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.
DreamWeaver
Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature that adds a personal touch. Unlimited audiobook length with ListenBook Pro is a game-changer.
Firefly
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ThoughtTraveler
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Are Ess Tee
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Coffee
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Lounge Master
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ButterQuest
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Bootleg Taximan
Language courses on audiobooks helped me pick up a new language effortlessly. ListenBook's user-friendly audio filters and controls have made my audiobook sessions more interactive and engaging. ListenBook’s playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while commuting.
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QuestQuill
I'm hooked on this app's ability to transform my ordinary moments into exciting opportunities for learning. The range of supported formats is impressive. No more converting files! ListenBook has become my go-to app for exploring a diverse range of audiobooks. It offers a wide array of features that cater to different preferences and needs.
Saint La-Z-Boy
ListenBook's focus on quality and user experience has made it my go-to app for audiobooks and educational content. ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device. Listened to this on a road trip and it made the hours fly by. Even my passengers who weren't following along commented on how nice the narrator's voice was.
Red Hot Kevorkian
ListenBook has turned my daily routines into audiobook-driven journeys of imagination. Simplifying my reading routine – this app's ease of use is remarkable. I love the ability to change the background color. It’s a nice touch.
The Shield Toronto
I appreciate how ListenBook offers various methods for downloading audio – it caters to different preferences. ListenBook's dedication to excellence is evident in its well-designed interface, smooth playback, and powerful features. Audiobook joy made simple – this app's ease of use is commendable. The layout is not only beautiful but also intuitive. Controls are easy to access. I'm blown away by the attention to detail in every aspect of this app.
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Toe
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Master Jetson
With ListenBook, my daily commutes have become a cherished time for learning and enjoyment. With this app, I've discovered a whole new way to enjoy literature. The app's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a true companion for all occasions.
MuseMaster
Audiobooks have turned road trips into unforgettable journeys of imagination. The app's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch is a huge plus. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a blast. AirDrop makes it seamless. My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thank you, ListenBook!
Mr. Spy
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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