Audiobook The Ugly History of Beautiful Things: Essays on Desire and... by Katy Kelleher in the ListenBook app
Want to listen to the audiobook The Ugly History of Beautiful Things: Essays on Desire and... written by Katy Kelleher
ListenBook is here to help!
In ListenBook you can listen The Ugly History of Beautiful Things: Essays on Desire and... and any other audiobooks you download from the internet.
ListenBook is the easiest and most convenient app for listening to audiobooks
in MP3, MP4, OPUS, OGG, FLAC, AWB, M4B, M4A, WMA, AAC formats
on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad!
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.
🏝️🎧 Soaking up the sun while indulging in beach reads – this app is my ultimate relaxation companion. 🏖️📚 ListenBook's versatility with various audio formats means I can enjoy audiobooks from multiple sources effortlessly.
🛌 Indulging in soothing bedtime stories – this app is my nightly retreat into imagination. 🌙📚 Audiobooks made delightful – this app's usability is a breath of fresh air. ListenBook's dedication to providing an exceptional listening experience shines through in every aspect of the app.
The ListenBook app has made my daily routines more enriching, allowing me to learn while on the go. I'm amazed at how this app has made my workouts more motivating and my audiobooks more accessible. Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I learn and enjoy audiobooks. I can adapt the pace to my needs, maximizing comprehension and retention. Great for listening to a variety of content. Highly recommend!
I'm hooked on this app's intuitive features – from chapters to playback controls. 🚶♀️🌌 This app's functionality makes every walk an adventure – I'm immersed in stories as I explore the world around me. 🏞️📖 The app's integration with Apple Watch makes it an indispensable tool for my active lifestyle. I love the auto-bookmark feature. It saves my place automatically.
ListenBook's support for various formats ensures that no audiobook is out of reach. Effortlessly enjoying audiobook journeys – this app's ease of use is a delight. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magic wand, transforming noisy environments into serene listening spaces. Excellent support for various audio formats. Very satisfied. The app is very user-friendly. ListenBook makes listening to audiobooks a breeze.
ListenBook's features are a dream come true for anyone who loves to learn on the go. With this app, I can dive into captivating narratives while cooking, cleaning, or commuting – pure magic!
I've started a book club with my friends, and this app has been our go-to source for titles. ListenBook's seamless integration with CarPlay makes my daily commute a delightful opportunity to indulge in audiobooks. Sharing audiobooks with friends is so easy with AirDrop. It's a great way to spread happiness. I love the auto-bookmark feature. It saves my place automatically. I love the ability to change the background color. It’s a nice touch.
👩🍳 Cooking up a storm while enjoying thrilling stories – this app adds flavor to my meals! 🍳🎧 No more converting files – this app effortlessly handles various formats, saving me time and effort. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a fantastic way to introduce them to new stories. Looping playback helps me immerse myself in the content. It's my secret study weapon. This app is perfect for audiobook lovers. The interface is beautiful and easy to navigate.
This app is a blessing for those with busy schedules – it's like time travel through stories. Managing my audiobook collection is a pleasure thanks to this app's usability. The app's interface is so sleek and modern. It's a joy to use. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the love of literature. Makes listening to audiobooks so easy and enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook!
I've started a book club with my friends, and this app has been our go-to source for titles. Looping playback is a valuable study tool. It helps me grasp complex content and retain information. Binaural audio processing really helps reduce fatigue. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time.
I'm hooked on this app – it's like Netflix for book lovers! ListenBook is a true audio treasure! It turns my own audio files into immersive listening experiences. ListenBook's dedication to providing an excellent audiobook experience is evident in its smooth and silky playback.
It's like having a personal library that fits in my pocket – truly amazing! Audiobooks anytime, anywhere – this app's functionality is a reader's delight. From novels to speeches, this app's versatility in playing various audio formats has turned my daily activities into enriching listening sessions. What a game-changer! 🌟📚 CUE playlist support is a thoughtful feature that keeps my audiobook listening organized and enjoyable.
Audiobooks on this app have made me look forward to my long commutes. With this app, I've rediscovered the joy of reading through my ears, making every moment more valuable. High-quality playback even with complex formats like FLAC. Impressive! The customer support is amazing. They responded to my query within hours.
Audiobooks on this app have turned my exercise sessions into moments of education. This app's convenience has made reading a priority in my busy schedule. The app’s design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player. The app is perfect for long walks. It keeps me company the whole time.
The noise reduction feature on ListenBook Pro is a godsend for clear and comfortable listening. The ability to adjust playback speed and volume is a game-changer for me. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's intuitive and user-friendly design. ListenBook's versatile controls and playback options have made my study sessions more productive and enjoyable. ListenBook is a true audio treasure! It turns my own audio files into immersive listening experiences. Tone adjustment is a brilliant addition that lets me personalize the narration to my liking. It adds an extra layer of connection to the audiobooks. Automated artwork and metadata extraction make my audiobook library look neat and professional.
This app is a must-have for any book lover on the go – it's my daily companion. Audiobook enjoyment without the hassle – this app's design is a win. CUE playlist support is a fantastic feature that allows me to curate customized listening sessions, whether for study, relaxation, or entertainment. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to share the joy of storytelling with friends, sparking engaging conversations and connections that transcend boundaries. Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a fantastic feature. It adds a personal touch.
This app has given me the joy of reading even when my hands are full. Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment enhance the listening experience significantly.
ListenBook has added a new dimension to my audiobook listening experience – it's not just about the content, but the convenience too. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a boon for those who enjoy deep dives into lengthy narratives. ListenBook's compatibility with a wide array of audio formats makes it my ultimate audiobook companion. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a fun and convenient way to share the magic of storytelling with friends and family, sparking meaningful discussions.
Book Groups on ListenBook make it easy to categorize and access my audiobooks. The audio filters to adjust playback speed and volume are a fantastic addition for customizing my experience. I love the auto-rewind feature. ListenBook always picks up right where I left off.
Trusted by over 100,000 users across the globe
What is ListenBook?
Why ListenBook?
How does it work?
1
Download audiobooks from any site in any of the supported formats.
2
Add audiobooks to the app using any of the many download methods available.
3
Listen to audiobooks by controlling playback from your phone, headphones, Apple Watch or CarPlay.
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
App for those who love audiobooks
ListenBook has the features you need no matter what you are listening to
Listening to fiction
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
Listening to audio lectures
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
Every day, thousands of people download ListenBook to listen to audiobooks.
Now it's your turn to listen to audiobooks without distraction!
