Book description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From a renowned National Book Award–winning scholar, an extraordinary new account of the life of Jesus that explores the mystery of how a poor young man inspired a religion that reshaped the world.Early in her career, Elaine Pagels changed our understanding of the origins of Christianity with her work in The Gnostic Gospels. Now, in the culmination of a decades-long career, she explores the biggest subject of all, Jesus. In Miracles and Wonder she sets out to discover how a poor young Jewish man inspired a religion that shaped the world.The book reads like a historical mystery, with each chapter addressing a fascinating question and answering it based on the gospels Jesus's followers left behind. Why is Jesus said to have had a virgin birth? Why do we say he rose from the dead? Did his miracles really happen and what did they mean?The story Pagels tells is thrilling and tense. Not just does Jesus comes to life but his desperate, hunted followers do as well. We realize that some of the most compelling details of Jesus's life are the explanations his disciples created to paper over inconvenient facts. So Jesus wasn't illegitimate, his mother conceived by God; Jesus's body wasn't humiliatingly left to rot and tossed into a common grave—no, he rose from the dead and was seen whole by his followers; Jesus isn't a failed messiah, his kingdom is a metaphor: he lives in us. These necessary fabrications were the very details and promises that electrified their listeners and helped his followers' numbers grow.In Miracles and Wonder, Pagels does more than solve a historical mystery. She sheds light on Jesus's enduring power to inspire and attract.
About the Author
ELAINE PAGELS is the Harrington Spear Paine Professor of Religion at Princeton University. In 2015 she received the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama, and earlier in her career was awarded a Rockefeller, Guggenheim, and MacArthur fellowship in consecutive years. As a young researcher at Barnard College, she changed the historical landscape of the Christian religion by exploding the myth of the early Church as a unified movement. Her findings were published in the bestselling book The Gnostic Gospels (1979), which won both the National Book Critics Circle Award and the National Book Award. Her subsequent books include Why Religion? Revelations, Reading Judas, Beyond Belief, The Origin of Satan, and Adam, Eve, and the Serpent. She has been profiled in Time, The Atlantic, Vogue, The New Yorker, and Newsweek's issue "Women and Power."
Slint FUBAR
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Scratch
This app has made my commutes and long drives a source of joy and learning. ListenBook is more than just an app – it's a doorway to a world of knowledge and imagination. The app's support for multiple formats is flawless. Very satisfied. Adjustable playback speed and volume controls are fantastic features. This audiobook exceeded all my expectations! The narrator's ability to convey emotion through voice alone was remarkable. I laughed, I gasped, I might have even teared up at points - all because of the incredible vocal performance. The story came alive in a way reading alone couldn't achieve.
Back Bett
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Steel Heart
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Darkside Orbit
Listening to audiobooks has made my daily commute more enjoyable and productive. Effortlessly switching between stories – this app's ease of use is impressive. Great for both casual listening and studying. The audio filters are a nice touch. Finally, an app that handles all my audiobook formats effortlessly. ListenBook is a must-have! 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!
Shadow Bishop
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Firedog
ListenBook's audio filters and controls have turned my listening sessions into immersive experiences. Navigating my audiobook library is a breeze – thank you, app developers! The app is so versatile. It works with all my audiobook formats.
MindfulMingle
Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a fun and convenient way to share the magic of storytelling with friends and family, sparking meaningful discussions. The app is very user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a breeze.
Lil Rebel Ma
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Chip Queen
Simplifying my audiobook experience – this app's design is a game-changer. ListenBook is hands down the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The interface is clean, intuitive, and packed with features like customizable playback speed and sleep timers. It supports all formats, which is a huge plus for me. Highly recommend! The narrator's voice was like butter - smooth, rich, and utterly pleasant to listen to for hours. They handled complex sentences with ease, making even dense material accessible. I never had to rewind because I missed something due to unclear delivery. Perfection!
Swing Setter
The app's recommendations are surprisingly accurate – it's like they know my taste perfectly! With this app, audiobook listening has become a convenient and enjoyable part of my everyday life. The app's seamless integration with Apple Watch makes it my perfect workout companion. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a novel feature that allows for a personalized listening experience. 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.
Toy Peep
Supports all my playlists and bookmarks. Very convenient. The app is so versatile. It works with all my devices.
BearDrift
An audiobook lover's dream come true. So many options, I'm in heaven! Listening to audiobooks has become my ultimate way to unwind after a long day. I’ve tried many audiobook players, and this one is by far the best.
Ba1t
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear listening in noisy environments. ListenBook's integration with CarPlay and Apple Watch has streamlined my multitasking. Audiobooks have become a staple in my routine, all thanks to this app's seamless integration and user-friendly design. It's a must-have for any book lover. 📖📱 The download options are versatile, making it a breeze to get my favorite audiobooks on the go.
Moon Radar
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Nueva Nova
Say goodbye to boring commutes – this app's immersive audio experience and intuitive controls have transformed my daily journeys. 🌟📚 The statistics tracking feature is a gem. I'm surprised by how much time I spend on audiobooks!
Impulse
📱 An app that respects my time and delivers on functionality – audiobook listening has never been this effortless. 📖🔗 Bookmarks are a fantastic tool for keeping track of important moments. They're a game-changer.
Noisy Girl
The app's layout is clean and intuitive, making it a pleasure to navigate. I used to struggle to find time for books – now, I listen while doing chores! No more hassle with file conversion. This app handles all formats effortlessly. Supports a wide range of formats flawlessly. Very happy with it.
Snowflake Pixie
I've become a loyal fan of audiobooks, and this app is the reason why! ListenBook's beautiful layout and quick access to chapters make every listening session a pleasure. I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my daily dose of literary magic. ListenBook's sleek design and intuitive controls make it my go-to app for audiobooks. Packed with useful features. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook app.
RiddleRanger
ListenBook's dedication to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every aspect of the app. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the audio quality and ensures that I can immerse myself fully in the content. I’m so impressed with ListenBook. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Highly recommend this app!
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