Book description
Conceived in the Gilded Age, the Ferry Building opened in 1898 as San Francisco's portal to the world--the terminus of the transcontinental railway and a showcase of civic ambition. In silent films and World's Fair postcards, nothing said "San Francisco" more than its soaring clocktower.But as acclaimed architectural critic John King recounts in Portal, the rise of the automobile and double-deck freeways severed the city from its beloved structure and its waterfront--a connection that required generations to restore.King's narrative spans the rise and fall and rebirth of the Ferry Building. Rich with feats of engineering and civic imagination, his story introduces colorful figures who fought to preserve the Ferry Building's character (and the city's soul)--from architect Arthur Page Brown and legendary columnist Herb Caen to poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Senator Dianne Feinstein.In King's hands, the saga of the Ferry Building is a microcosm of a larger evolution along the waterfronts of cities everywhere. Portal traces the damage inflicted on historic neighborhoods and working dockyards by cars, highways, and top-down planning and "urban renewal." But when an earthquake destroyed the Embarcadero Freeway, city residents seized the chance to reclaim their connection to the bay. Transporting readers across 125 years of history, this tour de force explores the tensions impacting urban infrastructure and public spaces, among them tourism, deindustrialization, development, and globalization. Portal culminates with a rich portrait of San Francisco's vibrant esplanade today, visited by millions, even as sea level rise and earthquakes threaten a landmark that remains as vital as ever.A book for city lovers and visitors, architecture fans and pedestrians, Portal is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of San Francisco and the future of American cities.
Handsome
The intuitive interface and seamless navigation make this app a joy to use. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iβve 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!
QuestWeaver
Seamless audiobook integration β this app's design is remarkable. Looping playback and shuffle features keep my audiobook sessions engaging and fresh.
NeoGermal
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X-Dew
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Jelly Momentum
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Pixy Mox
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Petite Flurry
This app's compatibility with different file types means that my entire audiobook collection is at my fingertips. This app has made multitasking a breeze β I can 'read' while I work! The app's versatility in audio downloading is unmatched. It's a comprehensive solution for my audiobook needs. ListenBookβs playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches. I love the statistics feature. Itβs fun to see how much Iβve listened.
ThoughtTrailblazer
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VPR
With ListenBook, I've unlocked a world of educational and entertaining content right at my fingertips. This app's sleek design and intuitive features make it my trusted partner in exploring new narratives. Finally, an app that supports all my audiobook formats! ListenBook is a game-changer. Good for background listening. I didnβt get fully immersed, but it was pleasant enough to have on while doing chores. The narratorβs voice was easy to listen to, even if the delivery lacked some energy. 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.
Whip Chu
ListenBook's support for playlists in CUE format is a thoughtful touch I appreciate. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to inspire others to read. ListenBookβs playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
Rink Ruler
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Mum Mary
Audiobook lovers, meet your new best friend! This app's smooth playback and easy organization have transformed my reading experience. ππ§ The app's compatibility with CarPlay is a fantastic bonus. It keeps me entertained during long drives.
Undergrad Split
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Scratch Man
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Bit Sentinel
π Rekindling my love for stories β this app's accessibility has reignited my passion! ππ π₯ Spicing up my routine with this app β it's like having a personal storyteller on hand at all times! β¨π ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear and distraction-free listening. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to curate themed listening sessions, creating a dynamic and engaging audiobook experience. 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.
Palomino Cake
This app has brought stories to life in a way that traditional reading never could. The noise reduction feature on ListenBook Pro is a godsend for clear and comfortable listening. I can't believe how easily this app has fit into my daily routine. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a delightful way to share the joy of storytelling with friends and family. It fosters connections and conversations.
Red Delicious
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InsightInkwell
Automated artwork and metadata extraction keeps my audiobook library visually appealing. 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!
Sherwood Gladiator
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Moon Solitaire
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is such a fun way to spread joy. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening 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