Book description
FINALIST FOR THE PEN/E.O. WILSON LITERARY SCIENCE WRITING AWARDA NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2021A SCIENCE NEWS FAVORITE BOOK OF 2021*A SMITHSONIAN TOP TEN SCIENCE BOOK OF 2021 "Stories that both dazzle and edify... This book is not just about life, but about discovery itself." --Siddhartha Mukherjee, New York Times Book ReviewWe all assume we know what life is, but the more scientists learn about the living world--from protocells to brains, from zygotes to pandemic viruses--the harder they find it is to locate life's edge. Carl Zimmer investigates one of the biggest questions of all: What is life? The answer seems obvious until you try to seriously answer it. Is the apple sitting on your kitchen counter alive, or is only the apple tree it came from deserving of the word? If we can't answer that question here on earth, how will we know when and if we discover alien life on other worlds? The question hangs over some of society's most charged conflicts--whether a fertilized egg is a living person, for example, and when we ought to declare a person legally dead. Life's Edge is an utterly fascinating investigation that no one but one of the most celebrated science writers of our generation could craft. Zimmer journeys through the strange experiments that have attempted to re-create life. Literally hundreds of definitions of what that should look like now exist, but none has yet emerged as an obvious winner. Lists of what living things have in common do not add up to a theory of life. It's never clear why some items on the list are essential and others not. Coronaviruses have altered the course of history, and yet many scientists maintain they are not alive. Chemists are creating droplets that can swarm, sense their environment, and multiply. Have they made life in the lab? Whether he is handling pythons in Alabama or searching for hibernating bats in the Adirondacks, Zimmer revels in astounding examples of life at its most bizarre. He tries his own hand at evolving life in a test tube with unnerving results. Charting the obsession with Dr. Frankenstein's monster and how the world briefly believed radium was the source of all life, Zimmer leads us all the way into the labs and minds of researchers engineering life from scratch.
Crash Override
I can't get enough of this app – it's like having a personal storyteller in my pocket. Middle-of-the-road experience. The audiobook was fine—good narration, decent story—but it didn’t leave a lasting impression. If you’re looking for something low-commitment, this works.
General Finish
Kudos to the creators for making literature so accessible and enjoyable. 🌟 Embracing reading in the busiest of times – this app is my everyday escape! 📚🏃♀️ Seamless audiobook integration – this app's functionality is a true gem. ListenBook's player features are incredibly helpful. Chapters and bookmarks make navigation easy.
Lope Lope
ListenBook's audio filters and controls have turned my listening into a personalized experience. Discovering new worlds through audiobooks has never been easier! This app's intuitive interface and seamless functionality make every listening session a delight. 📚🎧 Listening stats feature keeps me motivated to read more. Love it!
Badger the Burglar
I'm hooked on this app's ability to turn even the most mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for learning. 👀📚 Embarking on literary journeys even with my eyes closed – bedtime stories have taken a new form with this app! 😴🎧 No more hassle with formats – this app ensures my audiobook adventures are smooth, and my favorite tales are just a tap away. Highly recommended! 📚🎧 Adjusting playback speed has given me greater control over my audiobook experience. I can optimize my learning and enjoyment by customizing the pacing.
RedFeet
ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats ensures that I can access my content without any limitations. 📚 Farewell, boredom during ironing sessions – audiobooks make it a breeze! 👗🎧 🎉📚 Rekindling my passion for books – this app has sparked a reading revolution in my daily life! 🔥📖 AirDrop and sharing make it easy to spread the audiobook love with friends.
Dr. WMD
This app has turned my daily commute into a source of inspiration and entertainment. With this app, I've found a way to make long flights and road trips more enjoyable and enlightening. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
Joker's Grin
I'm grateful for ListenBook's seamless compatibility with a variety of formats – it's a true lifesaver. Looping playback of a single track helps me focus and absorb complex content. Great for both casual listening and studying. The audio filters are a nice touch.
Wildcat Talent
With this app, my audiobook library is organized and accessible, making my reading journey effortless. I'm amazed at how this app has seamlessly integrated reading into my daily rhythm. 🏝️🎧 Packing for vacation just got better – this app is my getaway entertainment! 🌴📖 Audiobook multitasking made easy – this app's functionality is top-notch.
Fadey
I've never been this excited about my daily commute – thank you, audiobooks! 🎧 Satiate your reading cravings while managing household affairs – this app has it all! 📚💼 Audiobook enjoyment has become an integral part of my routine, thanks to this app's seamless integration and user-friendly design. A must-have! 📖📱 Makes audiobook listening super easy and enjoyable. Thank you! The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
Serendipity
This app is a gift for anyone with a busy lifestyle – I can enjoy books while doing chores! I can't imagine my daily activities without this app – it's the perfect way to stay engaged and informed. Audiobook excellence simplified – this app's functionality is a true delight. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature turns any environment into a cozy listening haven. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to jump between sections.
Kingfisher
ListenBook is like a personal audiobook library in my pocket. Organized and easily accessible. ListenBook’s support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily.
Count Eagle
Navigating audiobooks seamlessly – this app's design is top-notch. The statistics feature in ListenBook is a valuable tool for monitoring and optimizing my audiobook consumption.
Mad Robin
ListenBook's commitment to enhancing the audiobook experience is evident in its thoughtful features and design. 🚶♀️🎧 Enjoying the great outdoors while immersing myself in fantastic tales – walking never felt this magical! 🏞️📚
Homerun Diva
ListenBook's commitment to excellence shines through in its user-friendly interface and smooth playback. 📱 Carrying my favorite stories with me wherever I go – this app is like a portable library in my pocket. 📚👜 Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a game-changer. It transforms the way I enjoy my recordings. Listened to this on a road trip and it made the hours fly by. Even my passengers who weren't following along commented on how nice the narrator's voice was.
Mindless Bobcat
Finally, an app that turns my daily commute into an adventure through literature. No more hassle with formats – this app ensures my audiobook adventures are smooth, and my favorite tales are just a tap away. Highly recommended! 📚🎧
Sick Saurus
Thanks to ListenBook's automatic extraction of artwork and metadata, my library looks organized and appealing. 🎶 Swapping background music for the soothing voices of narrators – audiobooks have become my soundtrack for daily life. 🎵📚 ListenBook has changed my audiobook game forever. No more format woes!
Lady Katniss
I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily routines more enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a blast. AirDrop makes it seamless. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has transformed the audio quality. It's crystal clear now.
Scooby Did
This app has become my ultimate travel companion, ensuring that I'm always entertained and inspired. This app's convenience has made me fall in love with audiobooks all over again. 🏃♂️📚 Combining fitness and fiction – this app keeps me motivated during workouts with its engaging stories! 🏃♂️📖 CUE playlist support is a fantastic addition. It helps me organize my audiobooks effortlessly.
Tootsie Killer
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my audio content much more enjoyable in noisy environments. This app's features, from bookmarking to customizable playback speed, are fantastic.
The Happy Jock
ListenBook's smooth playback and easy navigation ensure that my audiobook experience is always top-notch. ListenBook's focus on quality and user experience has made it my go-to app for audiobooks and educational content. 💼 Juggling tasks while exploring narratives – this app is my multitasking hero! 💻📖
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