Book description
A distinguished former foreign correspondent embraces retirement by setting out alone on foot for nearly four hundred miles, and explores a side of America nearly as exotic as the locales from which he once filed. Traveling with an unwieldy pack and a keen curiosity, Christopher Wren bids farewell to the New York Times newsroom in midtown Manhattan and saunters up Broadway, through Harlem, the Bronx, and the affluent New York suburbs of Westchester and Putnam Counties. As his trek takes him into the Housatonic River Valley of Connecticut, the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and along a bucolic riverbank in New Hampshire, the strenuous challenges become as much emotional as physical. Wren loses his way in a suburban thicket of million-dollar mansions, dodges speeding motorists, seeks serenity at a convent, shivers through a rainy night among Shaker ruins, camps in a stranger's backyard, panhandles cookies and water from a good samaritan, absorbs the lore of the Appalachian and Long Trails, sweats up and down mountains, and lands in a hospital emergency room. Struggling under the weight of a fifty-pound pack, he gripes, "We might grow less addicted to stuff if everything we bought had to be carried on our backs." He hangs out with fellow wanderers named Old Rabbit, Flash, Gatorman, Stray Dog, and Buzzard, and learns gratitude from the anonymous charity of trail angels. His rite of passage into retirement, with its heat and dust and blisters galore, evokes vivid reminiscences of earlier risks taken, sometimes at gunpoint, during his years spent reporting from Russia, China, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa. He loses track of time, waking with the sun, stopping to eat when hunger gnaws, and camping under starry skies that transform the nights of solitude. For all the self-inflicted hardship, he reports, "In fact, I felt pretty good." Wren has woven an intensely personal story that is candid and often downright hilarious. As Vermont turns from a destination into a state of mind, he concludes, "I had stumbled upon the secret of how utterly irrelevant chronological age is." This book, from the author of the acclaimed bestseller The Cat Who Covered the World, will delight not just hikers, walkers, and other lovers of the outdoors, but also anyone who contemplates retirement, wonders about foreign correspondents, or relishes a lively, off-beat adventure, even when it unfolds close to home.
Wanted Candy
I'm rediscovering my favorite classics in a whole new way – through audiobooks! With this app, I can read anytime, anywhere – it's a reader's dream come true. Effortless audiobook management – this app's usability is a winner.
Sand Whiskers
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a feature I can't live without. ⭐️ This app's functionality is a symphony of efficiency – I'm savoring stories with ease, even on the busiest days. 🎶📖
BuzzBait
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Intimidating Presence
Listening to audiobooks has made my daily commute more enjoyable and productive. The auto-rewind feature is a small detail that makes a big difference. It enhances my listening experience. Smooth playback and great sound quality. ListenBook is my new favorite app!
Fuzzy Logic Hottie
The audio filters on ListenBook enhance the sound quality, making every listening session a treat for my ears. 🌟 Say goodbye to boredom during long drives – this app makes road trips fly by! 🚗🎉 Audiobook enthusiasts, gather round! This app's remarkable features, including audio filters and compatibility, have transformed my commutes into captivating journeys. 🎉🎧
Uncle Buddy
The customer support team is responsive and always ready to assist. Audiobooks on this app have made my workouts more enjoyable and productive. Listening to books while doing chores? This app makes it possible! I'm amazed at how this app has made reading such a natural part of my day. No more hassle with file conversion. This app handles all formats effortlessly.
Grave Scuttlebutt
Language courses on audiobooks helped me pick up a new language effortlessly. This app has made my daily routines more meaningful and enjoyable. I love the ability to change the playback speed. It’s perfect for my needs. An audiobook I’ll listen to again! The story was engaging, and the narrator’s performance made it even better. Some parts were so well-delivered that I replayed them just to hear the emotion again.
Hitch Frenzy
The ability to switch between devices seamlessly is a game-changer for busy readers. The absence of synchronization requirements on ListenBook is a breath of fresh air. This audiobook app is a true gem – it brings stories to life with every click. Book groups help me keep series together and navigate my collection more efficiently. A great feature! The app's integration with CarPlay enhances my road trips with immersive audiobook journeys.
DriftDetector
Audiobooks have brought a new level of enjoyment to my daily workout routine. No more limits on the genres I can explore! This app's versatility in downloading and organizing audiobooks ensures I always have a captivating tale at my fingertips. 📖📱
Steel
The ability to adjust the playback speed has made my commute even more efficient. This app has made my daily walks a time for both exercise and learning. 🚗 Turning road trips into unforgettable adventures – audiobooks keep me entertained on the journey! 🚗📖 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. This was my first audiobook in this genre and I'm hooked! The performance brought the story to life in a way reading never could. Already downloaded another by the same narrator.
CloudFrenzy
I'm finally making progress on my reading goals, thanks to this app's convenience. I'm absolutely in love with this app! The interface is so intuitive and user-friendly.
Corny
Audiobooks on this app have made my workouts more enjoyable and productive. 💪 Doubling the impact of my workouts – exercising and exploring stories, all thanks to this app! 💪🎧
Old Regret
Noise reduction in ListenBook Pro ensures crystal-clear playback even in noisy environments. Adjusting playback speed has given me greater control over my audiobook experience. I can optimize my learning and enjoyment by customizing the pacing.
Club Nola
Audiobooks have made long flights feel like a breeze – a true travel essential. With this app, I've discovered a new way to make my daily routines more enriching and rewarding. 🎉 Rekindling my love for reading – this app makes each day a new adventure! 📖🚀
DreamWeaver
Listening to audiobooks has made my daily commute more enjoyable and productive. 🚶♂️🌟 Strolling through captivating narratives has never been easier – this app's intuitive controls make audiobook listening a delight. 🎧🏞️ Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true triumph. Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I consume audiobooks. I can cover more ground while maintaining comprehension. I love the ability to share my progress with friends. It’s a fun feature.
MuseMaster
I can't believe how easy it is to discover new titles and genres. Pure delight! This app's sleek design and intuitive features make it my trusted partner in exploring new narratives. 📱 Carrying stories in my pocket – this app's convenience is a game-changer! 📚🛍️ The app’s design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player. 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!
Call Back Queen
ListenBook has completely changed my audiobook experience – it's like having a personal audio library. Effortlessly managing my audiobook library – this app's design is commendable.
Nacho
Effortlessly switching between stories – this app's ease of use is impressive. The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my audiobook library.
Bad Badminton
With ListenBook, I can enjoy my own audio content with unparalleled ease and comfort. 🎉📚 Rekindling my passion for books – this app has sparked a reading revolution in my daily life! 🔥📖 Automated artwork and metadata extraction make my library look organized and visually appealing. The app is perfect for road trips. It keeps me entertained for hours.
Cowboy Booter
ListenBook's audio filters are a fantastic addition, enhancing the sound quality of my audio files. I'm in awe of how this app has brought new dimensions to my reading experience. Audiobooks have made waiting in lines and queues so much more bearable.
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