The best Audible books for 2024

Best Audible books
Come scaricare audiolibri gratis (Image credit: Audible)

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. 

Try Audible for free: Start a free 30-day trial of Audible now

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Explore the world's largest selection of audiobooks with a free 30-day Audible trial. You'll get a free audiobook of your choice - the latest best-sellers are included - plus a selection of Audible Original titles, all of which are yours to keep. Even if you cancel the trial, you'll still get to keep your free Audible ebooks.

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

best Audible books: Heads Will Roll

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1. Heads Will Roll

Specifications

Authors: Kate KcKinnon and Emily Lynne
Narrators: Full cast inc Kate McKinnon, Emily Lynne, Tim Gunn, Meryl Streep, Peter Dinklage
Category: Comedy
Price: $29.95 / £27.49 / AU$41.73

Reasons to buy

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4hrs 6min
+
Age 15+
+
Free with Audible trial

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.

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2. Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators

Specifications

Author and narrator: Ronan Farrow
Category: Non-fiction, True Crime
Price: $29.65 / £19.99 / AU$30.38

Reasons to buy

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10hrs 43min
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Age 15+
+
Free with Audible trial

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.

Best Audible books: Becoming

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3. Becoming

Specifications

Author and narrator: Michelle Obama
Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Political Figures
Price: $35.71 / £31.99 / AU$48.62

Reasons to buy

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19hrs 3min
+
Ages 15+
+
Free with Audible trial

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 Audible books: The Body

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4. The Body

Specifications

Author and narrator: Bill Bryson
Categories: Non-fiction, Biology
Price: $20.72/ £18.99 / AU$28.87

Reasons to buy

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14hrs 47min
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Ages 12+
+
Free with Audible trial

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.

Best Audible books: Gotta Get Theroux This

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5. Gotta Get Theroux This

Specifications

Author and narrator: Louis Theroux
Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Celebrities
Publisher: Macmillian
Price: $15.26 / £13.99 / AU$21.26

Reasons to buy

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13 hrs and 12 mins 
+
Age 12+
+
Free with Audible trial

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.

best Audible books: If It Bleeds

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6. If It Bleeds

Specifications

Author: Stephen King
Narrators: Will Patton, Danny Burstein, Steven Weber
Categories: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Horror
Price: $27.27 / £24.99 / AU$37.98

Reasons to buy

+
15hrs 12min
+
Ages 18+
+
Free with Audible trial

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.

best Audible books: I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story

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7. I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story

Specifications

Authors: Anthony Daniels, J.J. Abrams
Narrator: Anthony Daniels
Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Artists, Writers & Musicians
Price: $28.00 / £25.99/ AU$39.01

Reasons to buy

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9hrs 27min
+
Ages 12+
+
Free with Audible trial

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. 

Best Audible books: Me: Elton John Official Autobiography

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8. Me: Elton John Official Autobiography

Specifications

Author: Elton John
Narrator: Taron Egerton
Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Artists, Writers & Musicians
Price: $15.26 / £13.99 / AU$21.26

Reasons to buy

+
11hrs 47min
+
Age 15+
+
Free with Audible trial

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.

best Audible books: Such a Fun Age

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9. Such a Fun Age

Specifications

Author: Kiley Reid
Narrator: Nicole Lewis
Categories: Fiction, General & Contemporary
Price: $14.18 / £12.99 / AU$19.75

Reasons to buy

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9hrs 58mins
+
Ages 15+
+
Free with Audible trial

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.

best Audible books: Talking to Strangers

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10. Talking to Strangers

Specifications

Author and narrator: Malcolm Gladwell
Categories: Science & Technology, Psychology & The Mind
Price: $34.90 / £31.99 / AU$48.62

Reasons to buy

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8hrs 42min
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Ages 15+
+
Free with Audible trial

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.

best Audible books: Get Sh*t Done

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11. Get Sh*t Done: The Ultimate Guide to Productivity, Procrastination, & Profitability

Specifications

Author and narrator: Jeffrey Gitomer
Categories: Business, Career Skills
Price: $13.99 / £12.89 / AU$19.49

Reasons to buy

+
3hrs 52min
+
Ages 15+
+
Free with Audible trial

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.

best Audible books: Blowout

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12. Blowout

Specifications

Author and narrator: Rachel Maddow
Categories: Environment
Price: $31.50 / £31.99 / AU$48.62

Reasons to buy

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15hrs 33min
+
Ages 15+
+
Free with Audible trial

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.

best Audible books: The Baddest Bitch in the Room

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13. The Baddest Bitch in the Room

Specifications

Author and narrator: Sophia Chang
Categories: Biographies & Memoirs
Price: $29.95 / £27.49 / AU$41.73

Reasons to buy

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8hrs
+
Ages 18+ (explicit version)
+
Clean version also available
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Free with Audible trial

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.

best Audible books: Tales of Beedle The Bard

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14. Tales of Beedle The Bard

Specifications

Author: J.K. Rowling
Narrators: Warwick Davis, Noma Dumezweni, Jason Isaacs, Jude Law, Evanna Lynch, Sally Mortemore, Bonnie Wright
Categories: Children
Price: Free for Audible members, or $14.95 / £12.00 / AU$20.20

Reasons to buy

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1hr 35min
+
Ages 8-10
+
Free with Audible trial

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.

best Audible books: Slime

(Image credit: Audible)

15. Slime

Specifications

Author: David Walliams
Narrators: Ade Adepitan, Morgana Robinson, Jonathan Kydd, Verona Rose, Daniel Barker, Nitin Ganatra, David Walliams
Categories: Children
Price: $8.72 / £7.99 / AU$12.14

Reasons to buy

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1hr 35min
+
Ages 8-10
+
Free with Audible trial

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

best Audible books: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

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1. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Specifications

Author: Douglas Adams
Narrator: Stephen Fry
Categories: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Price: $13.08 / £11.99 / AU$18.22

Reasons to buy

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5hrs 51min
+
Ages 12+
+
Free with Audible trial

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. 

best Audible books: Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection

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2. Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection

Specifications

Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Narrator: Stephen Fry
Categories: Crime & Thrillers, Classic Detective
Price: $82.77 / £79.99 / AU$124.90

Reasons to buy

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71hrs 57min
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Ages 15+
+
Free with Audible trial

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.

best audible books: The Handmaid’s Tale

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3. The Handmaid’s Tale

Specifications

Author: Margaret Atwood
Narrators: Elisabeth Moss, Bradley Whitford, Amy Landecker, Ann Dowd
Categories: Fiction, Contemporary
Price: $34.90 / £31.99 / AU$48.62

Reasons to buy

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11hrs 22min
+
Ages 15+
+
Free with Audible trial

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.

best Audible books: The Great Gatsby

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4. The Great Gatsby

Specifications

Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Narrator: Jake Gyllenhaal
Categories: Classics, American Literature
Price: $14.95 / £11.29 / AU$17.56

Reasons to buy

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4hrs 49min
+
Ages 15+
+
Free with Audible trial

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.

best Audible books: Game of Thrones

(Image credit: Audible)

5. A Song of Ice and Fire

Specifications

Author: George R.R. Martin
Narrator: Roy Dotrice
Categories: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Price: $29.44 / £26.99 / AU$41.01 each

Reasons to buy

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33 hrs and 45 mins
+
Ages 15+
+
Free with Audible trial

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)

Nick Carson

Nick is a content strategist and copywriter. A former editor of graphic design title Computer Arts, he now works with design agencies as a consultant, writing copy for brands such as Virgin, Carlsberg and University College London.

He can help your design agency tell compelling stories. I’ll craft a content strategy to win you new business. My editorial skills also translate beautifully into long-form copywriting for brands.

While editor of award-winning graphic design title Computer Arts, he developes an in-depth understanding of how different agencies operate. During his tenure, he has launched the Brand Impact Awards – an international prize scheme, for which he remain chair of judges – as well as the UK Studio Rankings, an annual peer reputation survey of the country's top design agencies.

He plays an active role in the design industry, and am a member of D&AD, ProCopywriters and 26. As an awards judge, speaker and panel chair, he has worked with events globally including D&AD Festival, the European Design Awards and OFFSET Dublin.