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.
Capital F
The ListenBook app has transformed my device into a treasure trove of knowledge and entertainment. Smooth playback and great sound quality. ListenBook is my new favorite app!
Spontan8ty
With this app, I can enjoy my favorite stories while traveling, making my journeys more delightful. Audiobook immersion without complications – this app's ease of use is commendable. Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true winner. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with it—the narration was fine, and the story was okay—but nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
Mum Mary
ListenBook has elevated my learning experience. I'm retaining more information than ever. The listening stats feature is awesome. I can track my audiobook habits effortlessly. Smooth playback and great sound quality. ListenBook is my new favorite app!
Snow Cream
The chapters feature on ListenBook enhances my audiobook exploration – it's like flipping through pages. I can't get enough of this app's user-friendly interface – it's a true delight. 👩🍳 Cooking up a storm while enjoying thrilling stories – this app adds flavor to my meals! 🍳🎧 From novels to speeches, this app's versatility in playing various audio formats has turned my daily activities into enriching listening sessions. What a game-changer! 🌟📚 The adjustable playback speed feature is a true innovation. It adds a personalized touch to my listening.
CyberScribe
I've never been so excited about my daily commute – thanks to this app. 🎉 This app has ignited my passion for reading – I can't get enough of its convenience! 📚🔥 🛌 Bedtime stories for adults? Yes, please! This app is a dream come true. 🌙📚 The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook habits, helping me learn and grow.
MuseMaster
As a language learner, this app has been invaluable in improving my listening skills. This app has brought storytelling into every corner of my life – it's incredible. 🧘♀️☕ Sipping tea and getting lost in stories – the ultimate way to unwind! 🍵📖 The audio quality is excellent, and the interface is intuitive. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks.
Cooger
With ListenBook, I can listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. Bravo to the creators of this app – they've truly captured the essence of convenient audiobook enjoyment. The smooth playback and thoughtful design have won me over. 📚👏
Chapstick
🚶♀️📖 Walking my way through exciting narratives – this app makes exercise more fun! 🏞️🎧 CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to create curated listening experiences for different moods and settings. ListenBook has transformed my daily activities into opportunities for learning and enjoyment. Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment enhance the listening experience significantly.
Dr. WMD
With ListenBook, I can listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with maximum comfort and convenience. This app has enriched my daily routine with the joy of stories and knowledge. Effortlessly enjoying audiobook journeys – this app's ease of use is a delight. The app's compatibility with CarPlay is a fantastic bonus. It keeps me entertained during long drives. Elegant design and user-friendly interface. Love it!
Good William
I've never been this excited about my daily commute – thank you, audiobooks! Book Groups on ListenBook make it easy to categorize and access my audiobooks.
Mr. Wholesome
This app is a blessing for those with busy schedules – it's like time travel through stories. The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while commuting.
Blink
Audiobooks have made my workouts more enjoyable, and I'm seeing results! ListenBook's innovative features, from audio filters to statistics, make it a standout app.
Kingfisher
Kudos for the thoughtfully curated collections – I'm discovering hidden gems! This app has rekindled my love for literature, and I'm spreading the word to everyone I know. With this app, I've rediscovered the joy of literature during my daily walks – it's truly invigorating. I can't imagine my day without a dose of literature from this app.
Sun Leo
This app is a must-have for any book lover on the go – it's my daily companion. ListenBook Pro offers an unbeatable deal – unlimited audiobook length and noise reduction. Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true standout. Downloading over WiFi is quick and efficient. Saves a lot of time.
Double Eerie
Tone adjustment is so cool. It's like customizing the reader's voice to my liking. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections.
Midnight Bat
🎉 Rekindling my love for reading – this app makes each day a new adventure! 📖🚀 Effortlessly managing my audiobook library – this app's design is a triumph. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear dictaphone recordings.
WeldMaster
Thank you for making my reading goals more achievable and enjoyable. With this app, I can enjoy my favorite stories while traveling, making my journeys more delightful. This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark feature—it saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend! The narrator's voice was like butter - smooth, rich, and utterly pleasant to listen to for hours. They handled complex sentences with ease, making even dense material accessible. I never had to rewind because I missed something due to unclear delivery. Perfection!
Racy Lion
I'm thrilled to finally have a way to enjoy books while keeping up with my busy schedule. 📚 Farewell, boredom during ironing sessions – audiobooks make it a breeze! 👗🎧
Racy Lion
With ListenBook, my iPhone and iPad have become a gateway to a world of captivating stories. ListenBook's absence of synchronization requirements adds to its convenience and flexibility. With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me. I'm grateful for this app's ability to fit seamlessly into my lifestyle, making learning a part of my day. This app has made 'reading' more versatile and enjoyable than ever.
Good-lookin’
Audiobook joy made simple – this app's ease of use is a true marvel. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time.
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