Book description
"A delightful and fascinating book filled with insight and wit, which will make you think twice and cheer up." -- Steven PinkerIn a bold and provocative interpretation of economic history, Matt Ridley, the New York Times-bestselling author of Genome and The Red Queen, makes the case for an economics of hope, arguing that the benefits of commerce, technology, innovation, and change--what Ridley calls cultural evolution--will inevitably increase human prosperity. Fans of the works of Jared Diamond (Guns, Germs, and Steel), Niall Ferguson (The Ascent of Money), and Thomas Friedman (The World Is Flat) will find much to ponder and enjoy in The Rational Optimist.For two hundred years the pessimists have dominated public discourse, insisting that things will soon be getting much worse. But in fact, life is getting better--and at an accelerating rate. Food availability, income, and life span are up; disease, child mortality, and violence are down all across the globe. Africa is following Asia out of poverty; the Internet, the mobile phone, and container shipping are enriching people's lives as never before.An astute, refreshing, and revelatory work that covers the entire sweep of human history--from the Stone Age to the Internet--The Rational Optimist will change your way of thinking about the world for the better.
IceDog
Hands down, the best audiobook collection I've ever come across. It has everything I want to listen to. ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it an essential companion for my daily commutes and workouts. It's convenience at its finest! Unlocking a world of literary wonders β this app's extensive format support and user-centric approach have rekindled my love for books. π±π Beautiful layout and easy access to chapters. Really impressed with ListenBook.
Slacker Cat
No more fighting over the radio during family trips β we're all hooked on audiobooks now. I love that ListenBook supports a wide range of formats, making my library diverse.
Twinkle
ListenBook has turned my everyday moments into extraordinary journeys of imagination. is a time-saver. It's convenient for accessing my content. ListenBook has become an integral part of my daily routine. Its compatibility with Apple Watch and CarPlay makes it the ultimate companion for various activities.
Lilac Lizard
ListenBook's looping playback, shuffle feature, and configurable controls make learning a breeze. ListenBook's library organization features have transformed my chaotic audiobook collection into an organized masterpiece. Noise reduction feature is magic. Now I can listen to recordings even in noisy settings. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. Itβs a unique feature.
Moonflower
ListenBook's seamless integration with CarPlay enhances my daily commute, making it a productive and enjoyable experience. π Unleashing the power of audiobooks with this user-friendly app β it's like having a personal storyteller on demand! ππ₯ The download options are versatile, making it a breeze to get my favorite audiobooks on the go.
FireBerry
This app has transformed my daily routines into immersive storytelling experiences. π§ Elevating my reading experience β this app's intuitive controls and organization features make audiobook enjoyment effortless. π±π Effortlessly exploring audiobook worlds β this app's functionality is genius. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a revelation. It eliminates distractions and enhances the clarity of recordings, resulting in a more immersive experience. I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device.
Emerald Goddess
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook is a fantastic way to spread the joy of listening. This app's compatibility with different formats has made my audiobook collection diverse and enjoyable. From novels to speeches, this app's versatility in playing different formats has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary listening sessions. π±π ListenBook's intuitive interface and quick controls make it a pleasure to navigate through audiobooks. Auto-rewind feature is very useful. Excellent app!
CosPlatoon
ListenBook's support for chapters and bookmarks ensures that I never lose my place in a story. ListenBook has become my ultimate audiobook companion. It enhances every listening session.
Super Flick
I can't believe how easy it is to download and manage my audio content using ListenBook. ListenBook has made me fall in love with audiobooks all over again β it's a must-have app. Audiobook pleasure simplified β this app's design is a standout. Audiobook magic at my fingertips! This app's thoughtful features, such as statistics tracking and audio filters, have added a new layer of excitement to my reading journey. πβ¨ ListenBookβs interface is beautiful and functional. Itβs my favorite app for audiobooks.
Star Scratch
I can't believe how easily this app has fit into my daily routine. π Dancing through chores with audiobooks β this app turns cleaning into a lively and literary affair! πΆπ ListenBookβs support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily. 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.
Toxic-oxide
I can't thank this app enough for making my audiobook experience so effortless. From downloading to playback, it's a true companion for book lovers. ππ« Quick access to chapters and controls makes ListenBook a joy to use. It's a seamless experience.
Curio
Listening to audiobooks with my kids has become a cherished bonding activity. β° Early mornings have become my favorite time to listen to audiobooks β energizing! π π§
Lewd Dice
The ListenBook app is a fantastic companion for my long walks, helping me learn and explore at the same time. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and intuitive controls make it a joy to navigate through my audiobooks. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and seamless playback have made it my go-to app. With this app, reading is no longer a luxury β it's an essential part of my day. I can't get enough of the smooth playback experience. It's like a symphony for my ears.
Blistered Outlaw
Audiobook enthusiasts, rejoice! This app's thoughtful features, such as auto-rewind and chapter navigation, cater perfectly to our storytelling cravings. ππ Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks has never been easier or more convenient. The app is perfect for language learners. The playback speed control is a game-changer.
Tin Fox
The statistics tracking feature is a gem. I'm surprised by how much time I spend on audiobooks! Drag and drop downloads are so convenient. No more messing around with complicated steps.
Delirium
This app has reignited my love for literature in the most delightful way. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances my immersion in every audiobook, regardless of surroundings. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is such a fun way to spread joy. Iβd listen to this narrator read anything! Their voice was so expressive and fitting for the material. The story itself was great, but the narration took it to the next level. Definitely a 5-star experience.
Bazooka Har-de-har
I'm enjoying books I never thought I'd be interested in β all thanks to this app. The controls on ListenBook are intuitive and user-friendly, making it a joy to navigate through my audiobooks. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay is a major convenience during road trips. Looping playback is an invaluable tool for my study sessions. It helps me grasp complex concepts.
East Army
Efficient audiobook enjoyment β this app's functionality is a revelation. Unlimited length audiobooks with ListenBook Pro are a huge plus!
Berry Succubus
π‘ This app's convenience is a blessing β I can squeeze in reading time between managing household tasks! π±π©βπ³ A masterclass in audiobook narration! The performer maintained perfect consistency in character voices throughout while keeping the main narration clear and engaging. The production was flawless - no weird edits or background noise. I'll be seeking out more works by this narrator.
Low Voltage
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook is a fun feature that adds a unique touch to my audiobook experience. The convenience of downloading audiobooks for offline listening is a game-changer. I've never experienced such silky-smooth playback even with high-quality FLAC files. Library organization and book groups make managing my audiobook collection a breeze.
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