Book description
Paris Review contributor Katy Kelleher explores our obsession with gorgeous things, unveiling the fraught histories of makeup, flowers, perfume, silk, and other beautiful objects. Katy Kelleher has spent much of her life chasing beauty. As a child, she uprooted handfuls of purple, fragrant little flowers from the earth, plucked iridescent seashells from the beach, and dug for turquoise stones in her backyard. As a teenager she applied glittery shimmer to her eyelids after religiously dabbing on her signature scent of orange blossoms and jasmine. And as an adult, she coveted gleaming marble countertops and delicate porcelain to beautify her home. This obsession with beauty led her to become a home, garden, and design writer, where she studied how beautiful things are mined, grown, made, and enhanced. In researching these objects, Kelleher concluded that most of us are blind to the true cost of our desires. Because whenever you find something unbearably beautiful, look closer, and you'll inevitably find a shadow of decay lurking underneath. In these dazzling and deeply researched essays, Katy Kelleher blends science, history, and memoir to uncover the dark underbellies of our favorite goods. She reveals the crushed beetle shells in our lipstick, the musk of rodents in our perfume, and the burnt cow bones baked into our dishware. She untangles the secret history of silk and muses on her problematic prom dress. She tells the story of countless workers dying in their efforts to bring us shiny rocks from unsafe mines that shatter and wound the earth, all because a diamond company created a compelling ad. She examines the enduring appeal of the beautiful dead girl and the sad fate of the ugly mollusk. With prose as stunning as the objects she describes, Kelleher invites readers to examine their own relationships with the beautiful objects that adorn their body and grace their homes. And yet, Kelleher argues that while we have a moral imperative to understand our relationship to desire, we are not evil or weak for desiring beauty. The Ugly History of Beautiful Things opens our eyes to beauty that surrounds us, helps us understand how that beauty came to be, what price was paid and by whom, and how we can most ethically partake in the beauty of the world.
Twinkle Cutlass
This app is a game-changer for anyone who's always on the go β it's like carrying a library in my pocket. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a game-changer.
Racy Babe
πΆββοΈπ§ Strolling through captivating narratives while I take my daily walks β pure bliss! ποΈπ Beautiful layout and easy access to chapters. Really impressed with ListenBook. I appreciate the statistics feature. ListenBook helps me track my listening habits. The bookmark feature is fantastic. I can easily pick up where I left off.
X-Dew
π₯ Spicing up my routine with this app β it's like having a personal storyteller on hand at all times! β¨π The interface is beautiful and functional. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iβve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
New York Mood
With ListenBook, I can now listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. ListenBook's compatibility with multiple downloading methods ensures there's always a way to get my content. Audiobooks made simple β this app's functionality is a breath of fresh air.
Show Boat
Audiobooks have become my companion during long walks, transforming exercise into a pleasure. ListenBook's support for playlists in CUE format is a detail-oriented touch I truly appreciate. ListenBook's innovation, seamless playback, and versatile features make it a standout app. πΆββοΈπ§ Walking has never been this productive β exploring new worlds while I exercise! ποΈπ« 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«
New Cycle
This app's efficient downloading process ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks whenever and wherever. πΆ Saying goodbye to tangled headphones and complex controls β this app's easy navigation has made audiobook listening a breeze. π΅π Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a delightful way to share the joy of storytelling. Listening stats keep me motivated to read more. Great addition! I love the quick access to settings. It makes tweaking the app so easy.
Twix Esses
Audiobooks have brought a new level of enjoyment to my daily workout routine. π₯ Adding a spark of excitement to my daily routine β this app is my secret weapon! β¨π Mastering audiobook navigation β this app's ease of use is commendable. A wonderful performance! The narrator captured the mood of the book perfectly, making it easy to visualize each scene. The audio quality was crisp, and the pacing kept me hooked from start to finish.
Flashpoint
ListenBook's commitment to user experience shines through its thoughtful design and seamless functionality. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique touch β it's like having a personalized reading.
Dark Matter
πͺ Achieving double wins β workouts become invigorating with stories to fuel my motivation! πͺπ§ Fairly enjoyable, but forgettable. I didnβt have any major complaints, but I also donβt see myself revisiting this one. It was a decent way to spend a few hours, though.
Twisty Freesia
The noise reduction feature on ListenBook Pro is a godsend for clear and comfortable listening. No more interruptions β the auto-rewind feature is a genius solution for seamless listening. The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile. I love the ability to change the background color. Itβs a nice touch.
Saber-RED
π Long road trips? No problem β this app keeps me entertained mile after mile! ππ I can't believe how easy it is to download audio from various sources. So convenient!
IceDog
This app has turned even my mundane tasks into exciting learning opportunities. ListenBook's integration of artwork and metadata adds a visually appealing touch to my library. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and powerful features have rekindled my love for audiobooks. The audio filters and precise controls are fantastic!
Black Fantastic
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personal touch to my experience. ListenBook is a must-have for any audiobook enthusiast. It's reliable, efficient, and a pleasure to use.
Pompeii Unicorn
Chapters, configurable auto-rewind, and bookmarks on ListenBook keep me in control of my content. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time. 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! This was my first audiobook in this genre and I'm hooked! The performance brought the story to life in a way reading never could. Already downloaded another by the same narrator.
Squatch
I've been able to explore different cultures and perspectives through a diverse range of books. The noise reduction feature is a game-changer for clearer dictaphone recordings. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
Winded On Friday
Audiobooks on this app have turned my exercise sessions into moments of education. Noise reduction and voice tone changing are brilliant features. The app is so easy to use. I was up and running in minutes. 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! 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.
Ember Master
ListenBook's support for various audio formats makes it a versatile app for all kinds of audiobook enthusiasts. The range of supported formats is impressive. No more converting files! The interface is sleek and intuitive, making my audiobook experience a joy. With ListenBook Pro, long audiobooks are no problem. I love it! This audiobook was an absolute pleasure to listen to! The narrator's voice was rich and expressive, perfectly capturing the tone of the material. I found myself completely immersed in the story, often sitting in my car longer than necessary just to hear what happened next. The production quality was excellent with clear audio throughout.
Bourbon Mirage
The app's stability and reliability make it my go-to choice for audiobooks. This app has reignited my love for literature and made it a part of my everyday life. Navigating audiobooks effortlessly β this app's functionality is commendable. Finally, an app that supports all audiobook formats. It's a dream come true for audiophiles like me. 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.
Snapple Whistler
Listening to audiobooks has become my daily ritual for relaxation and escape. ListenBook's compatibility with various audio formats ensures that I can enjoy a wide range of content hassle-free. Organizing my audiobook library has never been easier. The app keeps everything tidy.
Eye Candy Kitten
ListenBook's commitment to providing top-notch audio quality has taken my audiobook experience to a new level. This app's seamless integration with my devices has made audiobook listening a hassle-free experience. Simplifying audiobook adventures β this app's ease of use is a delight. Looping playback has made memorization so much easier. I'm acing my exams!
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