‘tis the season to do some listening
As someone who used to carry around big CD sets of audiobooks, I really appreciate Audible. I have had the service off and on for many years now, and there have been some significant improvements. In this current season, I am choosing to listen to a bunch of shorter books that I probably would not have listened to otherwise and giving them reviews. It’s pretty interesting how many books are on Audible now thanks to the AI voice. That is pretty cool as well. I got up here again recently to listen to a book that my wife recommended. Even though I wasn’t 100% interested in the book myself, I thought it would be good to listen to and have something to converse about. As a result, I am going down a very interesting rabbit hole of material facilitated by the books that come with the premium plan. I wonder what I’ll be like at the end of listening to all of these books. We are in an interesting time where we could learn a lot of things about a lot of people and a lot of world views just by listening to audiobooks. I wish more people would do something like that. But, since I can’t control other people I might as well just do it myself and see how I expand. I appreciate this relationship building tool,
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Great app
The app generally works well for what it’s supposed to do. The media player is easy to use. However the library isn’t categorized very well. It was very difficult to scan through fiction just to see what’s available in the “free library.”
Speaking of the free library, this seems to be a major selling point for your subscription offer. It took me a long time to search out a list of about 20 “free” titles. Now that they are in my library I’ve begun receiving notifications that they will not stay free. Many titles have already been switched to the paid library. I would think if you make huge profits from the popular titles you sell thousands of times, that if a title’s status changed it would be from paid to free - not the other way around. Because you are moving so many titles out of the free library, old titles you’ve already had years to monetize, it really makes you look greedy. Or at least you’ve presented the free library as something more than what it is. Are you also making other titles free that used to be paid? I would appreciate any info/analytics you can share to make this easier to understand.
I do give you credit for occasionally offering books on sale. I also appreciate the 5 min. Preview, because I’m pretty picky about reading voices. I certainly will continue to use the app even though credits are overpriced, and your library management tactics are questionable.
Speaking of the free library, this seems to be a major selling point for your subscription offer. It took me a long time to search out a list of about 20 “free” titles. Now that they are in my library I’ve begun receiving notifications that they will not stay free. Many titles have already been switched to the paid library. I would think if you make huge profits from the popular titles you sell thousands of times, that if a title’s status changed it would be from paid to free - not the other way around. Because you are moving so many titles out of the free library, old titles you’ve already had years to monetize, it really makes you look greedy. Or at least you’ve presented the free library as something more than what it is. Are you also making other titles free that used to be paid? I would appreciate any info/analytics you can share to make this easier to understand.
I do give you credit for occasionally offering books on sale. I also appreciate the 5 min. Preview, because I’m pretty picky about reading voices. I certainly will continue to use the app even though credits are overpriced, and your library management tactics are questionable.
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PLEASE Adjust the More Options Menu on Right Side!
The gist: the newer right hand More Options Menu conflicts with playback and needs to be thought through for ease of function (and to prevent loyal customers from experiencing immense frustration).
I have enjoyed Audible for many years now, listening to several books each month and a library of nearly 400 titles. Most everything has been great (though I’ve found headaches with the bookmark/note taking and so do all of that outside the app), but one of the more recent updates changed the way customers interact with books in the library. You used to swipe left to select “remove from device,” which was a very conscious effort action. Now, however, there are three dots on the right side that one must hit to bring up a short menu of options to then select “remove from device.” My gripe with this is that 98% of the time, when a book is completed and I want to remove it to then begin a new title, I go to hit the dots and instead the dang book I just finished starts to play again. Similarly, I recently purchased several titles that all automatically downloaded to my device, and here again each time I tried to three-dot-tap to remove them for a later listening time, each one started playing. It’s so dang maddening. And I hate that my books are now all out of listening order. Please, PLEASE do something about this. The design is so flawed.
I have enjoyed Audible for many years now, listening to several books each month and a library of nearly 400 titles. Most everything has been great (though I’ve found headaches with the bookmark/note taking and so do all of that outside the app), but one of the more recent updates changed the way customers interact with books in the library. You used to swipe left to select “remove from device,” which was a very conscious effort action. Now, however, there are three dots on the right side that one must hit to bring up a short menu of options to then select “remove from device.” My gripe with this is that 98% of the time, when a book is completed and I want to remove it to then begin a new title, I go to hit the dots and instead the dang book I just finished starts to play again. Similarly, I recently purchased several titles that all automatically downloaded to my device, and here again each time I tried to three-dot-tap to remove them for a later listening time, each one started playing. It’s so dang maddening. And I hate that my books are now all out of listening order. Please, PLEASE do something about this. The design is so flawed.
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Good content, very marginal access to it
Have enjoyed using the app for a couple of years now.
Have bought many books on top of my monthly subscription. However today I have been left unable to continue a series I have been enjoying. As the option to buy the next book in the series has disappeared.
And I am now left unable to use the app for anything but listening to the free catalogue.
Can’t figure out the game plan for a company based on the sake of books, to not allow the purchase of books.
Attempts to use the help system to enquire was pointless as there was no one on the other end of the chat feature. And the automated options didn’t have any information relevant to my issue
Have bought many books on top of my monthly subscription. However today I have been left unable to continue a series I have been enjoying. As the option to buy the next book in the series has disappeared.
And I am now left unable to use the app for anything but listening to the free catalogue.
Can’t figure out the game plan for a company based on the sake of books, to not allow the purchase of books.
Attempts to use the help system to enquire was pointless as there was no one on the other end of the chat feature. And the automated options didn’t have any information relevant to my issue
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Impressed.
I’ve been really impressed by this audiobook. It’s very well read and the information included seems like a godsend to me. I have done the keto diet in the past a couple of times and felt great. The diet recommendations here are a step further towards not eating sugar, which has been my downfall.
Recently, over the past two years, I’ve been injecting weight loss medication into me, which has proved to be a complete waste of time. I am heavier now than I have ever been in my life, as the NHS in the U.K. will only pay for 2 years worth of medication and support. After that, everything stops. Literally.
Since the end of it, I have gained 30lbs more than I have ever weighed before. I am very depressed and anxious and cannot stop eating sugary foods. I am also very angry. I have many health concerns and take 16 different medications every day. I am dangerously sick now.
So a Carnivorous diet is my last resort. I wish I could update this in 6 months. The book has given me new hope, however, and I will use all the strength I have to make my life better and be in control of it. I am 61. Wish me luck.
Recently, over the past two years, I’ve been injecting weight loss medication into me, which has proved to be a complete waste of time. I am heavier now than I have ever been in my life, as the NHS in the U.K. will only pay for 2 years worth of medication and support. After that, everything stops. Literally.
Since the end of it, I have gained 30lbs more than I have ever weighed before. I am very depressed and anxious and cannot stop eating sugary foods. I am also very angry. I have many health concerns and take 16 different medications every day. I am dangerously sick now.
So a Carnivorous diet is my last resort. I wish I could update this in 6 months. The book has given me new hope, however, and I will use all the strength I have to make my life better and be in control of it. I am 61. Wish me luck.
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I live The Magic to the fullest
About 15 months ago my sister Klaina invited me to be part of a group to practice gratitude. After seeing the magic happening in my life and transforming my relationships and the way I was thinking and feeling I started thinking that the stories and exercises must come from a book. I was also thinking that something was missing in some of the stories. I looked constantly for a few days and I found “The Magic” book. I wasn’t completely sure that the information that we received on a daily basis were coming from it but I trusted my instincts. I knew that the Universe was guiding me and I didn’t hesitate for a second. I ordered it immediately. After a few months of reading it, I started recording the lectures and exercises and shared them with some friends and they loved them too. Suddenly the magic was in the audiobook store and I downloaded it right away. Just by listening the voice of Rhonda Byrne, and the emphasis she was giving to every single lecture, I was connecting more and more to the meaning of living in gratitude and being connected with the “Universe and the Law of Attraction.” I ended up downloading a few more books written by her. I cannot thank Rhonda enough for putting all these experiences together. My life is wonderful. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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Don’t waste your time
This was the most boring audio book I’ve ever listened to. Great if your trying to go the sleep. The narrator was boring and monotone. The subjects were dreary with little direction before moving onto the next. Each chapter was idealistic and patronising, nothing new revealed. There is loads of virtue signalling throughout. Little bits of experience like listening to a cathartic release for someone having a moan followed by an hour long input. It was like a political campaign speech or manifesto. I think this book was almost like an advert for the author to get work in either politics, tv media or a PCC role. Let’s be honest - the authors experience at high levels within the Met Police isn’t something these days that any other Police or members of the public would be in awe of. It doesn’t carry any weight. It’s a failed public body that continues to make a catalogue of errors. The fact he boasts of being a borough commander yet having changed little in my view means he either didn’t do a great deal other than chase promotions, or he’s failed to criticise those above if he did try and make any changes. The Blue was his first book, I thought that was alright but this was just a sequel for the sake of one, a bit like the fast and furious franchise.
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Rating in July - 5 stars. Rating now - 2 stars.
I have been an audible subscriber for many many years and have been happily using the app for as long as it has been around. The most recent update though has turned the audible app into something I don't want to use anymore. 1. For some reason the library completely reordered itself and no longer sorts by date added or most recent 1.a. this includes whatever book I'm listening to which is no longer at the top of the list 2. The app has been crashing CONSTANTLY unless the app is open and the screen is kept from going into power saving mode. 2.a. the app frequently just won't open at all and requires numerous attempts to open 3. About 90% of the time when I can get the app to open and I can get a book to open, there is no information available on the book or the information given goes with a different book. It may or may not open to the last location I was listening too. None of my created bookmarks are available nor can I create new bookmarks. 4. In addition to the library being randomly sorted, it is no longer searchable when in airplane mode. This added extreme frustration when trying to amuse myself while midair and unable to connect to WiFi. 5. The power drain has become enormous and my phone becomes dangerously hot if I try to charge it while using the app. Please fix this issues as soon as possible as the app is unusable in its current form.
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An incredible description accurately portrayed
I grew up in the era of Vietnam graduating from high school in 1967 and going right into nursing school graduating December 1969 receiving my nursing diploma and RN in February – 19 70. I knew classmates of my graduating class who were enlisting to go to Vietnam and had considered the option.
I believe one of the things that stopped me from enlisting was dating, and eventually marrying a man who had just come back from Vietnam, being stationed in Da Nang and seeing Action. Witnessing some of his PTSD and hearing some of the stories that he told early on, becoming silent about later. This book brought back memories of that time the feelings, the frustration and the wrongness of war. Thank you for telling it Kristen Hanna. Your writing has a remarkable ability to take you right into the situation and vividly live it with the characters. I have read your other books and find you a very honest skilled author. Thank you for using your talent to bring the truth. God bless your writing and all the men and women who gave their lives in Vietnam and all the other wars to keep our freedom. Today’s society needs to remember, be educated, and never forget. It could happen again if we don’t learn from it. Freedom comes at an unbelievable cost, not only in body bags, but in bodies and minds that will never be the same.
I believe one of the things that stopped me from enlisting was dating, and eventually marrying a man who had just come back from Vietnam, being stationed in Da Nang and seeing Action. Witnessing some of his PTSD and hearing some of the stories that he told early on, becoming silent about later. This book brought back memories of that time the feelings, the frustration and the wrongness of war. Thank you for telling it Kristen Hanna. Your writing has a remarkable ability to take you right into the situation and vividly live it with the characters. I have read your other books and find you a very honest skilled author. Thank you for using your talent to bring the truth. God bless your writing and all the men and women who gave their lives in Vietnam and all the other wars to keep our freedom. Today’s society needs to remember, be educated, and never forget. It could happen again if we don’t learn from it. Freedom comes at an unbelievable cost, not only in body bags, but in bodies and minds that will never be the same.
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I’m all ears. I hope someone’s listening as well.
Everyone should give audiobooks a try. Audible has helped me enjoy and explore so many more titles and topics (now over 400 in my library) than those dusty, neglected titles stacked on my beside table. Along with a constantly updated and wide array of captivating and entertaining titles, it’s great to share the experience of so many of the great masterpieces of mankind. I appreciate that they are preserved in spoken word form for our future generations. Whilst the above is true, I still feel compelled to hold a Star (or two) of hope that someone, who is proud to work at Audible, will take the lead in preserving and presenting some of the many, many fine works of the late great Mr James A Michener. It’s been great to listen to and savour other masterworks like War and Peace, Crime and Punishment, Great Expectations…It’s a very long list. Humanity should hold on to this timeless wisdom. Lest we forget. What is noticeably absent however are other classic titles like Centennial or The Source or Alaska? Like earning the Audible trophy’s within the app and I’m sure the team at Audible like earning rating Stars for this app. Audible will earn another two stars (from me) when they publish some of the works of the mighty Mr James A Michener. I’m all ears. I hope someone’s listening as well :)
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