Book description
For decades now, Adam Gopnik has been one of our most beloved writers, a brilliantly perceptive critic of art, food, France, and more. But recently, he became obsessed by a more fundamental matter, one he had often meditated on in The New Yorker: How do masters learn their miraculous skill, whether it was drawing a museum-ready nude or baking a perfect sourdough loaf? How could anyone become so good at anything? There seemed to be a fundamental mystery to mastery. Was it possible to unravel it? In The Real Work--the term magicians use for the accumulated craft that makes for a great trick--Gopnik becomes a dedicated student of several masters of their craft: a classical painter, a boxer, a dancing instructor, a driving instructor, and others. Rejecting self-help bromides and bullet points, he nevertheless shows that the top people in any field share a set of common qualities and methods. For one, their mastery is always a process of breaking down and building up--of identifying and perfecting the small constituent parts of a skill and the combining them for an overall effect greater than the sum of those parts. For another, mastery almost always involves intentional imperfection--as in music, where vibrato, a way of not quite landing on the right note, carries maximum expressiveness. Gopnik's simplest and most invigorating lesson, however, is that we are surrounded by mastery. Far from rare, mastery is commonplace, if we only know where to look: from the parent who can whip up a professional strudel to the social worker who--in one of the most personally revealing passages Gopnik has ever written--helps him master his own demons. Spirited and profound, The Real Work will help you understand how mastery can happen in your own life--and, significantly, why each of us relentlessly seeks to better ourselves in the first place.
Speedwell
The ListenBook app has transformed my device into a portable audiobook library that I can carry everywhere. I've never experienced such a smooth audiobook player. The playback is seamless. The adjustable playback speed is a revelation. It's like having a personal audiobook narrator at my pace.
Darling Peacock
Kudos to the creators for making literature so accessible and enjoyable. π§ This app is my saving grace! Now I can enjoy my beloved books while cooking up a storm! ππ³ Flawless support for various audio formats. Highly satisfied. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections.
Sprinkle Lovenuts
I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's seamless audio player. ListenBook has rekindled my love for learning, one audio experience at a time. ListenBook's dedication to excellence shines through in its performance and features. I can finally listen to all my audiobooks seamlessly with ListenBook. The customizable playback controls and chapter navigation make it a breeze. The app is lightweight and doesnβt drain my battery.
Twix Esses
The app's interface is sleek and modern, making it a joy to use. With this app, my audiobook library is organized and accessible, making my reading journey effortless. πΆ Music? Nah, I prefer immersing myself in captivating stories with this app! πΆπ
Chasm Face
With this app, audiobook listening has become a seamless and enjoyable part of my everyday life. π± Unlocking the world of literature with just a tap β this app is my digital library card! ππ± Looping playback is a brilliant study tool. Thanks to ListenBook, my learning has improved! The app's compatibility with CarPlay has made my road trips so much more enjoyable.
Congo Wire
Effortless audiobook exploration β this app's functionality is remarkable. The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that makes a big difference. It enhances my listening experience. Automated artwork and metadata extraction make my audiobook library look neat and professional. A textbook example of great audiobook narration! The performer's diction was flawless, their pacing ideal, and their emotional range impressive. I never felt like I was being "read to" but rather like I was experiencing the story firsthand. The audio engineering was equally professional.
Prone
The convenience of downloading audiobooks for offline listening is a game-changer. With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my daily routines more enriching and rewarding. ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. I can't imagine going back! Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I consume audiobooks. I can cover more ground while maintaining comprehension.
Old Orange Eyes
Navigating audiobooks seamlessly β this app's design is top-notch. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. Itβs a unique feature.
Squatch
I'm absolutely in love with this app! The interface is so intuitive and user-friendly. I love how ListenBook caters to various formats, making it versatile and accommodating for all my audiobooks. π± An app that respects my time and delivers on functionality β audiobook listening has never been this effortless. ππ The app is so well-designed. Itβs clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
VisionVoyager
I appreciate how ListenBook offers various methods for downloading audio β it caters to different preferences. ListenBook's powerful audio downloading features are a dream come true β no more hassles! ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made multitasking with audio content a breeze. This app has enriched my daily routine with the joy of stories and knowledge.
Chuckles
Sharing audiobooks with friends is a great way to connect over stories. Adjustable playback speed is a fantastic feature. It allows me to customize my listening experience. Sharing books with friends via AirDrop is so convenient. Thanks, ListenBook! The app is perfect for multitaskers. I can listen while working out. The app is so well-designed. Itβs clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
All Natural
This app makes traffic jams a breeze β time flies by while I'm engrossed in a story. This app's ease of use has made my downtime more enriching and enjoyable. πΆββοΈπ Exploring stories as I stroll β audiobooks have turned my walks into inspiring journeys of imagination. ποΈπ§
Evil Smith
I can't get enough of the celebrity narrators β they add a unique charm to each book. I'm amazed by the attention to detail, from automatic metadata extraction to customizable settings. Elegant design and easy-to-navigate interface. Very pleased with ListenBook.
Purity Catnip
ListenBook's beautiful layout and quick access to chapters make every listening session a pleasure. ListenBook's sleek design and intuitive controls make it my go-to app for audiobooks. Looping playback is a brilliant study tool. Thanks to ListenBook, my learning has improved! ListenBook makes organizing my audiobooks simple. The app is very user-friendly.
Mad Irishman
I've started a book club with my friends, and this app has been our go-to source for titles. Effortless and enriching β that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its smooth interface and thoughtful features have set the bar high for audiobook enjoyment. π±π ListenBook's commitment to user experience shines through its thoughtful design and seamless functionality. Perfect narration for this genre! The voice actorβs tone matched the atmosphere of the book, enhancing the overall experience. No complaintsβjust a smooth, enjoyable listen from beginning to end.
Aqua Monsoon
ListenBook's basic audio filters allow me to fine-tune the audio playback to suit my preferences. ListenBook's innovative features, from audio filters to statistics, make it a standout app. This app's ease of use has made reading more accessible and enjoyable than ever before. With ListenBook Pro, I'm no longer limited by audiobook length. It's a liberating experience! I love the bookmarking feature. ListenBook makes it easy to pick up where I left off.
RealmRanger
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the love of literature. The audio quality is excellent, and the interface is intuitive. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks. I love the ability to share my progress with friends. Itβs a fun feature. 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! 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.
Nutmeg
π Transforming my mundane routine into a captivating journey β thank you, this app! β¨π π§ββοΈ Finding zen in the art of listening β this app takes mindfulness to a new level! π§ββοΈπ§ ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances my audiobook experience, ensuring I catch every detail.
Senior Smurf
I never thought I'd enjoy audiobooks as much as I do now β all thanks to this app. This app's efficient downloading process ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks whenever and wherever. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to curate themed listening sessions, creating a dynamic and engaging audiobook experience.
PixelPathfinder
Seamless integration of audiobooks β this app's ease of use is impressive. AirDrop and sharing make it easy to spread the audiobook love with friends. Looping playback helps me focus on challenging content and grasp complex concepts. A study must-have! 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.
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