best audiobooks of all time
Audiobooks have revolutionized the way we consume literature. Whether you’re commuting, working out, or relaxing at home, audiobooks offer a convenient way to enjoy stories and gain knowledge without having to flip a page.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best audiobooks handpicked for their exceptional narration, compelling content, and immersive storytelling. From gripping fiction to life-changing self-development books, there’s something for every listener.
1. Best Fiction Audiobooks
1. The Lord of the Rings Narrated by Andy Serkis
The man who brought Gollum to life now voices every Middle-earth character from Gandalf’s wisdom to the screeches of Ringwraiths. His energy makes the 20+ hour journey fly by.
2. Harry Potter Series Narrated by Jim Dale (US) / Stephen Fry (UK)
Dale holds a Guinness World Record for most character voices (over 130!), while Fry’s cozy British charm feels like being read to by a wizard uncle. A nostalgic masterpiece.
3. Project Hail Mary Narrated by Ray Porter
Porter’s performance of the lone astronaut protagonist (and his alien companion) is so good, even the science feels thrilling. Bonus: The musical alien language is genius in audio.
4. The Martian Narrated by R.C. Bray
Bray’s sarcastic, frantic delivery of astronaut Mark Watney’s survival log makes the science and humor crackle. The newer Wil Wheaton version is good, but Bray’s is iconic.
5. “Circe” – Narrated by Perdita Weeks
Weeks’ hypnotic voice captures Circe’s loneliness and power as the exiled witch of Greek myth. Soothing yet fierce perfect for this feminist retelling.
2. Best Self-Help & Personal Growth Audiobooks
1. Atomic Habits by James Clear
There’s something magical about hearing habit science directly from Clear. His measured pacing helps the concepts sink in deeper than when I read the print version. I still hear his voice saying, “You don’t rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems.
2. Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
This is not only an audiobook, but it is an experience. Between chapters, you get raw podcast style conversations where Goggins expands on his extreme mindset. Hearing his actual voice crack when describing Navy SEAL hell week makes his story 10 more powerful than reading it.
3. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
While not strictly self-help, this trauma classic changed how I understand emotions and healing. Pratt’s compassionate yet authoritative delivery makes complex neuroscience accessible.
4. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Coyote’s voice is pure medicine, like having a wise grandfather share ancient secrets. His narration of “Be impeccable with your word” gives me chills every time. I listen to this annually as a reset.
5. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
Gottlieb’s warmth and humor as she shares therapy stories make this feel like coffee with a brutally honest best friend. Her impressions of quirky clients are hilarious yet profound.
3. Best Memoirs & Biographies
1. Becoming Michelle Obama (Narrated by Herself)
Michelle’s warm, steady voice feels like sitting down with a close friend. You can hear her smile when she talks about meeting Barack and her pride when describing her White House garden. The audiobook adds layers that print can’t match like her playful exasperation recounting their first dates.
2. Born a Crime Trevor Noah (Narrated by Himself)
Noah doesn’t just read he performs. His spot-on accents (his Xhosa mother, his German neighbor) and comedic timing turn apartheid-era South Africa into a darkly hilarious, deeply moving story. The chapter about his mom throwing him from a moving car is even wilder in his voice.
3. Greenlights Matthew McConaughey (Narrated by Himself)
McConaughey’s Texas drawl and rhythmic storytelling make this feel like a campfire confessional. His “bumper sticker philosophies” (like “just keep livin'”) sound cliché in print but profound when he growls them. Bonus: You get his famous Lincoln commercials reenacted.
4. Educated Tara Westover (Narrated by Julia Whelan)
Whelan’s restrained narration makes Westover’s journey from an isolated survivalist family to Cambridge PhD even more chilling. The quiet disbelief in her voice during scenes of family violence will haunt you.
5. I’m Glad My Mom Died Jennette McCurdy (Narrated by Herself)
McCurdy’s sharp, wounded delivery transforms her child-star memoir into a masterpiece. You hear her switch between young Jennette’s eager-to-please squeak and adult Jennette’s exhausted rage. The title makes sense by the end.
6. Crying in H Mart Michelle Zauner (Narrated by Herself)
Zauner’s voice cracks when describing her Korean mother’s death and the grief meals that followed. The way she pronounces Korean dishes (like “jjigae”) adds intimacy no print version could.
4. Best Thriller & Mystery Audiobooks
1. The Silent Patient Alex Michaelides (Narrated by Jack Hawkins & Louise Brealey)
This psychological thriller about a woman who shoots her husband and then refuses to speak is even better in audio. The dual narration (therapist + patient) makes the final twist hit like a punch to the gut. I had to pull over my car when it all clicked.
2. Gone Girl Gillian Flynn (Narrated by Julia Whelan & Kirby Heyborne)
Whelan’s icy, calculating performance as Amy Dunne is legendary you can hear her smirk. Heyborne’s confused, desperate Nick makes you question his innocence over and over. The “Cool Girl” monologue alone is worth the listen.
3. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” – Stieg Larsson (Narrated by Simon Vance)
Vance’s gravelly voice adds grit to this already-dark Swedish noir. His Lisbeth Salander is perfectly detached yet magnetic, and the murder mystery unfolds like a slow-burning nightmare.
4. The Guest List Lucy Foley (Narrated by Full Cast)
A wedding on a remote Irish island turns deadly, and each guest has a motive. The full cast (including Jot Davies and Chloe Massey) makes every character distinct you’ll keep changing your mind about whodunit.
5. Sharp Objects Gillian Flynn (Narrated by Ann Marie Lee)
Lee’s Southern drawl and unsettling delivery make this twisted tale of a journalist returning to her hometown even creepier. The whispered revelations in the final chapters gave me chills.
6. The Woman in the Window A.J. Finn (Narrated by Ann Marie Lee)
Lee’s shaky, paranoid narration is Anna Fox an agoraphobic woman who thinks she’s witnessed a crime. The unreliable narrator trope works so well in audio because you’re trapped in her head.
7. The Thursday Murder Club Richard Osman (Narrated by Lesley Manville)
A lighter (but still clever) mystery about retirees solving cold cases. Manville’s dry British wit makes the dark humor shine it’s like listening to your sharpest aunt roast murder suspects.
5. Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy Audiobooks
1. Project Hail Mary Andy Weir (Ray Porter)
Porter makes you feel like you’re solving interstellar puzzles alongside the protagonist. The alien communication scenes? Absolute chills. I actually cried at Rocky’s “jazz hands” moment – something I never expected from a sci-fi book.
2. The First Law Trilogy Joe Abercrombie (Steven Pacey)
Pacey’s Glokta voice (a torturer with bad teeth) is so visceral you can practically smell his breath. The battle scenes sound like a medieval war movie. Warning: You’ll start mimicking his Northern accents in daily life.
3. The Sandman Neil Gaiman (Full Cast)
McAvoy’s Morpheus sounds like velvet-covered steel. The audio production is so rich that I kept checking over my shoulder during the Corinthian scenes. Worth every penny.
4. Piranesi Susanna Clarke (Chiwetel Ejiofor)
Ejiofor’s calm, curious narration perfectly matches the main character’s wonder. The way he says, “The Beauty of the House is immeasurable,” still echoes in my head.
5. The Lies of Locke Lamora Scott Lynch (Michael Page)
Page makes Lynch’s already-sharp dialogue crackle. The Venetian-style fantasy world feels alive, especially the banter between thieves. I’ve restarted this immediately after finishing twice.
6. Best Business & Leadership Audiobooks
1. Atomic Habits James Clear (Narrated by the Author)
Clear’s calm, methodical voice makes habit-building feel simple. His “1% better every day” concept works because it’s small no overwhelming overhauls. i have used his “habit stacking” trick for 3 years now.
2. Extreme Ownership Jocko Willink & Leif Babin (Narrated by the Authors)
Jocko’s intense Navy SEAL delivery forces you to confront excuses. When he growls “Discipline equals freedom,” you’ll sit up straighter. The combat stories translate shockingly well to business crises.
3. Never Split the Difference Chris Voss (Narrated by the Author + Michael Kramer)
An ex-FBI negotiator teaches how to really persuade people. Voss’s stories of hostage talks (yes, hostages) will change how you handle salary discussions. His “late-night FM DJ voice” tactic works scarily well.
4. The Hard Thing About Hard Things Ben Horowitz (Narrated by Kevin Kenerly)
Finally, a business book that admits sometimes everything is on fire. Kenerly’s gravelly voice matches Horowitz’s no-BS lessons on layoffs, betrayal, and surviving chaos.
5. Dare to Lead Brené Brown (Narrated by the Author)
Brown’s warmth makes vulnerability in leadership feel brave, not weak. Her Texas accent during the “armored vs. daring leadership” comparison sticks with you.
6. The Psychology of Money Morgan Housel (Narrated by Chris Hill)
Hill’s smooth narration turns behavioral finance into gripping storytelling. The chapter “Man in the Car Paradox” changed how I view status symbols.
Audiobooks are a fantastic way to enjoy literature in a busy world. It depends upon you, you love sci-fi, memoirs, self-help, or thrillers, there’s an incredible audiobook waiting for you.
