Book description
A lively and provocative account of Bernard Mandeville and the work that scandalized and appalled his contemporaries-and made him one of the most influential thinkers of the eighteenth centuryIn 1714, doctor, philosopher and writer Bernard Mandeville published The Fable of the Bees, a humorous tale in which a prosperous hive full of greedy and licentious bees trade their vices for virtues and immediately fall into economic and societal collapse. Outrage among the reading public followed; philosophers took up their pens to refute what they saw as the fable's central assertion. How could it be that an immoral community thrived but the introduction of morality caused it to crash and burn? In Man-Devil, John Callanan examines Mandeville and his famous fable, showing how its contentious claim-that vice was essential to the economic flourishing of any society-formed part of Mandeville's overall theory of human nature. Mandeville, Callanan argues, was perfectly suited to analyze and satirize the emerging phenomenon of modern society-and reveal the gap between its self-image and its reality.Callanan shows that Mandeville's thinking was informed by his medical training and his innovative approach to the treatment of illness with both physiological and psychological components. Through incisive and controversial analyses of sexual mores, gender inequality, economic structures, and political ideology, Mandeville sought to provide a naturalistic account of human behavior-one that put humans in close continuity with animals. Aware that his fellow human beings might find this offensive, he cloaked his theories in fables, poems, anecdotes, and humorous stories. Mandeville mastered irony precisely for the purpose of making us aware of uncomfortable aspects of our deepest natures-aspects that we still struggle to acknowledge today.
Lady In Red
The Looping playback and Shuffle features on ListenBook help me customize my listening sessions to my liking. I'm amazed at how this app has expanded my reading horizons. 👩🍳 Cooking up a storm while enjoying thrilling stories – this app adds flavor to my meals! 🍳🎧 Kudos to the developers for making this app iOS 16 optimized. It runs like a dream!
Kill Switch
Audiobooks have made my workouts more enjoyable, and I'm seeing results! Seamless integration with all my devices and flawless synchronization – top-notch. 📱 My pocket-sized library – this app makes reading accessible anytime, anywhere! 📚📱 ListenBook has made audiobook listening more convenient and enjoyable than ever before.
Ember Rope
The narrator's voices are so engaging, it's like having a personal storytelling session. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay is a major convenience during road trips. A perfectly acceptable audiobook that fulfilled its purpose. The narration was competent if not particularly memorable, and the production quality was standard for the genre. It served as decent background entertainment during mundane tasks.
Nice Gnome
ListenBook's dedication to excellence shines through in its performance and features. Effortless and enriching – that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its smooth interface and thoughtful features have set the bar high for audiobook enjoyment. 📱📖 ListenBook's support for looping and shuffling playback adds versatility to my audiobook enjoyment. ListenBook's sharing options make it easy to share the joy of captivating stories with friends and family.
Marigold Loot
💡 The future of audiobook listening is here – this app's sleek functionality redefines how we enjoy our favorite stories. 🎧🔮 ListenBook has elevated my learning experience. I'm retaining more information than ever. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches. A masterclass in audiobook narration! The performer maintained perfect consistency in character voices throughout while keeping the main narration clear and engaging. The production was flawless - no weird edits or background noise. I'll be seeking out more works by this narrator.
SubWoof330
🚗 Turning road trips into unforgettable adventures – audiobooks keep me entertained on the journey! 🚗📖 Audiobook multitasking made easy – this app's functionality is top-notch. Navigating audiobooks seamlessly – this app's design is top-notch.
MindfulMingle
ListenBook has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary journeys of the mind. 🌟 Reading has never been this easy – this app fits right into my fast-paced lifestyle. 📚💫 ListenBook has redefined my workout routine. The controls are so user-friendly.
Woo Woo
The narrator's voices are so captivating, it's like they bring the stories to life. I'm able to enjoy books in a whole new way – while cooking, working out, or even gardening. ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats makes it a versatile and essential app for audiobook enthusiasts. ListenBook has united my love for audiobooks with my passion for learning. What a brilliant app!
MuseMaster
I'm amazed at how this app has expanded my reading horizons. With this app, I've discovered the joy of learning while I'm on the move – it's like having a tutor by my side.
Feral Cookie
Looping playback has made memorization so much easier. I'm acing my exams! ListenBook has redefined my audiobook experience. It's a true companion for all my literary adventures. Playback speed and volume controls are top-notch. Highly recommend. Fairly enjoyable, but forgettable. I didn’t have any major complaints, but I also don’t see myself revisiting this one. It was a decent way to spend a few hours, though.
Pyscho Hun
The statistics tracking feature is a gem. I'm surprised by how much time I spend on audiobooks! Looping playback and shuffle features keep my audiobook sessions engaging and fresh. ListenBook has become an essential part of my routine. It's more than an app – it's a companion.
Wrangler Jim
ListenBook has become an indispensable part of my daily routine – it's my ultimate audio companion. With this app, I've turned mundane chores into exciting opportunities for intellectual growth. Automated extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my library. The voice boost feature is amazing. It makes every word crystal clear. Incredible character voices! Each person felt distinct without being over-the-top. The emotional scenes gave me chills with how well they were delivered.
Reno Monarch
I can finally tackle my reading list while stuck in traffic – what a win! Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's ease of use is a game-changer.
Rummy Stickers
With this app, I've turned my daily commutes into exciting journeys through the world of literature. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the clarity of recordings and makes my listening sessions more enjoyable. The app is super intuitive. I was up and running in minutes. I love the ability to import books from my computer. It’s so easy.
Juice Petite
The range of self-help and personal development audiobooks is truly enriching. User-centric audiobook joy – this app's ease of use is impressive. I'm impressed by the extensive statistics feature, allowing me to track my audiobook consumption over time.
Skool
I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device. This was my first audiobook in this genre and I'm hooked! The performance brought the story to life in a way reading never could. Already downloaded another by the same narrator.
Geneva Cuffs
ListenBook's support for network device downloads and drag-and-drop is a time-saving delight. No more interruptions – the auto-rewind feature is a genius solution for seamless listening. The app's integration with CarPlay enhances my road trips with immersive audiobook journeys.
Minty Devil
Audiobooks have made my commutes so much more enjoyable, and I'm always excited to listen. ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. Now I can enjoy my favorite lectures and speeches with ease! I'm amazed at how effortlessly this app has made reading a constant in my life. CUE playlist support is a fantastic organizational feature. It keeps my audiobooks neatly arranged. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
Undergrad Split
I'm exploring new genres and authors I wouldn't have considered otherwise. Automated artwork and metadata extraction make my library look organized and visually appealing. ListenBook has completely transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. The chapter navigation is seamless, and the statistics feature is a fun way to track my listening progress. The app is stable, fast, and incredibly user-friendly. Five stars!
Bridge Whip
This app's ease of use has made my long drives educational and enjoyable. Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very user-friendly.
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