Book description
"Brave and nuanced...an act of tremendous compassion and a literary triumph." --The New York Times "Immensely emotional and unforgettably haunting." --Wall Street Journal Acclaimed author Jonathan Rosen's haunting investigation of the forces that led his closest childhood friend, Michael Laudor, from the heights of brilliant promise to the forensic psychiatric hospital where he has lived since killing the woman he loved. A story about friendship, love, and the price of self-delusion, The Best Minds explores the ways in which we understand--and fail to understand--mental illness. When the Rosens moved to New Rochelle in 1973, Jonathan Rosen and Michael Laudor became inseparable. Both children of college professors, the boys were best friends and keen competitors, and, when they both got into Yale University, seemed set to join the American meritocratic elite. Michael blazed through college in three years, graduating summa cum laude and landing a top-flight consulting job. But all wasn't as it seemed. One day, Jonathan received the call: Michael had suffered a serious psychotic break and was in the locked ward of a psychiatric hospital. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, Michael was still in the hospital when he learned he'd been accepted to Yale Law School, and still battling delusions when he decided to trade his halfway house for the top law school in the country. He not only managed to graduate, but after his extraordinary story was featured in The New York Times, sold a memoir for a large sum. Ron Howard bought film rights, completing the dream for Michael and his tirelessly supportive girlfriend Carrie. But then Michael, in the grip of an unshakeable paranoid fantasy, stabbed Carrie to death with a kitchen knife and became a front-page story of an entirely different sort. The Best Minds is Jonathan Rosen's brilliant and heartbreaking account of an American tragedy. It is a story about the bonds of family, friendship, and community; the promise of intellectual achievement; and the lure of utopian solutions. Tender, funny, and harrowing by turns, at times almost unbearably sad, The Best Minds is an extreme version of a story that is tragically familiar to all too many. In the hands of a writer of Jonathan Rosen's gifts and dedication, its significance will echo widely.
Silent
Listening to books in their original language has improved my foreign language skills. Listening to audiobooks while cooking has made meal prep much more enjoyable. This app has rekindled my passion for storytelling in the most convenient way. This app has turned my screen time into valuable learning opportunities. Sharing audiobooks with friends is so easy with AirDrop. It's a great way to spread happiness.
Short Firecracker
This app has brought storytelling into every corner of my life β it's incredible. ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback features have become indispensable tools in my audiobook learning. The app's compatibility with CarPlay has made my road trips so much more enjoyable.
Pink Nightmare
I can't believe I waited so long to start listening to audiobooks β this app has converted me! π§ Fueling my audiobook addiction with this fantastic app β pure listening pleasure! ππ₯ Iβve been using ListenBook for months, and itβs been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesnβt drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Miss Fix It
π This app's functionality is a masterpiece β it seamlessly integrates audiobooks into my daily routine. ππ¨ Finally, an app that handles all my audiobook formats effortlessly. ListenBook is a must-have!
Upper D3ckR
ListenBook's seamless audio player has turned my listening sessions into moments of pure delight. The quick access to chapters and controls makes the app a joy to use. I'm always in control. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a bonding experience made easy through AirDrop and sharing options. The interface is sleek and modern. It's a pleasure to navigate and use the app. 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!
Lord Nikon
This app's convenience has transformed my screen time into meaningful reading sessions. ποΈ This app's functionality is a symphony of efficiency β I'm enjoying audiobooks without missing a beat in my day. πΆπ Audiobooks made easy β this app's functionality is truly a gift. The app is so well-designed. Itβs clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Flotsams54
Looping playback helps me retain knowledge from audiobooks effectively. It's an invaluable tool. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time.
Highlander Monk
Efficiency meets audiobooks β this app's functionality is a true winner. This app is my audiobook haven. With a user-friendly interface and features like audio filters, I'm engrossed in stories like never before. ππ 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 has redefined how I enjoy audiobooks. It's an essential tool for my literary pursuits.
Moon Solitaire
I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's intuitive and user-friendly design. I'm addicted to this app β it's a non-stop journey through captivating tales. Audiobooks have turned my quiet moments into imaginative journeys β thank you, app! ListenBook has made managing and enjoying audiobooks a seamless and delightful experience.
PP Dubs
I've never been so entertained while doing household chores β this app is a lifesaver! CarPlay compatibility takes my driving experience to a whole new level. Audiobooks on the road have never been better.
Vermilion
I can finally tackle my reading list while stuck in traffic β what a win! ListenBook's powerful audio downloading features are a dream come true β no more hassles! I'm hooked on this app's intuitive features β from chapters to playback controls. CUE playlist support is a fantastic addition. It helps me organize my audiobooks effortlessly. The user-friendly interface and precise controls make listening to audiobooks an absolute delight.
Pinball Esq
The app's customization options allow me to tailor the listening experience to my liking. This app's compatibility with different formats ensures that no audiobook is off-limits β truly impressive. ππ Exploring stories even with my eyes off the page β this app is a bedtime dream! π΄π§ ListenBookβs CarPlay support makes listening in the car a seamless experience. The bookmark feature is fantastic. I can easily pick up where I left off.
Nessie Pork
ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is an innovative touch that adds a layer of personalization. Looping playback is my favorite feature. It's perfect for revisiting complex content. Auto-rewind is incredibly helpful. Excellent functionality. 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.
X-Dew
I love that I can enjoy audiobooks while cooking elaborate meals in the kitchen. Bookmarking favorite parts of audiobooks is a breeze. It's like having a personalized study guide.
Despair
Listening to books in their original language has improved my foreign language skills. With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. ListenBook's support for various download methods and audio formats ensures that I can always find what I'm looking for. Audiobooks have become my constant companions, and this app's seamless functionality and broad compatibility ensure every story is a captivating ride. ππ§
Blinker
Now I can enjoy my favorite books anytime, even during workouts. Auto-rewind feature is extremely helpful. Great functionality. The app is so well-designed. Itβs clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
K-Tin Man
The narrators' voices on this app are so soothing β it's my relaxation therapy. Effortless audiobook management β this app's usability is a winner. ListenBook has become my ultimate audiobook companion. It enhances every listening session. Bookmarks are a fantastic organizational tool. They help me keep track of important moments in my audiobooks.
Freeze Queen
Audiobooks on this app have turned my exercise sessions into moments of education. ListenBookβs audio quality is excellent. The app enhances my listening experience.
Foot-long Fry
This app is a time-saver β I can 'read' even when I'm on the move. ListenBook is a prime example of user-centered design. It's clear that the developers understand audiobook lovers' needs.
Blizzard Vixen
I love how ListenBook extracts artwork and metadata from audio files, adding a visual touch to my listening experience. ListenBook has taken my listening pleasure to new heights β it's a true audio marvel. With this app, I'm discovering the joy of reading during my commutes. Seamless integration of audiobooks β this app's ease of use is impressive. This audiobook was an absolute pleasure to listen to! The narrator's voice was rich and expressive, perfectly capturing the tone of the material. I found myself completely immersed in the story, often sitting in my car longer than necessary just to hear what happened next. The production quality was excellent with clear audio throughout.
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