Book description
The enthralling story of how today's largest language family, spoken by nearly half the world's population, descended from one ancient dialect.Daughter. DuhitΓ‘r-. Dustr. Dukte. Listen to these English, Sanskrit, Armenian and Lithuanian words, all meaning the same thing, and you hear echoes of one of history's most unlikely journeys. All four languages-along with hundreds of others, from French and Gaelic, to Persian and Polish-trace their origins to an ancient tongue spoken as the last ice age receded. This language, which we call Proto-Indo-European, was born between Europe and Asia and exploded out of its cradle, fragmenting as it spread east and west. Its last speaker died thousands of years ago, yet Proto-Indo-European lives on in its myriad linguistic offspring and in some of our best loved works of literature, including Dante's Inferno and the Rig Veda, The Lord of the Rings and the love poetry of Rumi. How did this happen?Acclaimed journalist Laura Spinney set out to answer that question, retracing the Indo-European odyssey across continents and millennia. With her we travel the length of the steppe, navigating the Caucasus, the silk roads and the Hindu Kush. We retrace the epic journeys of nomads and monks, warriors and kings - the ancient peoples who carried these languages far and wide. In the present, Spinney meets the scientists on a thrilling mission to retrieve the lost languages and their speakers: the linguists, archaeologists and geneticists who have reconstructed that ancient diaspora. What they have learned has profound implications for our modern world, because people and their languages are on the move again. Proto is a revelatory portrait of world history in its own words.
Lady Katniss
ListenBook's configurable auto-rewind after interruptions is a smart addition that keeps me on track. π©βπ³ Turning cooking sessions into culinary adventures, complete with intriguing tales! π³π§ The app's performance is exceptional, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted audiobook experience. It's clear that it's designed with audiobook enthusiasts in mind.
Mad Rascal
Listening to audiobooks has turned mundane tasks into enjoyable experiences. β° Starting my mornings with inspiration β audiobooks make waking up a joyous literary experience! βοΈπ§
Pinball Wizard
ListenBook's library organization and book groups have made managing my audiobooks a breeze. I've become an audiobook addict, all thanks to this amazing app.
Lucky Aurora
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a fantastic way to spread the joy. π Rekindling my love for reading β this app has reintroduced me to the joy of books in a whole new way. ππ₯ High-quality playback even with complex formats like FLAC. Impressive! Makes listening to audiobooks so easy and enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook!
Cool Law Topping
Audiobook enthusiasts, gather round! This app's remarkable features, including audio filters and compatibility, have transformed my commutes into captivating journeys. ππ§ ListenBookβs interface is beautiful and functional. Itβs my favorite app for audiobooks.
Zod
ListenBook's library organization keeps my audiobooks neat and accessible. A true organizational lifesaver! I'm impressed by the extensive statistics feature, allowing me to track my audiobook consumption over time. Easy chapter navigation and beautiful design make this app stand out. Sharing audiobooks via AirDrop is incredibly convenient. Great feature! I love the auto-bookmark feature. It saves my place automatically.
Jack Cassidy
I'd love to see more classic titles, but the current selection is already fantastic. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances the audio quality to a whole new level.
Pitfall Whiskers
This app has turned my household chores into moments of intellectual growth. Audiobooks at my fingertips β this app's functionality is a true marvel. Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a fun way to personalize the listening experience. Elegant design and easy-to-use interface. Very happy with ListenBook. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
Alley Frog
I never knew my daily walks could be so fulfilling β all thanks to this app. I'm amazed by how this app effortlessly turns my daily routines into enjoyable learning sessions. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval add a professional touch to my audiobook library. Downloading over WiFi is super efficient. Saves a lot of time. This audiobook spoiled me for others! The narrator's professional delivery set a high bar - perfect diction, ideal pacing, and emotional authenticity. The recording quality was equally impressive with no distracting artifacts. I finished it far too quickly because I couldn't stop listening.
Vagabond Warrior
Seamless audiobook integration β this app's functionality is a true gem. ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback features have become indispensable tools in my audiobook learning.
Eye Candy Kitten
The voice actors are incredible β they make the characters come alive. π Adding an extra layer of delight to cooking β this app turns meal prep into a culinary adventure with its audiobooks! π²π Looping playback of a single track helps me master difficult concepts. So helpful!
Shade Nightman
This app's convenience and ease of use have transformed my screen time into productive learning sessions. Kudos to the creators for crafting an app that understands audiobook lovers. With smooth playback and thoughtful design, it's a true companion for book enthusiasts. ππ Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature. I'm loving it! I love the ability to change the playback pitch. Itβs a unique feature. I love the ability to change the playback speed. Itβs perfect for my needs.
Whipsaw
Kudos to the creators for making literature so accessible and enjoyable. ListenBook has redefined the way I experience stories, turning every moment into an adventure. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the clarity of recordings and makes my listening sessions more enjoyable.
Sick Saurus
This app's convenience has turned my daily chores into moments of intellectual discovery β a win-win! I can't believe how convenient this app has made my reading experience. Audiobooks have become my constant companions, and this app's seamless functionality and diverse compatibility ensure that every tale is a captivating journey. ππ§ I'm blown away by the app's performance. It's fast, reliable, and tailored for audiobook lovers. ListenBook has become my go-to app for all audiobooks. Full of useful features.
Mental
The app's features, like the sleep timer, make it clear that it's designed with readers in mind. This app has added a new layer of enjoyment to my downtime β I'm truly grateful. I love how this app's user-friendly interface allows me to navigate through chapters and controls effortlessly. I'm amazed at how this app has turned my errands into exciting reading sessions.
Sass Burst
The app's customization options allow me to tailor the listening experience to my liking. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magical spell that transports me into the heart of the story.
NightDream
Audiobooks have become my go-to entertainment, and this app is the reason. ListenBook has made my audiobook journey effortless, turning every moment into an escape. I love the ability to change the background color. Itβs a nice touch.
Spooky Electric
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear listening in noisy environments. With ListenBook, I can enjoy my own audio content with unparalleled ease and comfort. User-centric audiobook joy β this app's ease of use is impressive. Automated artwork and metadata extraction make my audiobook library look neat and professional.
Trouble Mittens
ListenBook has transformed my daily rituals into cherished opportunities for personal growth. Who knew that commuting could become such an enjoyable reading session? Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique touch β it's like having a personalized reading. Perfect for listening to lectures and speeches. Highly useful app.
Atlantic Rim
I've started reading more books than ever before, all thanks to this app. No more worries about compatibility β ListenBook handles numerous formats flawlessly. I've recommended ListenBook to all my fellow bookworms. It's a true companion for audiobook lovers. CUE playlist support is a thoughtful feature that keeps my audiobook listening organized and enjoyable. Good but not great. The narration was competent but lacked the extra spark that makes some audiobooks truly special. Still worth a listen though.
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