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.
MysticMingle
The audio filters on ListenBook enhance the sound quality, making every listening session a treat for my ears. The interface is sleek and modern. Itβs a joy to use.
Prof. Smirk
This app's compatibility with different formats ensures that I never miss out on a great audiobook. The basic audio filters are a game-changer. Adjusting playback speed is a breeze. Finally, an app that supports all audiobook formats. It's a dream come true for audiophiles like me. Perfect for both first-time listeners and audiobook veterans! The narrator's warm, inviting tone made this an incredibly comfortable listening experience. I particularly appreciated how well they handled dialogue - each character felt distinct without being cartoonish. The pacing kept me engaged throughout.
Blizzard Vixen
I can't get enough of this app's easy navigation and quick access to chapters and playback controls. The noise reduction feature in ListenBook Pro is a game-changer for enjoying clear recordings. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to share the joy of storytelling with friends, sparking engaging conversations and connections that transcend boundaries.
Bad Bond
ππ Exploring stories even with my eyes off the page β this app is a bedtime dream! π΄π§ ListenBookβs support for Apple Watch is a great touch. I can control my audiobooks on the go.
EchoExplorer
Effortless audiobook exploration β this app's design is a reader's dream. The app's integration with Apple Watch makes it an indispensable tool for my active lifestyle. 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.
Sun Lemon
π Elevating my reading routine β this app's functionality is the key to unlocking new worlds of storytelling. ππ ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature is a time-saving convenience that I greatly appreciate. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature. I'm loving it! The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
CommandX
ListenBook's library organization keeps my audiobooks neat and accessible. A true organizational lifesaver! Apple Watch compatibility enhances my audiobook experience. It's a convenient way to control playback. The statistics tracking feature is very useful. ListenBook helps me keep track of my listening time. 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! What a delightful listening experience! The narrator's timing was impeccable, knowing exactly when to pause for effect or let the words flow. Their character voices were distinct yet natural - no over-the-top accents or distracting vocal tics. The audio quality was consistently excellent.
CuriousCoder
I've discovered authors I'd never heard of before, and now they're among my favorites. ListenBook's clean interface and organized layout make it a pleasure to browse through my audiobooks. This app has made my daily walks a time for both exercise and learning. With ListenBook Pro, I can enjoy super long audiobooks. It's fantastic! I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device.
Widow Curio
I'm impressed by ListenBook's dedication to providing a comfortable listening experience. π Embracing reading in the digital age β this app makes accessing books a seamless and enjoyable experience. π±π ListenBookβs support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily.
TulipCake
The diverse range of narrators adds a new layer of depth to each story. π₯ Streamlined functionality that's music to my ears β audiobook enjoyment has reached a new level of convenience. π΅π Audiobook pleasure simplified β this app's design is a standout. Book groups keep my related titles together for a cohesive listening experience. A thoughtful feature! The app's seamless integration with Apple Watch makes it my perfect workout companion.
Moon Cricket
Thanks to this app, listening to audiobooks has become a delightful habit. ListenBook has rekindled my love for learning, one audio experience at a time. The tone adjustment feature is an exciting touch, allowing me to immerse myself even more in the content.
Roller Girl
I'm hooked on this app's curated content β it's like having a personal librarian. Audiobooks made easy β this app's functionality is truly a gift. The compatibility with Apple Watch is a huge plus. I can control my audiobooks from my wrist! The voice boost feature is amazing. It makes every word crystal clear. The app is so versatile. It works with all my devices.
StarZen
This app is my secret weapon for staying entertained during mundane tasks. ListenBook's library organization features have transformed my chaotic audiobook collection into an organized masterpiece. With this app, I've found a way to make long flights and road trips more enjoyable and enlightening. This app is a lifesaver! I can now enjoy my favorite books on the go. Tone adjustment is so cool. It's like customizing the reader's voice to my liking.
Bad Princess
I'm hooked on this app's ability to make every moment a reading moment. πΆββοΈπ Walking my way through exciting narratives β this app makes exercise more fun! ποΈπ§ ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is fascinating. I can alter the reader's voice to match my moodβwhat a creative addition! I'm amazed by the app's versatility in downloading audio. It accommodates various sources seamlessly. Downloading over WiFi is quick and efficient. Saves a lot of time.
Frosty Squid
ListenBook's library organization and book groups make managing my collection effortless. ListenBook's innovation, seamless playback, and versatile features make it a standout app. I'm blown away by how this app has made my commutes productive and my downtime entertaining.
Marine Dre
ListenBook's support for playlists in CUE format is a detail-oriented touch I truly appreciate. The ease of downloading content via WiFi, WebDAV, and more has made ListenBook my audiobook hub. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a fun and convenient way to share the magic of storytelling with friends and family, sparking meaningful discussions.
Atomic Blastoid
The seamless integration with my car's audio system is a road trip dream. The app's design is sleek and modern β it's a pleasure to navigate. ListenBook has made audiobook listening a personalized and enriching journey. ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a fascinating way to add a personal touch to my audiobook journey.
Rosie Bird
ListenBook's powerful audio downloading features are a dream come true β no more hassles! I can't get enough of this app β it's like having a personal storyteller in my pocket. πΌ Enhancing work-from-home productivity β audiobooks make even the most routine tasks a delight. π»π Audiobooks at my fingertips β this app's functionality is a true marvel. What a fantastic listening experience! The narrator brought the characters to life with distinct voices and emotional depth. The pacing was perfect - not too fast to lose details, not too slow to become boring. I particularly appreciated how well the narrator conveyed the atmosphere of key scenes.
Keystone
I'm impressed by ListenBook's commitment to providing a silky-smooth playback experience. ListenBook's dedication to user convenience is evident in the drag-and-drop download feature from web browsers. The tone adjustment feature in ListenBook Pro is a novel addition that allows me to personalize my audiobook experience. 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! Great for fans of this genre! The pacing, narration, and production quality were all excellent. It felt like a movie playing in my mind. Iβll be checking out more from this narrator for sure.
TulipCake
The app's interface is sleek and modern, making it a joy to use. The convenience of switching between devices without losing my place is a lifesaver. ListenBook has made my daily activities more interesting and meaningful β I'm hooked! With this app, I've turned mundane chores into exciting opportunities for intellectual growth. This was an adequate audiobook for casual listening. The narrator maintained a consistent pace and clear diction throughout, though their performance lacked some emotional range. The audio quality was fine with no significant technical distractions.
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