Ever since I started commuting for work, I’ve found that I have less time to read in general throughout the week. Does that mean I gave up? No! Audiobooks have become my go-to method of book consumption, and I’ve discovered something unexpected: there are some books that are clearly meant to be listened to, rather than read. Sometimes it’s because of a wide and engaging cast of narrators; other times, the lone narrator does a beautiful job that seems to outshine your inner monologue. Maybe the pacing of an audiobook serves the contents well, or maybe the structure of the story fits a spoken version best. I have collected a small list of books that I feel should be listened to, so next time you are driving, working out, or sitting in a waiting room, consider adding these books to your reader.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I believe this one is well-known to be a popular audiobook, and for good reason. Daisy Jones & The Six tells the story of a band and a solo artist through each musician in an interview style (picture The Office, in a book form). This lends itself to a multi-narrator setup, and the cast does a great job of not only keeping the dialogue natural, but also conveying the emotion in the dialogue for each character. The story will appeal to not just any music lover, but to anyone looking to see how strained relationships can push people to do greater things. My only gripe with the book was that it wasn’t longer.
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Science nonfiction could reach a much wider audience if the writing wasn’t so… scientific. That’s exactly what Neil deGrasse Tyson is doing with his book Astrophysics for People in a Hurry. His own voice narrating, Tyson lays out modern astrophysics–from the earliest history of the field to the latest and greatest–in a language we can all understand. And that’s not to say that this is “Astrophysics for Dummies” by any means: there is enough information here that everyone will gain some new insight that they hadn’t known before, in a very intriguing format. Tyson expertly keeps the science light and to-the-point. You will not need to take notes!
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
This was one that I found on a random recommendation when I searched “best audiobooks,” and I was not disappointed. If zombie survival books aren’t necessarily your thing, I wouldn’t turn away because of the title. This is one of the best-casted audiobooks I’ve listened to! World War Z spans the entire globe over a few years as it fights a global pandemic of a zombie disease. Voiced by dozens of different voices, each present unique viewpoints while bringing new emotions and personalities to every story. It’s riveting, and the delivery is impeccable. I could go on for a while just with the praise–suffice to say that it will scratch the itch of those looking for a story about global response to a deadly virus, something we can all relate to now.
The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird
In the same vein sits The End of Men. It’s no accident that I read it pretty soon after World War Z, because it sits in the same categories: a world-spanning response spanning many years as a virus ravages the world. What is pioneering in this novel is the fact that the virus affects only men, purposefully forcing Sweeney-Baird to contemplate what a women-led response to a global catastrophe would look like. The premise leads to some interesting plotlines and is worth looking into! This is another one where the voice acting is very well casted, with a well-rounded group of actors. Another pandemic-reflection that ponders what future events of this scale might look like.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Ready Player One is going to be the most recognizable book in this list, as it continues to be a hugely popular book. If you have not already read it, though, then you need to consider listening to the audiobook version. Wil Wheaton, the voice of the book, creatively blends a compelling voice with a style that helps evoke all the tech-nostalgia that the book is chalk-full of. I was in danger of losing focus while driving while remembering how I used to play all the games and use all the toys mentioned in the book! Most people will know that Cline’s novel is a fun one, and I hope that they can check out the audio version.
Delta-V by Daniel Suarez
A lesser known sci-fi thriller, Delta-V follows a close-knit crew of astronauts who pioneer the first mining expedition into space. It’s fast-paced, and extremely geeky. What I love about the audiobook, voiced by Jeff Gurner, is that he speaks in a very fluid manner that easily makes you believe you understand all the techno-mumbo-jumbo (even if, in hindsight, you very much do not). A superb novel in its own right, I thought the audiobook brought out the best in it. Check it out if you like realistic sci-fi set in the near future!
The Expanse (Entire Series) by James S.A. Corey
Last on the list is my favorite sci-fi series of all time, the Expanse novels. It’s a doozy: once the finale is published this year, it will span 10 novels, which themselves span some 50 years and an entire galaxy. It’s fun, it’s very realistic, it’s got alien technology, the whole nine yards. And the voice actor they carried through the entire series is superb! Jefferson Mays voices the first 9 (and I can only assume he will finish the series off), and his soothing voice does a great job expanding the universe with the accents you grow to learn and love, the emotions and mannerisms each character carries with them, and the tense moments that are so thick you can cut the tension with a knife. Personally, I’ve never enjoyed listening to a series more than this one. If you have seen the TV series, or just want to get into a sci-fi epic, this is the place to go! Pick up Leviathan Wakes and start there.
