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.
Microwave Chardonnay
Listening to audiobooks has turned mundane tasks into enjoyable experiences. This app's convenience has turned my exercise sessions into enlightening moments. 🎉 Unveiling the joy of reading once again – this app is my gateway to literary wonders! 📚🔓 Adjusting the tone of the voice is a creative feature. It allows for a unique and personalized experience.
Moon Orchid
I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my constant companion for literary adventures. 💪 Crushing workouts while devouring books – this app makes fitness fun and educational! 🏋️♀️🎉 💼 Boosting productivity at work with an audiobook in the background – love it! 💻🎧 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. 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.
Impulsive Flower
The captivating narrators make each story come alive in a unique way. ListenBook has become an indispensable part of my daily routine – it's my ultimate audio companion. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personalized touch to my audiobook experience. Absolutely in love with this audiobook app! The seamless functionality and easy navigation make my reading time pure bliss. 📚🎧 ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a game-changer.
Voodoo Queen
ListenBook's commitment to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every detail. This app has made my downtime so much more productive and enjoyable. 🚗📖 Road trips have never been this entertaining – this app keeps me engaged on the highway! 🚙🎉 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!
Eight Patrol
This app's user-friendly design makes navigating through books a breeze. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a feature I can't live without. This app has become my go-to companion, making my daily routine more exciting and insightful. ListenBook's integration with CarPlay and Apple Watch is seamless. I can now enjoy my favorite audiobooks during commutes and workouts.
Spider Fuji
The convenience of having a library at my fingertips is unparalleled. ListenBook has transformed my daily rituals into cherished opportunities for personal growth. 📚 Who needs TV when you have this app? Every moment is a storytelling session! 📺🎧 📱 Accessing my favorite stories has never been this straightforward – this app's functionality is a bookworm's dream come true. 📚💫 The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
Doughboy, Esq
Audiobooks on this app have made studying and learning a more enjoyable process. Audiobooks have become a source of inspiration and motivation, thanks to this app. The compatibility with Apple Watch is a huge plus. I can control my audiobooks from my wrist! I'm impressed by the extensive statistics feature, allowing me to track my audiobook consumption over time.
Darkside Isis
💼 Juggling tasks while exploring narratives – this app is my multitasking hero! 💻📖 ListenBook has made audiobook listening more convenient and enjoyable than ever before. I love the auto-bookmark feature. It saves my place automatically. I love the ability to change the playback speed. It’s perfect for my needs. I love the ability to share my progress with friends. It’s a fun feature.
Miss Nova
The customer support team is responsive and always ready to assist. With this app, I've discovered a whole new way to enjoy literature. 🏡 Cleaning the house with an audiobook in the background – talk about productivity! 🧼📖 ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily life, enhancing my workouts, commutes, and relaxation periods. It's an indispensable part of my routine. I can't get enough of the smooth playback experience. It's like a symphony for my ears.
Biscuit Meg
This app has made literature accessible and engaging for all ages. As a language enthusiast, this app has been a fantastic tool for learning new languages. I love that ListenBook Pro allows me to customize the tone of the sound – it adds a personal touch. ListenBook has transformed my listening habits, making them more engaging and enjoyable. I can't imagine my day without a dose of literature from this app.
Widow Curio
I can't get enough of this app's versatile features – from playback speed to bookmarking, it's all there. Audiobook journey simplified – this app's functionality is a wonderful surprise. Audiobook enthusiasts, rejoice! This app's elegant design and robust functionality make it a must-have for anyone who loves to listen on the go. 🎧📱
Spontan8ty
With ListenBook Pro, I can customize the tone of the sound to match my preferences – it's a fantastic touch. 🛌 Indulging in soothing bedtime stories – this app is my nightly retreat into imagination. 🌙📚
Plum Moon
Listening to audiobooks with my kids has become a cherished bonding activity. I'm amazed by how this app effortlessly turns my daily routines into enjoyable learning sessions.
Bowler
Automatic artwork and metadata retrieval is a time-saver. My library looks fantastic. is a time-saver. It's convenient for accessing my content. Playback speed and volume controls are fantastic. 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.
Eight Patrol
I'm finally making progress on my reading goals, thanks to this app's convenience. Say hello to audiobook nirvana! This app's user-friendly design and comprehensive features have made my reading routine smoother than ever. 🌌📚
Saint La-Z-Boy
I'm impressed by ListenBook's commitment to providing a silky-smooth playback experience. This app is my constant companion, making every moment a chance to discover new worlds. Effortlessly enjoying audiobooks on the go – kudos to this app's functionality. ListenBook has redefined how I enjoy audiobooks. It's an essential tool for my literary pursuits.
DanimalDaze
The variety of narrators adds a unique touch to each book, making every experience special. The tone adjustment feature in ListenBook Pro is a novel addition that allows me to personalize my audiobook experience. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while commuting. This audiobook was neither good nor bad - simply average. The narrator's delivery was professional but uninspired, and the recording quality was clean though not exceptional. It provided satisfactory entertainment without standing out from similar titles.
Tough Nut
This app has transformed my daily walks into exciting literary adventures. This app has given me the joy of reading even when my hands are full. The convenience of having a library at my fingertips is unparalleled. Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I consume audiobooks. I can cover more ground while maintaining comprehension.
Spooky Electric
This app has turned my gym sessions into immersive storytelling experiences – time flies by! The auto-rewind feature after interruptions is a small thing that makes a big difference. Perfect for studying with its playback controls and audio filters. Excellent app! Great for fans of this genre! The pacing, narration, and production quality were all excellent. It felt like a movie playing in my mind. I’ll be checking out more from this narrator for sure. 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.
Dez Bonbon
ListenBook's support for various download methods means I can access my content in the way that suits me best. Apple Watch compatibility enhances my audiobook experience. It's a convenient way to control playback. Elegant design and user-friendly interface. Love it! I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
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