Book description
Sand, salt, iron, copper, oil, and lithium. These fundamental materials have created empires, razed civilizations, and fed our ingenuity and greed for thousands of years. Without them, our modern world would not exist, and the battle to control them will determine our future. - Finalist for the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year Award The fiber-optic cables that weave the World Wide Web, the copper veins of our electric grids, the silicon chips and lithium batteries that power our phones and cars: though it can feel like we now live in a weightless world of information--what Ed Conway calls "the ethereal world"--our twenty-first-century lives are still very much rooted in the material. In fact, we dug more stuff out of the earth in 2017 than in all of human history before 1950. For every ton of fossil fuels, we extract six tons of other materials, from sand to stone to wood to metal. And in Material World, Conway embarks on an epic journey across continents, cultures, and epochs to reveal the underpinnings of modern life on Earth--traveling from the sweltering depths of the deepest mine in Europe to spotless silicon chip factories in Taiwan to the eerie green pools where lithium originates. Material World is a celebration of the humans and the human networks, the miraculous processes and the little-known companies, that combine to turn raw materials into things of wonder. This is the story of human civilization from an entirely new perspective: the ground up.
London Fox
This app has reignited my passion for reading, and I'm forever grateful. 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!
Rooster
ListenBook has redefined my audiobook journey, making it more enjoyable and convenient than ever before. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear and distraction-free listening. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Mafia Princess
The 'Continue Listening' feature ensures I never lose my place, no matter where I am. This app has made me appreciate the art of storytelling even more. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a game-changer. It's like customizing my listening experience. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length feature is fantastic. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
ThermalMode
I've found my new favorite way to relax – cuddled up with an audiobook. Mood-based playlists help me choose books that suit my current state of mind. ListenBook's support for chapters and bookmarks ensures that I never lose my place in a story. User-friendly audiobook experience – this app's design is a standout. Effortlessly enjoying audiobook journeys – this app's ease of use is a winner.
Jungle King
ListenBook has redefined the way I experience stories, turning every moment into an adventure. 🎶 Swapping background music for the soothing voices of narrators – audiobooks have become my soundtrack for daily life. 🎵📚 ListenBook's dedication to providing an excellent audiobook experience is evident in its smooth and silky playback. Absolutely love this app! It's made my daily commute so much more enjoyable. Quick access to chapters and smooth playback. Fantastic app!
Marshmallow Treat
ListenBook's powerful audio downloading features make it easy to keep my content at my fingertips. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
Daffy Girl
This app has turned my daily commute into a source of inspiration and entertainment. This app has turned my cooking sessions into culinary adventures with a side of stories. Supports artwork and metadata perfectly. My library looks great!
Referee
🏃♀️📚 Combining exercise and exploration – audiobooks make my runs more exciting! 🏃♀️🎧 Looping playback is a valuable study tool. It helps me grasp complex content and retain information.
Bleeker
💃 Dancing to the rhythm of stories while I dance through house chores – pure joy! 💃📖 🎙️ This app's functionality is a symphony of efficiency – I'm enjoying audiobooks without missing a beat in my day. 🎶📚 🌌 Elevating my reading routine – this app's functionality is the key to unlocking new worlds of storytelling. 📚🔑 ListenBook's compatibility with various audio formats is impressive. From MP3 to FLAC, it handles them all flawlessly. The ability to download audio from various sources without syncing is fantastic. ListenBook makes it so easy.
DeathDancer
ListenBook's looping playback, shuffle feature, and configurable controls make learning a breeze. This app has added a new layer of enjoyment to my downtime – I'm truly grateful.
Barbera Shift
🌟 Say goodbye to boredom during long drives – this app makes road trips fly by! 🚗🎉 Audiobook pleasure simplified – this app's functionality is a reader's delight. No more hassle with formats – this app ensures my audiobook adventures are smooth, and my favorite tales are just a tap away. Highly recommended! 📚🎧 The book groups feature is a thoughtful addition. It helps me keep my series and related titles together.
Nightmare King
ListenBook's extensive statistics feature adds a new level of insight to my audiobook habits. Adjustable playback speed is a brilliant feature. It adds a layer of customization to my audiobook enjoyment. Looping playback of a single track helps me focus and absorb complex content. Highly engaging! The combination of a well-written story and skilled narration made this audiobook hard to pause. I finished it much faster than I expected because I just couldn’t stop listening.
MysticMingle
Listening to audiobooks has become my ultimate way to unwind after a long day. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch, combined with its chapters, controls, and filters, make it the ultimate audiobook app! Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a perfect match.
Commando
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a fantastic way to spread the joy of audiobooks. Accessing literary treasures has never been this straightforward – thank you, app! Looping playback helps me revise and memorize complex topics effectively. A study essential!
Lord Pistachio
I'm absolutely in love with this app! The interface is so intuitive and user-friendly. Now I can enjoy my favorite books anytime, even during workouts. This app has brought back the joy of reading, even when I'm on the move. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a fascinating way to add a personal touch to my audiobook journey. The app’s design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player.
Cooger
Audiobooks have brought a new level of enjoyment to my daily workout routine. 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!
RedMouth
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a social audiophile's dream. The vast selection of titles on this app is a book lover's dream come true. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a unique and fun feature. I can customize the narration to my liking. ListenBook makes organizing my audiobooks simple. The app is very user-friendly.
Star Sword
ListenBook's drag and drop downloads from web browsers are a time-saving feature I can't live without. This app is a true treasure for audiobook lovers – it's my go-to source for literary adventures! Savoring stories has never been this smooth – this app's functionality is genius. ListenBook's integration with CarPlay and Apple Watch adds a new level of convenience to my audiobook journey.
Clang Glyph
Noise reduction on ListenBook enhances the clarity of dictaphone recordings, allowing me to enjoy content even in noisy environments. Audiobooks have never been this engaging – this app takes them to the next level. This app has reignited my love for literature and made it a part of my everyday life. With this app, I've found a way to make long flights and road trips more enjoyable and enlightening. Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like the app knows what I need.
Zorkle Sporkle
ListenBook has made my daily activities more interesting and meaningful – I'm hooked! This app's convenience has made reading a consistent part of my life. Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I learn and enjoy audiobooks. I can adapt the pace to my needs, maximizing comprehension and retention. Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very user-friendly. I love the ability to change the playback speed. It’s perfect for my needs.
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