Book description
A guide to the art of journaling—and a meditation on the central questions of life—by the bestselling author of Between Two Kingdoms, with contributions from Hanif Abdurraqib, Jon Batiste, Salman Rushdie, Gloria Steinem, George Saunders, and many more “The Book of Alchemy proves on every page that a creative response can be found in every moment of life—regardless of what is happening in the world.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray LoveFrom the time she was young, Suleika Jaouad has kept a journal. She’s used it to mark life's biggest occasions and to weather its most ferocious storms. Journaling has buoyed her through illness, heartbreak, and the deepest uncertainty. And she is not alone: for so many people, keeping a journal is an essential tool for navigating both the personal peaks and valleys and the collective challenges of modern life. More than ever, we need a space for puzzling through.In The Book of Alchemy, Suleika explores the art of journaling and shares everything she’s learned about how this life-altering practice can help us tap into that mystical trait that exists in every human: creativity. She has gathered wisdom from one hundred writers, artists, and thinkers in the form of essays and writing prompts. Their insights invite us to inhabit a more inspired life.A companion through challenging times, The Book of Alchemy is broken into themes ranging from new beginnings to love, loss, and rebuilding. Whether you’re a lifelong journaler or new to the practice, this book gives you the tools, direction, and encouragement to engage with discomfort, ask questions, peel back the layers, dream daringly, uncover your truest self—and in doing so, to learn to hold the unbearably brutal and astonishingly beautiful facts of life in the same palm.Also includes essays from: Martha Beck • Nadia Bolz-Weber • Alain de Botton • Susan Cheever • Lena Dunham • Melissa Febos • Liana Finck • John Green • Marie Howe • Pico Iyer • Oliver Jeffers • Quintin Jones • Michael Koryta • Hanif Kureishi • Kiese Laymon • Cleyvis Natera • Ann Patchett • Esther Perel • Adrienne Raphel • Jenny Rosenstrach • Sarah Ruhl • Sharon Salzberg • Dani Shapiro • Mavis Staples • Linda Sue Park • Nafissa Thompson-Spires • Jia Tolentino • Lindy West • Lidia Yuknavitch • And many others
About the Author
Suleika Jaouad is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Between Two Kingdoms, which has been translated into more than twenty languages. She wrote the Emmy Award-winning New York Times column and video series "Life, Interrupted," and her essays and feature stories have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and Vogue, among others. She is also the subject, along with husband Jon Batiste, of the Oscar-nominated documentary American Symphony-a portrait of two artists during a year of extreme highs and lows. A visual artist, her large-scale watercolors are the focus of several upcoming exhibitions. She is also the creator of the Isolation Journals, a weekly newsletter and global community that harnesses creativity as a tool to navigate life's interruptions.
Stick Shift
With this app, I've rediscovered the joy of reading through my ears, making every moment more valuable. Navigating through chapters is effortless with ListenBook. It's a user-friendly and intuitive experience.
Show Off
ListenBook's smooth playback and easy navigation ensure that my audiobook experience is always top-notch. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a blast. AirDrop makes it seamless. The sound quality is excellent. It feels like I’m in the story.
MythMaker
I can't believe how much time I've gained by listening while cooking and doing chores. 🧘♀️☕ Unwinding with a cup of tea and a captivating audiobook – relaxation meets intellectual stimulation. 🍵📖 I can't believe how easy it is to download audio from various sources. So convenient! Bookmarks are a lifesaver for audiobook lovers. They help me keep track of important moments. ListenBook’s support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily.
Palomino Cake
Simplifying my audiobook experience – this app's design is remarkable. Adjusting playback speed has given me greater control over my audiobook experience. I can optimize my learning and enjoyment by customizing the pacing. Binaural audio processing is amazing. Reduced my listening fatigue significantly. I love the statistics feature. It’s fun to see how much I’ve listened.
Springheel Jack
🛌 Bedtime stories for adults? Yes, please! This app is a dream come true. 🌙📚 Navigating audiobooks with ease – this app's functionality is a standout.
Noise Toy
I've become a more attentive listener thanks to the engaging audiobooks. The app is so user-friendly. Even my grandma can use it!
Frosty Snazz
🌟 Adding excitement to each day – this app ensures that every moment is an opportunity to explore new stories. 📚🚀 The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking. A functional audiobook. It kept me entertained, but I wasn’t blown away. The narrator’s performance was competent, though some emotional scenes fell a bit flat.
ThreadTraveler
Audiobooks have made long flights feel like a breeze – a true travel essential. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to connect over shared interests. Automatic metadata retrieval adds a professional touch to my audiobook collection. 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!
3D Waffle
With this app, every moment is an opportunity to dive into a new story. I'm amazed at how effortlessly this app has made reading a constant in my life. 🏃♀️📚 Running with purpose – audiobooks keep my mind engaged as I conquer my fitness goals. 🏃♀️🎧 AirDrop and sharing make it easy to spread the audiobook love with friends.
Soiled Dove
I'm amazed at how this app has made reading fit into every aspect of my life. I'm hooked on this app's ability to make reading fit into any moment. 📱 Carrying my favorite stories with me wherever I go – this app is like a portable library in my pocket. 📚👜 Drag and drop downloads are genius. It simplifies the entire process.
Chameleon
Simplifying my audiobook experience – this app's design is a game-changer. I'm blown away by the silky-smooth playback, even for high-quality formats like FLAC. Top-notch performance! The app is perfect for people who love to read but don’t have the time.
Golden Cougar
This app's convenience has made my downtime more rewarding and enriching. The app's compatibility with CarPlay is a dream for road trips. It keeps me entertained. The app's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a true companion for all occasions. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to jump between sections. The app is constantly updated with new features. The developers really care.
Indestructible Potato
The sound quality is outstanding – it's like having a movie theater in my ears! The ability to adjust playback speed is a game-changer for faster or more immersive listening. The app's design is sleek and modern – it's a pleasure to navigate. 📱 It's like having a personal audiobook library at my fingertips! This app's functionality is a dream come true for book lovers. 📚🔥 ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear and distraction-free listening.
Mr. Gadget
Audiobooks have become my preferred way to unwind – and this app is my partner in crime. Now I can enjoy my favorite books anytime, even during workouts. ListenBook is a true audio treasure! It turns my own audio files into immersive listening experiences. Navigating audiobooks effortlessly – this app's functionality is commendable. Download options are plenty – I can get my audiobooks from various sources hassle-free.
Hen Skittle
I can't believe how much I've learned and enjoyed through this app's audiobooks. This app's customizable features, from playback speed to filters, are fantastic. Automatic metadata extraction is a time-saver. My library is finally well-organized.
ManManMan
Listening to audiobooks on this app has become my favorite way to relax. Gone are the days of waiting for the right time to read – this app is always ready. 🎙️ The app's functionality is a true work of art – it enhances the audiobook experience and brings stories to life. 📚🎨 The statistics feature in ListenBook adds an element of self-awareness to my audiobook consumption.
Goldman
With ListenBook, I've found a convenient and enjoyable way to engage with audiobooks and educational content. I can't get enough of the binaural audio processing. It's like a breath of fresh air for my ears. I love the car mode. It’s so convenient for listening while driving.
Eye Devil
I'm blown away by how this app has made my commutes productive and my downtime entertaining. ListenBook’s interface is clean and intuitive. It’s a joy to use.
Highway
ListenBook has elevated my audiobook enjoyment to a whole new level – it's a must-have for any audio enthusiast. With this app, I'm discovering the joy of reading during my commutes. Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true triumph. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear dictaphone recordings. ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. I can't imagine going back!
Roadblock
Talk about convenience! This app's ease of use and support for multiple audio formats ensure that I can enjoy my favorite stories without any hassle. 📱🔊 ListenBook's versatility with various audio formats means I can enjoy audiobooks from multiple sources effortlessly. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
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