Book description
A new novel from the Booker-shortlisted authorA POWERFUL NEW NOVEL FROM THE PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING AND BOOKER-SHORTLISTED AUTHOR OF THE OVERSTORY AND BEWILDERMENT'Is there anything Richard Powers cannot write? The world here is complete, seductive, and promising. The writing feels like the ocean. Vast, mysterious, deep and alive' PERCIVAL EVERETT'An extraordinarily immersive journey through lives linked in mysterious ways - gripping, alarming and uplifting' EMMA DONOGHUERafi and Todd are two polar opposites at an elite high school where they bond over a three-thousand-year-old board game. It sets them up for life: Rafi will get lost in literature, while Todd's work will lead to a startling AI breakthrough.Elsewhere, Evie Beaulieu sinks to the bottom of a swimming pool in Montreal strapped to one of the world's first aqualungs; Ina Aroita grows up in naval bases across the Pacific with art as her only home.All of these people meet on the history-scarred island of Makatea in French Polynesia, marked for humanity's next great adventure: a plan to send floating, autonomous cities out into the open sea. As the seasteaders close in, how will Evie play the ever-unfolding oceanic game? Will Ina engage in acts of destruction? Todd and Rafi, now estranged, still find themselves in competition: Todd unravels while working on an idea to redraw the boundaries of human immortality, while Rafi and the residents must decide if they will greenlight the new project on their shores and change their home forever.Set in the world's largest ocean, Playground explores that last wild place we have yet to colonize and interweaves profound themes of technology and the environment, and a deep exploration of our shared humanity in a way only Richard Powers can.'Powers is a master of taking important topics of our times - from threats to our oceans and climate change to AI - and turning them into riveting and fiercely relevant books imbued with psychological insight and a deep awe for nature. This eloquent dance of the scientific and emotional makes him one of our finest story tellers. PLAYGROUND is brilliant, captivating and important - and the best book I've read this year' ANDREA WULFMore praise for Richard Powers:'Powers has extraordinary gifts as a writer' GUARDIAN'Impressively precise in its scientific conjectures, Bewilderment is no less rich or wise in its emotionality' OBSERVER'He composes some of the most beautiful sentences I've ever read. I'm in awe of his talent' OPRAH WINFREY'It is impossible to deny the importance of Powers's message' SUNDAY TIMES'Refreshing, original and moving' EVENING STANDARD
Screwtape
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks wherever I go. The bookmark feature is fantastic. I can easily pick up where I left off.
Shadow Bishop
📱 No more lugging around heavy books – this app brings the library to my phone! 📚📱 The app is so reliable. I’ve never had any issues with it.
Betty Cricket
ListenBook's powerful audio downloading features are a game-changer – I can have my audiobooks ready in no time. User-friendly brilliance! This app's functionality enhances my audiobook experience. The ability to organize my library is a huge plus. Everything is so neat and tidy.
Heavenly Connection
This app has transformed my screen time into valuable learning and entertainment. ListenBook's intuitive design and thoughtful features have made my audiobook experience delightful. ListenBook's statistics feature is both enlightening and motivating. It's incredible to see the time I've invested in learning through audiobooks. Bookmarks are a fantastic organizational tool. They help me keep track of important moments in my audiobooks. Looping playback has revolutionized my language learning journey. I'm making rapid progress.
Twin Blaze
Thanks to this app, listening to audiobooks has become a delightful habit. The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that makes a big difference. It enhances my listening experience.
Dallas Burn
With this app, audiobook listening has become an integral part of my daily routines – it's a game-changer. ListenBook's dedication to providing an exceptional listening experience shines through in every aspect of the app. Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks has become effortless, regardless of the source. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a delightful way to spread the joy of storytelling. A fun feature! Automated artwork and metadata extraction add a professional touch to my audiobook collection.
Howitzer Rise
I'm blown away by how this app has made my workouts more enjoyable and my mind more active. Sharing audiobooks via AirDrop is incredibly convenient. Great feature!
Sir Shark
Effortlessly managing my audiobook library – this app's design is commendable. ListenBook's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically adds a visual touch to my audiobook collection. The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my audiobook library.
Snow Pharaoh
This app's compatibility with different devices ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks anywhere, anytime. Audiobook pleasure without the fuss – this app's functionality is top-notch. The voice boost feature is amazing. It makes every word crystal clear. The app is so easy to use. I was up and running in minutes. Decent audiobook but I think I would have enjoyed reading it more. Some of the more subtle humor didn't quite land in the audio format.
Mrs. Voltage
I'm in awe of this app's ability to make reading so accessible and convenient. Adjusting the tone of the voice is an innovative feature that enhances the immersion in the content. 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!
Rooster
My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thank you, ListenBook! is a breeze with ListenBook. It's convenient and efficient. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
Mud Eye
With this app, I can devour books like never before – it's incredibly efficient. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks. It's like having a personal assistant for my literary adventures.
Alley Fiend
This app has turned my screen time into valuable learning opportunities. Finally, an app that supports all audiobook formats. It's a dream come true for audiophiles like me. This was an adequate audiobook for casual listening. The narrator maintained a consistent pace and clear diction throughout, though their performance lacked some emotional range. The audio quality was fine with no significant technical distractions.
Spooky Yellowjacket
Audiobooks have become my escape from reality – a journey into captivating worlds. 🌟 Say goodbye to boredom during long drives – this app makes road trips fly by! 🚗🎉
Rummy Stickers
With ListenBook, I can enjoy my own audio content with unparalleled ease and comfort. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a fantastic way to introduce them to new stories.
Tart Voodoo
This app's convenience has turned my exercise sessions into enlightening moments. Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true winner. The app's support for multiple formats is flawless. Very satisfied. Good for background listening. I didn’t get fully immersed, but it was pleasant enough to have on while doing chores. The narrator’s voice was easy to listen to, even if the delivery lacked some energy.
Peanut Butter Woman
I'm addicted to this app – it's a non-stop journey through captivating tales. This app's convenience and ease of use have transformed my screen time into productive learning sessions. With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my daily routines more enriching and rewarding. No need for file conversion is a game-changer. Love using ListenBook on my iPhone.
PixelPioneer
ListenBook's library organization keeps my audiobooks neat and accessible. A true organizational lifesaver! No more hassle with file conversion. This app handles all formats effortlessly. With features like auto-rewind, I never lose my place when I pause listening.
Rusty Vortex
Kudos to the creators for making literature so accessible and enjoyable. Quick access to chapters is so handy. Navigating through content is a breeze.
Green Ghost
This app has turned my long walks into delightful literary adventures. ListenBook's library organization and Book Groups feature make it easy to keep my audiobooks organized and accessible. Automatic metadata extraction keeps my library organized. It's a time-saver! Book groups keep my related titles together for a cohesive listening experience. A thoughtful feature!
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