Book description
An evolutionary biologist tells the story of nature's toxins and why we are attracted--and addicted--to them, in this "magisterial, fascinating, and gripping tour de force" (Neil Shubin). A deadly secret lurks within our spice racks, medicine cabinets, backyard gardens, and private stashes. Scratch beneath the surface of a coffee bean, a red pepper flake, a poppy seed, a mold spore, a foxglove leaf, a magic-mushroom cap, a marijuana bud, or an apple seed, and we find a bevy of strange chemicals. We use these to greet our days (caffeine), titillate our tongues (capsaicin), recover from surgery (opioids), cure infections (penicillin), mend our hearts (digoxin), bend our minds (psilocybin), calm our nerves (CBD), and even kill our enemies (cyanide). But why do plants and fungi produce such chemicals? And how did we come to use and abuse some of them? Based on cutting-edge science in the fields of evolution, chemistry, and neuroscience, Most Delicious Poison reveals: The origins of toxins produced by plants, mushrooms, microbes, and even some animals The mechanisms that animals evolved to overcome them How a co-evolutionary arms race made its way into the human experience And much more This perpetual chemical war not only drove the diversification of life on Earth, but also is intimately tied to our own successes and failures. You will never look at a houseplant, mushroom, fruit, vegetable, or even the past five hundred years of human history the same way again.
Tomcat
I'm able to catch up on my reading list even during the busiest days. 🌟 Reading has never been this easy – this app fits right into my fast-paced lifestyle. 📚💫 ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
Spit Turanga
ListenBook's powerful audio downloading features make it easy to keep my content at my fingertips. ListenBook has become my workout companion. It keeps me engaged and entertained during exercise. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
Grabber
Efficient audiobook enjoyment – this app's functionality is a revelation. Audiobook immersion made simple – this app's ease of use is commendable.
CirrusFlash
With ListenBook, I can enjoy my audiobooks with enhanced sound quality and personalized settings. ListenBook's support for various formats ensures that no audiobook is out of reach. I can't get enough of this app's intuitive design – it's like a personal library right at my fingertips. Supports artwork and metadata perfectly. My library looks great!
Light Lion
This app's user-friendly layout and quick access to controls have made audiobook listening a breeze. 💼 Boosting productivity at work with an audiobook in the background – love it! 💻🎧
ByteBard
This app's ease of use has made reading more accessible and enjoyable than ever before. 🎧 Making housework more enjoyable – audiobooks turn mundane chores into moments of discovery. 🧹📚
Jelly Momentum
No more straining my eyes to read – now I can simply immerse myself in storytelling. I'm amazed at how this app seamlessly integrates into my life, enhancing every moment with stories. This app's convenience has transformed my screen time into meaningful reading sessions. Kudos to ListenBook for the intuitive design and easy-to-use controls. It's evident that they've put a lot of thought into user experience. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is an innovative way to make each audiobook unique.
ThreadTrail
The app's reliability and ease of use make it a true gem in the world of audiobooks. Simplifying my reading routine – this app's ease of use is remarkable. ListenBook has become my trusted companion. It's my go-to app for expanding my knowledge and enjoyment.
Mustard Centaur
I've become a loyal fan of audiobooks, and this app is the reason why! I can't imagine my daily routine without ListenBook's intuitive layout and easy-to-access controls. 👩🍳 Turning cooking sessions into culinary adventures, complete with intriguing tales! 🍳🎧 Apple Watch compatibility adds a new level of convenience to my audiobook enjoyment. It's seamless control at my wrist. ListenBook’s playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
Mechani-Man
I'm amazed at how this app has made reading such a natural part of my day. An unobjectionable but unexceptional audiobook experience. The narrator's performance was serviceable and the audio quality was fine, but nothing about the production particularly stood out or elevated the material. It was decent background listening.
Disco Thunder
ListenBook's dedication to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every aspect of the app. Listening to audiobooks on my iPad has never been easier. Highly recommend ListenBook! ListenBook makes organizing my audiobooks simple. The app is very user-friendly.
Take Away
The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while exercising. The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
Snout Pixie
I'm amazed at how this app seamlessly integrates with my daily routine. Effortlessly switching between stories – this app's ease of use is impressive.
Celtic Charger
I've fallen in love with genres I never thought I'd explore, all thanks to this app. Audiobook excellence made simple – this app's functionality is a true asset. is a breeze with ListenBook. It's convenient and efficient. ListenBook has become my trusted companion. It's my go-to app for expanding my knowledge and enjoyment. Binaural audio processing really works. Less fatigue during long listening sessions.
Mad Kid
AirDrop sharing is a very convenient feature. Thanks, ListenBook! The app is so reliable. I’ve never had any issues with it. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
WittyWordsmith
ListenBook has turned my downtime into an opportunity for exploration and growth. Every moment is a chance to dive into a new adventure with this app. Its smart controls and comprehensive format support ensure that my audiobook journey is a seamless one. 🌌🎧 The app's compatibility with CarPlay is a fantastic bonus. It keeps me entertained during long drives.
JesterZilla
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a fantastic way to spread the joy. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun way to customize my listening experience. The interface is so clean and clutter-free. It’s a pleasure to use. 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!
SkyGod
Finally, an app that values usability – navigating and listening is a breeze! The statistics tracking feature is eye-opening. I never realized how much time I spend on audiobooks until now! Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a delightful feature. Sharing is caring! The app is so versatile. It works with all my devices.
EchoEnigma
Kudos to the developers for crafting an app that understands readers' needs. The smooth playback and sleek design are pure perfection. 📚👏 The download options are versatile, making it a breeze to get my favorite audiobooks on the go. The customizable controls and playback options cater perfectly to different audiobook preferences. Perfect for listening to educational materials. Highly efficient and useful. 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.
Crash Enforcer
This app's library is a treasure trove – I'm always discovering new favorites. Say goodbye to monotony – this app's diverse format support and intuitive controls have turned my daily activities into thrilling audiobook adventures. 📱🔊 Downloading over WiFi is super efficient. Saves a lot of time.
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