Five of my favorite audiobooks
It's not just for lazy readers — even Elizabeth Warren listens to new books via audio!
I suffered a mild TBI from the impact of a terrible car accident about seven years ago. The concussion affected my reading abilities (mainly the speed of my reading — not spelling, nor comprehension). It changed a favorite pastime of reading the New York Times, the New Yorker, and tons of books from a relaxing and engaging activity to one entailing massive concentration.
Fortunately, it has never been easier to take in information via audio, and I have become an audiobook/podcast-aholic. When do I listen? In the cracks of a day, like walking the dog, making coffee, cooking food (lots of listening time here), driving around, and get to crush books on road trips. Like anything in life, if you getting hooked on it, you prioritize it and make time.
While Amazon owns Audible, and as much as I hate to support Bezos’s disgusting trips to space, the Audible subscription and app are the bomb (or are “bussin’” as my kids might say). Here are five faves that I believe are a better listen than read:
#1) Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino
Tarantino’s book is a parallel experience to the movie, enhancing and enriching the characters in the movie while also standing alone. The best part is Jennifer Jason Leigh’s masterful narration. Because the audiobook is part of the movie/story complex, Leigh can evoke these actors in her delivery. She is not trying to make a separate statement, instead allowing her voice to be Leonardo DiCaprio as Rick Dalton. While it sounds like this shortcuts your imagination (like watching Harry Potter before reading it), the premise proves far more enriching. Tarantino's movie/book inspired me to go on a deeper dive into the Manson family history (listen to Chaos), but I digress. See the movie, listen to the book, appreciate the completely different endings of each one, and enjoy the deep backstory on Cliff Booth, played masterfully by Brad Pitt (best scene ever is below).
#2 The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
This gorgeous story is for all ages. Neil reads it himself, and he is an exquisite narrator, with perfect diction, patience, and delivery. The book is at once bizarre, creative, wonderful, touching, and dark —a perfect story. And as a bonus, the audiobook features a gorgeous soundtrack that pops in and out performed by my hero Béla Fleck and cellist Ben Sollee.
#3) How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy
An essential treatise on the creative process, and while centered on songwriting, is packed with life lessons. Once again, the narration makes it hum as Jeff Tweedy himself narrates it. I am somewhat embarrassed to say I have not followed Tweedy’s career closely (far more focused on new acoustic music), yet this book is inspiring on countless levels. And it’s short: only 3.5 hours. The coolest part of this audiobook is Tweedy plays guitar and sings all the sample song bits he writes through the book, and then performs the whole song at the end.
The Life audiobook won awards, and rightfully so. As you can imagine, the stories are mindbogglingly great throughout. Johnny Depp narrates in a few spots (and he’s good), and Keith himself narrates the final chapter (which is fun that it exists, but it’s pretty bad — his smoker’s cough is apparent, and the many edits are noticeable). It is Joe Hurley that carries this. His delivery sounds like a young Keith, and his charm is contagious as he describes these truly bananas stories of adventures, drugs, and fights during the Rolling Stones' lengthy heydey. Hurley laughs at the stories himself, as though he is genuinely reminiscing. It’s a very fun listen while also jawdropping. The book inspired a deep YouTube dive after listening, taking in videos like this.
#5) The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth by Sam Quinones
Sam’s first book Dreamland about the opioid epidemic was devastating. This book is flattening me. I am only halfway through and often gasp out loud as I hear these unfathomably tragic stories of addiction, the total depravity of the Sackler family, and the history of the synthetic opioid fentanyl. While not a political book, I believe the root of the rot in our country and our seemingly intractable polarization — the desire to burn it all down — leads back to the decimation of communities from rampant opioid addiction.
This book is not inherently better as an audiobook; I simply want you to read/listen to it as soon as possible. Don’t just take my word for it:
Some other audiobook faves (though some could be just as good to read as listen): Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, American Gods by Neil Gaiman (the audiobook!), At Home by Bill Bryson, Words Without Music by Phillip Glass, American War by Omar El Akkad, and everything by Michael Lewis.
Next post on podcasts.….