Book description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - A magisterial world history unlike any other that tells the story of humanity through the one thing we all have in common: families - From the author of The Romanovs"Succession meets Game of Thrones." --The Spectator - "The author brings his cast of dynastic titans, rogues and psychopaths to life...An epic that both entertains and informs." --The Economist, Best Books of the Year Around 950,000 years ago, a family of five walked along the beach and left behind the oldest family footprints ever discovered. For award-winning historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, these poignant, familiar fossils serve as an inspiration for a new kind of world history, one that is genuinely global, spans all eras and all continents, and focuses on the family ties that connect every one of us. In this epic, ever-surprising book, Montefiore chronicles the world's great dynasties across human history through palace intrigues, love affairs, and family lives, linking grand themes of war, migration, plague, religion, and technology to the people at the heart of the human drama. It features a cast of extraordinary diversity: in addition to rulers and conquerors, there are priests, charlatans, artists, scientists, tycoons, gangsters, lovers, husbands, wives, and children. There is Hongwu, the beggar who founded the Ming dynasty; Ewuare, the Leopard-King of Benin; Henry Christophe, King of Haiti; Kamehameha, the conqueror of Hawaii; Zenobia, the Arab empress who defied Rome; Lady Murasaki, the first female novelist; Sayyida al-Hurra, the Moroccan pirate-queen. Here too are moderns such as Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelensky. Here are the Caesars, Medicis and Incas, Ottomans and Mughals, Bonapartes, Habsburgs and Zulus, Rothschilds, Rockefellers and Krupps, Churchills, Kennedys, Castros, Nehrus, Pahlavis and Kenyattas, Saudis, Kims and Assads. These powerful families represent the breadth of human endeavor, with bloody succession battles, treacherous conspiracies, and shocking megalomania alongside flourishing culture, moving romances, and enlightened benevolence. A dazzling achievement as spellbinding as fiction, The World captures the whole human story in a single, masterful narrative.
Firefly
This app has reignited my love for literature in the most delightful way. I love how I can adjust the skip intervals. Itβs perfect for my listening style.
Dream Killer
No more worries about compatibility β ListenBook handles numerous formats flawlessly. With this app, my daily routines have become moments of intellectual discovery and personal fulfillment. The speed adjustment feature is my secret weapon for studying complex materials. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while commuting. This audiobook made my workouts fly by! The engaging narration kept me motivated to keep listening, which meant longer gym sessions. The narrator's energy matched the material perfectly - upbeat when needed, somber when appropriate. A great example of how narration can enhance text.
Eerie Mizzen
Audiobooks have become my go-to gift for friends β and they all love it! Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a thoughtful and enjoyable way to share my favorite stories with friends and introduce them to new worlds of literature. The narrator's voice was so pleasant and easy to listen to. They had perfect pacing and made even the slower parts engaging. I found myself looking forward to my commute just to listen more!
Chasm Face
This app has enriched my daily routine and added a touch of intellectual stimulation. The app's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a true companion for all occasions. ListenBookβs playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
Hen Skittle
π‘ This app has made my daily schedule more interesting β 'reading' on the go! π±πΆββοΈ ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iβve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
Crazy Eights
ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. ListenBook has brought stories back into my life, making every moment a new adventure. π©βπ³ Cooking up a storm while enjoying thrilling stories β this app adds flavor to my meals! π³π§ I can't believe how seamless the integration with Apple Watch is. My workouts just got better.
Earl of Arms
Finally, a way to enjoy literature on the go without straining my eyes. Mood-based playlists help me choose books that suit my current state of mind. π Making each day a new chapter β this app keeps me hooked from morning to night! ππ The playback speed adjustment is a game-changer for busy individuals. Time saver! I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections.
Runway Darling
This app's user-friendly layout and quick access to controls have made audiobook listening a breeze. ListenBook's audio filters allow me to customize the audio playback to suit my preferences perfectly. CUE playlist support helps me organize my audiobooks efficiently. It's a great organizational tool.
Onion King
π Unleashing the power of audiobooks with this user-friendly app β it's like having a personal storyteller on demand! ππ₯ ListenBook's controls for looping and shuffling playback have made studying and revisiting content a breeze. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun and interactive way to bond over stories. This audiobook spoiled me for others! The narrator's professional delivery set a high bar - perfect diction, ideal pacing, and emotional authenticity. The recording quality was equally impressive with no distracting artifacts. I finished it far too quickly because I couldn't stop listening.
New York Sixlet
π Making each day a new chapter β this app keeps me hooked from morning to night! ππ π‘ This app's convenience is a blessing β I can squeeze in reading time between managing household tasks! π±π©βπ³ ListenBook's intuitive layout and quick access to chapters make audiobook navigation a breeze. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a revelation. It eliminates distractions and enhances the clarity of recordings, resulting in a more immersive experience.
Undergrad
I appreciate the minimal ads β it's all about uninterrupted enjoyment. Kudos to the developers! Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun and unique feature I can't get enough of. Binaural audio processing reduces listening fatigue. Fantastic feature! The appβs design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player.
Pixy Mox
With ListenBook, I've found a way to make the most of my free time while indulging in my love for audiobooks. ListenBook Pro takes things up a notch with unlimited audiobook length. It's a game-changer! ListenBook has rekindled my passion for learning. I'm exploring new topics every day. Flawless support for various audio formats. Very happy with it.
LuminaLore
Tone adjustment is so cool. It's like customizing the reader's voice to my liking. ListenBookβs CarPlay support makes listening in the car a seamless experience.
Jo Jo Spooky
Integration with Apple CarPlay has made long road trips so much more enjoyable. Downloading books over WiFi is quick and hassle-free. Very convenient. I love the ability to customize the skip buttons. Itβs so convenient. 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!
Night Magnet
A masterclass in audiobook narration! The performer maintained perfect consistency in character voices throughout while keeping the main narration clear and engaging. The production was flawless - no weird edits or background noise. I'll be seeking out more works by this narrator. A textbook example of great audiobook narration! The performer's diction was flawless, their pacing ideal, and their emotional range impressive. I never felt like I was being "read to" but rather like I was experiencing the story firsthand. The audio engineering was equally professional.
Starshine
I'm impressed with the wide range of supported formats. Finally, an app that plays all my audiobooks flawlessly. Supports all my playlists and bookmarks seamlessly. Very convenient.
Short Firecracker
Unwinding with a good audiobook has become my favorite self-care ritual. I'm addicted to this app β it's like having a library in my pocket. Audiobooks made convenient β this app's functionality is a true gift. I was thoroughly impressed by this audiobook. The combination of engaging content and skilled narration made my daily commute something to look forward to. The narrator's timing and intonation were spot-on, enhancing rather than distracting from the material. Definitely worth a credit!
Hex Panther
I can't imagine my daily activities without this app β it's the perfect way to stay engaged and informed. ListenBook is my constant companion during workouts. The controls are so easy to use. Navigating through chapters is a breeze with ListenBook. It's easy to jump to specific sections. The app is so versatile. It works with all my devices.
Cabbie
ποΈπ§ Soaking up the sun while indulging in beach reads β this app is my ultimate relaxation companion. ποΈπ 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.
Genghis Glyph
This app's convenience has made my downtime more rewarding and enriching. π The simplicity and functionality of this app are top-notch. I can start a book with just a tap and immerse myself in the story instantly. π±π Adjustable playback speed is a fantastic feature. It allows me to customize my listening experience. The noise reduction feature in ListenBook Pro is a game-changer for enjoying clear recordings. It was fine. The narrator did an adequate job but nothing about the performance particularly stood out to me. Got me through my commute though.
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