With a library of over 200,000, finding the best Audible books can sometimes be a little bit harder than it seems thanks to the massive number of possible choices. To help you make the most of those free audiobook tokens, we've got a top list right here with some suggestions to make that decision a little easier or simply give you an idea of the best Audible books currently available.
Rated our best audiobook site, Audible currently has the biggest audiobook library available online with over 200,00 books, original series, podcasts and much more. You'll literally find anything in its vast repertoire of audiobooks - fiction, travel, history, politics, or even self-help. That's a lot to browse, which is why we've curated this list of 20 of the best books on Audible right now. You can listen to them online or offline, wherever you are. We'll also keep adding to this page, so pop back when you're ready for more recommendations.
It costs $14.95 / £7.99 / AU$16.45 per month to subscribe to Audible. You'll get a host of benefits - but you don't need a membership to listen to the best Audible books. You can also order titles through your Amazon account, or you can run a handy 30-day free Audible trial to see whether it's right for you.
Is Audible free with Prime?
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No, Audible membership is completely separate to Amazon Prime membership. However, Amazon Prime members can often enjoy certain Audible benefits, including access to some of the best Audible books for free. Prime members should look out for special limited-time offers and discounts on Audible subscriptions too, particularly on Amazon Prime Day (which is usually in July, but may be delayed this year).
Best Audible books to download today
If the finale of Game of Thrones left a hole in your life, fill it with epic fantasy comedy instead. Saturday Night Live star Kate McKinnon and her sister Emily Lynne have created a hilarious 10-part series that pulls in many of McKinnon's SNL pals, as well as A-listers such as Meryl Streep and GoT's very own Peter Dinklage.
When Ronan Farrow broke the Harvey Weinstein scandal in The New Yorker, it sent shock waves around the world and kick-started the #MeToo movement. Catch and Kill reveals the long and rocky journey he took to get the truth out, and the many intimidating tactics used to try and stop him doing so.
Since it was released at the end of 2018, the enormous popularity of Michelle Obama's self-narrated memoir shows no sign of waning - which is why it's still in our list of the best Audible books. Documenting her inspirational journey from the South Side of Chicago to the White House, it's an intimate glimpse into the life of the former First Lady.
Best known for his quirky, whimsical travelogues, Bill Bryson has now turned his attention inwards with a fascinating exploration of the human body. It's packed with nuggets of information, from the disgusting to the hilarious. Bryson's soft, Midwestern narration is soothing. According to some reviewers he may lull you to sleep, but this Audible book remains a best-seller across the globe.
Louis Theroux's wry, self-deprecating style comes to the fore in this engaging account of the documentary-maker's unlikely rise to success. If you're a fan of Theroux's awkward yet insightful encounters with larger-than-life characters, from racist US militias to Joe Exotic and Jimmy Savile, there's plenty for you here.
Horror master Stephen King needs no introduction, and this chilling collection of four novellas – Mr. Harrigan's Phone, The Life of Chuck, Rat, and the titular If It Bleeds – intrigues and terrifies in equal measure. Stand by Me and The Shawshank Redemption both started life as King novellas, so it's a format with huge potential.
Star Wars fans will love this intimate portrait of life inside one of the series most enduring characters: C-3PO. Anthony Daniels endured many hours inside a claustrophobic metal suit to bring the iconic golden droid to life. In this Audible book he provides a backstage pass, shedding light on the processes and personalities involved in the blockbuster movie franchise.
There's only one Elton John, and his first and only official autobiography packs 72 years of incredible stories and life-changing experiences into just under 12 hours of enthralling listening. Fittingly, it's narrated by Taron Egerton, the actor who portrayed him in the smash-hit movie Rocketman.
Kiley Reid's striking debut novel Such a Fun Age tackles themes of social justice head-on in a tale of racial profiling, privilege, and identity. The story revolves around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both.
Drawing on expert insights from criminologists, scientists, and military psychologists, Malcolm Gladwell provides a thought-provoking exploration of how we engage with strangers, and the role that can play in starting conflicts. After nine hours of listening, you may completely reappraise the way you see the world.
If procrastination is the bane of your life, Jeffrey Gitomer's bluntly titled Get Sh*t Done could be one of the best Audible books for you. Its simple goal: make you more productive, by providing the strategies you need to achieve your goals and be more profitable.
The 2016 presidential election put Trump in the White House, an outcome that few around the world thought possible at the start of the campaign. Throwing petrol on the fire of political debate that has raged ever since, MSNBC personality Rachel Maddow gives her take on the role that Russia played in the election, in Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth.
By telling her warts-and-all journey from underground hip-hop clubs to the top of the music industry, Sophia Chang hopes to inspire more young minds to do the same. She doesn't pull any punches in the process, and The Baddest Bitch in the Room is so packed with explicit content that Chang has also produced a second, toned-down version for younger audiences.
- Buy the explicit version from Audible now for $29.95 / £27.49 / AU$41.73
- Buy the clean version from Audible now for $29.95 / AU$41.73
- Listen to a sample:
An ideal way to introduce a younger audience to the global Potter phenomenon, Tales of Beedle The Bard is a bite-sized listen, with a similar run-time to a kids' movie. This is easily one of the best Audible books for children of the year.
Of course, the rest of the much-loved Harry Potter book series is on Audible too: you can pick between Stephen Fry, Jim Dale or J.K. Rowling herself as your narrator for those.
The second kids' title in our best Audible book round up is the latest hilarious tale from best-selling author and comedian David Walliams. Slime introduces us to the Isle of Mulch, home to many deplorable adults who like nothing more than to make children's lives a misery. Up steps Ned: a boy whose special slime power could liberate Mulch once and for all.
5 best Audible books of all time
There are multiple ways to engage with Douglas Adams' seminal cult classic on Audible, from the BBC radio adaptations – complete with music, sound effects and full cast – to the full-blown audiobook experience, narrated by either Stephen Fry or Martin Freeman. We recommend Fry's version.
Stephen Fry has made quite a name for himself as an audiobook narrator. This incredible 72-hour bundle of all four Sherlock Holmes novels, plus five short story collections, is sure to sate your appetite for detective fiction, as well as Fry. As a lifelong Holmes fan, he has also recorded exclusive personal introductions to each title.
Following the huge success of the TV adaptation, Margaret Atwood's dystopian feminist masterpiece from 1985 has won a whole new audience. This new version is narrated by Elizabeth Moss (who plays Offred in the series), which gives it a contemporary twist.
A favourite of English literature students the world over, F. Scott Fitzgerald's seminal 1925 work The Great Gatsby is given a new lease of life thanks to expert narration from A-list star Jake Gyllenhaal. Journey back to the decadence and opulence of the Roaring Twenties, and enjoy this classic cautionary tale that cuts to the heart of the American Dream.
Famously still unfinished in book form, with the next instalment eagerly anticipated, George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy saga A Song of Ice and Fire has captured the imagination of millions. All five of the books so far are available on Audible – for over 200 hours of listening pleasure in total. From 33hrs 45min (A Game of Thrones) to 48hrs 53min (A Dance with Dragons)
