Can Audiobooks Make You Smarter?

Exploring the Impact of Audiobooks on Cognitive Skills

Audiobooks have revolutionized how we consume literature and information, but have you ever considered their impact on our cognitive skills? Let’s explore the fascinating world of audiobooks and how they shape our minds and enhance our abilities.

Listening to audiobooks engages our brains differently than reading traditional books, as explored in our ‘Are Books As Good As Physically Reading’ blog post. It challenges our auditory processing skills, improves focus, and enhances comprehension. This unique form of storytelling allows us to absorb information while multitasking or on the go, making learning more accessible than ever before.

Research suggests that audiobooks can strengthen memory retention and language processing abilities. Immersing ourselves in spoken narratives allows us to exercise our imagination and expand our vocabulary effortlessly. Whether it’s a thrilling mystery or a captivating memoir, audiobooks offer a dynamic learning experience that stimulates various cognitive functions.


As technology continues to advance, audiobooks are becoming increasingly popular among all age groups. They provide a valuable alternative for individuals with visual impairments or those seeking convenience in their busy lives. So next time you press play on an audiobook, remember that you’re not just listening – you’re also nurturing your cognitive skills in ways you may not even realize.


The Science Behind Audiobooks and Mental Stimulation: Fact or Fiction?

Audiobooks have undeniably surged in popularity over the past decade, and their impact on mental acuity is more profound than you might think. According to a study conducted by the Audio Publishers Association (APA), the audiobook listening market has expanded in the past year, with a majority of U.S. adults (53%) reporting that they have engaged with audiobooks, representing an increase from 45% in 2022.

Research corroborates the cognitive benefits of audiobook consumption. A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that individuals who regularly listen to audiobooks exhibit increased connectivity in brain regions associated with language comprehension and cognitive processing. This enhanced neural connectivity suggests that audiobooks stimulate the auditory cortex and engage various other regions of the brain, fostering holistic cognitive development.

In essence, listening to audiobooks is more than just a pastime; it’s a cognitive workout that can sharpen your mind and expand your intellectual horizons.


5 Ways Listening to Audiobooks Can Boost Your Knowledge and Intelligence

Listening to audiobooks is not just a convenient way to consume content; it can also significantly boost your knowledge and intelligence. Here are 5 ways how audiobooks can benefit your learning journey:

  1. Multitasking Efficiency: Audiobooks allow you to learn while doing other activities, such as exercising, commuting, or doing household chores. This multitasking capability helps you maximize your time and stay productive.
  2. Improved Retention: Listening to audiobooks engages your auditory senses, making it easier for you to retain information compared to traditional reading. The combination of hearing and visualizing the content enhances memory retention.
  3. Access to Diverse Content: Audiobooks provide access to a wide range of topics and genres, allowing you to explore new subjects beyond your usual reading preferences. This exposure can broaden your knowledge base and spark new interests.
  4. Enhanced Comprehension: Some people find it easier to understand complex concepts when they hear them rather than read them on a page. Audiobooks can help improve comprehension, especially for technical or dense material.
  5. Continuous Learning: With audiobooks, learning becomes a continuous process that fits seamlessly into your daily routine. You can listen on the go and absorb information consistently, fostering a habit of lifelong learning.


Debunking Myths: Addressing Common Misconceptions About Audiobook Learning

When it comes to audiobooks, some common myths often cloud people’s perceptions. Let’s debunk these misconceptions and shed light on the effectiveness of audiobook learning.

One prevalent myth is that listening to audiobooks is less effective than reading physical books. However, research has shown that audiobook learning can be just as beneficial for comprehension and retention. It all comes down to individual learning preferences.

Another misconception is whether listening to books truly counts as reading. The truth is that absorbing information through audio can enhance listening skills and stimulate imagination in a different way than traditional reading does. So yes, listening to books definitely counts as a form of reading!

Addressing these myths about audiobooks can help us appreciate their unique benefits in expanding our knowledge and fostering a love for learning in diverse ways.

We’ve put together a list of our recommendations to get you started:


Embracing the Audio Revolution to Enhance Your Mind and Skills

In conclusion, embracing the audio revolution can truly enhance your mind and skills in ways you never thought possible. By incorporating audio learning into your routine, you open up a world of possibilities for personal growth and development.

Whether you’re listening to audiobooks on the go, throwing them on during your commute, or using voice technology to access information hands-free, the power of audio is undeniable. It allows for multitasking, continuous learning, and easy accessibility to a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.

So why not take advantage of this incredible resource? Immersing yourself in audio can expand your horizons, keep you informed on the latest trends and topics, and boost your creativity and productivity. Let’s embrace this new era of auditory learning and unlock our full potential.



Looking for Book Recommendations?

• Here are the audiobooks our members have been loving, along with our staff picks that we’ve been championing.

• Looking to share your love of books? Our handy Book Clubbin’ questions make it super easy to start a book club. Or, Netflix n’ buddy-read with this year’s book-to-screen adaptations (just be prepared for the perennial debate: is the book better than the movie/show?).

• If you’re looking for something extra, we’ve got author and narrator interviews to give you a gleam inside their worlds.

• For the curious-minded, audiobooks can teach you a thing or two, from nature therapy to personal finance. It can even keep the little ones busy so you can steal some time back for yourself.


New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!

How Audiobooks Can Help You Fall Asleep Faster and Stay Asleep Longer

What is an Audiobook, and How Does it Impact Sleep?

Audiobooks have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to relax and unwind after a long day. But did you know audiobooks can also help you get better quality sleep? Studies have shown that listening to audiobooks before bedtime can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Follow along with us today as we explore the impact of audiobooks on sleep and how they can be used to improve your sleep quality.

How Listening to an Audiobook Can Help You Combat Sleepless Nights

We all know how difficult it can be to fall asleep at night, especially when your mind is racing with thoughts you can’t control. Listening to an audiobook before bed can be a great way to help you relax and ease into sleep. Not only does it give you something else to focus on instead of worrying about the day ahead, but audiobooks also have the potential to help you fall asleep faster and avoid the temptation of endless social media scrolling before bed.

If you’re looking for an audiobook to carry you off to Dreamland, we recommend Mythos by Stephen Fry.

Benefits of Listening to a Story Before Bedtime That Will Help You Sleep Deeper and Longer

Listening to stories before bedtime can help you sleep better and longer. Audiobooks are a great way to relax and unwind before going to sleep. The soothing sound of the narrator’s voice, especially when you don’t have to pay close attention to the story, creates a lullaby effect that can help you drift off into a deep sleep. Listening to stories can also help reduce stress levels, which is important for getting quality sleep.

What are the Best Types of Audiobooks For Sleep?

Okay, so you’re ready to try it out and listen to an audiobook as you fall asleep, but where do you begin? Not all audiobooks are created equal when it comes to helping you drift off into a peaceful sleep. The best types of audiobooks for sleep include soothing soundscapes, calming stories, and narrators with relaxing voices. Whether you prefer the sound of rain falling on a lake or the gentle whispers of an audio drama, there’s an audiobook out there that can help you drift off into dreamland.

We’ve put together a list of our recommendations to get you started:

Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups by Ben Holden, narrated by Ben Holden, Esther Wane, Luke Thompson, Sandra Duncan, Gareth Armstrong

Deep Sleep Music by Yella A. Deeken, narrated by Ian Brennan

Nothing Much Happens by Kathryn Nicolai, narrated by Kathryn Nicolai

Sleep Well by Sue Fuller, narrated by Sue Fuller


Looking for Book Recommendations?

• Here are the audiobooks our members have been loving, along with our staff picks that we’ve been championing.

• Looking to share your love of books? Our handy Book Clubbin’ questions make it super easy to start a book club. Or, Netflix n’ buddy-read with this year’s book-to-screen adaptations (just be prepared for the perennial debate: is the book better than the movie/show?).

• If you’re looking for something extra, we’ve got author and narrator interviews to give you a gleam inside their worlds.

• For the curious-minded, audiobooks can teach you a thing or two, from nature therapy to personal finance. It can even keep the little ones busy so you can steal some time back for yourself.


New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!

Book Clubbin’: 8 Discussion Questions for ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ by Bonnie Garmus

For this month’s Book Clubbin’ feature, we’re taking a look at the buzzy Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.

Lessons in Chemistry was Bonnie Garmus’ debut novel, and it was released to a wave of praise (us included). Not only was it nominated for two Goodreads’ Choice Awards, but it took home the crown for Best Debut Novel.

This listen follows Chemist Elizabeth Zott as she navigates the world of STEM as a woman in the 60s. Chemistry follows her everywhere: from falling in love to hosting a cooking show, and Elizabeth finds a way to inspire change wherever she goes.

If you’re looking for a vibrant listen full of characters that you’ll fall in love with and that will surely inspire you, then this is the one for you. And if you’re picking up Lessons in Chemistry for your book club this month, keep reading for our discussion questions below. Beware— SPOILERS ahead.

—————CONTAINS SPOILERS!—————

1) Why do you think Elizabeth agreed to the cooking show? And what made it so popular among women across the country?

2) The theme of sexism was prevalent throughout the entire audiobook. Though the book is set in the 60s, some of these experiences may still hit close to home for readers. How are these issues still persisting today? What can we learn from Elizabeth and how she handled her situation?

3) Discuss the effect that Clavin’s death had on Elizabeth and how it altered the trajectory of her life.

4) Why do you think Elizabeth turned down Calvin’s proposal?

5) Why do you think Bonnie Garmus included the perspective of their dog, Six-Thirty?

6) What did you think about the reveal that it was Calvin’s mother who had funded Elizabeth’s scientific research?

7) What do you think is next for Elizabeth and Mad?

8) Are you looking forward to the TV-series adaptation coming soon? Do you agree with who they chose to cast for Elizabeth? Who did you have in mind?


Looking for Book Recommendations?

• Here are the audiobooks our members have been loving, along with our staff picks that we’ve been championing.

• Looking to share your love of books? Our handy Book Clubbin’ questions make it super easy to start a book club. Or, Netflix n’ buddy-read with this year’s book-to-screen adaptations (just be prepared for the perennial debate: is the book better than the movie/show?).

• If you’re looking for something extra, we’ve got author and narrator interviews to give you a gleam inside their worlds.

• For the curious-minded, audiobooks can teach you a thing or two, from nature therapy to personal finance. It can even keep the little ones busy so you can steal some time back for yourself.


New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!

Audiobooks.com’s Best of 2022

Just like that, we are almost at the end of 2022! As the year wraps up, Audiobooks.com is looking back on the listens that have helped us get in touch with our emotions, kept us on the edge of our seat, and had us falling in love. There were so many great listens from this past year but we have narrowed down our favorites.

Discover Audiobooks.com’s top audiobooks from each month in 2022!


January: The Maid by Nita Prose, narrated by Lauren Ambrose

A dead body is one mess she can’t clean up on her own.

Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.

Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.

Read more and sample the audio →


February: Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown, narrated by Brené Brown

In Atlas of the Heart, Brown takes us on a journey through eighty-seven of the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human. As she maps the necessary skills and an actionable framework for meaningful connection, she gives us the language and tools to access a universe of new choices and second chances—a universe where we can share and steward the stories of our bravest and most heartbreaking moments with one another in a way that builds connection.
 
Read more and sample the audio →


March: Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson, narrated by By: Kevin T. CollinsRobert PetkoffPeter GanimLuis MorenoSoneela NankaniEmily Woo ZellerDolly PartonJames FouheyElla TurenneRonald PeetKelsea Ballerini 

Every song tells a story. 

She’s a star on the rise, singing about the hard life behind her. 

She’s also on the run. Find a future, lose a past. 

Nashville is where she’s come to claim her destiny.  It’s also where the darkness she’s fled might find her.  And destroy her. 

Read more and sample the audio →


April: Dream Town by David Baldacci, narrated by Brittany Pressley and Edoardo Ballerini

Private investigator and World War II veteran Aloysius Archer heads to Los Angeles, the city where dreams are made and shattered, and is ensnared in a lethal case in this latest thriller in #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci’s Nero Award-winning series.  

It’s the eve of 1953, and Aloysius Archer is in Los Angeles to ring in the New Year with an old friend, aspiring actress Liberty Callahan, when their evening is interrupted by an acquaintance of Callahan’s: Eleanor Lamb, a screenwriter in dire straits.

Read more and sample the audio →



May: Finding Me by Viola Davis, narrated by Viola Davis

In my book, you will meet a little girl named Viola who ran from her past until she made a life-changing decision to stop running forever.

This is my story, from a crumbling apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, to the stage in New York City, and beyond. This is the path I took to finding my purpose but also my voice in a world that didn’t always see me.

Read more and sample the audio →


June: The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand, narrated by Erin Bennett

Fresh off a bad breakup with a longtime boyfriend, Nantucket sweetheart Lizbet Keaton is desperately seeking a second act. When she’s named the new general manager of the Hotel Nantucket, a once Gilded Age gem turned abandoned eyesore, she hopes that her local expertise and charismatic staff can win the favor of their new London billionaire owner, Xavier Darling, as well as that of Shelly Carpenter, the wildly popular Instagram tastemaker who can help put them back on the map. And while the Hotel Nantucket appears to be a blissful paradise, complete with a celebrity chef-run restaurant and an idyllic wellness center, there’s a lot of drama behind closed doors.

Read more and sample the audio →


July: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, narrated by Julian Cihi and Jennifer Kim

On a bitter-cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn’t heard him, but then, she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom.

They borrow money, beg favors, and, before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo: a game where players can escape the confines of a body and the betrayals of a heart, and where death means nothing more than a chance to restart and play again. This is the story of the perfect worlds Sam and Sadie build, the imperfect world they live in, and of everything that comes after success: Money. Fame. Duplicity. Tragedy.

Read more and sample the audio →


August: I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette Mccurdy, narrated by Jennette Mccurdy

A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life.

Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.

Read more and sample the audio →


September: Fairy Tale by Stephen King, narrated by Seth Numrich and Stephen King

Legendary storyteller Stephen King goes into the deepest well of his imagination in this spellbinding novel about a seventeen-year-old boy who inherits the keys to a parallel world where good and evil are at war, and the stakes could not be higher—for that world or ours.

Charlie Reade looks like a regular high school kid, great at baseball and football, a decent student. But he carries a heavy load. His mom was killed in a hit-and-run accident when he was seven, and grief drove his dad to drink. Charlie learned how to take care of himself—and his dad. When Charlie is seventeen, he meets a dog named Radar and her aging master, Howard Bowditch, a recluse in a big house at the top of a big hill, with a locked shed in the backyard. Sometimes strange sounds emerge from it.

Read more and sample the audio →


October: It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover, narrated by Colin Donnell and Olivia Song

Before It Ends with Us, it started with Atlas. Colleen Hoover tells fan favorite Atlas’s side of the story and shares what comes next in this long-anticipated sequel to the “glorious and touching” (USA TODAY) #1 New York Times bestseller It Ends with Us.

Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have just settled into a civil coparenting rhythm when she suddenly bumps into her first love, Atlas, again. After nearly two years separated, she is elated that for once, time is on their side, and she immediately says yes when Atlas asks her on a date.

But her excitement is quickly hampered by the knowledge that, though they are no longer married, Ryle is still very much a part of her life—and Atlas Corrigan is the one man he will hate being in his ex-wife and daughter’s life.

Read more and sample the audio →

November: The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama, narrated by Michelle Obama

In an inspiring follow-up to her critically acclaimed, #1 bestselling memoir Becoming, former First Lady Michelle Obama shares practical wisdom and powerful strategies for staying hopeful and balanced in today’s highly uncertain world.

There may be no tidy solutions or pithy answers to life’s big challenges, but Michelle Obama believes that we can all locate and lean on a set of tools to help us better navigate change and remain steady within flux. In The Light We Carry, she opens a frank and honest dialogue with readers, considering the questions many of us wrestle with: How do we build enduring and honest relationships? How can we discover strength and community inside our differences? What tools do we use to address feelings of self-doubt or helplessness? What do we do when it all starts to feel like too much?

Read more and sample the audio →

December: Your Table is Ready by Michael Cecchi-Azzolina, narrated by Michael Cecchi-Azzolina

A front-of-the-house Kitchen Confidential from a career maître d’hotel who manned the front of the room in New York City’s hottest and most in-demand restaurants.

From the glamorous to the entitled, from royalty to the financially ruined, everyone who wanted to be seen—or just to gawk—at the hottest restaurants in New York City came to places Michael Cecchi-Azzolina helped run. His phone number was passed around among those who wanted to curry favor, during the decades when restaurants replaced clubs and theater as, well, theater in the most visible, vibrant city in the world.

Read more and sample the audio →


Looking for Book Recommendations?

• Here are the audiobooks our members have been loving, along with our staff picks that we’ve been championing.

• Looking to share your love of books? Our handy Book Clubbin’ questions make it super easy to start a book club. Or, Netflix n’ buddy-read with this year’s book-to-screen adaptations (just be prepared for the perennial debate: is the book better than the movie/show?).

• If you’re looking for something extra, we’ve got author and narrator interviews to give you a gleam inside their worlds.

• For the curious-minded, audiobooks can teach you a thing or two, from nature therapy to personal finance. It can even keep the little ones busy so you can steal some time back for yourself.


New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!

Like Us if You Love Us — Valentine’s Day Giveaway

We want to spread the love this Valentine’s Day, so we’re giving away three $100 Visa gift cards. Spend it on your sweetie or treat yourself!

To be entered to win, like or follow us on social media (below). Each follow will count as an entry.

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Giveaway ends at 11:59pm ET on February 10, 2022. Winners will be contacted after qualifying period to claim prize. Visa gift cards will be digitally delivered via email. Canadian residents of Quebec are not eligible.

Audiobooks.com’s Best Audiobooks of 2021

In what feels like the blink of an eye, we’re nearing the end of 2021. As the year wraps up, Audiobooks.com is looking back on the listens that have made this year one for the, well, books. From time-travelling epics to buzzworthy celebrity memoirs, these are the audiobooks that Audiobooks.com listeners and staff can’t get enough of.

Discover Audiobook.com’s top 10 audiobooks and staff favorites of the year below!


1. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, narrated by Rebecca Lowman

Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers—Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey.

As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.

Read more and sample the audio →


2. Billy Summers by Stephen King, narrated by Paul Sparks

Billy Summers is a man in a room with a gun. He’s a killer for hire and the best in the business. But he’ll do the job only if the target is a truly bad guy. And now Billy wants out. But first there is one last hit. Billy is among the best snipers in the world, a decorated Iraq war vet, a Houdini when it comes to vanishing after the job is done. So what could possibly go wrong?

Read more and sample the audio →


3. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, narrated by Julia Whelan

From Kristin Hannah, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes a powerful American epic about love and heroism and hope, set during the Great Depression, a time when the country was in crisis and at war with itself, when millions were out of work and even the land seemed to have turned against them.

Read more and sample the audio →


4. Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon, narrated by Davina Porter

#1 New York Times bestselling author Diana Gabaldon returns with the newest novel in the epic Outlander series.

The past may seem the safest place to be…but it is the most dangerous time to be alive. …Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall were torn apart by the Jacobite Rising in 1746, and it took them twenty years to find each other again. Now the American Revolution threatens to do the same.

Read more and sample the audio →



5. The Judge’s List by John Grisham, narrated by Mary-Louise Parker

Investigator Lacy Stoltz is tired of her work for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct and ready for a change. Then she meets a mysterious woman who is so frightened she uses a number of aliases. Jeri Crosby’s father was murdered twenty years earlier in a case that remains unsolved and that has grown stone cold. But Jeri has a suspect whom she has become obsessed with and has stalked for two decades.

Read more and sample the audio →


6. What Happened To You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey, narrated by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

Have you ever wondered ‘Why did I do that?’ or ‘Why can’t I just control my behavior?’ Others may judge our reactions and think, ‘What’s wrong with that person?’ When questioning our emotions, it’s easy to place the blame on ourselves; holding ourselves and those around us to an impossible standard. It’s time we started asking a different question.

Read more and sample the audio →


7. The Storyteller by Dave Grohl, narrated by Dave Grohl

Features excerpts from five never before heard demos performed by Dave Grohl and an original story exclusive to The Storyteller audiobook.

So, I’ve written a book.

The joy that I have felt from chronicling these tales is not unlike listening back to a song that I’ve recorded and can’t wait to share with the world, or reading a primitive journal entry from a stained notebook, or even hearing my voice bounce between the Kiss posters on my wall as a child. 

Read more and sample the audio →


8. Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead, narrated by Dion Graham

From the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys comes a gloriously entertaining novel of heists, shakedowns, and rip-offs set in Harlem in the 1960s. Harlem Shuffle’s ingenious story plays out in a beautifully recreated New York City of the early 1960s. It’s a family saga masquerading as a crime novel, a hilarious morality play, a social novel about race and power, and ultimately a love letter to Harlem.

Read more and sample the audio →


9. Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty, narrated by Caroline Lee

From the outside, the Delaneys appear to be an enviably contented family. Even after all these years, former tennis coaches Joy and Stan are still winning tournaments, and now they’ve sold the family business they have all the time in the world to learn how to ‘relax’. But now Joy Delaney has disappeared and her four adult children are re-examining their parents’ marriage and their family history with fresh, frightened eyes. 

Read more and sample the audio →


10. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, narrated by Simon Jones and Marin Ireland

Set in Constantinople in the fifteenth century, in a small town in present-day Idaho, and on an interstellar ship decades from now, Anthony Doerr’s gorgeous third novel is a triumph of imagination and compassion, a soaring story about children on the cusp of adulthood in worlds in peril, who find resilience, hope—and a book.

Read more and sample the audio →

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Looking for Book Recommendations?

• Here are the audiobooks our members have been loving, along with our staff picks that we’ve been championing.

• Looking to share your love of books? Our handy Book Clubbin’ questions make it super easy to start a book club. Or, Netflix n’ buddy-read with this year’s book-to-screen adaptations (just be prepared for the perennial debate: is the book better than the movie/show?).

• If you’re looking for something extra, we’ve got author and narrator interviews to give you a gleam inside their worlds.

• For the curious-minded, audiobooks can teach you a thing or two, from nature therapy to personal finance. It can even keep the little ones busy so you can steal some time back for yourself.


New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!