Book description
"One of hip-hop's greatest MCs, unpacking his harrowing, remarkable journey in his own words, with enough insights for two lifetimes."--Lin-Manuel Miranda, award-winning songwriter, producer, director, and creator of In the Heights and Hamilton From one of our generation's most powerful artists and incisive storytellers comes a brilliantly crafted work about the art--and war--of becoming who we are. upcycle verbup-cy-cle ˈəp-ˌsī-kəl to recycle (something) in such a way that the resulting product is of a higher value than the original item to create an object of greater value from (a discarded object of lesser value) Today Tariq Trotter--better known as Black Thought--is the platinum-selling, Grammy-winning co-founder of The Roots and one of the most exhilaratingly skillful and profound rappers our culture has ever produced. But his story begins with a tragedy: as a child, Trotter burned down his family's home. The years that follow are the story of a life snatched from the flames, forged in fire. In The Upcycled Self, Trotter doesn't only narrate a riveting and moving portrait of the artist as a young man, he gives readers a courageous model of what it means to live an examined life. In vivid vignettes, he tells the dramatic stories of the four powerful relationships that shaped him--with community, friends, art, and family--each a complex weave of love, discovery, trauma, and loss. And beyond offering the compellingly poetic account of one artist's creative and emotional origins, Trotter explores the vital questions we all have to confront about our formative years: How can we see the story of our own young lives clearly? How do we use that story to understand who we've become? How do we forgive the people who loved and hurt us? How do we rediscover and honor our first dreams? And, finally, what do we take forward, what do we pass on, what do we leave behind? This is the beautifully bluesy story of a boy genius's coming-of-age that illuminates the redemptive power of the upcycle.
Round Kick Boomer
Thanks to ListenBook's binaural audio processing, my extended listening sessions are fatigue-free. I'm amazed at how this app has made reading a seamless part of my life. The app is perfect for people with visual impairments. It’s so easy to navigate.
Darling Peacock
Adjusting the tone of the voice is a unique and fun feature. I can customize the narration to my liking. The detailed listening stats are fantastic. Helps me keep track of my progress. This audiobook exceeded all my expectations! The narrator's ability to convey emotion through voice alone was remarkable. I laughed, I gasped, I might have even teared up at points - all because of the incredible vocal performance. The story came alive in a way reading alone couldn't achieve.
Disco Thunder
With ListenBook, I can enjoy my own audio content with unparalleled ease and comfort. Download options are plenty – I can get my audiobooks from various sources hassle-free. ListenBook has seamlessly integrated into my daily life, enhancing my workouts, commutes, and relaxation periods. It's an indispensable part of my routine.
Canary Apple Red
ListenBook's commitment to enhancing the audiobook experience is evident in its thoughtful features and design. ListenBook's support for various formats ensures that no audiobook is out of reach. I've rediscovered my love for reading, all thanks to this app's convenience. ListenBook has become my workout companion. It keeps me engaged and entertained during exercise. The app is perfect for long commutes. It keeps me entertained for hours.
Zero Charisma
The family subscription option is a money-saver – everyone gets to enjoy their favorite books. ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats makes it a versatile and essential app for audiobook enthusiasts. I'm blown away by how this app has made my commutes productive and my downtime entertaining. Audiobook enjoyment has never been this convenient. This app's sleek design and efficient organization ensure that every story is accessible and enjoyable. 📚👌
Teeder
ListenBook's seamless integration with CarPlay enhances my daily commute, making it a productive and enjoyable experience. Audiobooks have never been this engaging – this app takes them to the next level. I can't get enough of this app's intuitive design and user-friendly interface.
Devine Melon
ListenBook's powerful audio downloading features are a game-changer – I can have my audiobooks ready in no time. This app's ease of use has made my daily tasks so much more enjoyable. With this app, I've unlocked the secret to reading even on the busiest days. Looping playback is my favorite feature. It's perfect for revisiting complex content. CarPlay compatibility is a fantastic addition. It enhances my driving experience with seamless audiobook integration.
BlacKitten
I'm hooked on this app's curated content – it's like having a personal librarian. I'm amazed by how this app effortlessly turns my daily routines into enjoyable learning sessions. 💡 Seamlessly weaving audiobooks into my daily routine – this app's functionality has redefined how I enjoy books. 📱📖 The app's seamless integration with Apple Watch makes it my perfect workout companion.
Ozzie Treat
💼 Enhancing work-from-home productivity – audiobooks make even the most routine tasks a delight. 💻📖 Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like having a personal reading guide. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature that adds a personal touch.
ByteBard
As a language learner, this app has been invaluable in improving my listening skills. With this app, I can seamlessly switch between audiobooks and real life. 🚶♀️📱 I'm exploring new worlds while on the move, all thanks to this app's seamless functionality. 🏞️📚 The app's compatibility with CarPlay has made my road trips so much more enjoyable. Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very pleased.
AirportHobo XD
The narrators on this app are truly talented – they bring characters to life. Audiobooks have become my go-to entertainment, and this app is the reason. This app has transformed my daily walks into insightful journeys of knowledge – talk about efficiency!
Cosmo
Listening to audiobooks has never been this convenient and enjoyable! I can't get enough of this app – it's like having a personal storyteller in my pocket. 🔥 Audiobook enjoyment at the tap of a finger – this app's functionality is a testament to modern convenience. 📱📖 Navigating through my audiobook collection is a breeze – this app's intuitive interface and convenient controls have made my reading journey effortless. 📱📖 This was a competent audiobook production with no major flaws. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough and the audio quality was acceptable, though not exceptional. While the performance didn't particularly stand out, it served its purpose adequately for my daily commute.
Osprey
This app's convenience has transformed my screen time into meaningful reading sessions. Adjustable playback speed is my secret weapon for covering more material in less time. A productivity boost!
Aqua Monsoon
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks wherever I go. This app is a blessing for those with busy schedules – it's like time travel through stories. Savoring audiobooks without complications – this app's design is top-notch. Easy chapter navigation and beautiful design make this app stand out.
Bearded Angler
I can't imagine a day without this app – it has made my audiobook journey seamless and fulfilling. ListenBook's audio filters have given me the power to tailor my listening experience to my preferences. The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook habits, helping me learn and grow. Automated artwork and metadata extraction add a professional touch to my audiobook collection. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with it—the narration was fine, and the story was okay—but nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
Darth 44
This app has turned my cooking sessions into culinary adventures with a side of stories. Audiobook adventures simplified – this app's functionality is a revelation. Looping playback is an invaluable study tool. It helps me absorb complex information effortlessly.
Vermilion
I love how ListenBook caters to various formats, making it versatile and accommodating for all my audiobooks. With this app, reading is no longer a task – it's a delightful habit. Audiobook multitasking made easy – this app's functionality is top-notch. Audiobook multitasking made simple – this app's design is a game-changer.
Preach Man
This app has rekindled my passion for storytelling in the most convenient way. Navigating audiobooks with ease – this app's design is user-centric. The ability to adjust playback speed and volume is a game-changer for me.
Spoiler Betty
My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thank you, ListenBook! Incredible character voices! Each person felt distinct without being over-the-top. The emotional scenes gave me chills with how well they were delivered.
Howitzer Rise
Audiobooks have become a part of my self-care routine, thanks to this app. Tone adjustment is so cool. It's like customizing the reader's voice to my liking.
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