Book description
Gorgeous young women in revealing poses; extravagant mansion parties packed with celebrities; a hot-tub grotto, elegant smoking jackets, and round rotating beds; the hedonistic pursuit of uninhibited sex-put these images together and a single name springs to mind: Hugh Hefner. From his spectacular launch of Playboy magazine and the dizzying expansion of his leisure empire to his recent television hit The Girls Next Door, the publisher has attracted public attention and controversy for decades. But how did a man who is at once socially astute and morally unconventional, part Bill Gates and part Casanova, also evolve into a figure at the forefront of cultural change?In Mr. Playboy, historian and biographer Steven Watts argues that, in the process of becoming fabulously wealthy and famous, Hefner has profoundly altered American life and values. Granted unprecedented access to the man and his enterprise, Watts traces Hef's life and career from his Midwestern, Methodist upbringing and the first publication of Playboy in 1953 through the turbulent sixties, self-indulgent seventies, reactionary eighties, and traditionalist nineties up to the present. He reveals that from the beginning Hefner believed he could overturn social norms and take America with him.Throughout this fascinating biography, Watts offers singular insights into the real man behind the flamboyant public persona. He shows Hefner's personal dichotomies-the pleasure seeker and the workaholic, the consort of countless Playmates and the genuine romantic, the family man and the Gatsby-like host of lavish parties at his Chicago and Los Angeles mansions who enjoys well-publicized affairs with numerous Playmates, the fan of life's simple pleasures who hobnobs with the Hollywood elite. Punctuated with descriptions and anecdotes of life at the Playboy Mansions, Mr. Playboy tells the compelling and uniquely American story of how one person with a provocative idea, a finger on the pulse of popular opinion, and a passion for his work altered the course of modern history.
Little General
ListenBook's support for various download methods and audio formats ensures that I can always find what I'm looking for. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
Mallow Man
The ability to adjust the playback speed has made my commute even more efficient. This app has turned my screen time into valuable learning opportunities. π§ This app has changed my reading game! Now I can 'read' while I work β genius! ππΌ ListenBook is fantastic! Supports every audiobook format I have. Super convenient! The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while exercising.
Chapstick
I love how ListenBook caters to various formats, making it versatile and accommodating for all my audiobooks. With this app, I've turned mundane tasks into moments of inspiration and education β it's brilliant! ListenBook's easy sharing options make it a breeze to introduce friends to my favorite audiobooks. Sharing is caring! 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!
Solo Kill
βοΈ Turning mundane tasks into exciting adventures β this app makes folding laundry a breeze with audiobooks! ππ§ π‘ Making house chores more enjoyable β audiobooks help me stay engaged while tidying up the living space. π π I love the auto-rewind feature after interruptions. No more searching for where I left off! Great for listening to lectures and educational content. Very useful!
Street Squirrel
I've never been this excited about my daily commute β thank you, audiobooks! ListenBook's dedication to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every aspect of the app. ListenBook has changed my audiobook game forever. No more format woes! Binaural audio processing reduces fatigue during long listening sessions. A fantastic feature!
Fire Fish
ListenBook's library organization and book groups help me keep my content neatly sorted. With this app, audiobook listening has become an integral part of my daily routines β it's pure bliss. Love the silky-smooth playback and easy-to-use interface. ListenBook is the best!
WordWanderer
π± Turning my phone into a portal of endless stories β this app is pure magic! πβ¨ πΆββοΈπ Embracing audiobooks as my companions during leisurely walks β nature and narratives, a perfect match! πΆββοΈπ§ π Finding the perfect audiobook is a breeze with this app's robust search and recommendation features. My reading list has never been better! ππ« Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is such a fun way to spread joy.
Bootleg Taximan
Being able to download audiobooks for offline listening is a game-changer. ListenBook's user-friendly controls and innovative features have made it an essential tool for my audiobook enjoyment. Audiobooks have turned my quiet moments into imaginative journeys β thank you, app! ListenBook's powerful audio downloading features make it easy to keep my content at my fingertips. This was a competent audiobook production with no major flaws. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough and the audio quality was acceptable, though not exceptional. While the performance didn't particularly stand out, it served its purpose adequately for my daily commute.
Carrot Joker
I'm able to enjoy books in a whole new way β while cooking, working out, or even gardening. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a versatile companion for my daily activities. π Indulging in soothing bedtime stories β this app is my nightly retreat into imagination. ππ ListenBook is fantastic! Supports every audiobook format I have. Super convenient! The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app.
Mustard Centaur
CUE playlist support is a rare gem. Perfect for organizing content efficiently. Bookmarking favorite parts of audiobooks is a breeze. It's like having a personalized study guide.
JesterZilla
Audiobooks have made my commutes so much more enjoyable, and I'm always excited to listen. I'm amazed at how effortlessly I can immerse myself in stories with this app. Good for background listening. I didnβt get fully immersed, but it was pleasant enough to have on while doing chores. The narratorβs voice was easy to listen to, even if the delivery lacked some energy. 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.
Pitfall Whiskers
I'm discovering books I wouldn't have considered before, and my reading horizons are expanding. This app's user-friendly layout and quick access to controls have made audiobook listening a breeze. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iβve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
Mantis Queen
πββοΈπ Combining fitness and fiction β this app keeps me motivated during workouts with its engaging stories! πββοΈπ Great app for audiobook enthusiasts. ListenBook supports a wide range of formats. The app is constantly updated with new features. The developers really care. ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
Mad Robin
I'm hooked on this app's curated content β it's like having a personal librarian. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a breeze thanks to ListenBook Pro's AirDrop and sharing options. Spread the joy of a good story! ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature from web browsers is incredibly convenient. Downloading audiobooks has never been this easy. Drag and drop downloads directly from my web browser? That's a level of convenience I appreciate. The statistics feature is brilliant. I love seeing how much time I spend on audiobooks with ListenBook.
RiddleRanger
My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thanks to automatic artwork and metadata. I'm amazed by the extensive statistics tracking. It's fascinating to see my listening habits. Book groups are a thoughtful addition. I can group related titles for easy access.
Bleeker
With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. This audiobook app is an absolute lifesaver! It brings my favorite stories to life with unparalleled convenience. This app's ease of use has made reading a seamless part of my daily routine. πͺ Doubling the impact of my workouts β exercising and exploring stories, all thanks to this app! πͺπ§
Feral Cookie
This app has reignited my passion for literature β I'm devouring books like never before. ListenBook has made my audiobook journey effortless, turning every moment into an escape. ListenBookβs playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
Homerun Diva
With ListenBook, my daily commutes have become a cherished time for learning and enjoyment. 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.
Swedish Twizz
I'm addicted to the personalized recommendations β it's like the app knows me! I'm grateful for ListenBook's seamless compatibility with a variety of formats β it's a true lifesaver. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear dictaphone recordings.
Most Wanted
I'm impressed by ListenBook's commitment to providing a silky-smooth playback experience. ListenBook's customizable audio filters allow me to personalize my listening experience β a fantastic feature. With this app, my daily routines have become moments of intellectual exploration and personal growth.
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