Book description
“An uncommon book . . . [that] informs and enlightens. . . A heist story that manages to underline the enduring and continuing importance of natural history collections and their incredible value to science. We need more books like this one.” —Science“The best compliment I can give a nonfiction writer is that they make me care deeply about an obscure topic I would otherwise never have been interested in. That’s the case with Kirk Wallace Johnson’s The Feather Thief.” —Eva Holland, Outside, “The Best Summer Books”“A fascinating account of a bizarre crime . . . The Feather Thief is one of the more peculiar and gripping crime stories in recent memory.” —LitHub CrimeReads, “The Essential True Crime Books of Spring 2018” “Johnson succeeds in conveying the gravity of this natural-history 'heist of the century,' and one of The Feather Thief’s greatest strengths is the excitement, horror, and amazement it evokes. It’s nonfiction that reads like fiction, with plenty of surprising moments.” —Outside “A riveting read.” —Nature “A literary police sketch—part natural history yarn, part detective story, part the stuff of tragedy.” —Smithsonian“Within pages I was hooked. This is a weird and wonderful book . . . Johnson is a master of pacing and suspense . . . It’s a tribute to [his] storytelling gifts that when I turned the last page I felt bereft.” —Maggie Fergusson, The Spectator (London)“A riveting story about mankind’s undeniable desire to own nature’s beauty and a spellbinding examination of obsession, greed, and justice . . .[told] in engrossing detail. . . . A gripping page-turner.” —Bustle“Enthralling.” —HelloGiggles“Richly informative, with handy illustrations, endlessly fascinating and crackingly entertaining, The Feather Thief is the kind of true-crime narrative that gives Erik Larson's much-lauded The Devil in the White City a run for the money.” —Shelf Awareness“Highly entertaining . . . journalism at its best . . . If you know nothing about fly-fishing or tying, it doesn’t matter, as long as you like a well-written story.” —Karen Gallagher, The Baltimore Sun's Roughly Speaking podcast“Reads like a whodunit . . . I could not put it down.”—Tom Rosenbauer, The Orvis Fly Fishing Guide Podcast“This is the type of book I absolutely love – one that takes a seemingly obscure topic and shines a brilliant and bizarre and endlessly fascinating light upon it. The crime itself is riveting, but Kirk Wallace Johnson’s portrayal of the crazy world of feather fanatics makes this an unforgettable read.”—Michael Finkel, author of The Stranger in the Woods“Captivating...Everything the author touches in this thoroughly engaging true-crime tale turns to storytelling gold. . . . Johnson's flair for telling an engrossing story is, like the beautiful birds he describes, exquisite. . . . A superb tale about obsession, nature, and man's ‘unrelenting desire to lay claim to its beauty, whatever the cost.’”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review“[An] enthralling account of a truly bizarre crime. . . . Johnson goes deep into the exotic bird and feather trade and concludes that though obsession and greed know no bounds, they certainly make for a fascinating tale. The result is a page-turner that will likely appeal to science, history, and true crime readers.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review“A remarkably compelling story of obsession and history.” —Booklist, Starred Review“You'll never look at a feather the same way again after reading this riveting detective story . . . [The Feather Thief] brilliantly weaves together Alfred Russel Wallace, the surprisingly shadowy history of fly fishing, conservation and the plumage of the most beautiful birds on earth.” —The Bookseller (UK) “A true-crime tale that weaves seemingly unrelated threads—a museum break-in; the development of evolutionary theory; a case of post-Iraq PTSD; endangered birds; and (above all) the murky underworld of fly-tying obsessives—into a spellbinding narrative tapestry.” —Mark Adams, author of Turn Right at Machu Picchu “A captivating tale of an unlikely thief and his even more unlikely crime, and a meditation on obsession, greed, and the sheer fascination in something as seemingly simple as a feather.”—Paul Collins, author of The Murder of the Century“A stirring examination of the devastating effects of human greed on endangered birds, a powerful argument for protecting our environment—and, above all, a captivating crime story.”—Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees“This gem of a book, about a heist of archival birds, is marvelous, moving, and transcendent. I can’t stop thinking about it.” —Dean King, author of Skeletons on the Zahara and The Feud“This extraordinary book exposes an international underground that traffics in rare and precious natural resources, yet was previously unknown to all but a few. A page-turning read you won’t soon forget, The Feather Thief tells us as much about our cultural priorities as it does about the crimes themselves. There’s never been anything like it.” —Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Hidden Life of Dogs jQuery(function() { jQuery( "#tabs" ).tabs(); });
Swerve
The variety of narrators adds a unique touch to each book, making every experience special. The app's performance is beyond impressive. It's like it's tailor-made for my device. This app is a game-changer for audiobook enthusiasts. The interface is intuitive, and the playback is seamless! Downloading books directly in the app is so easy. Highly recommend!
BlackExcalibur
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Taffy Duchess
This app's intuitive controls and user-friendly layout have made audiobook listening a true pleasure. Automatic artwork and metadata retrieval is a time-saver. My library looks fantastic. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique touch – it's like having a personalized reading. I’ve tried many audiobook players, and this one is by far the best.
Granola Dove
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Mallow Man
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EchoExplorer
ListenBook's compatibility with playlists and CUE files is a great addition for those who love organized listening. The download options are versatile, making it a breeze to get my favorite audiobooks on the go. 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.
Ice
I'm grateful for ListenBook's support for a wide range of formats, making it a one-stop solution for audio content. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is fascinating. I can alter the reader's voice to match my mood—what a creative addition! ListenBook makes organizing my audiobooks simple. The app is very user-friendly.
Metal Star
I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily routines more enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. Audiobooks made easy – this app's functionality is truly a gift. Makes listening to audiobooks so easy and enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook! This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark feature—it saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend! The perfect balance between dramatic reading and natural storytelling. Felt like a friend telling me an amazing story rather than someone just reading words.
Ginger Chaos
I've found hidden gems in genres I never thought I'd be interested in. Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's functionality is truly impressive. Kudos to the creators for crafting an app that understands audiobook lovers. With smooth playback and thoughtful design, it's a true companion for book enthusiasts. 📚👏 Quick access to chapters and controls makes ListenBook a joy to use. It's a seamless experience.
Steel Cut Toe
ListenBook has transformed my listening habits, making them more engaging and enjoyable. This app's ease of use has made my long drives educational and enjoyable. ListenBook's player features are incredibly helpful. Chapters and bookmarks make navigation easy. Elegant design and easy-to-use interface. Very happy with ListenBook. 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!
New York Sixlet
ListenBook has redefined the way I experience stories, turning every moment into an adventure. ListenBook's player features are incredibly helpful. Chapters and bookmarks make navigation easy.
Mud Finger
With this app, reading is no longer a task – it's a delightful habit. The app's versatility in audio downloading is unmatched. It's a comprehensive solution for my audiobook needs. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my audiobook library look organized and polished.
2nd Hand Joe
🎶📚 Tuning in to the symphony of stories – audiobooks are the soundtrack of my daily routines. 🎵📚 Seamless audiobook integration – this app's functionality is truly remarkable. Supports all my playlists and bookmarks. Very convenient. Listening stats feature keeps me motivated to read more. Love it! The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time.
Tall Honey
I've become the go-to storyteller at bedtime with the help of this magical app. I'm enjoying books I never thought I'd be interested in – all thanks to this app. I'm impressed by ListenBook's commitment to providing a silky-smooth playback experience. Library organization has never been easier thanks to ListenBook. My collection is well-managed.
ForumFlare
ListenBook's user-friendly interface and seamless playback have made it my go-to app. Supports all audio formats I use without issues. Very happy. Adjustable playback speed and volume controls are excellent. The app is perfect for multitaskers. I can listen while working out.
Suicide Crusher
I've become so much more productive while cleaning or exercising – thanks to this app! Navigating audiobooks with ease – this app's design is user-centric. ListenBook's statistics feature is both enlightening and motivating. It's incredible to see the time I've invested in learning through audiobooks.
Cabbie
I've become a loyal fan of audiobooks, and this app is the reason why! This was an adequate audiobook for casual listening. The narrator maintained a consistent pace and clear diction throughout, though their performance lacked some emotional range. The audio quality was fine with no significant technical distractions.
ThoughtTraveler
I'm amazed at how this app seamlessly integrates with my daily routine. ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made my life so much easier. ListenBook's dedication to excellence shines through in its performance and features. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and seamless playback have made it my go-to app.
High Kingdom Warrior
I've never been so entertained while doing household chores – this app is a lifesaver! This app's compatibility with various formats ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks hassle-free. ListenBook's statistics feature is eye-opening. I had no idea how much time I spent immersed in audiobooks until I started using it. ListenBook's attention to detail in design and functionality sets it apart from other audiobook apps. I love the ability to import books from my computer. It’s so easy.
Knuckles
Thank you for making literature more accessible, enjoyable, and immersive. This app is a game-changer! ListenBook's user-friendly controls and innovative features have made it an essential tool for my audiobook enjoyment. I'm addicted to this app – it's a non-stop journey through captivating tales. ListenBook’s support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily.
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