50 Audiobooks That Are Better Than The Print Version

Reading has a positive effect on the mind. The benefits of reading include that it helps to reduce stress, improves your vocabulary, and increases your emotional intelligence and capacity for empathy. 

The way a book is formatted can affect how quickly you can read. E-reading can present some problems, especially if you are doing so before bedtime. The blue light they emit can keep you up!

Reading before bed makes for a better night’s sleep. But if your eyes are tired from the day and you’d still like to wind down with a good book, you’ll want to grab some headphones and tune into an audiobook. 

These 50 audiobooks will give a better feeling than the print version. They will leave you yearning for more with a great narrative style, intimate listening experience, and riveting storytelling style. 

Compared to reading, listening to audiobooks takes less effort. It is also more convenient. While you’ll miss out on handling the physical copy of a book, the audio versions will make up for that with good vocal delivery. 

Keep reading this article to discover the best audiobooks that will offer you a better experience than the print version. 

1. Know My Name by Chanel Miller

In 2015, Chanel Miller was attending school at Stanford University when she was sexually assaulted. While walking home from a fraternity party, a man (Brock Turner) knocked Miller over, and she was later found behind a dumpster. 

Turner was arrested and charged with five felony sexual assault charges and was convicted of three of these charges. Hear from the author herself what this horrific experience was like. After listening to her story, you’ll see the strength that comes from surviving such an incident as this one. 

2. The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West

A collection of essays, The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West is a must-listen-to. She narrates it herself to perfectly time the jokes written in each essay. In her book, West addresses a variety of topics regarding American culture, including race, climate change, and women in society. Written amid the #MeToo movement, West’s observations are spot on and insightful.

3. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

You can learn a lot more from plants and animals than what’s written in textbooks. Botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer writes a different kind of book about plants and animals through a philosophical and cultural lens. Braiding Sweetgrass is the perfect audiobook to enjoy while working in the garden or going on a nature walk. 

4. The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson’s books are always better read when Bryson himself narrates them. In The Body: A Guide for Occupants, Bryson does a full examination of the body and how scientists are always learning something new. It is remarkable how the body functions, heals itself and fails us too. Bryson’s smooth voice is the added touch to this fascinating and educational read. 

5. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The three narrators of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo turn this book into a movie for the mind. Reclusive Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo opens up to magazine reporter Monique Grant about her 1950s life in LA up until she left showbiz in the 1980s. 

Monique learns more than a timeline of Evelyn’s career, but also a timeline of husbands too. As she continues with her story, it becomes more apparent to Monique how Evelyn ended up being a recluse. 

6. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Ocean Vuong narrates his novel, written as a letter, and nobody could have narrated it better than he did. Little Dog, a Vietnamese-American, writes a letter to his mother, who cannot read. In the letter, Little Dog reviews his family’s history revealing more about race, sexuality, and masculinity. Vuong’s debut novel earned numerous awards, a spot on the New York Times bestseller list, and is a novel you’ll keep in your audiobook library for years to come. 

7. Open Book by Jessica Simpson

Music plus a book? Jessica Simpson offers you both in her memoir, Open Book. Simpson discusses what life is like as a pop star and reality star. She includes six of her new songs that she says inspired the book.

8. Becoming by Michelle Obama

One of the most critically acclaimed books of 2018, Michelle Obama’s Becoming reported selling over 10 million copies in 2019 and was the number one selling novel on Amazon for 47 days. Read by Obama herself, she discusses what it was like growing up on the South Side of Chicago and working her way to becoming one of the most influential women of our time. 

9. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Linus Baker is a caseworker for the Department of Magical Youth. His job consists of overseeing the youth in government-sanctioned orphanages. All is well until Baker meets six potentially dangerous children. Six children that could bring about the end of the world! One narrator voices all six children giving them the personalities that accompany the hilarious dialogue. 

10. The Kill Club by Wendy Heard

Jazz is finally out of her foster mother’s house when she gets a mysterious phone call. Whoever the caller is, knows about her relationship with her foster mother and can relate. While Jazz may be free, her younger brother Joaquin is still stuck inside with that evil witch. The caller tells Jazz he has a way of helping Joaquin, but it means she’ll have to kill a stranger. Will she do it for the sake of her and her brother’s future?

11. Wow, No Thank You. by Samantha Irby

Samantha Irby is in a transitioning phase of her life. At 40, she’s quit her job, published successful books, and moved to a new town. Irby reads a collection of essays, all noting these new experiences that reads like you are having a conversation with her. Relatable and funny, Wow, No Thank You. is better listened to than read. 

12. The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

 

Readers reserve romance books for the summer, and The Right Swipe makes for the perfect summer read. Dating app developer Rhiannon Hunter experiences firsthand what it’s like to be ghosted on her own platform. 

A month later, she runs into her attractive date only to find he is working on a rival dating app and is still as handsome as ever. Should Rhiannon give him another shot, or swipe ignore and move on to the next dating candidate?

13. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

After Emira Tucker is mistaken for kidnapping the child she nannies for, she is humiliated and hesitant to accept help from her employer, Alix. When a bystander of the incident releases the footage, someone from Alix’s past resurfaces. Now, what the two women think they knew about one another is all turned upside down. Such a Fun Age is a real page-turner, or in this case, you’ll be listening to it for hours on end.

14. Little Weirds by Jenny Slate

By now, you should know that any humorous book is always better listened to than read. The same goes for Little Weirds by comedian Jenny Slate. To give you a sample, Slate writes in her introduction, “I am your hostess: I am a human woman named Jenny Slate and I am thirty-boink years old. I weigh one hundred and doo-dad pounds.” If you thought that was fun, wait until you listen to the entire audiobook.

15. Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell

Another writer who integrated music into their book is author and public speaker Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell narrates his book about the importance of communication in all aspects of life. The book cites studies and news stories creatively using the original audio from those news segments. A nice change from an author’s usual way of verifying their sources.

16. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Picture this. You’re the blushing bride celebrating your recently recited wedding vows when you and your husband run to the restroom sick as a dog only to find a line! Everyone at your wedding got food poisoning except for two, your sister and the best man (who she hates). 

17. In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

Carmen Maria Machado was one of the unlucky people on this planet to experience a relationship gone wrong. As a strong individual, she overcame it and wrote a book to bring awareness to a type of abuse not always discussed in society. Psychological abuse. In the Dream House is pieced together essays that break apart the complexities of violence in queer relationships that everyone needs to hear about.

18. Well Met by Jen DeLuca

Emily somehow finds herself volunteering at a Renaissance Faire with her niece after coming into town to visit her sister, who has recently been in an accident. Irritated about the situation, she soon finds herself in a different state of mind. That’s because she meets Simon, a long-time volunteer of the fair who changes Emily’s visit into something else. Both funny and romantic, this is an audiobook to bring with you on your next vacation.

19. The Library Book by Susan Orlean

A Hello Sunshine Book Club pick, The Library Book is one to reserve your next audiobook credit for. Based on a real event, Susan Orlean reopens the 1986 Los Angeles Public Library fire files. Thousands of books were destroyed or damaged, and yet the cause of the fire is still unknown. What Orlean brings to light is the importance of libraries in our society. A book you can listen to at your local library while browsing for your next paperback read. 

20. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

There’s no better human being to narrate mythology than Neil Gaiman. He has the right personality that shines through in his narration as he creates distinct voices for each character. A well-written novel, Norse Mythology brings new life to ancient tales of gods, goddesses, and mythical creatures. 

21. The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe

You should download the audiobook alone based on its hilarious title! In Ben Philippe’s debut young adult novel, Norris Kaplan moves from Canada to Texas and is put in a situation no teenager likes to be in. In a new country, at a new high school, trying to separate the categories of teens that are likely candidates to become friends with.  

22. It’s Not Me, It’s You by Stephanie Kate Strohm

After suffering a bad breakup before prom, Avery Dennis begins to reflect on her previous relationships. Why have they all ended the way that they have? Is it something she’s doing? 

Trying to forget her recent breakup is hard. It certainly doesn’t help that she is on the prom committee. Determined to find out, she goes to each guy she’s dated to see what went wrong in a hilarious audiobook you’re sure to enjoy.

23. Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

Unsheltered is yet another best-selling novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Two families from two different generations are living under the same roof. One would hope they’d get along, but alas, their experiences and politics get the best of them, and tension arises. Can they ever get along? Find out in this beautifully written, wait narrated, novel.

24. More Myself by Alicia Keys

Find out how pop singer Alicia Keys rose to fame in her memoir More Myself. You get the pleasure of hearing from a few of her celebrity friends, including Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z, and Michelle Obama. As a bonus, Keys includes some of her songs!

25. Save Yourself by Cameron Esposito

Comedian Cameron Esposito recounts her life growing up in a strict Catholic family to coming out to her family. It wasn’t an easy journey by any means. Her family rejected her, and her career as a comedian saved her. Despite the hardships she faced as a lesbian trying to get her family to accept her, she jokes about past experiences. This is one book you have to experience with her narrating it versus reading a print copy.

26. Calypso by David Sedaris

If you’ve ever read any other book by David Sedaris, you know that his novels are always better listened to versus read. In Calypso, Sedaris shares a collection of personal essays that discuss his family, their time spent in their beach house, and his bout of depression. 

27. Jackaby by William Ritter

William Ritter continues with his Ember in the Ashes book series with Jackaby. Set in 1890, Abigail Rook applies for the position of an investigator’s assistant, R.F. Jackaby. Jackaby is different than most investigators in that he has a knack for tracking down supernatural beings. 

On her first day, Jackaby is put on the case to solve what police believe to be a “serial killer” when he knows it’s not. Too exciting to read, you’ll have to get it on audiobook instead and be entertained by the narrator!

28. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

Self-help expert James Clear narrates his novel Atomic Habits, a well-researched book that explains the psychology behind the formation of habits. While he dictates, you have the freedom to take notes to refer back to. A win-win! 

29. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Could the fantasy story of Rumpelstiltskin get any better? It can with expert narrator Lisa Flanagan! She does a superb job giving all six characters their own personalities, as written by Naomi Novik. 

30. The Collected Schizophrenias by Esmé Weijun Wang

Wow! Talk about a moving book about mental illness that will make you understand its effect on a person’s life. Esmé Weijun Wang reveals what life is life getting diagnosed with schizophrenia and learning to live a new norm. She comes across a community of those with the same illness, which she refers to as the “collected schizophrenias.” She narrates the book of collected essays to give it the extra touch all non-fiction books need. 

31. Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Explaining to children what different cultures are like isn’t always easy, but Jasmine Warga nailed it with her Newbery Honor Book, Other Words for Home. Warga experiences a culture shock as Jude, and her mother move to Cincinnati, leaving her father and brother behind in her homeland of Syria. Jude soon finds that she will be able to fit in for the person she really is despite the unexpected surprises she encounters.

32. The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich

Based on the true story of Louise Erdrich’s grandfather, Thomas Wazhushk, the night watchman of a jewel-bearing plant in rural North Dakota. In 1958, congress was about to vote on a bill that would take away Native Americans’ land ownership. 

At the time, Wazhushk was a Chippewa Council member and fought to shut this bill down. The Nightwatchman, narrated by Erdrich herself, makes the story more personal via audiobook as she tells how her grandfather’s determination made a difference.

33. Anna K by Jenny Lee

Here’s a romantic comedy that teens will enjoy. Anna K’s life is nothing but a mess at the ripe age of 17. She is in a relationship with a boring boyfriend, her brother is caught in a sexting scandal, and her friends are caught in complicated relationships. 

Just a typical day for Anna K in her busy Manhattan lifestyle. Hear if it all works out with narrator Jenna Ushkowitz who is best known for her role as Tina Cohen-Chang on Glee. Her actress background gives the audiobook a personality that you wouldn’t get otherwise by reading the paperback version.

34. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

Born a Crime is Trevor Noah’s memoir about his life growing up in South Africa. The book chronicles his experiences as a colored child in South Africa and what it was like living in an apartheid society. It also explored how he started developing his comedy career. The book is filled with emotional moments delivered in a lighthearted way. 

As the book title suggests, his birth was a crime because interracial relationships were illegal then. His dad is of Swiss-German descent, while his mom is Xhosa. The audiobook version, narrated by Trevor Noah, uses humorous tones and creative performances to deliver an engaging story. 

35. We’re Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True by Gabrielle Union

This book is an interesting and funny memoir of Gabrielle Union. She gave us an insight into her raw life experiences ranging from sexual assault, her past relationship,  and the complexity of living in Hollywood. 

The audiobook, narrated by Gabrielle Union herself,  presents us with witty tales about her life in a way that will give out a warm feeling and stir a mixture of emotions in you. Listening to the audio sounds like an intimate conversation with the author where she shares her vulnerability and her life experiences. 

36. The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald

Considered a Masterpiece of American fiction, this 1925  novel by Fitzgerald drew up an exciting depiction of the Jazz age through the point-of-view of the narrator, Nick Carraway. He recounts the story of his wealthy neighbor, Jay Gatsby. The book narrates the glitz and glamour of Gatsby’s life, his love for Daisy Buchanan, and how his yearning to rekindle their love affair ends disastrously. 

The audiobook version presents a better narration of the novel. The Oscar-nominated actor, Jake Gyllenhall, uses his skills as an actor to deliver a masterful rendering of the story and a description of the Roaring 20s.

37. Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

If you have ever struggled with depression and you are looking for reasons to stay alive, Matt Haig’s memoir is a great inspiration. In this book, he describes his struggle with depression which ravaged his mind at 24. For that,  he didn’t find any reason to keep living. 

In the end, with the help of his family and his girlfriend, he overcame and found a reason to live. Haig opens up about his struggle with mental illness, which will inspire anyone who is in the same situation. 

The audiobook, narrated by Haig himself, will give you an insight into what he was going through at that time. The tone of the narration will provide you with a glimpse of hope. It will help you understand that you are not alone, and just like him, you will find a reason to appreciate life someday. 

38. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird is an award-winning coming-of-age classic novel by Harper Lee. The story is told from the point-of-view of the protagonist, Jean Louise Finch, an intelligent young girl. It portrays her perceptions of racial inequality and injustice down South. 

The audiobook breathes more life into the story by using a compelling narrative style to create riveting storytelling of what life was like in the deep South filled with prejudice and injustice. 

39. A Promised Land by Barack Obama

This memoir gives us a deeper insight into Barack Obama’s journey as the president of the United States. It provides an account of his aspirations,  his life as a  community organizer, and his experiences when he occupied the oval office. 

Narrated by Obama himself, the audiobook version infuses his charismatic personality into the story and captures the behind-the-scenes moments of his presidency in an engaging manner.

With this book, Obama pulls the curtain back a bit to give you a glimpse into what it means to be the president of the most powerful country in the world. He talks about the challenges he encountered in this position and the difficult decision-making process he had to undergo.  

40. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

American Gods is a 2001 fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman. It combines the elements of modern-day America, myths, and legends to tell us the exhilarating story of Shadow, the novel’s protagonist. Shadow is an ex-convict whose life changes tremendously after learning about his wife’s death in a car crash alongside his best friend, Robbie. Later, he discovers that his wife has been having an affair with his best friend.

The audiobook was narrated by different narrators, including Gaiman himself. Each of the narrators captured the voice of the characters in the book in a creative manner, making it more dramatic. The narrators employed a  tone that captures the dark and eerily feeling of the story. 

41. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

This young adult fantasy novel takes us on a journey to the story of the novel’s protagonist, a young girl, Zélie, who lives in a mythical world. She is a member of Maji, a group with special powers.

The novel follows a West-African-inspired fantasy tale where the protagonist attempts to restore the powers of the Maji after its suppression by the king. The audiobook is even more interesting as it is read by the award-winning acclaimed reader, Bahni Turpin, whose voice modulation adds more color to the story. 

42. The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda Gates

In this inspirational book, Melinda Gates sets out to tell the world how women’s empowerment can change the world. Melinda takes us on a journey of her experiences in her humanitarian services.

She introduces us to the world of women whom she met during this journey and how empowering them has elevated their families and communities. Narrated by Melinda, the audiobook version evokes a powerful emotion that will propel you to join the race of people engaging in the upliftment of women. 

43. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

When we think about self-help books, what comes to mind is a book that gives a bit of straightforward advice to the reader on how to solve personal problems and overcome life challenges. But for The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, the author takes an unconventional approach to instruct the reader about life. Instead of needless positivity propagated by other books in this category, the book argues that the only way to live a happier life is by accepting our limitations and embracing our painful realities.

If you think the print version was iconic, the audiobook is even better as the narrator adopts a mannerism that will prompt you to eliminate all the feel-good positivity you are already used to embrace the limitations in your life. 

44. Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The award-winning author, Adichie, creates this short, fascinating book to convey a message on how to empower a female child and how to raise an independent woman.

 Formally adapted from a letter to a friend who has just given birth to a baby girl, the book offers 15 essential suggestions for raising an independent woman and a feminist. The audiobook is narrated in a style that makes these invaluable suggestions compelling and exciting that you will find it difficult to turn off. 

45. Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro

This novel from the Nobel Laureate Ishiguro engages us with a  dystopian sci-fi story. It narrates the story of Klara, an artificial friend with observational power. It portrays a speculative future where a sickly child Josie chooses this Humanoid machine as her companion. This riveting story told from the eyes of Klara comes alive in an audiobook where the narrator infuses an engaging element that will arouse deep emotions in you. 

46. Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin

James Baldwin captivates us in this collection of 10 essays which explores the central theme of racism in the civil rights era. It delivers a powerful message about what it means to be black in a society where racial inequality and discrimination are rife. The audiobook conjures up powerful emotions in a more profound way. 

47. Transcendent Kingdom: A Novel by Yaa Gyasi

Transcendent Kingdom is a touching story of a Ghanaian immigrant family who grapples with depression, loss, addiction, and suicide challenges. Gifty, a PhD candidate in neuroscience at the Stanford University School of Medicine, is determined to discover the scientific root of these problems they are experiencing in their family. The audiobook version encapsulates this family’s overwhelming experience, which stirs up empathy for them. 

48. The promise by Damon Galgut 

Damon Galgut employs the elements of interesting prose to tell the story of the downfall of a  white South African family, the Swarts. The book is divided into four parts, and the narrative takes a different format. Each section is separated by the death of a member of the family. The audiobook accomplishes the author’s goal of creating an intriguing narrative of a family in crisis in a changing nation. 

49. No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood

This novel falls under an unconventional genre. It portrays the life of a nameless protagonist who is extremely online. She became famous when her social media post “Can a dog be twins?” went viral. The first half of this novel exposes this aspect of her life, while the second half showcases how her internet-addled life seems to reduce when life’s challenges come calling. This earned her speaking engagements around the world. The audiobook retells the story in an engaging manner that will keep you hooked to your listening device. 

50. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

This book won Bernardine Evaristo the  2019 Booker Prize. It showcases the intersection of identity. The audiobook version will regale you with fascinating stories about women of color in Britain from different classes, cultures, and sexual identities in a very intriguing manner. 

Conclusion

The above list presents 50 audiobooks with the right narrative voice, proper pacing, enunciation, and excellent performance. 

Audiobooks make it easy to finish books quickly. An adjustment to the narration speed will cut the time in half. 

While this is a good way to enjoy the latest bestseller, it doesn’t help with proper documentation, especially if you want to highlight an essential detail in the book. 

There is something about seeing the sentences in a book jump at you, and this will help you retain the information better. If this is your goal, then the print version is your sure bet.  

However, combining audiobooks with physical books is a better option that can benefit you, depending on your day-to-day commitment.

If you are experiencing some challenges finishing a physical book quickly while comprehending every word, you’ll want to learn how to speed read. 

With our Speed Reading Mastery course, you will learn how to read technical materials at lightning-fast speed while easily retaining all the information. Sign up today to learn how to speed read.