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.
Broomspun
Savoring audiobooks without complications – this app's design is top-notch. Perfect for studying with its playback controls and audio filters. Excellent app! The app is so versatile. It works with all my devices. A middle-of-the-road audiobook that neither impressed nor disappointed. The narrator's voice was agreeable enough for extended listening, though their character differentiation could have been stronger. The production met basic industry standards without any standout qualities. The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
Bruh
The voice actors are incredible – they make the characters come alive. Audiobooks have become my escape from reality – a journey into captivating worlds. Automatic metadata extraction keeps my library organized. It's a time-saver! ListenBook has all the features I need in an audiobook app. My top choice! I love the ability to import books from my computer. It’s so easy.
PP Dubs
ListenBook has taken my audio content to new heights, making every moment more meaningful. This app has turned my screen time into valuable learning opportunities. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch adds convenience to my audiobook routine. Noise reduction and tone changing enhance the listening experience. Love it!
Sultan of Speed
ListenBook has given me a renewed appreciation for audio content – it's my new favorite app. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch has made audiobook listening a part of my daily routine. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature simplifies the process of adding new audiobooks to my collection. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a great way to spread the joy of reading. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a game-changer.
Insane SweepKick
ListenBook is fantastic! Supports every audiobook format I have. Super convenient! WiFi downloads save a lot of time. Great feature! The playback speed control is a game-changer. ListenBook lets me listen at my own pace.
CuriousCoder
💼 Elevating my work-from-home routine with this app's delightful audiobook selection! 💻📖 Kudos to ListenBook for the intuitive design and easy-to-use controls. It's evident that they've put a lot of thought into user experience. ListenBook's player features are incredibly helpful. Chapters and bookmarks make navigation easy. The statistics tracking is a nice touch. ListenBook helps me keep track of my audiobook habits. The perfect balance between dramatic reading and natural storytelling. Felt like a friend telling me an amazing story rather than someone just reading words.
Mental Prophet
This app has made 'reading' more versatile and enjoyable than ever. I'm amazed at how this app has made reading a seamless part of my life. This app's ease of use has made my daily activities more enjoyable and educational. The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook consumption habits.
WanderWord
This app is my travel companion – making long journeys enjoyable and insightful. As a busy individual, I appreciate ListenBook's versatility in downloading audio files from various sources. It's a time-saver for sure! The interface is sleek and modern. It's a pleasure to navigate and use the app. Makes audiobook listening super easy and enjoyable. Thanks, ListenBook!
PixelPioneer
With ListenBook, I can listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. I'm so glad I chose the audiobook version! The narrator added layers of meaning I might have missed reading silently. Their interpretation of the material felt thoughtful and authentic. The recording was technically perfect - no reverb, no peaking, just clean, pleasant audio.
Atlantic Rim
I'm no longer missing out on great stories – this app fits perfectly into my lifestyle. Decent narration, predictable story. The voice actor did a good job, but the plot followed a familiar formula. If you’re looking for something new and groundbreaking, this might not be it.
Prof. Screw
I can't believe I waited this long to discover the joy of audiobooks through this app. ListenBook has transformed my daily commute. I look forward to my journeys with this app by my side. Beautiful layout and easy access to chapters. Really impressed with ListenBook.
InfinityInsight
The app's features, like the sleep timer, make it clear that it's designed with readers in mind. ListenBook has brought a whole new level of convenience and enjoyment to my audiobook experience.
RoarSweetie
This app has ignited my passion for reading once again – but in a modern, convenient way. Integration with Apple CarPlay has made long road trips so much more enjoyable. Audiobook enthusiasts, rejoice! This app's thoughtful features, such as auto-rewind and chapter navigation, cater perfectly to our storytelling cravings. 🎉📚 The attention to detail is commendable. Artwork and metadata are sorted automatically. ListenBook's player features, including chapters and bookmarks, are invaluable for a seamless experience.
Z-Boy
This app has transformed my daily walks into exciting literary adventures. My daily workouts are more enjoyable now, thanks to seamless integration with Apple Watch. Auto-rewind feature is a lifesaver. I never lose my place!
Sky Bully
ListenBook is a true audio treasure! It turns my own audio files into immersive listening experiences. With this app, I've discovered the joy of learning while I'm on the move – it's like having a tutor by my side. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
Delicious Cupid
ListenBook's commitment to providing a high-quality audiobook experience is truly commendable. ListenBook's sharing options make it easy to spread the joy of captivating stories with friends.
Wild Hair
ListenBook's customizable audio filters allow me to personalize my listening experience – a fantastic feature. I can't believe how easily this app has fit into my daily routine. The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook habits, helping me learn and grow.
Spoiler Betty
Unwinding with a good audiobook has become my favorite self-care ritual. The app's versatility in audio downloading is unmatched. It's a comprehensive solution for my audiobook needs. I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device. This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work! Incredible character voices! Each person felt distinct without being over-the-top. The emotional scenes gave me chills with how well they were delivered.
Don Stab
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made my daily activities more seamless and convenient. Looping playback and shuffle features keep my audiobook sessions engaging and fresh. The app is super intuitive. I was up and running in minutes. A perfectly acceptable audiobook that fulfilled its purpose. The narration was competent if not particularly memorable, and the production quality was standard for the genre. It served as decent background entertainment during mundane tasks.
Soiled Dove
With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. 💡 Balancing learning and living effortlessly – audiobooks on demand, thanks to this app! 🎧💫 ListenBook’s interface is clean and intuitive. It’s a joy to use.
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