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.
Bearded Angler
Kudos to ListenBook for optimizing the app for iOS 16 β it shows their dedication to excellence. I'm addicted to this app β it's a non-stop journey through captivating tales. Navigating through chapters is a breeze. I can easily jump to the parts I want to listen to. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a creative way to share the love of literature. The sound quality is excellent. It feels like Iβm in the story.
Poptart AK47
π This app has turned my errands into exciting quests β I can conquer the grocery store while enjoying a book! ππ Tone adjustment adds a new layer of personalization to my audiobook experience. It's like having the narrator tailor the voice to my preferences.
Martini Flower
With this app, I've discovered a whole new way to enjoy literature. Finally, an app that supports all audiobook formats! Flawless playback. I'm blown away by the attention to detail in every aspect of this app.
FrankenGrin
I can't remember the last time I was this excited about 'reading' books! ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a true blessing for enjoying clear audio even in noisy environments. ListenBook's versatile features have made my audiobook experience more enjoyable than ever. This audiobook was a fantastic listen! The narrator's voice was clear and engaging, making it easy to follow along. The pacing was just rightβnot too fast, not too slow. Perfect for long commutes or relaxing at home. Highly recommend!
Hidden Tree
No more straining my eyes to read β now I can simply immerse myself in storytelling. The extensive audiobook collection for children is a blessing for my little ones. This app has brought back the joy of reading, no matter how busy I am. πΆπ Tuning in to the symphony of stories β audiobooks are the soundtrack of my daily routines. π΅π π Accessing my favorite authors and genres is a breeze with this app's user-friendly functionality. π±π§
Taffy Duchess
This app is a book lover's dream come true β a vast library right at your fingertips. πΆπ Replacing melodies with literary symphonies β my ears are in love! π΅π Gone are the days of struggling with formats. Thanks to this app, my audiobook journey is a breeze, and every tale is a tap away. Highly recommended! ππ§ ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magic wand that transforms even the noisiest environments into cozy listening spaces.
Toe
With this app, I'm experiencing the joy of reading in a whole new light. is a breeze. It's incredibly convenient for building my collection.
Hemlock
The Looping playback and Shuffle features on ListenBook help me customize my listening sessions to my liking. I'm hooked on this app's effortless downloading process β I can have my favorite audiobooks in seconds. Audiobooks made accessible and enjoyable β this app's design is a triumph.
Roller Turtle
ListenBook's smooth playback and easy navigation ensure that my audiobook experience is always top-notch. The interface is sleek and modern. It's a pleasure to navigate and use the app. Perfect narration for this genre! The voice actorβs tone matched the atmosphere of the book, enhancing the overall experience. No complaintsβjust a smooth, enjoyable listen from beginning to end.
FLAK Angel
πΌ Making work hours enjoyable β audiobooks turn my tasks into learning opportunities and moments of joy. π»π Effortlessly switching between stories β this app's ease of use is impressive. Unlimited audiobook length with ListenBook Pro is a game-changer. The interface is so clean and clutter-free. Itβs a pleasure to use.
Liquid Death
ListenBook's commitment to delivering an exceptional audiobook experience is evident in its thoughtful features and design. π Grooving to the rhythm of stories while tackling household chores β a dance of productivity! πΆπ ListenBook's player features are incredibly helpful. Chapters and bookmarks make navigation easy. Iβd listen to this narrator read anything! Their voice was so expressive and fitting for the material. The story itself was great, but the narration took it to the next level. Definitely a 5-star experience.
Friday Fox
π Embracing reading in the busiest of times β this app is my everyday escape! ππββοΈ Thanks to ListenBook, downloading audiobooks has never been easier or more convenient. ListenBook has made my daily walks so much more enjoyable. I'm always learning now! The ability to download audio from various sources without syncing is fantastic. ListenBook makes it so easy.
Morbid Sugar
This app's seamless integration with CarPlay and other devices has revolutionized my audiobook experience. A decent listen overall. The narration was clear, though some character voices sounded similar. The story was interesting but had moments where it dragged slightly. Still, it was a good way to pass the time. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with itβthe narration was fine, and the story was okayβbut nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
Miss Nova
Bookmarks are a fantastic tool for keeping track of important moments. They're a game-changer. Automatic metadata extraction is a time-saver. My library is finally well-organized.
Thunder Tank
This app's user-friendly controls and sleek design have made audiobook listening a truly immersive journey. This app has turned my screen time into valuable learning opportunities. πββοΈπ Combining exercise and exploration β this app keeps me motivated on my daily jogs! πββοΈπ πΆπ Tuning in to the symphony of stories β audiobooks are the soundtrack of my daily routines. π΅π Noise reduction and tone changing enhance the listening experience. Love it!
FLAK Angel
I can now explore books beyond my preferred genre, broadening my reading horizons. With ListenBook, I can enjoy a wide range of audiobook formats without any hassle, making my listening experience seamless. This app is a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. The ability to adjust skip intervals and playback speed is fantastic. I also love the auto-bookmark featureβit saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Worth every penny!
MysticMingle
Now I can enjoy my favorite books anytime, even during workouts. ListenBook has made my commutes more enjoyable, transforming them into learning sessions. With this app, I'm discovering the joy of reading during my commutes. Effortlessly exploring new worlds β this app's design is user-centric and efficient. Audiobook magic at my fingertips! This app's comprehensive offerings, from statistics tracking to immersive audio processing, have breathed new life into my reading. πβ¨
Manimal
The ability to listen to books while multitasking is a game-changer for me. With this app, I've found a way to make long flights and road trips more enjoyable and enlightening. An audiobook lover's dream come true! This app's seamless functionality and diverse format support make it my go-to choice for immersive storytelling. ππ§
9Lives
With this app, reading is no longer a luxury β it's an essential part of my day. ποΈ Turning grocery shopping into a thrilling audiobook hunt β what a game-changer! ππ Elegant design and easy-to-use interface. Very happy with ListenBook.
Call Back Queen
This app has transformed my daily walks into exciting literary adventures. The family subscription option is a money-saver β everyone gets to enjoy their favorite books. The ListenBook app has become an indispensable part of my daily routine, helping me learn and relax simultaneously. Efficiency and ease combined β this app is a must-have for book lovers. 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!
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