5 Best Audiobooks of All Time

    Listen to new picks for 2022, non-fiction best-sellers and much more.

   While we'll never give up the pleasure of cracking the spine and turning the pages of a great new book, the audio version fits a particular niche. Audiobooks are ideal for a hands-free reading experience: when you can't get a seat on a crowded commuter train or to make the drive to work go faster, to help the miles fly by on family road trips when you need to keep everyone in the car occupied (and not fighting with each other) or while you're doing chores, preparing dinner or otherwise just have your hands occupied. Some people also process information better by listening rather than visually. You can take in a great literary classic or the best books of 2022 hands-free.

The next time you find yourself in need of a creative way to pass the time, break out one of these best audiobooks of all time. (Don't forget to sign up for the Audible free trial using your Amazon account before you go, to make working your way through that TBR pile even more affordable). Some of our favorites are recorded with big-name casts full of voices you may recognize, others are just the author or a voice actor sharing the work; some are brand-new, others are classic literary texts reinvigorated through your headphones. The one thing they have in common is that all of them are positively captivating. Work your way through these, then hit up the Good Housekeeping Book Club for even more feel-good favorites.

1

BEST SUSPENSE AUDIOBOOK

'Sherlock Holmes' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Actor Stephen Fry is an audiobook legend. In addition to voicing the hysterical Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, he also did his own take on the Harry Potter franchise. This time, he takes on another titan of British literature: Sherlock Holmes. He reads all four novels and five collections of short stories featuring the world's greatest detective in a classic series mystery buffs will love

2

BEST BIOGRAPHY AUDIOBOOK

'Lafayette in the Somewhat United States' by Sarah Vowell

This humorous biography of Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette is narrated by an all-star, A-team lineup of comedians, including Patton Oswalt, Fred Armisen, John Hodgman and Nick Offerman. It's still on Amazon's bestseller list for audiobooks, even though it came out in 2015. Even if you aren't a history person, this one is worth your time.

3

BEST AUDIOBOOK OF SHORT STORIES

'Stone Mattress' by Margaret Atwood

Fans of The Handmaid's Tale will want to try Stone Mattress, a series of short stories by legend Margaret Atwood. Because each story has its own narrator, readers range from Catastrophe's Rob Delaney to The Young and the Restless star Lorna Raver. Atwood herself narrates the last one, to top it all off.

4

BEST TRUE CRIME AUDIOBOOK

Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators' by Ronan Farrow

Ronan Farrow won a Pulitzer Prize for breaking the Harvey Weinstein scandal for The New Yorker but the road to publication was a long and rocky one. News and history buffs will love this behind-the-scenes story about how he got his work out into the world — along with the scare tactics, from surveillance to intimidation, employed to try and stop him.

5

BEST AUDIOBOOK FOR KIDS

The 'Harry Potter' Series by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter needs no introduction, but the audiobook can be a great way to start kids off on the series. British actor Jim Dale's whimsical take on each of the characters' voices gives the story a renewed sense of wonder, so you'll fall even more in love with all of your favorite Hogwarts inhabitants.