Book description
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2025 GILDER LEHRMAN LINCOLN PRIZE From the New York Times bestselling presidential biographer comes the greatest untold story of the Civil War: how two American presidents faced off as the fate of the nation hung in the balance-and how Abraham Lincoln came to embrace emancipation as the last, best chance to save the Union. Of all the books written on Abraham Lincoln, there has been one surprising gap: the drama of how the "railsplitter" from Illinois grew into his critical role as U.S. commander-in-chief, and managed to outwit his formidable opponent, Jefferson Davis, in what remains history's only military faceoff between rival American presidents. Davis was a trained soldier and war hero; Lincoln a country lawyer who had only briefly served in the militia. Confronted with the most violent and challenging war ever seen on American soil, Lincoln seemed ill-suited to the task: inexperienced, indecisive, and a poor judge of people's motives, he allowed his administration's war policies to be sabotaged by fickle, faithless cabinet officials while entrusting command of his army to a preening young officer named George McClellan - whose defeat in battle left Washington, the nation's capital, at the mercy of General Robert E. Lee, Davis's star performer. The war almost ended there. But in a Shakespearean twist, Lincoln summoned the courage to make, at last, a climactic decision: issuing as a "military necessity" a proclamation freeing the 3.5 million enslaved Americans without whom the South could not feed or fund their armed insurrection. The new war policy doomed the rebellion-which was in dire need of support from Europe, none of whose governments now would dare to recognize rebel "independence" in a war openly fought over slavery. The fate of President Davis was sealed. With a cast of unforgettable characters, from first ladies to fugitive coachmen to treasonous cabinet officials, Lincoln vs. Davis is a spellbinding dual biography from renowned presidential chronicler Nigel Hamilton: a saga that will surprise, touch, and enthrall.
Moonflower
This app has given me the joy of reading even when my hands are full. I'm hooked on this app's ease of use – it's a reader's dream come true. ListenBook has made audiobook listening more convenient and enjoyable than ever before. The app is very user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a breeze. 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.
DanimalDaze
The app's reliability and ease of use make it a true gem in the world of audiobooks. 👩🍳 Elevating culinary experiences with auditory tales – cooking has never been this entertaining and educational! 🍳🎧 Adjustable playback speed and volume controls are fantastic features.
Knight Light
This app has introduced me to genres I never thought I'd enjoy – it's eye-opening. ListenBook's audio filters and controls have turned my listening into a personalized experience.
PixelPathfinder
🎉 Rekindling my love for stories – this app's accessibility has reignited my passion! 📖🚀 ListenBook's user-friendly interface and powerful features have rekindled my love for audiobooks. The audio filters and precise controls are fantastic! Book groups are a thoughtful addition. I can group related titles for easy access. ListenBook has made my daily commutes so much more enjoyable. I look forward to listening every day! A reasonable choice for casual listening. The audiobook was well-produced, but the pacing felt uneven in places. I didn’t dislike it, but I also didn’t feel strongly about it one way or another.
Delicious Cupid
I'm addicted to the personalized recommendations – it's like the app knows me! I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's intuitive and user-friendly design. is a breeze with ListenBook. It's convenient and efficient. The app is so versatile. It works with all my devices. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
Spunky Chick
The app's layout is clean and intuitive, making it a pleasure to navigate. I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's seamless audio player. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch integration is a brilliant touch. 🎉 Finding the perfect audiobook is a breeze with this app's robust search and recommendation features. My reading list has never been better! 📚💫 ListenBook has transformed my daily commute. I look forward to my journeys with this app by my side.
Landfill Max
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a fantastic way to spread the joy. Say goodbye to boring commutes – this app's immersive audio experience and intuitive controls have transformed my daily journeys. 🌟📚 Love how I can adjust playback speed and audio volume. ListenBook caters to all my needs.
Sw33per
ListenBook's sleek interface and precise controls make it a joy to use during my daily listening sessions. ListenBook's integration with AirDrop and sharing options makes it simple to spread the joy of storytelling.
Raid Bucker
The app's performance is top-notch. It's stable, responsive, and optimized for a seamless audiobook experience. Kudos to the developers! Beautiful layout and easy access to chapters. Really impressed with ListenBook. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time.
Wild Tesla
ListenBook has completely changed my audiobook experience – it's like having a personal audio library. The extensive statistics feature on ListenBook helps me track my audiobook consumption habits – so cool! ListenBook's statistics feature is eye-opening. I had no idea how much time I spent immersed in audiobooks until I started using it. The app's performance is remarkable – it's fast, stable, and designed to cater to audiobook enthusiasts. It's a pleasure to use.
Third Moon
The fact that ListenBook doesn't just play, but enhances audio quality, is truly remarkable. 🎉 Unveiling the joy of reading once again – this app is my gateway to literary wonders! 📚🔓 🎙️ Grocery shopping has taken an exciting turn – I'm on a mission to explore new worlds through audiobooks! 🛒📚 ListenBook's player features are incredibly helpful. Chapters and bookmarks make navigation easy. I love the ability to change the background color. It’s a nice touch.
Nutmeg
This app has made long flights and road trips so much more enjoyable. I'm blown away by how this app has revolutionized my reading experience. 💼 Making every minute count – this app's ease of use ensures I'm always making progress in my audiobook adventures. 📱📖 My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thanks to automatic artwork and metadata. The book groups feature is a thoughtful addition. It helps me keep my series and related titles together.
Dr. Cocktail
I've started a book club with my friends, and this app has been our go-to source for titles. 👩🍳 Elevating culinary experiences with auditory tales – cooking has never been this entertaining and educational! 🍳🎧 With ListenBook, I can finally enjoy my audiobooks without worrying about format compatibility. It handles everything! ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book. This was a workmanlike audiobook that did the job without flair. The narration was clear and the pacing appropriate, though the delivery lacked some emotional depth. The production quality was acceptable with no major technical issues.
Arsenic Coo
The range of self-help and personal development audiobooks is truly enriching. ListenBook's controls for looping and shuffling playback have made studying and revisiting content a breeze. ListenBook Pro has taken my audiobook experience to the next level. No regrets! The interface is so clean and clutter-free. It’s a pleasure to use.
Essex
Finally, an app that supports all audiobook formats! Flawless playback. The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that makes a big difference. It enhances my listening experience. Quick access to chapters and controls ensures a seamless listening experience with ListenBook. It's effortless to use.
High Beam
I appreciate the option to listen to samples before committing to a book. The statistics feature in ListenBook is a valuable tool for monitoring and optimizing my audiobook consumption. Quick access to chapters and controls makes ListenBook a breeze to use. It's an intuitive experience. Bookmarks are a fantastic tool for keeping track of important moments. They're a game-changer.
RightN0w2
Drag and drop downloads are so convenient. No more messing around with complicated steps. The sleek and user-friendly interface makes navigating the app a breeze. It's a pleasure to use.
RedMouth
I'm in awe of how this app has made reading seamlessly fit into my lifestyle. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a game-changer. It's like customizing my listening experience.
Gbbledgoodk
Audiobooks on this app have made my workouts more enjoyable and productive. Bookmarks are a lifesaver for my study materials. I can easily revisit important sections.
Landfill Max
Audiobooks have made my morning routine something to look forward to. Simplifying my reading routine – this app's ease of use is remarkable. I can't get enough of the app's sleek interface and intuitive controls. It's a joy to use!
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