Book description
From the bestselling author of Cultish and host of the podcast Sounds Like a Cult, a delicious blend of cultural criticism and personal narrative that explores our cognitive biases and the power, disadvantages, and highlights of magical thinking. Utilizing the linguistic insights of her "witty and brilliant" (Blyth Roberson, author of America the Beautiful?) first book Wordslut and the sociological explorations of her breakout hit Cultish, Amanda Montell now turns her erudite eye to the inner workings of the human mind and its biases in her most personal and electrifying work yet. "Magical thinking" can be broadly defined as the belief that one's internal thoughts can affect unrelated events in the external world: Think of the conviction that one can manifest their way out of poverty, stave off cancer with positive vibes, thwart the apocalypse by learning to can their own peaches, or transform an unhealthy relationship to a glorious one with loyalty alone. In all its forms, magical thinking works in service of restoring agency amid chaos, but in The Age of Magical Overthinking, Montell argues that in the modern information age, our brain's coping mechanisms have been overloaded, and our irrationality turned up to an eleven. In a series of razor sharp, deeply funny chapters, Montell delves into a cornucopia of the cognitive biases that run rampant in our brains, from how the "Halo effect" cultivates worship (and hatred) of larger than life celebrities, to how the "Sunk Cost Fallacy" can keep us in detrimental relationships long after we've realized they're not serving us. As she illuminates these concepts with her signature brilliance and wit, Montell's prevailing message is one of hope, empathy, and ultimately forgiveness for our anxiety-addled human selves. If you have all but lost faith in our ability to reason, Montell aims to make some sense of the senseless. To crack open a window in our minds, and let a warm breeze in. To help quiet the cacophony for a while, or even hear a melody in it.
QuantumQuipper
The bookmarking feature ensures I never lose my place in a book β so convenient! I'd love to see more classic titles, but the current selection is already fantastic. ListenBook's user-friendly design and compatibility with different formats have made it my go-to app. ποΈ Elevating grocery shopping to a whole new level β audiobooks make it an adventure! ππ
Juice Petite
π§ This app is my saving grace! Now I can enjoy my beloved books while cooking up a storm! ππ³ The library organization feature is a blessing. My audiobooks are finally organized and easy to find. Looping playback has revolutionized my language learning journey. I'm making rapid progress. The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
High Woo
ListenBook's audio filters and controls have turned my listening into a personalized experience. This app's support for various formats has made my audiobook collection even more diverse and exciting. π§ Navigating through narratives has never been simpler β this app's functionality enhances my audiobook journey. ππ« The app is so user-friendly. Even my grandma can use it!
Pink Hopper
I'm absolutely in love with this app! The interface is so intuitive and user-friendly. This app's support for various formats ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks without any limitations. This app's convenience has made my downtime more rewarding and enriching. ListenBook has transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is a game-changer!
TrinitySoul
π§ Satiate your reading cravings while managing household affairs β this app has it all! ππΌ ListenBook has become my trusted companion. It's my go-to app for expanding my knowledge and enjoyment. I love how I can create playlists. Itβs perfect for organizing my books.
Bambi Benz
I've found my new favorite way to relax β cuddled up with an audiobook. This app has given me the joy of reading even when my hands are full. ListenBook has transformed my daily rituals into cherished opportunities for personal growth. I can't get enough of this app β it's like having a personal library with me. ListenBook has become my trusted companion for literary adventures. The app's features are exceptional.
Old Felix
With this app, reading is no longer a luxury β it's an essential part of my day. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a great way to spread the joy of storytelling with friends. The sleep timer is a lifesaver. I fall asleep listening to my books every night. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. Itβs a unique feature.
Breadmaker
As a visually impaired person, this app has opened up a new world of stories for me. The adjustable playback speed is a revelation. It's like having a personal audiobook narrator at my pace. The app is perfect for multitasking. I can listen while doing other things.
Danqqqqq
The sheer variety of genres available ensures there's something for everyone. I'm blown away by how this app has revolutionized my reading experience. π An app that turns house chores into exciting adventures β count me in! π§Ήπ
Sweetness
Unwinding with a good audiobook has become my favorite self-care ritual. This app has transformed my daily routines into immersive storytelling experiences. This app is a game-changer for anyone who's always on the go β it's like carrying a library in my pocket. Effortlessly exploring audiobook worlds β this app's functionality is genius. AirDrop sharing makes it easy to share audiobooks. Great feature!
Ginger Chaos
The layout of ListenBook is so beautiful and user-friendly, making it a pleasure to use. ListenBook's absence of synchronization requirements adds to its convenience and flexibility. πΆββοΈπ Walking my way through exciting narratives β this app makes exercise more fun! ποΈπ§ The basic audio filters are a game-changer. Adjusting playback speed is a breeze. An audiobook Iβll listen to again! The story was engaging, and the narratorβs performance made it even better. Some parts were so well-delivered that I replayed them just to hear the emotion again.
Abyss Tamer
This app's convenience has turned my exercise sessions into enlightening moments. With this app, every moment becomes an opportunity to indulge in fantastic stories. The controls, layout, and seamless playback are a reader's dream. ππ§ ListenBook's noise reduction feature in the Pro version is a testament to the app's commitment to audio quality. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch has made audiobook listening a part of my daily routine. The app's compatibility with Apple Watch elevates my workouts, making them more engaging and productive.
Black Fantastic
β° Starting my mornings with inspiration β audiobooks make waking up a joyous literary experience! βοΈπ§ ListenBook's commitment to a user-friendly interface and intuitive controls is evident in every aspect of the app. The statistics feature in ListenBook is a valuable tool for monitoring and optimizing my audiobook consumption.
Shivers
I used to struggle to find time for books β now, I listen while doing chores! ListenBook's versatility and user-friendly interface make it a must-have for audiobook lovers. βοΈ A round of applause for an app that prioritizes functionality β I can seamlessly switch between audiobooks and other tasks. ππ§ The range of supported formats is astounding. No more compatibility issues! Adjusting the tone of the voice is a game-changer. It's like customizing my listening experience.
Tunez
ListenBook's support for various formats means I can explore a wide range of content without limitations. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a great way to connect over stories. Tone adjustment is such an innovative feature. It adds a personal touch to narration. ListenBook is packed with useful features. Itβs the best audiobook app Iβve used. The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app.
Plum Moon
π Long road trips? No problem β this app keeps me entertained mile after mile! ππ The compatibility with Apple Watch is a game-changer. Controlling my audiobooks from my wrist is genius. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to share stories and connect with friends. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature that adds a personal touch. 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.
Rink Ruler
I've never been so entertained while doing household chores β this app is a lifesaver! The convenience of having an entire library at my fingertips is a dream come true. With this app, I've turned mundane chores into exciting opportunities for intellectual growth.
Granola Dove
Audiobook lovers, meet your new best friend! This app's smooth playback and easy organization have transformed my reading experience. ππ§ Automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my library. I don't have strong feelings about this one either way. The narration was competent but forgettable. The story itself was more engaging than the performance.
Sassy Muffin
Audiobooks have become my companion during long walks, transforming exercise into a pleasure. This app is a blessing for those with busy schedules β it's like time travel through stories. No more limits on the genres I can explore! This app's versatility in downloading and organizing audiobooks ensures I always have a captivating tale at my fingertips. ππ±
Hella Fella
This app has made 'reading' more versatile and enjoyable than ever. ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback features have become indispensable tools in my audiobook learning.
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