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.
Skirble
🎉 Rekindling my love for reading – this app makes each day a new adventure! 📖🚀 Looping playback is an invaluable tool for my study sessions. It helps me grasp complex concepts. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections. The ability to organize my library is a huge plus. Everything is so neat and tidy.
3D Waffle
The narrators on this app are truly talented – they bring characters to life. I'm amazed at how this app has turned my errands into exciting reading sessions. I can't get enough of ListenBook's silky-smooth playback and intuitive design. It's my go-to app for both leisurely listening and study sessions. ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback features add versatility to my audiobook listening experience. The app's compatibility with Apple Watch elevates my workouts, making them more engaging and productive.
Sapiens
Bookmarking on ListenBook makes it easy to pick up where I left off – no more searching for my spot! With this app, I can devour books like never before – it's incredibly efficient. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magic wand, transforming noisy environments into serene listening spaces.
Troubled Chick
This app's playback controls and features make it a breeze to customize my listening experience. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice adds a layer of personalization that I never knew I needed. ListenBook has revolutionized the way I consume content. It's like having a personal tutor in my ear. ListenBook has all the features I need in an audiobook app. My top choice!
Flashpoint
The narrator's voice in some audiobooks is so soothing, it's like a spa for the ears. As a language enthusiast, this app has been a fantastic tool for learning new languages. ListenBook's user-friendly audio filters and controls have made my audiobook sessions more interactive and engaging. 🔥 Simplifying my reading routine – the app's functionality ensures I'm always one click away from literary adventures. 📚🔗
Bombay Shivers
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InsightInkwell
This app is my travel companion – making long journeys enjoyable and insightful. Finally, an app that caters to audiobook enthusiasts like me. The diverse format support and user-friendly design are a game-changer. 📱🔊 Looping playback is my favorite feature. It's perfect for revisiting complex content. CUE playlist support helps me organize my audiobooks efficiently. It's a great organizational tool. The ability to organize my library is a huge plus. Everything is so neat and tidy.
Nueva Nova
I can't imagine my daily rituals without this app – it's a constant source of joy. Looping playback is a game-changer for my study routine. It helps me retain information effectively. Listening statistics motivate me to read more. Excellent feature! 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. This was my first audiobook in this genre and I'm hooked! The performance brought the story to life in a way reading never could. Already downloaded another by the same narrator.
Spellbinder
⏰ Early mornings have become my favorite time to listen to audiobooks – energizing! 🌅🎧 Bookmarks are a lifesaver for audiobook lovers. They help me keep track of important moments. Sharing audiobooks via AirDrop is incredibly convenient. Great feature! ListenBook’s audio quality is excellent. The app enhances my listening experience. 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!
Flashpoint
ListenBook's focus on quality and user experience has made it my go-to app for audiobooks and educational content. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature is a time-saving convenience that I greatly appreciate. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a delightful way to connect with fellow book lovers. Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I learn and enjoy audiobooks. I can adapt the pace to my needs, maximizing comprehension and retention.
LoreLoomer
ListenBook's compatibility with various formats means I can now enjoy all my favorite audiobooks in one place. ListenBook's audio filters and controls have revolutionized the way I enjoy my audio content. This was my first audiobook in this genre and I'm hooked! The performance brought the story to life in a way reading never could. Already downloaded another by the same narrator.
Tornado Maker
ListenBook's commitment to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every detail. ListenBook's multiple ways to download audio, including from the internet, are a game-changer. I love the ability to change the background color. It’s a nice touch.
Phoenix Tetra
I can't get enough of the celebrity narrators – they add a unique charm to each book. Smooth playback and great sound quality. ListenBook is my new favorite app! I love the ability to share my progress with friends. It’s a fun feature.
High Beam
I'm thrilled to finally have a way to enjoy books while keeping up with my busy schedule. ListenBook has made audiobook listening more convenient and enjoyable than ever before.
Houston
Sharing audiobooks with friends is a thoughtful gesture that ListenBook makes seamless. Great for listening to a variety of content. Highly recommend!
Wooden German
Bravo to the creators of this app – they've truly captured the essence of convenient audiobook enjoyment. The smooth playback and thoughtful design have won me over. 📚👏 Looping playback is my favorite feature. It's perfect for revisiting complex content. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
WanderWord
I love that I can download content directly from the internet within the ListenBook app – so handy! I'm hooked on ListenBook's silky-smooth playback, making my audio sessions truly enjoyable. 🚗📚 Turn traffic into a literary escape – this app's functionality keeps me engaged while I'm on the move. 🚗🎧 Audiobook lovers, meet your new best friend! This app's smooth playback and easy organization have transformed my reading experience. 🎉🎧 I love the auto-rewind feature after interruptions. No more searching for where I left off!
Santa's Little Helper
No more carrying heavy books – this app has transformed my reading habits. ListenBook’s playback is smooth and reliable. I never have issues with audio quality. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Cupid Dust
ListenBook's commitment to providing top-notch audio quality has taken my audiobook experience to a new level. The app is so easy to use. I was up and running in minutes.
Green Scavenger
Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks is a hassle-free process, regardless of the source. The speed adjustment feature is my secret weapon for studying complex materials. 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.
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