Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
I was very happy to hear that Ricochet is being sponsored by Audible.com. Since they're giving away a free credit, if I recall correctly, I thought it was worth discussing what people might buy with it, and whether audio books are for them.
When I was regularly flying back and forth from Baghdad, the endless hassle of the airports was greatly relieved by being able to listen to podcasts or history while I was standing in line, waiting for my visa to be processed, for baggage, walking around the large airports (Istanbul, London), security... There's a lot of time that it's very difficult to use productively without an audiobook. Now, I listen while I work out, while I take the subway, and when going for walks.
And what audiobooks they have! Personally, my favorite book so far has been What God Hath Wrought. It's just an amazing tour de force through American history (1815-1848), encompassing its military, religious, technological, economic, social, legal, biographical, political, literary, artistic, ethnographic and intellectual developments. Daniel Walker Howe makes it all simply fascinating, and had me on the edge of my airplane seat wanting to find out the results of elections whose outcomes I already knew. I'm pretty keen on US history, and particularly political history, but this book stood head and shoulders above the rest. Plus, at 32 hours, you get a lot more book for your free credit than you will if you purchase a shorter work.
My Mother, though, thinks that if you're going to listen to an audio book, you should get one with voicework that adds to the experience. One great example of this is Mark Steyn's After America, which is, indeed, even better with the author reading it (although with a really good book that I know I'll want to refer to later, I tend to think it's worth getting a hard copy as well, as audible.com books don't yet have indexes). Unfortunately, After America is not available from Audible.com, so you'll have to get the CD version and then take the time to rip it into poorly labelled mp3s. My mother's favorite voice acting in an audio book is Nigel Planer's and Stephen Briggs' in the Terry Pratchett adaptations: This is Pratchett's most recent work, this is the start of the currently 33 part series. I haven't listened to enough fiction/ travel to gainsay my mother here, and do think the Pratchett adaptations are quite good. A word of warning if you start on the books; they're fantastic, thoughtful, and surprisingly conservative. Do not, however, be taken in by this and persuaded to listen to or read his stupid, urban legend believing, terrible, terrible, non-fiction.
Finally, the books I have planned for when I'm done with rereading Steyn are Why Nations Fail and Priscilla Buckley's String of Pearls. If you have views on either of these, I'd be interested to hear them. Or you can offer your own suggestions about what books people trying out audible.com should start with. Or you can explain how Rubio's endorsement of Mitt proves that Rubio isn't a conservative, simply doesn't understand politics as clearly as you do, or knows Mitt less well.
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Dec '10
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
Sheer best bang for your free buck, "Atlas Shrugged". Its truly massive, but the voicework is actually very good. I listen to it back and forth from work for close to a month(off and on). Also, "black rednecks and white liberals" or "intellectuals and society". Both very well narrarated.
Oct '10
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
I spend an hour most days taking a walk, and find that (apart from the assorted Ricochet podcasts, bien sûr), audio books are superb way to engage the mind while exercising the body. I've been using these abundant hours mostly to catch up on the classics which I either neglected or merely endured in my callow youth. Here are reviews of ones I've particularly enjoyed:
Less classical, but also classic, I've equally delighted in:
And finally, a modern work which was an absolute joy:
The titles in each review link to the Audible.com book.
Jun '10
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
John Walker:
And finally, a modern work which was an absolute joy:
The titles in each review link to the Audible.com book. · 22 minutes ago
I didn't listen to Bryson's book, but totally agree. Science for laymen--and Bryson can really write.
Also, this thread finally got me to join Audible. I already buy too many books, and I've been able to listen to most books I wanted to on CD from the library. But Katie brought up Witness, which I've never been able to find on CD: so I took the plunge, joined, and began listening yesterday to Witness.
Thanks, Katie and James. There goes the TR budget once again. If I have to take out bankruptcy, you'll be named as unindicted co-conspirators.
Edited on March 30, 2012 at 6:40pmAug '10
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
One of the first books I ever got via Audible was Memoirs of a Geisha. It is by far the best of all of the titles I have. The narrator, Bernadette Dunn is so exquisite that I found it difficult to turn it off. Normally I listen during my 30 min commute in the morning/afternoon - Geisha was so good I would take my player into my living room after my commute and play it through my stereo for hours.
Additionally,
The Diamond Age and Snow Crash by Neil Stephenson. My daughter will have The Diamond Age as one of her required books when I think she is ready for it.
The Company by Robert Littell
The entirety of the Wheel of Time series.
Love Audible - I have happily been a member since 1999.
Jul '11
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
Jun '10
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
I'm not a huge fan of audiobooks. I think reading and audio are two very different media, and works composed as books don't always translate well into recordings. I generally prefer to listen to podcasts, talk radio programs, or lectures such as the Great Courses series.
That said, I have enjoyed listening to authors reading their own works, in particular Craig Ferguson reading American on Purpose and Greg Gutfeld reading The Bible of Unspeakable Truths.
Apr '11
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
I have several Audible books 200+ and listen everyday. I am a gold member for $14 a month gets me one book plus frequent specials. I've read/listened to several extremely good books, and some not so good. I think they have a get two books free with signup, maybe not all the time. If you have time to listen, or don't have time to read (driving) but time to listen I highly recommend it. I really love non-fiction, any books by Bill Bryson especially A Short History of Nearly Everything (fascinating). The Civil War A Narrative by Shelby Foote, The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn narrated by Patrick Fraley (fantastic narrator). Destiny of the Republic a surprisingly interesting history of the assassination of James Garfield, Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell (not the least bit boring, and you'll learn a lot). The River of Doubt (Teddy Roosevelt in the Amazon, what a man he was), Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (incredible story of American Louie Zamperini) well worth the time and money. Eiffel's Tower about much more than the tower(great book), 48 Liberal Lies About American History (very good), I don't have room to list them all. Pillars of the Earth (Great)!
Apr '11
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
By the way The History of the Republic about James Garfield (nominated in a brokered convention) who went on to be a much loved President by both the North and the South.
Jun '10
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
I cannot believe that I forgot David McCullough's The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris. He narrates the first section of the book. Edward Hermann finishes it. Both are incredible.
Jun '10
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
Get Hemingway's, "The Old Man and the Sea" narrated by Donald Sutherland. That was awesome. Sutherland really had a handle on the terse powerful style that characterizes Papa's prose.
Dec '11
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
I know little about Audibles (off the football field), but I have read Miss Buckley's String in hardback. You can never go wrong with anything written by this author.
Aug '11
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
Don't miss William F. Buckley, Junior's Miles Gone By: A Literary Autobiography narrated by himself! It is an absolute treasure!
Nov '10
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
I can't believe I'm the first person to recommend Loose Lips and Lion Eyes by our own Claire Berlinski!
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
I've been listening to American on Purpose while eating breakfast every day for a week!
I was under the impression that I was singlehandedly supporting Audible.com -- I have too many audiobooks on my iPod to count -- but am happy to see I have some fellow audio-hounds here at Ricochet.
I've listened to a whole slew of political autobiographies on audiobook, read by the authors -- George W. Bush's book, Bill Clinton's book, Donald Rumsfeld's book and more -- and enjoy them very much, even though they are often (not always) abridged. It's very interesting to hear people reading their own histories. Rumsfeld's book was particularly fascinating. But my go-to audiobooks -- the ones I listen to so often I could practically recite them -- are P.G. Wodehouse and assorted mysteries (Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Colin Dexter, Reginald Hill). Best reader of Wodehouse: Jeremy Sinden, although Jonathan Cecil is very good too. Jeremy Sinden also did an excellent reading of Ngaio Marsh's mystery Hand in Glove, if genteel mysteries happen to appeal.
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
If you'd like to listen to a cracking good piece of fiction, by the way, I just finished hearing Jonathan Keeble's unabridged recording of Reginald Hill's novel The Woodcutter. It's a phenomenal performance and a terrific book. Highly recommended.
Nov '10
Re: Audible.Com Book Choices: What Would You Recommend?
I've been listening to American on Purpose while eating breakfast every day for a week!
I was under the impression that I was singlehandedly supporting Audible.com -- I have too many audiobooks on my iPod to count -- but am happy to see I have some fellow audio-hounds here at Ricochet.
I've listened to a whole slew of political autobiographies on audiobook, read by the authors -- George W. Bush's book, Bill Clinton's book, Donald Rumsfeld's book and more -- and enjoy them very much, even though they are often (not always) abridged. It's very interesting to hear people reading their own histories. Rumsfeld's book was particularly fascinating. But my go-to audiobooks -- the ones I listen to so often I could practically recite them -- are P.G. Wodehouse and assorted mysteries (Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Colin Dexter, Reginald Hill). Best reader of Wodehouse: Jeremy Sinden, although Jonathan Cecil is very good too. Jeremy Sinden also did an excellent reading of Ngaio Marsh's mystery Hand in Glove, if genteel mysteries happen to appeal. · 18 minutes ago
Genteel mysteries are my favorite. Thanks for this.