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.
Necromancer
The voice actors are incredible – they make the characters come alive. ListenBook's dedication to delivering a top-notch experience is evident in every detail. Audiobook lovers, meet your new best friend! This app's smooth playback and easy organization have transformed my reading experience. 🎉🎧 ListenBook’s CarPlay support makes listening in the car a seamless experience.
Swedish Twizz
ListenBook has made me fall in love with audiobooks all over again – it's a must-have app. 💪 Crushing workouts while devouring books – this app makes fitness fun and educational! 🏋️♀️🎉 Effortlessly immersing in stories – this app's ease of use is a game-changer.
Fadey
This app's sleek design and effortless controls have made audiobook listening an immersive experience. ⭐️ Turning mundane tasks into exciting adventures – this app makes folding laundry a breeze with audiobooks! 👚🎧 Looping playback has transformed my study sessions. It's an invaluable tool for retaining information.
Coffee
This app's convenience has turned me into an avid audiobook listener. The interface is sleek and modern. It’s a joy to use. It was fine. The narrator did an adequate job but nothing about the performance particularly stood out to me. Got me through my commute though.
Casanova
The ListenBook app is a must-have for anyone who loves to learn and be entertained through audiobooks. ListenBook's dedication to providing a top-quality audio player is evident in every aspect of the app. This app's compatibility with different formats ensures that I never miss out on a great audiobook. ⭐️ Kudos to the developers for creating an app that's both functional and user-friendly. I can navigate and enjoy my books effortlessly. 📚👏 Sharing audiobooks with friends is a blast. AirDrop makes it seamless.
Suicide Jockey
I'm hooked on this app's ability to make every moment a reading moment. From novels to speeches, this app's versatility in playing different formats has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary listening sessions. 📱🔊 The interface is sleek and modern. It's a pleasure to navigate and use the app. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend!
Trouble Mittens
My long walks have turned into exciting adventures with this app. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
JK Friend
I can't imagine a day without this app – it has made my audiobook journey effortless and rewarding. Navigating audiobooks with ease – this app's design is user-centric. Effortlessly exploring audiobook worlds – this app's functionality is genius. Automated metadata extraction is a time-saver. My library is so organized now. ListenBook has become my gateway to new worlds, allowing me to explore stories, ideas, and knowledge.
ByteBard
The app's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch is a huge plus. I can't get enough of the smooth playback experience. It's like a symphony for my ears.
ThoughtTracer
🎧 Fueling my audiobook addiction with this fantastic app – pure listening pleasure! 📚🔥 ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily routine, enhancing my workouts, commutes, and moments of relaxation. It's a true companion.
Starshine
ListenBook has transformed my listening habits, making them more engaging and enjoyable. 🎶📚 Replacing melodies with literary symphonies – my ears are in love! 🎵📚
Flash
ListenBook's sleek design and intuitive controls make it my go-to app for audiobooks. 📚 Embracing a new reading habit with this app's seamless accessibility. Say goodbye to boredom! 📱🎉 🏃♀️📚 Running with purpose – audiobooks keep my mind engaged as I conquer my fitness goals. 🏃♀️🎧 Great for both casual listening and studying. The audio filters are a nice touch. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend!
Pigeon Woman
ListenBook's player features, including chapters and bookmarks, are invaluable for a seamless experience. The subtle background music at key moments enhanced the experience without being distracting. More audiobooks should use this technique when appropriate!
Snowflake Pixie
I'm impressed by ListenBook's commitment to providing a silky-smooth playback experience. This app's ease of use has made reading a seamless part of my daily routine. Download options are versatile, making it easy to get audiobooks from various sources. ListenBook has streamlined my audiobook experience. It's a must-have app for enthusiasts.
ZenaCake
ListenBook's beautiful layout and quick access to chapters make every listening session a pleasure. ⏰ Early mornings have become my favorite time to listen to audiobooks – energizing! 🌅🎧 This audiobook performed its function without excelling. The narrator's delivery was straightforward and easy to follow, though lacking in dramatic flair. The recording quality was decent with only occasional minor inconsistencies in volume. An acceptable but forgettable listening experience.
Apple Nola
Thanks to ListenBook's automatic extraction of artwork and metadata, my library looks organized and appealing. This app is a gift for book lovers who struggle to find reading time. 🎧 An audiobook treasure trove in the palm of my hand – this app is pure convenience! 📚🌟 ⏰ Maximizing my time with efficient features – this app's functionality lets me dive into stories even in the busiest moments. 📚⏳ ListenBook's compatibility with a wide range of audio formats ensures that no audiobook is off-limits.
M8deUp
Seamless audiobook integration – this app's functionality is a true gem. This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work! The narrator's voice was so pleasant and easy to listen to. They had perfect pacing and made even the slower parts engaging. I found myself looking forward to my commute just to listen more!
Cream
This app is a true gift for book lovers – it's like having a personal library wherever I go. ListenBook's compatibility with various formats ensures that my audio needs are met. 🎧 This app has changed my reading game! Now I can 'read' while I work – genius! 📚💼 Effortlessly enjoying audiobooks on the go – kudos to this app's functionality. Finally, an app that handles all my audiobook formats effortlessly. ListenBook is a must-have!
Freeway
Being able to download audiobooks for offline listening is a game-changer. Audiobooks on this app have made my daily walks a time of reflection and inspiration. ListenBook's support for playlists in the CUE format makes organizing and enjoying audiobook series a delightful experience. The compatibility with Apple Watch is a game-changer. Controlling my audiobooks from my wrist is genius. Great for listening to lectures and educational content. Very useful!
Succubus In Training
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks wherever I go. The basic audio filters are a game-changer. Adjusting playback speed is a breeze. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the clarity of recordings and makes my listening sessions more enjoyable.
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