# Audiobook Recommendation
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiobook-recommendation/635443
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [September 21, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiobook-recommendation/635443 "2012-09-21T22:28:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiobook-recommendation/635443/1 "2012-09-21T22:28:32Z")
Can I get some good audiobook recommendation?
I prefer non-fiction and post-apocalyptic books but would listen to anything so no need to stick to a certain genre. Just a good entertaining voice.
Thanks
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### Author:  [@all1966](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/all1966)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiobook-recommendation/635443/2 "2012-09-21T22:58:23Z")
I’m currently listening to Will Patton, who has a lovely southern accent. If you like British accents, Gerard Doyle, Tim Curry, Jim Dale and Simon Vance are wonderful. Also with a lilt, Alan Cumming. The books they narrate may fall into your preferred categories, or you may discover a lovely new book simply because you enjoy the narrator. Listen to some samples and see what you like…I use [Audible.com](http://Audible.com) and have been quite happy with my choices!
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2012, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiobook-recommendation/635443/3 "2012-09-21T23:34:27Z")
> [@all1966](#):
>
> If you like British accents, Gerard Doyle, Tim Curry, Jim Dale and Simon Vance are wonderful. Also with a lilt, Alan Cumming.
Note that, for a limited time (I assume), [audible.com](http://audible.com) is offering a few free audiobooks, including [Dracula](http://www.audible.com/pd?asin=B0078PA1OA) read by Alam Cumming, Tim Curry, et al, and [Frankenstein](http://www.audible.com/pd?asin=B002V8MIBI) read by Simon Vance, free if you “buy” the Kindle edition at [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) (which is also free, since these are public domain books).
A while back I listened to and enjoyed Jasper Fforde’s _Shades of Grey_, which _might_ qualify as post-apocalyptic.
We’ve had “recommend an audiobook” threads before (though none, as far as I can remember, specifically devoted to non-fiction or post-apoc), so if this doesn’t turn up enough ideas, try searching for older threads.
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### Author:  [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiobook-recommendation/635443/4 "2012-09-22T01:27:21Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#):
>
> We’ve had “recommend an audiobook” threads before (though none, as far as I can remember, specifically devoted to non-fiction or post-apoc), so if this doesn’t turn up enough ideas, try searching for older threads.
I must have done a poor search. I will give it another go.
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiobook-recommendation/635443/5 "2012-09-22T02:21:58Z")
I’ve read some great non-fiction on audible lately.
\*The Demon Under the Microscope \*is a fascinating look at the development of the first antibiotics.
\*Born Standing Up \*is Steve Martin’s autobiography, narrated by himself.
\*The Psychopathy Test \*is a look into psychopaths.
\*Charlie Wilson’s War \*is all about the American-funded war between the Afghans and the Soviet Union in the 80s (the book is a million times better than the movie).
All of these books are very well narrated and also entertaining.
I’m also currently about 12 minutes into _The Mark Inside_, which is about a con artist. All I can say so far is that the narrator is really really excellent.
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### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiobook-recommendation/635443/6 "2012-09-22T02:25:09Z")
> [@fifty-six](#):
>
> I must have done a poor search. I will give it another go. Thanks.
No, no! Stay here and play with us.._.!_
When do we _not_ need a good audiobook thread? I just finished a couple of mysteries (Kathy Reich’s “Bones” series) and started a short “Wooster and Jeeves” dramatization, but I need a really good book to sink my ears into.
Annnnd, I found one of those old threads, [where we all helped Kyla with a long trip](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=520546), and I forgot a long post of mine. So here it is again:
Hi, I’m digs. _…Hi, digs…_ And I am addicted to audiobooks.
Between commuting, working out, doing house and yardwork, falling asleep, and (the best drug I’ve found for…) falling back asleep, I’ve listened to hundreds.
I’ve found that mysteries work best on long car trips. I think it’s because if you miss a word here, a half-sentence there, you can still follow the plot. So that narrows my recommendations:
Any of those “Murder Occurs Near An Average Guy Whose Job Involves Horses” books by Dick Francis. Read by Tony Britton or Simon Prebble.
For DC-Politics-meets-Conspiracies with young, idealistic protagonists and some fun plot twists: The Zero Game or The Millionaires, by Brad Meltzer.
W is for Whatever Kinsey Milhone book I’m re-listening to. A plucky, honest investigator with clever cases. “S” is the most thoughtfully-written, but they’re all fun.
The Janet Evanovich “One for the Money/Two for the Dough” series – if you like the broad humor of a Jersey bounty hunter and her huge black hooker assistant.
George Guidell does a masterful job of reading any of “The Cat Who…” books. A quiet little Northern Exposure sort of town. But maybe too quiet if you’re driving late at night…
But if you are driving late, you have got to listen to the best-read moodiest thrillers I’ve ever heard: **Fear Nothing** and **Seize The Night**. Hauntingly read by Keith Szarabajka, who captures the feel of the protagonist, who has Exoderma Pigmentosa, so can’t go out in the daylight. Written by Dean Koontz, who can be an uneven author, but these are a good blend of Sci-Fi, fantasy, philosophy and surfer lingo (seriously). And, most importantly…
These are the best examples I’ve ever heard of a voice and words working together. Others on this board have replied to audiobook threads just to mention these two books, and the reading thereof.
Other genres? Anything read by Frank Muller is excellent, esp. The Great Gatsby, or the Tale of Two Cities (although, don’t forget, Dickens got paid by the word… it’s lonnnng). Oh, and though i haven’t heard them, he’s read the first four books of the Dark Tower series.
Or anything read by Dick Hill (like that Harry Potter kid), or Scott Brick (he’s the guy who does such a great job on Brad Meltzer’s political thrillers – and Ender’s Shadow and its sequels).
And of course you might want to include some light “reading”. P.G. Wodehouse, esp. the Wooster and Jeeves adventures. And every car needs a copy of David Sedaris Live at Carnegie Hall.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiobook-recommendation/635443/7 "2012-09-22T02:55:36Z")
If you’re looking for non-fiction you might consider some of the [Great Courses](http://www.thegreatcourses.com) tapes.
If you want specific recommendations, I’d suggest “History of Ancient Rome” by Garrett Fagan; “Great American Bestsellers: The Books That Shaped America” by Peter Conn; “Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights” by John Finn; or “From Jesus to Constantine: A History of Early Christianity” by Bart Ehrman.
You can probably find some of these at a public library. If you’re looking to purchase, don’t panic over the prices. The company offers all their tapes at a major discount at least once a year.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiobook-recommendation/635443/8 "2012-09-22T14:27:44Z")
> [@digs](#):
>
> And of course you might want to include some light “reading”. P.G. Wodehouse, esp. the Wooster and Jeeves adventures. And every car needs a copy of David Sedaris Live at Carnegie Hall.
Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster books work wonderfully as audiobooks. There are several narrators—I’ve listened to and can vouch for Jonathan Cecil, Frederick Davidson, and especially Martin Jarvis, whose narration may be my favorite of an audiobook ever.
David Sedaris’s readings of his own works are definitely more fun than the printed versions.
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> If you’re looking for non-fiction you might consider some of the [Great Courses](http://www.thegreatcourses.com) tapes.
If you like the lecture format, there’s a wide range of “courses” available both from the Teaching Company’s Great Courses series, and from the Modern Scholar series (available at [audible.com](http://audible.com)). In both cases, there’s a wide variety of subject matter, lecturer style, and (IMHO) quality in the “courses” offered, but in both cases, the best are very good indeed.
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audiobook-recommendation/635443/9 "2012-09-22T16:20:01Z")
I listened to “All the Kings Men” for my book club and it was a sublime experience. The recording was 22 hours long, and I listened on my walks and on my 40-minute commute to and from work. I became completely immersed in the story, and would pull up to appointments and linger in the car just to listen for a while longer.
I know I got a deeper understanding of the story by listening than I ever would have by reading. I know that the story is NOT about the governor of Louisiana (although he is an important character). The point of the story is “the silvery scream” of Jack Burden’s mother.
I’ve listened to many audio books before and since, but none has had the profound effect on me that that one did.
Another series I loved were recordings by poet David Whyte where he discusses his life and poetry and reads from his work. I tell ya, walking in the park alongside a small river at dawn and listening to David read some of his beautiful poetry… holy crap. Don’t get much better than that. 😉 I’ve listened to all of his CD’s and wish he would make some more.