Best audiobooks of all time

Wondering what are the best audiobooks of all time? This article will tell you everything you need to know about the most highly rated audiobooks.

A lot of people prefer listening to audiobooks to reading physical books, as it’s more convenient and lets you relax and listen to stories without straining your eyes. What’s more, there are many great platforms, like Amazon’s Audible, where you can find all of your favorite books.

If you’ve been listening to audiobooks for some time, you might be running out of ideas on what to listen to next. In this article, you’ll find our recommendations for the best audiobooks of all time.

The greatest audiobooks you have to listen to

Here are some of the greatest audiobooks that everyone should listen to at least once.

Becoming - Michelle Obama

“Becoming” was written and narrated by Michelle Obama, the former first lady of the United States of America. This number-one New York Times best seller is a memoir that covers Michelle Obama’s life as the first lady. It was the highest-selling published book in the U.S. in 2018.

The Dutch House - Ann Patchett

“The Dutch House” was written by Ann Patchett, who won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for this book. It’s a historical fiction story that follows a brother and sister who have to find a way to survive after being exiled from their childhood home. The audiobook version is narrated by Tom Hanks and runs for 9 hours and 53 minutes.

The Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve read the Harry Potter series as a child, you must listen to the audiobooks. Narrated by the legendary Stephen Fry, all seven audiobooks will make you feel like you’re part of the magical world of wizards and witches. Written by J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter books became the best-selling books in history.

Fairy Tale - Stephen King

Stephen King is famous for his many horror fiction novels. If you’re a fan of Stephen King, have you read his newest book? “Fairy Tale” is the story of Charlie Reade, a young man who comes by keys to a secret, mysterious world. You can find the audiobook on Audible, voiced by Stephen King himself and Seth Numrich.

Daisy Jones & The Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid

“Daisy Jones & The Six” was written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, who’s also the author of the New York Times bestseller “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.” “Daisy Jones & The Six” is a coming-of-age story that follows an L.A. rock band in the 1970s. The audiobook’s full cast includes Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt, Judy Greer, and Pablo Schreiber.

Calypso - David Sedaris

If you prefer non-fiction audiobooks, you have to listen to “Calypso” by David Sedaris. “Calypso” is a collection of 21 autobiographical essays. These essays contain a lot of humor, so if you’re looking for a good laugh, don’t skip this audiobook.

Born a Crime - Trevor Noah

Another autobiographical comedy, “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah, is a must-read. The plot follows Trevor’s early life in South Africa, where he describes his father, a white man, and his mother, a black woman. Even though this book covers serious topics, there are a lot of humoristic elements to it as well.

The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood

“The Handmaid’s Tale” was written by Margaret Atwood in 1985. A dystopian novel set in New England in the near future, the book won so many awards that it was adapted into a film, opera, television series, and of course, audiobooks. On Audible, “The Handmaid’s Tale” is narrated by Elisabeth Moss, Bradley Whitford, Amy Landecker, and Ann Dowd.

Honorable mentions

Here are some other audiobooks that are worth listening to:

• “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams
• “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• “Bossypants” by Tina Fey
• “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens
• “At Home” by Bill Bryson
• “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr
• “Just as I Am” by Cicely Tyson and Michelle Burford
• “Educated” - Tara Westover

Improve your listening experience with Speechify

You can now use Speechify to listen to audiobooks, which include publisher books and free public domain books. Currently, there are over 10,000 titles available from short stories and sci-fi books to love stories and fantasy novels. For example, you can listen to “The Lord of the Rings” by J. R. R. Tolkien, “The Chronicles of Narnia” by C. S. Lewis, “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, and many books we mentioned in this article.

You can download Speechify on your device or use it as a web browser extension. If you want to see how it works, you can try Speechify for free right now.

FAQ

What is the best audiobook of all time?

It’s hard to choose just one audiobook, so here are a few that are considered top-tier: “Becoming” by Michelle Obama, "The Guest List" by Lucy Foley, "Educated" by Tara Westover, "Dune" by Frank Herbert, and "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens.

What is the most listened-to audiobook?

Currently, the most listened-to audiobook is "How to Be an Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi.

Who is the most popular audiobook narrator?

The most popular audiobook narrators include Julia Whelan, Neil Gaiman, Stephen Fry, George Saunders, Alan Cumming, Bahni Turpin, Toni Morrison, and Jim Dale.

Which audiobook has the best reviews?

Audiobooks with the best reviews include “The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett, “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens, and “Becoming” by Michelle Obama.

What are the best audiobook series?

The best audiobook series include “Harry Potter” by “J.K. Rowling,” “A Game of Thrones” by G.R.R. Martin, and “We Are Legion (We Are Bob)” by Bobiverse.

What audiobook should I get for my commute?

The best audiobooks for commutes and long trips include “Before We Were Yours” by Lisa Wingate, “Daisy Jones & The Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig, which won the Audie Award for Fiction.