Book description
"Bibliophiles will be enthralled." --PUBLISHERS WEEKLY"Immensely readable." --LIBRARY JOURNALFrom Gutenberg to Amazon, Michael Castleman's The Untold Story of Books is the first and only history of publishing told from a veteran author's point of view. Witty, entertaining, and full of remarkable new insights, it is a deeply researched, fascinating history of the idiosyncratic book business--aimed at authors, aspiring authors, booksellers, industry professionals, and everyone who loves to read books. Organized into three distinct book businesses, all defined by the evolution of printing, The Untold Story of Books explores how each new book business upended its predecessor, forcing authors, publishers, and booksellers to adapt to ever-changing circumstances. It's a story full of surprises: why did books become favored Christmas presents? Because of a poem written in 1823. Why is New York the nation's publishing capital? Because of the Erie Canal. Why are book endorsements called "blurbs"? Because of a satirist's joke in 1907. And why is copyright often an illusion? Because publishing was founded on book piracy, which today is easier and more rampant than ever. Arriving at the present day, Castleman paints a compelling portrait of an evolving book business full of new promise and peril.
About the Author
Michael Castleman grew up in Malverne, NY, a Long Island suburb of New York City. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Michigan, and earned an M.A. in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism. He has lived in San Francisco since 1975. While editor of Medical Self-Care Magazine, Castleman was also a freelance magazine health writer focusing on optimal wellness, illness prevention, mainstream and alternative treatments, nutrition, fitness, and sexuality. He has written more than 2,500 magazine and Web articles, as well as nineteen books selling over 2.5 million copies. The Untold Story of Books: A Writer's History of Book Publishing is his twentieth.
Sherwood Gladiator
I can now explore books beyond my preferred genre, broadening my reading horizons. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is an innovative touch that adds a layer of personalization.
ELLerG!c
I'm blown away by the quality of narration on this app β it's like being in the story. ListenBook has revolutionized my audio experience, making it both personalized and engaging. ListenBook's auto-rewind feature is a thoughtful addition that ensures I never miss a single word. My daily workouts are more enjoyable now, thanks to seamless integration with Apple Watch. ListenBook has revolutionized the way I consume content. It's like having a personal tutor in my ear.
Trouble Mittens
Finally, an app that lets me enjoy my personal audiobooks, lectures, and speeches effortlessly. My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thanks to automatic artwork and metadata. I love the auto-bookmark feature. It saves my place automatically.
Iron Butterfly
I'm blown away by how this app has made my commutes productive and my downtime entertaining. π Rekindling my love for reading β this app has reintroduced me to the joy of books in a whole new way. ππ₯ Audiobook pleasure at its finest! This app's sleek design and efficient organization ensure that every story is accessible and delightful. ππ Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment enhance the listening experience significantly.
CuriousCoder
The narrator's voices are so engaging, it's like having a personal storytelling session. Effortlessly managing my audiobook collection β this app's functionality is a winner.
VenusLion
I'm absolutely in love with this app! It's like a library of stories in my pocket. Great for listening to lectures and educational content. Very useful!
QuestQuill
πΆββοΈπ§ Enjoying the great outdoors while immersing myself in fantastic tales β walking never felt this magical! ποΈπ I love how I can adjust the skip intervals. Itβs perfect for my listening style.
EchoEmissary
ListenBook's looping playback, shuffle feature, and configurable controls make learning a breeze. This app has reignited my love for literature in the most delightful way. π Grooving to the rhythm of stories while tackling household chores β a dance of productivity! πΆπ Simplifying audiobook adventures β this app's ease of use is a delight. ListenBook's sharing options make it easy to spread the joy of captivating stories with friends.
Gingersnap Woman
Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks from various sources has become effortless. 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!
Fuzzy Claws
This app's customizable features, like playback speed and bookmarks, have transformed my experience. I'm blown away by how this app has revolutionized my reading experience. βοΈ Turning mundane tasks into exciting adventures β this app makes folding laundry a breeze with audiobooks! ππ§ ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook enjoyment. It's an essential part of my daily routine. The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app.
Juno Cream
The quality of the audio is top-notch, making the experience truly immersive. I can't believe how much I've learned and enjoyed through this app's audiobooks. The playback speed control is a game-changer. ListenBook lets me listen at my own pace. The sound quality is excellent. It feels like Iβm in the story.
Mental
I can't get enough of the celebrity narrators β they add a unique charm to each book. Audiobooks have become my escape from reality β a journey into captivating worlds. The ListenBook app has transformed my device into a portable audiobook library that I can carry everywhere. Audiobooks have become my go-to entertainment, and this app is the reason. π Dancing to the rhythm of stories while I dance through house chores β pure joy! ππ
Chocolate Thunder
ListenBook's user-friendly controls and innovative features have made it an essential tool for my audiobook enjoyment. ListenBook's features are a bookworm's dream come true β from chapters to bookmarks, it's got everything. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personal touch to my experience. This app's convenience has turned me into an avid audiobook listener. πͺ Flexing my reading muscles with this app's easy-to-use controls β I'm devouring books while managing my busy schedule. πΌπ
Wild Tesla
Seamless integration with all my devices and flawless synchronization β top-notch. ListenBook's user-friendly controls and innovative features have made it an essential tool for my audiobook enjoyment. Effortlessly managing my audiobook library β this app's design is commendable. ListenBookβs bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book. I love the car mode. Itβs so convenient for listening while driving.
Beetle King
ListenBook has enriched my life with a world of captivating stories and knowledge. It's not just an app; it's a portal to endless possibilities. What a fantastic listening experience! The narrator brought the characters to life with distinct voices and emotional depth. The pacing was perfect - not too fast to lose details, not too slow to become boring. I particularly appreciated how well the narrator conveyed the atmosphere of key scenes.
Dandelion
Book groups are a thoughtful addition. They help me keep related titles together for a seamless experience. ListenBook has become my trusted companion. It's my go-to app for expanding my knowledge and enjoyment. This was an adequate audiobook for casual listening. The narrator maintained a consistent pace and clear diction throughout, though their performance lacked some emotional range. The audio quality was fine with no significant technical distractions.
Mad Rascal
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a revelation. It eliminates distractions and enhances the clarity of recordings, resulting in a more immersive experience. A functional audiobook production that met basic requirements. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough to listen to for extended periods, though their performance didn't add much interpretation to the text. The audio engineering was competent without being remarkable.
Danqqqqq
The bookmarking feature ensures I never lose my place in a book β so convenient! Kudos to the creators for making literature so accessible and enjoyable. Seamless integration of audiobooks β this app's ease of use is impressive. ListenBook has revolutionized my audiobook enjoyment. It's an essential part of my daily routine.
Force
The ability to change playback speed and audio volume on ListenBook gives me full control over my listening experience. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my audio content much more enjoyable in noisy environments. This app has made my road trips and flights infinitely more enjoyable. Unlimited length audiobooks with ListenBook Pro are a huge plus! An unobjectionable but unexceptional audiobook experience. The narrator's performance was serviceable and the audio quality was fine, but nothing about the production particularly stood out or elevated the material. It was decent background listening.
Mt. Indiana
The app's stability and reliability make it my go-to choice for audiobooks. πββοΈπ Running with purpose β this app keeps my mind engaged as I conquer my fitness goals! πββοΈπ Chapters make navigation a breeze. I can easily pick up where I left off.
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