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(); });
Sherm
I'm blown away by the range of non-fiction audiobooks available – so much to learn! Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique touch – it's like having a personalized reading.
CyberScribe
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GoldTouch
This app has rekindled my love for literature, and I'm spreading the word to everyone I know. ListenBook is hands down the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The interface is clean, intuitive, and packed with features like customizable playback speed and sleep timers. It supports all formats, which is a huge plus for me. Highly recommend! Absolutely loved the narration! The voice actor brought the characters to life with distinct tones and emotions. The production quality was top-notch, with no background noise or distractions. A truly immersive experience! Fairly enjoyable, but forgettable. I didn’t have any major complaints, but I also don’t see myself revisiting this one. It was a decent way to spend a few hours, though.
Mr. Wholesome
I can't believe how much more I'm 'reading' now, all thanks to this app. ListenBook's intuitive layout and quick access to chapters make audiobook navigation a breeze. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a great way to spread the joy of reading. Noise reduction and tone changing enhance the listening experience. Love it!
RiddleRanger
I'm hooked on this app's sleek design and seamless performance – it's a must-have for any reader. Effortless audiobook exploration – this app's design is a reader's dream. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the love of literature.
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Hitch Frenzy
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun and unique feature I can't get enough of. Looping playback has taken my language learning to new heights. Highly recommended! Adjustable playback speed is a fantastic feature. It allows me to customize my listening experience. Supports all my playlists and bookmarks perfectly. Very convenient. The sound quality is excellent. It feels like I’m in the story.
Scrapple
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CosPlatoon
Thanks to ListenBook, I've rediscovered the joy of exploring my favorite content on multiple devices. Audiobook multitasking made easy – this app's functionality is a marvel.
Fast FLAK
As a language learner, this app has been invaluable in improving my listening skills. With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my downtime more enriching and meaningful. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while commuting.
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Moon Orchid
ListenBook's comprehensive support for a wide range of audio formats sets it apart from other audiobook apps. 💼 Workday blues? Not anymore – this app turns my office hours into reading time! 💻📖 Say goodbye to cumbersome interfaces – this app's intuitive controls and user-friendly design have elevated my audiobook experience to new heights. 📱🔊 Love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device. The app is very user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a breeze.
Campfire Mama
The smart recommendation feature keeps surprising me with books I never knew I'd love. With this app, my audiobook library is organized and accessible, making my reading journey effortless. The user-friendly interface and precise controls make listening to audiobooks an absolute delight. I love the ability to change the font size. It makes reading the titles so easy.
Cuff Queen
I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily activities more enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback options are essential for my audiobook enjoyment and study.
Sultan of Speed
This app is a book lover's dream come true – a vast library right at your fingertips. With this app, audiobook listening has become an integral part of my daily routines – it's a game-changer.
Hen Skittle
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Risen
Thanks to ListenBook, I can enjoy my audiobooks without the need for constant synchronization. I'm impressed by ListenBook's commitment to providing a silky-smooth playback experience. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple. The app is so reliable. I’ve never had any issues with it.
Kill Switch
This app has turned my screen time into valuable learning opportunities. ⭐️ A round of applause for an app that prioritizes functionality – I can seamlessly switch between audiobooks and other tasks. 👏🎧 The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time.
LoreLoomer
I'm hooked on this app – it's my escape to different worlds and adventures. Audiobooks made convenient – this app's functionality is a true gift. Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment are excellent additions. I’m so impressed with ListenBook. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Highly recommend this app!
Freeze Queen
This app has brought stories to life in a way that traditional reading never could. The narrators' voices on this app are so soothing – it's my relaxation therapy. Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's functionality is a true marvel. The variety of supported formats means I can enjoy audiobooks from different sources hassle-free.
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