Book description
Ian Buruma explores the life and death of Baruch Spinoza, the Enlightenment thinker whose belief in freedom of thought and speech resonates in our own time A New Yorker “Best Book of 2024” Selection “An elegant, relevant biography of a vital thinker.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Baruch (Benedictus) Spinoza (1632–1677) was a radical free thinker who led a life guided by strong moral principles despite his disbelief in an all-seeing God. Seen by many—Christians as well as Jews—as Satan’s disciple during his lifetime, Spinoza has been regarded as a secular saint since his death. Many contradictory beliefs have been attached to his name: rationalism or metaphysics, atheism or pantheism, liberalism or despotism, Jewishness or anti-Semitism. However, there is no question that he viewed freedom of thought and speech as essential to an open and free society. In this insightful account, the award-winning author Ian Buruma stresses the importance of the time and place that shaped Spinoza, beginning with the Sephardim of Amsterdam and followed by the politics of the Dutch Republic. Though Spinoza rejected the basic assumptions of his family’s faith, and was consequently expelled from his Sephardic community, Buruma argues that Spinoza did indeed lead a Jewish life: a modern Jewish life. To Heine, Hess, Marx, Freud, and no doubt many others today, Spinoza exemplified how to be Jewish without believing in Judaism. His defense of universal freedom is as important for our own time as it was in his.
Sir Squire
ListenBook's features make it the ultimate audio companion for any audiobook enthusiast. Tone adjustment is a brilliant addition that lets me personalize the narration to my liking. It adds an extra layer of connection to the audiobooks. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend! An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with it—the narration was fine, and the story was okay—but nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
K-Tin Man
With ListenBook, I can enjoy a wide range of audiobook formats without any hassle, making my listening experience seamless. ListenBook's comprehensive format support makes it the ultimate companion for audiobook enthusiasts. Looping playback is my secret weapon for language learning. It's revolutionized my approach. The audiobook player's silky-smooth playback is like music to my ears. Flawless performance!
Screwtape
I've discovered authors I'd never heard of before, and now they're among my favorites. This app has made my daily walks a time for both exercise and learning. 💼 Workday blues? Not anymore – this app turns my office hours into reading time! 💻📖 🎶 Swapping background music for the soothing voices of narrators – audiobooks have become my soundtrack for daily life. 🎵📚 Seamless audiobook integration – this app's design is a true delight.
Spontan8ty
Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to share stories and connect with friends. The user-friendly interface and smooth navigation make this app a pleasure to use daily.
NoiseCake
Listening to books in their original language has improved my foreign language skills. ListenBook's audio filters are a fantastic addition, enhancing the sound quality of my audio files. With ListenBook, my daily commutes have become a cherished time for learning and enjoyment. ListenBook's dedication to user convenience is evident in the drag-and-drop download feature from web browsers.
Trixie Doodle
I'm amazed by ListenBook's dedication to quality – it's evident in every feature. 💼 Boosting productivity at work with an audiobook in the background – love it! 💻🎧 The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while commuting.
New Cycle
With ListenBook, I can listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with maximum comfort and convenience. Audiobooks on this app have made me look forward to my long commutes. ListenBook's comprehensive format support makes it the ultimate companion for audiobook enthusiasts. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
RealmRanger
Audiobooks have become a staple in my routine, all thanks to this app's seamless integration and user-friendly design. It's a must-have for any book lover. 📖📱 ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a boon for those who enjoy deep dives into lengthy narratives.
DreadSherX
I'm in awe of this app's ability to make reading so accessible and convenient. With this app, every moment becomes an opportunity to indulge in fantastic stories. The controls, layout, and seamless playback are a reader's dream. 📚🎧 Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like the app knows what I need. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my recordings sound clearer than ever. With ListenBook Pro, long audiobooks are no problem. I love it!
Sir Shark
I'm rediscovering my favorite classics in a whole new way – through audiobooks! 💼 Boosting productivity at work with an audiobook in the background – love it! 💻🎧 📱 An app that respects my time and delivers on functionality – audiobook listening has never been this effortless. 📖🔗 ListenBook's detailed statistics feature helps me keep track of my listening habits. It's amazing to see how much I've learned from all those audiobooks! ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
Low Voltage
This app has transformed my daily routines into immersive storytelling experiences. ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. The app is well-designed and user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a joy. A decent listen overall. The narration was clear, though some character voices sounded similar. The story was interesting but had moments where it dragged slightly. Still, it was a good way to pass the time.
Shamrock
🌟 Reading has never been this easy – this app fits right into my fast-paced lifestyle. 📚💫 Audiobook immersion made simple – this app's ease of use is commendable. Audiobook joy made simple – this app's ease of use is a game-changer. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a dream come true for those epic tales. It's like having a personal audiobook library in your pocket.
Troubled Pie
The ability to adjust playback speed is a game-changer for faster or more immersive listening. Audiobooks have become a part of my self-care routine, thanks to this app. I'm amazed at how this app has made my workouts more motivating and my audiobooks more accessible. With this app, reading is as simple as pressing play – it's genius! Bookmarks have become my study companion. I can easily revisit important passages in my audiobooks.
HOV
I'm in awe of how technology has enhanced my reading experience through this app. 🚶♂️🌟 Embracing audiobooks as my companions during leisurely walks – nature and narratives, a perfect match! 🚶♂️🎧 💼 Enhancing work-from-home productivity – audiobooks make even the most routine tasks a delight. 💻📖 ListenBook's noise reduction feature in the Pro version is a testament to the app's commitment to audio quality.
TrixiePhany
Audiobooks have become my companions during daily chores, making them enjoyable. I've recommended this app to all my fellow audiobook enthusiasts. It's a game-changer! ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has significantly enhanced my audio quality.
Day Hawk
The convenience of having an entire library at my fingertips is a dream come true. Navigating chapters and genres is a breeze with this app's functionality. The tone adjustment feature in ListenBook Pro is a novel addition that allows me to personalize my audiobook experience. 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!
Midnight Rambler
With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me. 🎶📚 Replacing tunes with stories – my house is alive with the sound of narration! 🎧🏠 The app's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch is a huge plus. The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
Shady Prairie
Bravo to the creators of this app – they've truly captured the essence of convenient audiobook enjoyment. The smooth playback and thoughtful design are a win. 📚👏 This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work!
Dandelion
The narrator's voice in some audiobooks is so soothing, it's like a spa for the ears. With this app, audiobook listening has become a convenient and enjoyable part of my everyday life. Gone are the days of waiting for the right time to read – this app is always ready.
BuzzBait
Audiobooks on this app have transformed my daily routines into engaging experiences. Effortlessly managing my audiobook collection – this app's functionality is a winner. Quick access to chapters and controls ensures a seamless listening experience with ListenBook. It's effortless to use.
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