Are you looking for the best audiobooks? Then, you are in the right place! This article will detail the top 10 best audiobooks out of the approximately 200 audiobooks that I have experienced.
There is an ongoing debate if audiobooks are considered reading. When I saw Levar Burton, the host of Reading Rainbow, he answered this question. And he said yes! Additionally, I frequently use audiobooks to practice a reading technique called immersion reading. If you are interested in learning more, check out the article here.
Top 10 Audiobooks
1. Dune by Frank Herbert
Approximate Run Time at 1.0X Speed: 21 hours, 2 minutes
Genre: Fantasy
Frank Herbert is one of my favorite authors! He never fails to deliver, and he is one of my top 10 favorite authors.
Dune is one of the best books that I have ever read! Often, the author wrote the book in such a way as you can hear the character’s thoughts which provided a more immersive experience.
The audiobook contains an entire cast of characters, and it is extremely helpful to understand the pronunciation of the made-up words. Because the audiobook has a different voice for each character, it is much more clear who is speaking. The book touches on so many different deep topics and is so inspiring, moving. The book was also so unpredictable and unique.
Read my review of Dune on GoodReads here.
2. The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
Approximate Run Time at 1.0X Speed: 15 hours, 55 minutes
Genre: Non-Fiction
The Only Plane In the Sky is a reconstruction of the events of September 11, 2001 when the World Trade Centers/The Twin Towers were hit by two different commercial airplanes. Additionally, there was an airplane that crashed into The Pentagon, and another plane was hijacked but the crew overpowered the hijackers, crash landing in a field in Pennsylvania.
The author went through 5,000 audio clips and selected the best to put together the narrative of 9/11. It has been nominated as one of the best audiobooks of the year and has a large cast of 45 different speakers. And it rightly deserves this praise.
Read my review of The Only Plane in the Sky on GoodReads here.
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Approximate Run Time at 1.0X Speed: 18 hours, 16 minutes
Genre: Fiction
The Help is a fictional story set in Mississippi in 1962. The perspective shifts between three characters: two black maids, Aibileen and Minnie, and a young white woman nicknamed Skeeter. Will these women be able to change the status quo and what will it cost them?
The audiobook is phenomenal with a full cast of characters. It is definitely on my list of top 10 best audiobooks of all time! This book made me laugh and cry. It has a very conversational tone similar to Project Hail Mary but with no science and women instead of men. When the story rang out across my living room, I felt fully immersed in the story, just like Aibileen was sitting on the edge of my couch sharing her story. This was one of those books where you hoped that it wouldn’t come to an end.
Read my review of The Help on GoodReads here.
4. A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum
Approximate Run Time at 1.0X Speed: 10 hours, 15 minutes
Genre: Fiction
A haunting tale of being an immigrant in the United States. Deya, an eighteen-year-old teenager, is about to be married off against her wishes. As Deya contemplates her life, she starts to uncover truths about her mother, Isra. Deya was told that her mother had died in a car accident. But is that the truth?
What will happen to Deya and Isra? Who can you turn to for help when you don’t speak the language, far from all of your support?
Even though I read this book years ago, it has stayed with me. An unforgettable read.
5. The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
Approximate Run Time at 1.0X Speed: 12 hours, 13 minutes
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Another one of my favorite authors, Riley Sager!
Fifteen years ago, Emma Davis was at summer camp. Her three bunkmates disappeared and were never seen again. Now, Emma is back at the camp. Her memories of that long ago, fateful summer keep plaguing her. What happened all of those years ago? Will Emma catch the murderer?
The ending on this one I did not see coming! My eyes tend to wander when I am reading a mystery/thriller so the audiobook kept me from any spoilers. This one was so thrilling that I listened to this audiobook in my car well after arriving at my destination!
6. Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight
Approximate Run Time at 1.0X Speed: 13 hours, 21 minutes
Genre: Non-Fiction/Autobiography
While is business school, Phil Knight comes up with a wild idea: to sell high quality running shoes imported from Japan. This was well before the age of the Internet and Google Translate. How will Phil be able to turn his vision into reality? Buckle up as Knight details his setbacks, triumphs, betrayals, and tragedies.
While Knight voices the introduction, the narrator has a very rich engaging voice as though he is regaling his life story over a campfire.
7. The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall
Approximate Run Time at 1.0X Speed: 6 hours, 49 minutes
Genre: Non-Fiction/Autobiography
If you love the environment, animals, or just need to feel better about life, this is the book for you!
The Book of Hope is a discussion between Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams. Goodall makes an argument for hope in these challenging times. However, it isn’t fake hope or false promises. She highlights some of the positive changes that are happening in the world, and she shares stories of the exquisite wonders of nature.
This is one of my favorite books of 2021! Who couldn’t use a big shot of positivity these days?
Read my review of The Book of Hope on GoodReads here.
8. The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl
Approximate Run Time at 1.0X Speed: 10 hours, 35 minutes
Genre: Non-Fiction/Autobiography
Before you do anything, open YouTube and type in “Dave Grohl Plays Nirvana NYC 2021.”
The Storyteller is an extremely entertaining memoir where Dave’s love of music shines and shines through. Dave strolls through his childhood and his days in the business, primarily with Scream, Nirvana, and the Foo Fighters. Although Dave never mentions it, he is simply a master in emotional intelligence. He spent years touring in a van with numerous other bandmates.
The Storyteller had me laughing out loud often. The audiobook was read by Dave Grohl himself. He has an incredible rich voice that was a pleasure just to listen to. There is also about 10 minutes of bonus material in the audiobook that was not in my Kindle version.
Read my review of The Storyteller on GoodReads here.
9. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Approximate Run Time at 1.0X Speed: 16 hours, 10 minutes
Genre: Fantasy
Ryland Grace, the coolest middle school science teacher ever, slowly opens his eyes to discover himself on a spaceship. However, he can’t remember his name or his exact mission. Will this scientist discover and fulfill his mission in time to save humanity?
Project Hail Mary had a very conversational tone, the prose was so smooth and not clunky, and I highly, highly recommend the audiobook. The energy and enthusiasm of the narrator was infectious.
Project Hail Mary was extremely entertaining, and the storytelling was top-notch.
Read my review of Project Hail Mary on GoodReads here.
10. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Approximate Run Time at 1.0X Speed: 9 hours, 13 minutes
Genre: Humor
Ove is a grumpy old man who finds himself alone. However, things begin to change quickly when his new next door neighbors run over his mailbox as they move in. Can Ove find new value to bring in this Starbucks laden, InterNET infested world?
This is one of the funniest books that I have ever read! There is one member of my family who has emphatically insists that he does not read (The One Who Does Not Read). After initially refusing, I heard him chuckling in the other room. Eventually, he sat down next to me and listened to some of the audiobook.
Overall, this book hit the perfect spot! It definitely delivered on the funny!
Read my review of A Man Called Ove on GoodReads here.
Now that you have the best audiobooks, do you need to find the best audiobook service (or the cheapest one)? Read your next article here!
Thanks for this! I picked off a couple to listen too!
Hope you enjoy these as much as I did!