Book description
A 2020 New York Times notable book One of the Chicago Tribune's best nonfiction books of 2020Complex, turbulent, as haunting as a pedal steel solo --Jonathan Miles, The New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice) One of 21 books we can't wait to read in 2020 --Thrillist A New York Times Book Review summer reading pick A GQ best book of 2020 Named one of the 10 best July books by The Washington Post and The Christian Science Monitor A Kirkus Reviews hottest summer read A Publishers Weekly summer reads staff pickThe incredible true story of America's original--and forgotten--capital of viceBack in the days before Vegas was big, when the Mob was at its peak and neon lights were but a glimmer on the horizon, a little Southern town styled itself as a premier destination for the American leisure class. Hot Springs, Arkansas was home to healing waters, Art Deco splendor, and America's original national park--as well as horse racing, nearly a dozen illegal casinos, countless backrooms and brothels, and some of the country's most bald-faced criminals. Gangsters, gamblers, and gamines: all once flocked to America's forgotten capital of vice, a place where small-town hustlers and bigtime high-rollers could make their fortunes, and hide from the law. The Vapors is the extraordinary story of three individuals--spanning the golden decades of Hot Springs, from the 1930s through the 1960s--and the lavish casino whose spectacular rise and fall would bring them together before blowing them apart. Hazel Hill was still a young girl when legendary mobster Owney Madden rolled into town in his convertible, fresh off a crime spree in New York. He quickly established himself as the gentleman Godfather of Hot Springs, cutting barroom deals and buying stakes in the clubs at which Hazel made her living--and drank away her sorrows. Owney's protégé was Dane Harris, the son of a Cherokee bootlegger who rose through the town's ranks to become Boss Gambler. It was his idea to build The Vapors, a pleasure palace more spectacular than any the town had ever seen, and an establishment to rival anything on the Vegas Strip or Broadway in sophistication and supercharged glamour. In this riveting work of forgotten history, native Arkansan David Hill plots the trajectory of everything from organized crime to America's fraught racial past, examining how a town synonymous with white gangsters supported a burgeoning black middle class. He reveals how the louche underbelly of the South was also home to veterans hospitals and baseball's spring training grounds, giving rise to everyone from Babe Ruth to President Bill Clinton. Infused with the sights and sounds of America's entertainment heyday--jazz orchestras and auctioneers, slot machines and suited comedians--The Vapors is an arresting glimpse into a bygone era of American vice.
Lilac Lizard
The app's attention to detail is commendable. It's evident in every feature. The app is very intuitive. ListenBook makes finding and playing audiobooks simple.
Morbid Sugar
ListenBook has made my daily activities more interesting and meaningful – I'm hooked! 🌟 Transforming laundry time into a journey through fantastic stories – thank you, this app! 👚📖 ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars! As someone who struggles to focus on audiobooks, this kept my attention the whole way through. The narrator's clear diction and expressive delivery were perfect.
Purity Catnip
🎙️ This app's user-friendly interface has transformed my daily walks into immersive storytelling sessions. Kudos to the developers! 🚶♀️📖 ListenBook is my constant companion during workouts. The controls are so easy to use. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to connect over shared interests.
New York Sixlet
Audiobook listening has never been this easy and convenient – it's like having a personal narrator. 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! 🌟📚
Whip Chu
ListenBook's support for various download methods and audio formats ensures that I can always find what I'm looking for. Audiobooks made delightful – this app's usability is a breath of fresh air. Audiobook pleasure without the fuss – this app's functionality is top-notch.
DreamDiver
Audiobooks on demand? Yes, please! With this app's robust features, I'm always just a tap away from immersing myself in captivating narratives. 📚📱 Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a delightful way to connect with fellow book lovers.
Rummy Stickers
ListenBook's intuitive controls and beautiful layout make my audiobook experience a delightful one. Great app for audiobook enthusiasts. ListenBook supports a wide range of formats.
Pinball Esq
Unparalleled support for CarPlay and Apple Watch means I can take my audiobooks anywhere, anytime. 💼 Making work hours enjoyable – audiobooks turn my tasks into learning opportunities and moments of joy. 💻📖 The import process is seamless. I had no trouble adding my audiobooks.
Acetic Princess
The voice actors are incredible – they make the characters come alive. 🎶📚 Replacing tunes with stories – my house is alive with the sound of narration! 🎧🏠 The audio filters in ListenBook allow me to customize my listening experience. Speed up or slow down playback—it's all up to me! The tone adjustment feature in ListenBook Pro is a novel addition that allows me to personalize my audiobook experience. Book groups are a thoughtful addition. I can group related titles for easy access.
Goldman
ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars! 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! 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.
Digital Equinox
🚗📖 Beating traffic blues with engaging audiobooks – driving has never been this fun! 🚗🎧 Effortless audiobook management – this app's usability is a triumph. As an audiobook enthusiast, this app is a dream come true. Its compatibility with various formats and easy navigation make it my ultimate reading companion. 🌟🎧
Trigger Warming
The 'Explore' feature has introduced me to authors I might never have discovered otherwise. The app is lightweight and doesn’t drain my battery.
Spontan8ty
With this app, my daily routines have become moments of intellectual discovery and personal fulfillment. ListenBook’s playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace. 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.
Frosty Snazz
I've been recommending this app to all my friends – it's a true game-changer. The noise reduction feature on ListenBook Pro is a godsend for clear and comfortable listening. ListenBook Pro offers an unbeatable deal – unlimited audiobook length and noise reduction. I'm amazed at how this app has seamlessly integrated reading into my daily rhythm. 🎧 Elevating my reading experience – this app's intuitive controls and organization features make audiobook enjoyment effortless. 📱📖
Rink Ruler
I'm hooked on this app – it's like Netflix for book lovers! ListenBook's beautiful layout and quick access to chapters make navigation effortless. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personalized touch to my audiobook experience. This audiobook app is a true gem – it brings stories to life with every click. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Palomino
I'm amazed at how this app seamlessly integrates into my life, enhancing every moment with stories. Effortlessly managing my audiobook library – this app's design is commendable. The speed adjustment feature is my secret weapon for studying complex materials.
ManMaker
Thanks to ListenBook's binaural audio processing, my extended listening sessions are fatigue-free. ListenBook has streamlined my audiobook experience. It's a must-have app for enthusiasts.
Lady Pomegranate
Finally, an app that turns my daily commute into an adventure through literature. I can't get enough of this app's convenience and the endless possibilities it offers. Audiobook immersion simplified – this app's ease of use is a true asset.
Delicious Wing
ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature streamlines the process of adding new content to my library. The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient. Solid performance, but not outstanding. The narrator did a fine job, though their tone was a bit monotonous at times. The story itself was engaging enough, but I wouldn’t call it unforgettable.
Lord Theus
I'm rediscovering my favorite classics in a whole new way – through audiobooks! 🎶 Swapping background music for the soothing voices of narrators – audiobooks have become my soundtrack for daily life. 🎵📚 ListenBook is like a personal audiobook library in my pocket. Organized and easily accessible. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while commuting.
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