Audiobooks under 3 hours

Sometimes you want to immerse yourself in a carefully crafted fantasy world with seemingly endless plot twists. Other times, you’re just looking for something short and sweet. These types of audiobooks can keep you company during a road trip or help you cross the finish line of your Goodreads reading challenge.

Fortunately, with various services like Amazon’s Audible, there’s no shortage of quality reads that don’t take days or weeks to complete. So here are our favorite audiobooks under three hours. 

Great audiobooks that take less than 3 hours to finish

Audiobooks don’t have to be long to provide an enjoyable listening experience. In fact, shorter audiobooks like those by Agatha Christie can sometimes be more impactful and linger in your mind much longer. You can find these books in various genres, from thoughtful essay collections and exciting short stories to swoon-worthy novellas.

If you’re tired of listening to podcasts when commuting to work or cleaning your home, consider downloading one of these must-listen audiobooks.

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

The first book in the Binti series, this sci-fi novella follows the story of the titular character. Binti has been honored to be the first member of the Himba people from Earth to attend the galaxy’s most prestigious Oomza University. Unfortunately, this incredible opportunity also means Binti has to leave her family and people behind and set off into the unknown. Besides being emotionally challenging, her adventure will be dangerous as an alien race will attack Oomza University. 

Binti’s journey will keep you on the edge of your seat, thanks to the captivating storytelling and narration by the ever-exciting Robin Miles.

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson

In “Another Brooklyn,” a woman named August runs into an old friend in New York when she arrives for her father’s funeral. This chance encounter triggers a trip down memory lane that reminds August of her blissful childhood and teenage years in Brooklyn. However, as the name suggests, another Brooklyn comes to light during this trip, far more sinister and dangerous than August remembers.

This hauntingly beautiful book is a love letter to girlhood that will take you on a roller-coaster of emotions and stay with you for quite some time.

Nothing Like I Imagined by Mindy Kaling

In this essay collection, the beloved actress and comedian Mindy Kaling gives a unique insight into her life as a single mom and anxious Hollywood party-goer. Each chapter is full of her trademark humor, even when it deals with more painful topics of being underappreciated.

If you’ve ever felt you don’t belong anywhere, you’ll adore this witty audiobook. Plus, if you want more of the famed writer’s addictive humor, consider downloading Mindy Kaling’s memoir “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?”

For Every One by Jason Reynolds

“For Every One” is a heartfelt letter-in-verse dedicated to dreamers. Reynolds’ writing is clear, beautiful, and profoundly moving. This short audiobook will remind you that there’s no such thing as failure, encouraging you to never give up on your dream, whatever it may be.

This great book is narrated by the author, Jason Reynolds, a brilliant performer who ensures every word is packed with emotion. Although this touching piece lasts less than half an hour, there’s a high chance it will move you to tears, especially if you dream big.

Fortunately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman

This silly children’s audiobook is probably the most exciting adventure to be written about milk. In this imaginative story, a father sets out to buy milk. This simple enough task turns into an epic adventure that has it all – aliens, dinosaurs, pirates, and even dancing dwarfs.

The author knocks it out of the park, both with writing and narrating, guaranteeing an hour of fun without a single dull moment. 

Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling

Listening to a single audiobook from the bestselling Harry Potter series can sometimes take you more than a day. If you’d like to take a breather between these longer pieces or delve deeper into this magical world, consider listening to “Quidditch Through the Ages.” As the name suggests, you’ll learn everything there is to know about this exhilarating game dating back to the 11th century.

This audiobook is an absolute joy to listen to with friends and family. In particular, the 2014 World Cup is a stand-out chapter, thanks to the dramatic and hilarious Rita Skeeter and Ginny Weasley.

Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou

Although Maya Angelou only had one son, she raised a thousand daughters worldwide through her work. This essay collection is dedicated to them.

In “Letter to My Daughter,” the iconic author shares stories of her turbulent youth and the experiences that shaped her into who she was. The life lessons shared overflow with faith and wisdom, and this gem of a book will take you on a journey of equal parts grief and joy.  

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Adapted from the author’s much-viewed TEDx talk of the same name, “We Should All Be Feminists” serves as a guidepost for modern feminism. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie draws from her personal experiences and doesn’t shy away from discussing the reality of sexual politics. This eloquently-argued essay explores what’s it like to be a woman, urging all listeners to become feminists.

Speechify

This powerful text to speech software allows you to read any digital text aloud. It offers an impressive selection of natural-sounding voices and languages, as well as allows you to listen to anything from news articles and homework, to work documents and emails and much more.

Try Speechify out for free today.