Book description
Fintan O'Toole was born in the year the revolution began. It was 1958, and the Irish government--in despair, because all the young people were leaving--opened the country to foreign investment and popular culture. So began a decades-long, ongoing experiment with Irish national identity. In We Don't Know Ourselves, O'Toole, one of the Anglophone world's most consummate stylists, weaves his own experiences into Irish social, cultural, and economic change, showing how Ireland, in just one lifetime, has gone from a reactionary "backwater" to an almost totally open society--perhaps the most astonishing national transformation in modern history.Born to a working-class family in the Dublin suburbs, O'Toole served as an altar boy and attended a Christian Brothers school, much as his forebears did. He was enthralled by American Westerns suddenly appearing on Irish television, which were not that far from his own experience, given that Ireland's main export was beef and it was still not unknown for herds of cattle to clatter down Dublin's streets. Yet the Westerns were a sign of what was to come. O'Toole narrates the once unthinkable collapse of the all-powerful Catholic Church, brought down by scandal and by the activism of ordinary Irish, women in particular. He relates the horrific violence of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, which led most Irish to reject violent nationalism. In O'Toole's telling, America became a lodestar, from John F. Kennedy's 1963 visit, when the soon-to-be martyred American president was welcomed as a native son, to the emergence of the Irish technology sector in the late 1990s, driven by American corporations, which set Ireland on the path toward particular disaster during the 2008 financial crisis.A remarkably compassionate yet exacting observer, O'Toole in coruscating prose captures the peculiar Irish habit of "deliberate unknowing," which allowed myths of national greatness to persist even as the foundations were crumbling. Forty years in the making, We Don't Know Ourselves is a landmark work, a memoir and a national history that ultimately reveals how the two modes are entwined for all of us.
Zod
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Intimidating Presence
I love that I can switch between devices seamlessly and continue where I left off. The convenience of downloading audiobooks for offline listening is a game-changer. ListenBook has become my constant companion. It's like having a personal audiobook assistant.
Lady Katniss
ListenBook's seamless integration with CarPlay enhances my daily commute, making it a productive and enjoyable experience. ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made my life so much easier. Audiobook multitasking simplified β this app's functionality is a triumph. Quick access to chapters and controls makes ListenBook a breeze to use. It's an intuitive experience. Love the silky-smooth playback and easy-to-use interface. ListenBook is the best!
ButterQuest
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Dark Burn
ListenBook's commitment to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every detail. Audiobooks have turned my quiet moments into imaginative journeys β thank you, app! ListenBook has become my trusted companion. It's my go-to app for expanding my knowledge and enjoyment. The app is perfect for multitaskers. I can listen while working out.
Mantis Queen
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Fuzzy Claws
ListenBook has become an indispensable part of my daily routine β it's my ultimate audio companion. The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook consumption habits. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction ensures that my listening experience remains clear and enjoyable.
Sofa King
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Old Orange Eyes
Automatic artwork and metadata retrieval is a time-saver. My library looks fantastic. The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
InsightfulInk
I'm grateful for this app β it's made reading a part of my everyday life. I can't imagine my life without this app β it's my daily dose of literature. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while exercising.
Gunhawk
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Magenta
This app has transformed my daily walks into insightful journeys of knowledge β talk about efficiency! π§ Immerse yourself in stories effortlessly β this app's functionality is the gateway to endless audiobook adventures. ππ Book groups keep my related titles together for a cohesive listening experience. A thoughtful feature!
EchoEnigma
The quality of the audio is top-notch, making the experience truly immersive. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a true blessing for enjoying clear audio even in noisy environments. This app has made my workouts and chores so much more enjoyable.
Popeye Wipeout
This app is a time-saver β I can 'read' even when I'm on the move. π Igniting my imagination while preparing dinner β this app adds flavor to every meal! π²π Savoring audiobooks without fuss β this app's design is impressive. Supports all my playlists and bookmarks seamlessly. Very convenient. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. Itβs a unique feature.
Beetle King
ListenBook has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary adventures through stories. π§ This app is my saving grace! Now I can enjoy my beloved books while cooking up a storm! ππ³ πΆ Forget background music, I've got enchanting stories to accompany my chores! π΅π ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback features have become indispensable tools in my audiobook learning. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances the audio quality to a whole new level.
New York Mood
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Sly Bible
I've found hidden gems in genres I never thought I'd be interested in. No more straining my eyes β this app lets me 'read' with my ears!
Prof. Screw
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Necromancer
ListenBook's commitment to excellence shines through in its user-friendly interface and smooth playback. This app's compatibility with various formats ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks hassle-free. π± An entire library at my fingertips β this app is a book lover's dream come true! ππ Effortless audiobook exploration β this app's functionality is a true delight.
All Natural
User-friendly audiobook experience β this app's design is a standout. The app is so well-designed. Itβs clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
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