerse myself in captivating stories and enriching knowledge, all in one app. With ListenBook, I've found a reliable and enjoyable way to listen to audiobooks and expand my knowledge. Revolutionizing the way I enjoy stories – this app's seamless playback and intuitive controls make it a must-have for every book enthusiast. 📱🎧
Instant Star
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a versatile companion for my daily activities. I'm amazed by ListenBook's smooth drag-and-drop downloads in my web browser – a time-saver! ListenBook Pro's noise reduction makes sure that background distractions don't interfere with my listening.
Old Man Winter
ListenBook's intuitive controls and beautiful layout make my audiobook experience a delightful one. ListenBook's compatibility with various formats ensures I never miss out on any audio gem. 🌟 Unleashing the power of audiobooks with this user-friendly app – it's like having a personal storyteller on demand! 📚🔥 Organization made simple – this app's efficient management of my audiobook collection ensures that every story is just a tap away. Convenience at its finest. 📖📱 Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun and interactive way to bond over stories.
Dallas Burn
This app has turned my household chores into moments of intellectual growth. Every moment is an adventure with this app by my side. Its intuitive features and diverse format support ensure that my audiobook journey is seamless and exciting. 🌌🎧 Chapters make navigation a breeze. I can easily pick up where I left off. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
Wild Tesla
This app's library is a treasure trove – I'm always discovering new favorites. With this app, my daily routines have become moments of intellectual growth and personal enjoyment. The narration elevated an already good book to greatness! The performer's subtle vocal variations conveyed nuance I might have missed while reading. Their ability to maintain consistent character voices across many hours was impressive. Technical quality was flawless throughout.
Crazy Rox
This app has given me the joy of reading even when my hands are full. 🎧 Carrying a world of literature in my headphones – this app's convenience is truly remarkable. 📚💫 User-friendly audiobook experience – this app's design is a standout. Perfect for my daily walks. The story was engaging enough to keep me motivated to exercise but not so complex that I got lost in thought. Great production quality too.
EchoEnigma
This app has become my go-to for audiobooks, adding a layer of convenience and enjoyment to my days. ⭐️ Loving the fact that I can learn and listen at the same time – multitasking made easy! 🧠🎧 ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is an innovative way to make each audiobook unique.
NemesisX
The narrator's voices are so captivating, it's like they bring the stories to life. This app is a blessing for those with busy schedules – it's like time travel through stories. ListenBook is a must-have for audiobook lovers. The auto-rewind feature ensures I never miss a word.
Take Away
🔥 Streamlined functionality that's music to my ears – audiobook enjoyment has reached a new level of convenience. 🎵📖 Effortlessly enjoying audiobook journeys – this app's ease of use is a delight.
Flashpoint
Audiobook multitasking made easy – this app's functionality is a marvel. Looping playback is an invaluable study tool. It helps me absorb complex information effortlessly.
Lilac Lizard
ListenBook's beautiful layout and quick access to chapters make every listening session a pleasure. Thanks to ListenBook, I'm now exploring different genres and formats I never thought I would. ListenBook's dedication to excellence shines through in its impeccable audio quality and user-friendly features. This app has become my go-to for audiobooks, adding a layer of convenience and enjoyment to my days. User-friendly audiobook experience – this app's design is a standout.
Stud
With this app, audiobook listening has become a seamless and enjoyable part of my everyday life. Elevating my reading experience to a whole new level, this app's user-friendly interface and easy navigation have me hooked. Audiobooks have never been this enjoyable! 📱🔊 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!
West Warrior
With this app, reading is no longer a luxury – it's a convenient habit. Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is impressive. My recordings sound crystal clear.
Light Despair
🧘♀️☕ Sipping tea and getting lost in stories – the ultimate way to unwind! 🍵📖 ListenBook’s interface is clean and intuitive. It’s a joy to use.
Racy Lady
This app has become my loyal companion during travels and relaxation times. Thanks to ListenBook's automatic extraction of artwork and metadata, my library looks organized and appealing. Gone are the days of fumbling with different formats – this app's comprehensive support ensures I can enjoy any audiobook without a hitch. 🎉🔊 The app's compatibility with CarPlay is a dream for road trips. It keeps me entertained. ListenBook has made managing my audiobook collection a breeze. Library organization is top-notch.
Prez Dog
ListenBook has completely changed my audiobook experience – it's like having a personal audio library. ListenBook's sharing options make it easy for me to connect with fellow audiobook enthusiasts. Noise reduction in ListenBook Pro ensures crystal-clear playback even in noisy environments. Great app for audiobook enthusiasts. ListenBook supports a wide range of formats.
Black Walnut
The ability to highlight passages and take notes while listening is a fantastic feature. ListenBook's configurable auto-rewind after interruptions is a smart addition that keeps me on track. The app is very intuitive. ListenBook makes finding and playing audiobooks simple.
BuzzBait
I can't believe how much time I've gained by listening while cooking and doing chores. Audiobooks have made my long commutes enjoyable, and I'm always eager to see what's next. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personal touch to my experience. Absolutely love this app! It's made my daily commute so much more enjoyable. 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.
Daisy Stick
This app's features, from bookmarking to customizable playback speed, are fantastic. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a bonding experience made easy through AirDrop and sharing options.
West Warrior
I've recommended this app to all my fellow audiobook enthusiasts. It's a game-changer! Binaural audio processing really helps reduce listening fatigue. Great feature!
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