Book description
A New Yorker Best Book of the yearAn Esquire Best Nonfiction Book of 2022From Insomniac City author Bill Hayes, "who can tackle just about any subject in book form, and make you glad he did" (SF Chronicle)-a cultural, scientific, literary, and personal history of exercise, now in paperback.Exercise is our modern obsession, and we have the fancy workout gear and fads from HIIT to spin classes to hot yoga to prove it. Exercise-a form of physical activity distinct from sports, play, or athletics-was an ancient obsession, too, but as a chapter in human history, it's been largely overlooked. In Sweat, Bill Hayes runs, jogs, swims, spins, walks, bikes, boxes, lifts, sweats, and downward-dogs his way through the origins of different forms of exercise, chronicling how they have evolved over time, dissecting the dynamics of human movement. Hippocrates, Plato, Galen, Susan B. Anthony, Jack LaLanne, and Jane Fonda, among many others, make appearances in Sweat, but chief among the historical figures is Girolamo Mercuriale, a Renaissance-era Italian physician who aimed singlehandedly to revive the ancient Greek "art of exercising" through his 1569 book De arte gymnastica. Though largely forgotten over the past five centuries, Mercuriale and his illustrated treatise were pioneering, and are brought back to life in the pages of Sweat. Hayes ties his own personal experience-and ours-to the cultural and scientific history of exercise, from ancient times to the present day, giving us a new way to understand its place in our lives in the 21st century.
Acetic Princess
ππ Turn traffic into a literary escape β this app's functionality keeps me engaged while I'm on the move. ππ§ ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has significantly enhanced my audio quality. Great for listening to a variety of content. Highly recommend! The app is so reliable. Iβve never had any issues with it.
CodeExia
Absolutely love this app! It's made my daily commute so much more enjoyable. ListenBook has transformed my daily routine into an opportunity to learn, relax, and enjoy. The ability to organize my library is a huge plus. Everything is so neat and tidy. The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time.
Trash Sling
I'm hooked on this app's ability to turn even the most mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for learning. This app's user-friendly controls and sleek design have made audiobook listening a truly immersive journey. π Grooving to the rhythm of stories while tackling household chores β a dance of productivity! πΆπ The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient. An acceptable audiobook that met basic expectations. No complaints about quality but nothing remarkable either. Would listen to this narrator again but wouldn't seek them out.
Unseen
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Marine Dre
The minimalist interface and intuitive settings make for an amazing user experience. Audiobook enjoyment has become an integral part of my routine, thanks to this app's seamless integration and user-friendly design. A must-have! ππ±
Girl Brownie
I've found my new favorite way to relax β cuddled up with an audiobook. My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thanks to automatic artwork and metadata. Finally, an app that supports a wide range of audio formats! It's a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a revelation. It elevates the audio quality, providing a clear and immersive listening experience that enhances my enjoyment. Middle-of-the-road experience. The audiobook was fineβgood narration, decent storyβbut it didnβt leave a lasting impression. If youβre looking for something low-commitment, this works.
SunnySnap
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Necromancer
ListenBook's support for various formats means I can explore a wide range of content without limitations. πββοΈπ Combining fitness and fiction β this app keeps me motivated during workouts with its engaging stories! πββοΈπ
Liquid Death
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THRESHmSTR
The app's stability and reliability make it my go-to choice for audiobooks. I'm hooked on ListenBook's silky-smooth playback, making my audio sessions truly enjoyable.
Cabbie
I love how this app brings stories to life, even during my morning jogs. πͺ Boosting my productivity with this app's efficient multitasking features β audiobook enjoyment while I conquer my to-do list! πΌπ§
Winded On Friday
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Sun Lemon
This app's playback controls and features make it a breeze to customize my listening experience. πΆββοΈπ Walking my way through exciting narratives β this app makes exercise more fun! ποΈπ§ βοΈ This app's functionality is a symphony of efficiency β I'm savoring stories with ease, even on the busiest days. πΆπ Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very pleased. ListenBookβs playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
LuminaLore
π‘ Making house chores more enjoyable β audiobooks help me stay engaged while tidying up the living space. π π The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is amazing. ListenBook is top-notch. I've found my new favorite narrator! Their voice was perfectly suited to this material, with just the right blend of authority and approachability. The production quality was broadcast-level - no distracting breaths, clicks, or inconsistent volume. Already looking for more of their work.
ThoughtTrail
I'm blown away by ListenBook's ability to maintain audio quality even for formats like FLAC and AWB. I'm so grateful for this app β it's like having a personal storyteller wherever I go. This app's support for various formats has made my audiobook collection even more diverse and exciting. 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!
Murder Cherry
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RiddleRover
The diverse range of narrators adds a new layer of depth to each story. I'm amazed by ListenBook's versatility in handling different formats β it truly supports all my audio needs.
Genghis Glyph
This app has made me realize that there's always time for a good book. With this app, every moment is an opportunity to dive into a new story. Beautiful layout and easy access to chapters. Really impressed with ListenBook. Has every feature I need. My top choice for audiobooks!
Star Sword
I can't thank the developers enough for constantly updating and improving the app. ListenBook's features are a dream come true for anyone who loves to learn on the go. I can't imagine a day without this app β it has made my audiobook journey effortless and rewarding. Audiobook joy made simple β this app's ease of use is a true marvel. Kudos to the developers for optimizing this app for iOS 16. It runs like a dream on my device.
High Deck
Audiobooks have transformed my daily walks into a time of inspiration and learning. The narrator's voices are so engaging, it's like having a personal storytelling session. The app's compatibility with various sources for audio download is a true time-saver.
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