I haven’t read a book properly until I’ve had it read to me. -Mark Haddon, Author.
20 Best Audiobooks of All Time - Fiction & Non-Fiction
1. Sapiens
A brief history of mankind.
Bestseller with over 12 million copies sold!
The focus of Sapiens is explaining the genesis of “humans”. There were six different human species living on the planet seventy thousand years ago, each with their own distinctive traits. However, there is currently only one species of humans left, that is “Humans”. It demonstrates how the era of capitalism and genetic engineering have elevated the evolution of nation, religion, and power over time. Sapiens is one of the best Audiobooks with an in-depth look at history, biology, philosophy, and economics like never before seen.
Famous quote from the book - “Consistency is the playground of dull minds.”
2. Ikigai
The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER with over 1.5 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE.
Apart from being one of the Best Audiobooks, Ikigai's main goal is to give the reader "reasons to live" and "reasons to jump out of bed". The book demonstrates how to achieve a perfect balance of needs, desires, ambitions, and satisfaction. A wonderful way to demonstrate that your skills, interests, and desires all have value on their own and can contribute to a long, meaningful, and happy life.
Famous quote from the book - “Appreciate the beauty of imperfection as an opportunity for growth.”
3. Life's Amazing Secrets
How to Find Balance and Purpose in Your Life.
Over 1,00,000 copies sold.
Gaur Gopal Das is a well-known Indian monk, lifestyle coach, motivational speaker, and former HP engineer. Life's Amazing Secrets is a conversation between Gaur Gopal Das and his young friend Harry that sparks new and unseen perspectives on relationships, money, mental health, and a variety of other topics. What you should be looking forward to is Gaur Gopal Das' take on these topics. One of the Best Audiobooks that will undoubtedly help you unlock Life's Amazing Secrets!
Famous quote from the book - “Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold.”
4. Becoming
Memoir of former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama
Sold over 10 million copies worldwide!
Michelle Obama's “Becoming” is a heart-to-heart conversation and is one of the Best Audiobooks under the nonfiction category. This is a letter she writes to her younger self that came from humble beginnings. This book depicts the values that shaped Michelle Obama into the woman she is today. One aspect of this book that has piqued the reader’s interest is how she candidly shares her disappointments with the reader. A personal, powerful, and inspiring book defining that there are no shortcuts to life.
Famous quote from the book - “Do we settle for the world as it is, or do we work for the world as it should be?”
5. My Gita
Conversation with Devdutt Pattanaik on The Bhagavad Gita
The Gita has been translated and interpreted numerous times. Devdutt Pattanaik's take on it is particularly interesting. This is him discussing various themes from the Gita. He is well-known for his works on religion, mythology, and management.
The beauty of this book is how he adapts Krishna's teachings in modern times by transforming the verses and stories. The book is much more than a historical account; it reveals the secrets of Vishnu, goddesses, and other deities.
Famous quote from the book - “The Gita does not speak of changing the world. It speaks of appreciating the world that is always changing.”
6. The Alchemist
A fable about following your dream!
Sold more than 150 million copies!
A Brazilian novelist and lyricist writes a book that could potentially steal a piece of your heart. A book about wisdom and self-discovery, as well as the path to finding your dream. It shows a young Adalusian shepherd boy who wishes to travel the world in search of treasures. During his Quest, he discovers things are far more interesting and satisfying than richness. This book is filled with things like wisdom, the opportunity to find one's own life path, and events that lead to the fulfillment of one's dreams.
Famous quote from the book - “The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them”
7. Talking to Strangers
What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know
Has anyone ever discovered the ideal way to approach strangers? We don't believe so. There are no hard and fast rules for how to approach strangers and meet new people. This Best Audiobook delves into the judgmental and misunderstood attitudes we have toward strangers, and how they can have disastrous consequences if we do not make the right decisions before speaking to others. Perhaps more like investigating the darker side of human interactions.
Famous quote from the book - ““The right way to talk to strangers is with caution and humility.”
8. How To Be An Antiracist
A social commentary
THE GLOBAL MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER
One of those Best Audiobooks that is truly revolutionary. Ibram X. Kendi is also an anti-racist activist and one of Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2020. Enough introduction as to why he wrote this book, right? In simple terms, what this book holds for you as a reader is how it wishes to assist people who have been victims of racism. He discusses a variety of uncomfortable situations, myths, and taboos that people have long misunderstood. He reveals the true ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality. Through his viewpoints, he also establishes new grounds for anti-racism, as well as a better understanding of how to identify and deal with people who are racist.
Famous quote from the book - “Racist ideas love believers, not thinkers.”
9. A Promised Land
Memoir by Barack Obama
Sold over 2.6 million copies
He was a man who was much more than a President; he was a man of the people. He spoke in a way that appealed to millions of people. He wrote A promised land with the power of his voice. Obama's life is documented in more than just a presidential memoir. It also sheds light on his early years, as well as the conflict surrounding the assassination of Osama bin Laden and the Affordable Care Act.
Brownie points - The book is narrated by President Obama himself!
Famous quote from the book - “Whatever you do won’t be enough, I heard their voices say, Try anyway.”
10. Untamed
Stop pleasing, start living
Over 2 million copies sold
Through this Best Audiobook, four million dollars was raised for women and children in need.
A memoir and a call to action for women. A book that speaks about going above and beyond mundane life. It shows how your happiness is important and not the approval of society. As simple as that may sound, we all know how difficult it is to implement. That is why untamed teaches us to be kind to ourselves before we can be kind to others.
Famous quote from the book - “I am a human being, meant to be in perpetual becoming. My goal is not to remain the same but to live in such a way that each day, year, moment, relationship, conversation , and crisis is the material I use to become a truer, more beautiful version of myself.”
11. The Dutch House
Nominated for the Women's Prize 2020
Ann Patchett's novel The Dutch House depicts a mother's decision to leave her home and her two children. Danny and Maeve are the siblings who are comfortable when they are together. You will see elements of paradise lost, dark fairy tales, and the burden of the past that neither of them seem to be able to overcome. However, eventually they are forced to confront the people who have caused them so much pain over the years.
Famous quotes from the book - “Do you think it’s possible to ever see the past as it actually was”
12. A Thousand Ships
This is the Women’s war
Natalie Haynes' “A Thousand Ships” is written on the Trojan War and the aftermath of the war. There have been many writers who have written about various aspects and perceptions of Greek mythology, but Haynes has taken a completely different approach. In this mythology, she doesn’t term women as victims; she sheds light on the perspectives of the women who fought in this war. It's safe to say she reimagines “heroes” as “women”.
Famous quotes from the book - “It does hurt, I whispered. It should hurt.”
13. How High We Go In The Dark
Science fiction at its best.
How high we go in the dark, demonstrates the human connection between hope and tragedy. The book speaks volumes about the nature of life, death, and everything that happens in between. Definitely a complex novel with heavy points that will make you think a lot. The book can be difficult to understand at times, but that is exactly what the author means in this best audiobook, when she says, "How deep can we talk about life?"
Famous quotes from the book - “Hope, love, ingenuity. Possibility is more than what runs through our veins, little one.”
14. Immortals of Meluha
Trilogy 1/3
Amish Tripathi is well-known for his role in the creation of some of the best historical stories. Many readers regard Immortals of Meluha as a personal favorite. Especially if you have a great admiration for Lord Shiva. Amish has written this book in the best way possible to depict Shiva's arrival and the land of Meluha. Mostly discusses Meluha as a perfect kingdom created by Lord Ram, and how it slowly began to decline to near extinction. This is the first book, followed by Oath of Vayuputras and Nagas Secret. The three books are referred to collectively as the “Shiva Trilogy''.
Famous quotes from the book - “his burden didn't feel any lighter. but he felt strong enough to carry it”
15. Raavan
Enemy of Aryavarta
This is the seventh book of Amish Tripathi, 6th book of Amishverse and third book of Ram Chandra series. One thing you can't deny about Amish Tripathi is that he writes historic books that are simple to read and even simpler to understand. The concept demonstrates that without darkness, light has no purpose, and without the villain, what would the Gods do?
Ravan, the King of Lanka is the protagonist and how one of history's greatest villains created one of the most epic stories is the highlight. Chaotic, rebellious and cursed by fate are some of the general themes of this book.
Famous quotes from the book - “If you spend enough time with anything, you start liking it, even sadness.”
16. Kafka on the Shore
Chosen among “The 10 Best Books of 2005”
Many people enjoy the works of Haruki Murakami. The two themes that Haruki always represents in his books are intricate and subtle tones. Kafka on the Shore denotes the boundary between a being's conscious and unconscious minds. Kafka Tamura, a 15-year-old teenage boy who runs away from home and sets out on his own journey. The book shows elements of people conversing with cats, fish falling from the sky, a sudden image of a girl at night, and many other dark prophecies that end up as a riddle and arouse a curious thought in you.
Famous quotes from the book - “Every one of us is losing something precious to us. Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive.”
17. The Kite Runner
Powerful, Haunting.
There are so many people who consider The Kite Runner as a masterpiece. It depicts a beautiful friendship between two boys, followed by a heartbreaking story. A friendship between a wealthy boy and his father's servant's son with moments of transformation, destruction, friendship, betrayal, love, and other sacrifices. A classic work of contemporary literature that has influenced millions of people to this day.
Famous quotes from the book - “Chance encounters are what keep us going.”
18. To Kill a Mockingbird
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize.
A book that speaks volumes about tragedy, compassion, and humor. However, one of the most intriguing aspects of this novel is that it is narrated by a child. It is a perception of an 8 year old about the world, filled with meaningful themes and ideas. It also depicts various notions of racial discrimination, which we believe has to be addressed. Mockingbird explores all of humanity's intricacies as well as prejudices against a specific race.
Famous quotes from the book - “Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”
19. Handmaid's Tale
Speculative fiction
The name Handmaid's Tale comes from the fact that it is written in the words of a handmaid, which was a role in society back then. The Handmaid's Tale is a story about life in the Dystopia Gilead. In the United States, there is a totalitarian society that treats women as property, and are threatened quite often. This book takes a unique approach on gender, sexuality and inequality. Despite the fact that it is set in a totalitarian dystopia, it is not a true story and is entirely science fiction.
Also manages to cover all aspects of religion and political history.
On a side note, this best audiobook was narrated by Elisabeth Moss, lead star of the blockbuster TV show “The Handmaid's tale”
Famous quotes from the book - “Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some.”
20. The Book Thief
“Masterfully told”
A story about a little girl named Liesel who is taken to a new home because her mother is unable to care for her. Plot twist: the story's narrator is death, who becomes a character to provide a different perspective on the story. The novel The Book Thief speaks about love and kindness, as well as the balance and imbalance of literacy and power. Even better, it is set during the Nazi era, when suffering was at its peak.
Famous quotes from the book - “Like most misery, it started with apparent happiness.”
Bet these audiobooks are flanked with exceptional narration and an unparalleled listening experience. Hope you have a great time listening to these best audiobooks. We will come back with some more interesting topics for you until then stay tuned and watch out this space for more updates and deals.
