If you’ve talked to me or read my blog for any amount of time you know that I’m a bit of an audiobook evangelist. I really do think that audiobooks are a magical way to find more time in your day to read, simply through listening while you’re doing other things.
Yet I also know that if you’ve never listened to audiobooks before, it can be a little intimidating to get started. Yet once you dive into the world of audiobooks, you won’t want to leave it. Here are some ideas for how to get started with audiobooks.
Figure out what you like to listen to
I’ve talked to friends who say they don’t like audiobooks, and when I (like a nosy book psychologist) ask them why they tell me things like they get bored or can’t pay attention. Often, the problem isn’t audiobooks in general, but what you’re trying to listen to. If you don’t know what you like or where to start, here are a couple of suggestions:
- If you like to listen to podcasts, choose a book in the same theme or topic as one of your favorite podcasts.
- I think memoir is a great way to get started with audiobooks, especially when they’re read by the author. Maybe try a memoir written by a celebrity you like or someone you follow, or even a comedian who makes you laugh. Memoir was my gateway into audiobooks, and I think they could work for you too.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment. If you try an audiobook and you just can’t get into it, give yourself permission to quit that book and try something different. There’s no “right” kind of audiobook to listen to, so it may take a few tries to find what you like best. It did for me!
Find out what your library offers
The library is a great starting place for audiobooks, because you can experiment with different genres without feeling like you’re throwing your money away. Different libraries offer a variety of ways to listen to books, so do some browsing on your library’s site to find out what they use. My library uses Axis360, but a lot of them use Libby, which I hear great things about.
Also, if your library’s selection isn’t great, find out if they connect to a larger library in your area. You can often sign up for a library card in a larger city through your smaller, local branch. To listen:
- Find out what listening app your library uses (Axis360, Libby, Overdrive) and download it to your phone.
- On your phone or computer, browse your library’s catalog and filter by “downloadable audiobook.”
- Check out the book, which should send it to the app.
- Once it’s on your app, it may download automatically, but if not, be sure to download it so that you can listen even when there’s no wifi.
- Most apps are great about keeping your place and picking up where you left off the next time you open the app, but you also have the option of adding a bookmark so you can easily find your spot in case something happens (which has happened to me a few times with the Axis360 app).
Consider a paid service
The library app may be all you need, but if you can’t find the books you want at your library, or don’t want to wait in long holds queues, you can go the paid route. Popular audiobook subscriptions are through Libro.fm, Audible, and Scribd.
With Libro.fm and Audible, you can either subscribe by paying a monthly fee (around $15) or purchase audiobooks individually without a subscription. The subscription gives you a credit towards one audiobook per month (and the credit rolls over if you don’t use it) and also gives you a discount on any additional books you purchase. Both have an amazing selection of books and the prices seem pretty comparable to me. I prefer Libro.fm because purchasing through them supports independent bookstores.
Scribd is a little different, in that you pay a monthly fee and have access to all the audiobooks (as well as eBooks) in their library. I haven’t used it myself, so I don’t know how extensive their library is, but you have the option of trying it free for 30 days.
With both library and paid apps, you can adjust the listening speed. I usually listen to books at 1.5x speed, which helps me get even more listening in and for some reason helps me pay more attention.
Experiment with listening to audiobooks throughout your day
Many people tell me they don’t know when they would have time to listen to audiobooks, but you’d be surprised how even little pockets of time throughout the day can really add up. Here are some ideas for when you can listen to audiobooks:
- In the morning when you’re getting ready
- In the car if you have a commute to work or on the way home from school drop-off
- During the work day if you have any mindless tasks that don’t require much thought
- While doing household chores like folding laundry, unloading the dishwasher, cleaning, and tidying
- While taking a walk
- While cooking dinner
- At night when doing your skincare routine and getting ready for bed
Try a few of these times, and you might find you have more time to listen than you think!
Keep track of narrators you like
Especially if you enjoy fiction on audio, a narrator can make or break the listening experience. If you loved something you listened to, take a moment to find out who the narrator is and take note. Then when you are looking for your next book to listen to, you can search for other books narrated by that same person.
Some audiobooks are narrated by famous actors, so that may be a good place to start if you’re not sure about narrators you like. Here are a few examples of audiobooks narrated by actors:
- The Dutch House narrated by Tom Hanks
- The Handmaids Tale narrated by Claire Danes
- Heartburn (by Nora Ephron) narrated by Meryl Streep
- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe narrated by Lin-Manuel Miranda
- Pride and Prejudice narrated by Rosamund Pike
- The Great Gatsby narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal
I hope this inspires you to give audiobooks a try. I didn’t used to think that audiobooks were for me, but now almost half of what I read is on audio. They are a reading game-changer!
Tell me in the comments about your experience with audiobooks and if you have any recommendations.
