As a Spotify premium subscriber, I’ve always enjoyed the ad-free listening and ability to stream to my wireless speakers. A few days ago, however, Spotify emailed me about another perk for those who dole out the monthly fee for premium features: Audiobooks. Not just the free, public domain books that have already been accessible on the platform but an additional 200,000 audiobooks made possible by Spotify’s acquisition of Findaway last year. If you’re a Premium user or a plan manager for a Family or Duo account, you’re already able to stream 15 hours of audiobook titles per month. If you do a search in the Spotify app, you’ll find audiobooks that say, “Included in Premium” and you can play them without any additional steps.
If you’re not already on the audiobook train, I highly encourage it. For me, audiobooks have allowed me to “read” books even though I have virtually no free time. I’m able to listen in the car or on my bike as I commute, in the kitchen while making dinner, or while walking up and down the aisles of the grocery store. My favorite audiobooks are the ones read by a talented narrator who brings the characters to life by giving them each a unique voice, or when each character is “cast” by a different reader. In addition to being infinitely more portable that physical books, it also allows those of us who spend a significant amount of time looking at screens a break for our eyes. Overall, the appeal of audiobooks lies in their flexibility, accessibility, and the immersive experience they offer, making literature more engaging for a diverse audience.
Interested in checking out some audiobooks but not sure where to start? I gotchu. In no particular order, here are 10 audiobooks (available on Spotify) that I have truly enjoyed:
1. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, narrated By Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt, Judy Greer, Robinne Lee, Pablo Schreiber, et al. A gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup.
2. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris, narrated by David Sedaris. This collection of essays exploring the author’s childhood, relationship with his family, his time living in France, and observations about American social life is made even more comical by David himself narrating it.
3. Other Minds by Peter Godfrey-Smith, narrated by Peter Noble. In Other Minds, Peter Godfrey-Smith daringly compares human beings with our incredible animal relatives. What goes on inside the mind of an octopus? And how does it relate to our own minds?
4. Daring Greatly by Brené Brown, narrated by Brené Brown. Every day we experience the uncertainty, risks, and emotional exposure that define what it means to be vulnerable or to dare greatly. Go on, live wholeheartedly and courageously.
5. Get Well Soon by Jennifer Wright, narrated by Gabra Zackman. A hilariously irreverent journey through history’s worst plagues. From leprosy to polio, Wright explores the strange illnesses that once befell humanity and the heroes who fought them.
6. Tracers in the Dark by Andy Greenberg, narrated by Ari Fliakos. A saga of criminal empires built and destroyed; this book is a thrilling, globe-spanning story of dirty cops, drug bazaars, trafficking rings, and the takedown of the biggest online narcotics market in history.
7. Bossypants by Tina Fey, narrated by Tina Fey. Tina Fey is one of the world’s greatest comic writers and performers. Here she reveals all, and proves what we’ve all suspected- you’re no one until someone calls you bossy. (see also: Yes Please by Amy Poehler)
8. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed, narrated by Cheryl Strayed. A collection of the best of the Dear Sugar advice columns plus never-before-published pieces. Rich with humor, insight, compassion, and honesty, this book is a balm for everything life throws our way.
9. Broken Horses by Brandi Carlisle, narrated by Brandi Carlisle. I had not listened to much (if any) of her music before this book. Even so, this book captivated me. It’s an evocative and piercingly honest look at Carlisle’s life and the music that shaped her as a person and an artist.
10. Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, various narrators. Fully dramatized adaptations of all 60 Sherlock Holmes stories, brought to life with a full cast of actors, sound effects and music. I haven’t made it through the entire collection, but these classics are so easy to return to.
* While all available on Spotify, not all of these titles are included with the Premium subscription.