Book description
"Who hasn't stayed up late reading South Sea tales? Christina Thompson's Sea People is a South Sea tale to top them all."--Richard Rhodes, author of Energy: A Human History and the Pulitzer Prize winning The Making of the Atomic Bomb"Magnificent. . . . A grand, symphonic, beautifully written book. . . . Sea People is an archive-researched historical account that has the page-turning qualities of an all-absorbing mystery."--Boston GlobeA blend of Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel and Simon Winchester's Pacific, a thrilling intellectual detective story that looks deep into the past to uncover who first settled the islands of the remote Pacific, where they came from, how they got there, and how we know. For more than a millennium, Polynesians have occupied the remotest islands in the Pacific Ocean, a vast triangle stretching from Hawaii to New Zealand to Easter Island. Until the arrival of European explorers they were the only people to have ever lived there. Both the most closely related and the most widely dispersed people in the world before the era of mass migration, Polynesians can trace their roots to a group of epic voyagers who ventured out into the unknown in one of the greatest adventures in human history.How did the earliest Polynesians find and colonize these far-flung islands? How did a people without writing or metal tools conquer the largest ocean in the world? This conundrum, which came to be known as the Problem of Polynesian Origins, emerged in the eighteenth century as one of the great geographical mysteries of mankind.For Christina Thompson, this mystery is personal: her Maori husband and their sons descend directly from these ancient navigators. In Sea People, Thompson explores the fascinating story of these ancestors, as well as those of the many sailors, linguists, archaeologists, folklorists, biologists, and geographers who have puzzled over this history for three hundred years. A masterful mix of history, geography, anthropology, and the science of navigation, Sea People combines the thrill of exploration with the drama of discovery in a vivid tour of one of the most captivating regions in the world.Sea People includes an 8-page photo insert, illustrations throughout, and 2 endpaper maps.
Flint
ListenBook's compatibility with playlists and CUE files is a great addition for those who love organized listening. A perfectly acceptable audiobook that fulfilled its purpose. The narration was competent if not particularly memorable, and the production quality was standard for the genre. It served as decent background entertainment during mundane tasks.
Bad Bond
ListenBook's library organization and book groups make managing my collection effortless. π± Turning my phone into a portal of endless stories β this app is pure magic! πβ¨ Navigating through chapters is a breeze. I can easily jump to the parts I want to listen to.
ZenaCake
Audiobooks have turned road trips into unforgettable journeys of imagination. Adjustable playback speed is my secret weapon for covering more material in less time. A productivity boost!
Bleach
The listening stats feature is awesome. I can track my audiobook habits effortlessly. Adjustable playback speed and volume controls are excellent.
Pinup Diva
Audiobooks have made my long commutes enjoyable, and I'm always eager to see what's next. This app has made multitasking a breeze β I can listen while I work, cook, or exercise. The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient.
Willow Dragon
This app has broadened my literary horizons, introducing me to new authors. ListenBook Pro is worth every penny. The unlimited audiobook length is a dream come true. The audio filters to adjust playback speed and volume are a fantastic addition for customizing my experience. I've recommended ListenBook to all my fellow bookworms. It's a true companion for audiobook lovers. Perfect for both first-time listeners and audiobook veterans! The narrator's warm, inviting tone made this an incredibly comfortable listening experience. I particularly appreciated how well they handled dialogue - each character felt distinct without being cartoonish. The pacing kept me engaged throughout.
DanimalDaze
I'm hooked on ListenBook's silky-smooth playback, making my audio sessions truly enjoyable. This app is my secret weapon for learning while I'm on the move. πͺ Doubling the impact of my workouts β exercising and exploring stories, all thanks to this app! πͺπ§ Audiobook lovers, rejoice! This app's functionality is a game-changer. Seamlessly switch between formats and enjoy a hassle-free reading experience. π±π§ ListenBook has transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is a game-changer!
Sky Trinity
πͺ Boosting my productivity with this app's efficient multitasking features β audiobook enjoyment while I conquer my to-do list! πΌπ§ ListenBook has united my love for audiobooks with my passion for learning. What a brilliant app! Looping playback is a game-changer for my study sessions. I can focus on challenging content.
Friday Ferrari
With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. The fact that ListenBook supports a wide range of formats without DRM protection is a huge win. This app has turned my mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for reading. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my library look organized and professional. Easy chapter access and smooth playback. Love this app!
Seal Snake
This app's ease of use has made my downtime more enriching and enjoyable. π₯ Adding a spark of excitement to my daily routine β this app is my secret weapon! β¨π Audiobooks made easy β this app's functionality is truly a gift. ListenBook is a must-have for audiobook lovers. The auto-rewind feature ensures I never miss a word. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a creative feature. It allows for a unique and personalized experience.
Feral Cookie
I'm amazed at ListenBook's intuitive interface and precise controls β it's a joy to navigate. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to curate themed listening sessions, creating a dynamic and engaging audiobook experience. Adjustable playback speed and volume control make for a customized experience. 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.
K-Tin Man
This app has turned audiobook listening into a daily ritual for me. This app has rekindled my passion for storytelling in the most convenient way. Navigating audiobooks with ease β this app's design is user-centric. The app is so well-designed. Itβs clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Flotsams54
Apple Watch compatibility enhances my audiobook experience. It's a convenient way to control playback. Absolutely loved the narration! The voice actor brought the characters to life with distinct tones and emotions. The production quality was top-notch, with no background noise or distractions. A truly immersive experience! Highly engaging! The combination of a well-written story and skilled narration made this audiobook hard to pause. I finished it much faster than I expected because I just couldnβt stop listening. This audiobook made my workouts fly by! The engaging narration kept me motivated to keep listening, which meant longer gym sessions. The narrator's energy matched the material perfectly - upbeat when needed, somber when appropriate. A great example of how narration can enhance text. 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.
Sun Washer
I'm hooked on this app β it's like Netflix for book lovers! ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay is a major convenience during road trips. The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my audiobook library. The listening stats feature is awesome. I can track my audiobook habits effortlessly. The appβs design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player.
Delirious Supernova
An audiobook lover's dream come true. So many options, I'm in heaven! Audiobooks have become my companions during daily chores, making them enjoyable. This app has turned my gym sessions into immersive storytelling experiences β time flies by! ListenBook has become my workout buddy. It's seamlessly integrated with Apple Watch.
FlyGuardX
This app has given me the joy of reading even when my hands are full. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is an innovative touch that adds a layer of personalization. ListenBook's extensive format support makes it the ultimate audiobook app for any audiobook lover. Looping playback helps me retain knowledge from audiobooks effectively. It's an invaluable tool.
Shadow Gal
I'm constantly amazed by the vast selection β there's always something new to discover. I'm blown away by the quality of narration on this app β it's like being in the story. π Rekindling my love for stories β this app's accessibility has reignited my passion! ππ Binaural audio processing really helps reduce fatigue. A functional audiobook. It kept me entertained, but I wasnβt blown away. The narratorβs performance was competent, though some emotional scenes fell a bit flat.
Neophyte Believer
This app has broadened my literary horizons, introducing me to new authors. With this app, reading is as simple as pressing play β it's genius! β° Waking up to audiobooks β mornings have never been this magical and inspiring! βοΈπ§ Unlimited length audiobooks with ListenBook Pro are a huge plus! This served its purpose as background listening while I worked. I probably missed some details but the narrator's voice was pleasant enough.
Bleach
This app has ignited my passion for reading once again β but in a modern, convenient way. Seamless integration with all my devices and flawless synchronization β top-notch. π Rekindling my literary flame β this app has brought back the joy of reading in a whole new format. ππ I love the variety of themes available. It makes the app feel personalized.
White Swan
ListenBook's dedication to delivering a top-notch experience is evident in every detail. No more hassle with file conversion. This app handles all formats effortlessly.
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