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.
Tin Fox
π§ This app is my saving grace! Now I can enjoy my beloved books while cooking up a storm! ππ³ Finally, an app that lets me enjoy audiobooks without worrying about file formats! ListenBookβs playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches. Good for background listening. I didnβt get fully immersed, but it was pleasant enough to have on while doing chores. The narratorβs voice was easy to listen to, even if the delivery lacked some energy. I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks, and this one stands out for its professional quality. The narrator struck the ideal balance between dramatic interpretation and letting the text speak for itself. The audio engineering was superb with consistent volume levels and crystal-clear recording.
Succubus In Training
ListenBook has enriched my life with a diverse range of content, all at my fingertips. Audiobooks at my fingertips β this app's functionality is truly impressive.
Polar Bee
This app's sleek design and intuitive features make it my trusted partner in exploring new narratives. This app has turned my mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for reading.
Rocky Highway
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch integration ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks wherever I am. ListenBook has made managing and enjoying audiobooks a seamless and delightful experience. π₯ Simplifying my reading routine β the app's functionality ensures I'm always one click away from literary adventures. ππ CUE playlist support is a fantastic addition. It helps me organize my audiobooks effortlessly. Tone adjustment adds a new layer of personalization to my audiobook experience. It's like having the narrator tailor the voice to my preferences.
RiddleRover
ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook experience. Now I can enjoy my favorite lectures and speeches with ease! I can't get enough of this app β it's like having a personal library with me. Download options are abundant, from WiFi to iTunes. It's all about convenience with this app.
Firedog
This app's user-friendly interface has made audiobook listening a breeze, even for a tech novice like me. Audiobook journey simplified β this app's functionality is a wonderful surprise. is a breeze. It's incredibly convenient for building my collection. ListenBook has broadened my horizons by introducing me to a diverse range of audiobooks. It's a gateway to endless knowledge, entertainment, and inspiration. ListenBook has all the features I need. My go-to audiobook app!
Springheel Jack
ListenBook has changed my audiobook game forever. No more format woes! Auto-rewind feature is very useful. Excellent app!
Doll Champagne
ListenBook's seamless audio player has turned my listening sessions into moments of pure delight. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my library look organized and professional. Automatic metadata retrieval adds a professional touch to my audiobook collection. ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
Clang Glyph
ListenBook's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically adds a visual touch to my audiobook collection. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch has made audiobook listening a part of my daily routine. Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a fun way to personalize the listening experience.
New York Winder
I can't get enough of the binaural audio processing. It's like a breath of fresh air for my ears. Bookmarks are a lifesaver for audiobook lovers. They help me keep track of important moments. Listening to audiobooks has never been this enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook! The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books at night. The subtle background music at key moments enhanced the experience without being distracting. More audiobooks should use this technique when appropriate!
Petite Beauty
This app has added a touch of magic to my mundane moments β I'm forever grateful. πΆπ Setting the mood with stories instead of songs β this app is my go-to playlist! π§π Iβm 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!
Houston
I've become a more attentive listener thanks to the engaging audiobooks. I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily routines more enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback features add versatility to my audiobook listening experience. Downloading audiobooks over WiFi is super easy. Saves time. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while exercising.
Mad Irishman
Kudos to ListenBook for optimizing the app for iOS 16 β it shows their dedication to excellence. π§ββοΈ Finding zen in the art of listening β this app takes mindfulness to a new level! π§ββοΈπ§ ListenBook is packed with useful features. Itβs the best audiobook app Iβve used.
Brick Mooch
ListenBook's clean interface and organized layout make it a pleasure to browse through my audiobooks. I'm hooked on this app's ability to make reading fit into any moment. π§ An audiobook treasure trove in the palm of my hand β this app is pure convenience! ππ ListenBook's sharing options make it easy to share the joy of captivating stories with friends and family. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections.
Sir Squire
I never thought I'd enjoy audiobooks as much as I do now β all thanks to this app. π©βπ³ Elevating culinary experiences with auditory tales β cooking has never been this entertaining and educational! π³π§ The app's performance is top-notch. It's stable, responsive, and optimized for a seamless audiobook experience. Kudos to the developers!
Trash
Streamlined audiobook integration β this app's usability is truly impressive. Looping playback has made memorization so much easier. I'm acing my exams!
Boost Princess
ListenBook has become my trusted companion for literary adventures. The app's features are exceptional. I'm so glad I chose the audiobook version! The narrator added layers of meaning I might have missed reading silently. Their interpretation of the material felt thoughtful and authentic. The recording was technically perfect - no reverb, no peaking, just clean, pleasant audio.
Snow Cream
Audiobooks have transformed my daily walks into a time of inspiration and learning. This app has turned my long walks into delightful literary adventures. π§ Satiate your reading cravings while managing household affairs β this app has it all! ππΌ Downloading audiobooks over WiFi is super easy. Saves time. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
Sun Leo
ListenBook has transformed my daily activities into opportunities for personal growth. My long walks have turned into exciting adventures with this app. Navigating through chapters is effortless with ListenBook. It's a user-friendly and intuitive experience. Iβve tried many audiobook players, and this one is by far the best. 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 featureβit saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend!
Cereal Killer
Audiobooks have turned my quiet moments into imaginative journeys β thank you, app! My long walks have turned into exciting adventures with this app. Configurable auto-rewind is genius. No more confusion when I pause and resume. Download via WiFi, WebDAV, iTunes β options galore to suit everyone's preferences. Perfect for studying with its playback controls and audio filters. Excellent app!
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