Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely wanted to be that person who always had a book tucked under their arm or dog-eared copies on every shelf. And I tried! I really did. I’d carry a novel around for weeks, optimistically packing it for trips—and then… not even crack the first chapter. Life gets busy. Spare time feels rare. And honestly? My attention span in the evenings after a long workday? It’s barely enough to scroll TikTok without mentally zoning out mid-video.
So books slowly dropped out of my life.
Then one day, a friend recommended I “listen to this book instead” during a phone call about productivity hacks. That book turned out to be James Clear’s Atomic Habits, and the way I absorbed it was through Audible. That was the day everything changed—not just how I read, but how I use my time, process stories, rest, learn, you name it.
And now? I’m the person recommending books to all my friends, with a little app in my pocket that runs 24/7 magic.
My Official Audible Awakening
It started innocently enough: one audiobook on my phone, downloaded during a promotion (1-month free trial, classic hook). I figured, no harm in trying.
I listened to Atomic Habits while doing laundry that Sunday, and the experience struck me like gold. Not only was I folding neatly and not complaining once (some kind of miracle)—but the narrator’s voice was actually pulling me into the content in a way I’d never felt before. I was learning without “studying.” I was absorbing without effort. Twenty minutes turned into an hour. When the final chapter closed, I immediately started another book.
I was hooked. Not on the voice, the story, or the productivity buzz alone—though all of those helped—but on this new way of bringing books into my very full life.
What Audible Gave Me That Reading Couldn’t (or Didn’t)
Let’s be real: we live in a world of multitasking. And I used to feel guilty about that. Like I wasn’t being a good reader unless I was sitting quietly in a chair, giving a book 100% of my focus like some perfect enlightened being.
But Audible said, “Nah, let’s meet you where you are.”
Suddenly, I could “read” while walking my dog, commuting, cleaning the kitchen, or even lying in bed with my eyes closed. I wasn’t waiting for the right mood or time slot—I created my own.
Some of my favorite life-enhancing books—like Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly, Emily Nagoski’s Come As You Are, and Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime—entered my head (and heart) during these in-between moments, where I might’ve otherwise been doomscrolling or zoning out to background noise.
Audible didn’t just solve my “reading problem”—it expanded my world.
Discovering the Joy of Narration
One thing I didn’t expect? Narrators matter—a lot.
Some voice actors bring entire novels to life with multiple accents and characters (shoutout to The Night Circus, which basically sounded like a movie for my ears). Others deliver non-fiction with warmth, assertiveness, or heart, adding layers of meaning and emotion that I might’ve skimmed over in print.
Trevor Noah reading his own autobiography was one of the best experiences ever—real, raw, hilarious. You feel him living the stories. You’re right there with him, from apartheid-era South Africa to awkward teenage moments with his mom.
And when authors read their own work? Like Glennon Doyle in Untamed? It’s like a podcast-slash-confessional that makes the message land even harder. I don’t think I’d be half as emotionally invested just reading those words off a page.
My Favorite Audible Features (So Much More Than Audiobooks)
I came for the audiobooks—but I stayed for everything else. Here’s what completely stole my heart:
1. Audible Originals
These are hands-down one of the best parts. You get exclusive mini-series, documentaries, fiction stories, comedy specials, and curated collections that don’t exist anywhere else. I recently listened to The Sandman(the Neil Gaiman adaptation) and it’s unreal. Like an actual immersive, full-cast audio performance that puts Netflix to shame.
2. Sleep Timer
This saved me. I love listening before bed, but I used to wake up at 2 AM with the story halfway over. Now I just set it to 20 or 30 minutes, and if I doze off, I can rewind easily. It’s become part of my wind-down ritual that’s honestly better than any meditation app I’ve tried.
3. Offline Listening
Essential for subway rides, flights, or (when I’m pretending to be unplugged in the woods) camping trips. I keep 3 or 4 downloads stored at all times so I’m never stuck without something nourishing to soak in.
4. Chapter Memories / Notes
Sometimes I pause to take little mental notes or clips. Audible lets me mark and revisit them later, especially for non-fiction or anything educational. Imagine doing a “rewatch” of your favorite quotes, but in audiobook form.
Books (and Voices) That Stick With Me
Here’s a peek at some of the standouts that I’m constantly raving about (or quietly re-listening to like comfort food):
- “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah – 10/10. You laugh, you cry, you learn.
- “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey – An unexpectedly poetic and deeply southern-fried spiritual memoir with McConaughey narrating it like a bedtime sermon.
- “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir – Sci-fi that’s fun, detailed, and emotional. The narration is so cinematic, you forget you’re not watching a movie.
- “Think Again” by Adam Grant – Thought-provoking and mindset-shifting. A full-on brain cleanse, honestly.
- “Daisy Jones & The Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Full-cast drama. You live in the ‘70s for a bit. Highly recommend with headphones.
I could go on, but you get the vibe. Whatever your mood—philosophical, romantic, historical, laugh-out-loud, or motivational—there’s something on Audible that feels like it was made just for whatever you’re going through.
How Audible Fit Into My Life… and Stuck
There was a time when I felt guilty saying I’d “read” something if it was via audio. Like it didn’t “count.” But now? I think that’s such outdated thinking. The point of a good story, or great information, is to carry you somewhere. And Audible does that with heart, depth, and accessibility.
I’ll never not love flipping through a paperback on a slow Sunday (I still do that too, by the way), but Audible filled in the gaps I didn’t even know existed. And now, when people ask how I get through 2–3 books a month even with a full desk schedule and no “reading time,” the answer is simple: I listen.
I listen while walking. While grocery shopping. While folding laundry. While stretching on my yoga mat pretending to be that girl.
And every time, I’m learning, imagining, feeling just a little more human because of the stories and voices I carry in my ears.
Final Thoughts: Do Yourself a Favor, Get Audible
Whether you’re trying to get back into reading, looking for a creative way to learn something new, need a bedtime wind-down that isn’t doomscrolling, or just miss that feeling of loving a good story—Audible brings that magic right into your life.
It’s not just a book app. It’s a comforting voice, a quiet motivator, a portable library in your pocket, and a surprisingly emotion-filled adventure during your least glamorous daily routines. And once you discover it, trust me—you’ll wonder how you ever managed a morning commute or late-night dishwashing session without it.
