Book description
A “fresh perspective” (Kirkus Reviews) on the psychology of zealotry, from a National Book Award winner and a leading authority on the nature of cults, political absolutism, and mind control In this unique and important volume Robert Jay Lifton, the National Book Award–winning psychiatrist, historian, and public intellectual, proposes a radical idea: that the psychological relationship between extremist political movements and fanatical religious cults may be much closer than anyone thought. Exploring the most extreme manifestations of human zealotry, Lifton highlights an array of leaders—from Mao to Hitler to the Japanese apocalyptic cult leader Shōkō Asahara to Donald Trump—who have sought the control of human minds and the ownership of reality. Lifton has been called “one of the world’s foremost thinkers on why we humans do such awful things to each other” (Bill Moyers) and his pioneering concept of the “Eight Deadly Sins” of ideological totalism—originally devised to identify “brainwashing” (or “thought reform”) in political movements—has been widely quoted in writings about cults and embraced by members and former members of religious cults seeking to understand their experiences. In Losing Reality Lifton makes clear that the apocalyptic impulse—that of destroying the world in order to remake it in purified form—is not limited to religious groups but is prominent in extremist political movements such as Nazism and Chinese Communism, and also in groups surrounding Donald Trump, showing how this destructive desire ultimately reached its apotheosis in the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Lifton applies his concept of “malignant normality” to Trump’s efforts to render his destructive falsehoods a routine part of American life. But Lifton nevertheless sees the human species as capable of “regaining reality” through our “protean” psychological capacities and our ability to serve as “witnessing professionals.” Lifton weaves together some of his finest work with extensive new commentary to provide vital understanding of our struggle with mental predators. Losing Reality is a book not only of stunning scholarship, but also of increasing relevance for these troubled times.
Miss Fix It
ListenBook's support for binaural audio processing is a thoughtful touch that reduces listening fatigue. ListenBook's innovative features, from audio filters to statistics, make it a standout app. ListenBook has transformed the way I engage with literature. It's like having a virtual bookshelf in my pocket.
Stud Buster
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Soiled Dove
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Goldman
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Voluntary
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Dez
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DreamDiver
I can't believe how much I've 'read' since I started using this app. The ability to adjust playback speed is a fantastic study aid. I'm absorbing information faster than ever. I'm amazed by the attention to detail, from automatic metadata extraction to customizable settings.
Slow Trot
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Daffy Neo
ListenBook's features are a dream come true for anyone who loves to learn on the go. Adjusting playback speed has transformed the way I consume audiobooks. I can tailor the pacing to match my learning style and preferences. Elegant design and easy-to-navigate interface. Very pleased with ListenBook.
CuriousCoder
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Night Train
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Burst Nibbler
The ability to adjust playback speed is a game-changer for faster or more immersive listening. Great app for audiobook enthusiasts. ListenBook supports a wide range of formats.
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🎉 Making each day a new chapter – this app keeps me hooked from morning to night! 📖🌄 🎉 This app has turned my errands into exciting quests – I can conquer the grocery store while enjoying a book! 🛒📖 No more hassle with file conversion. This app handles all formats effortlessly.
Slint FUBAR
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction is a lifesaver. I can hear clearly even in noisy environments. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a great way to connect over stories. Bookmarks are a fantastic tool for keeping track of important moments. They're a game-changer. Bookmarks are a fantastic organizational tool. They help me keep track of important moments in my audiobooks.
Mental Prophet
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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