Stuck in ski traffic on Interstate 70. On board a five-hour flight (with a layover) to a sunny destination. During a road trip to the Midwest to see family for the holidays.
Heck, just toodling around the house doing laundry or washing dishes.
Those are just some of the many opportunities that life presents to listen to audiobooks, especially in Colorado’s colder months.
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (Random House Audio)Here are our favorites, starting with a Top 10 must-listen list, gathered from staff and readers alike.
No. 1: ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’
Author: George Saunders
Narrated by: The author, Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, Carrie Brownstein, Don Cheadle, Lena Dunham, Bill Hader, Keegan-Michael Key, Julianne Moore, Megan Mullally, Susan Sarandon, Ben Stiller and 155(!) others
Running time: 7 hours and 25 minutes
Plot: With the Civil War raging, Abraham Lincoln mourns his dead 11-year-old son, Willie, in a Georgetown cemetery, returning to the crypt to hold the boy’s body. With Willie’s spirit in a purgatory — a bardo, in Tibetan tradition — ghosts interact and quarrel while commenting on the grief-stricken scene and more.
Why you should love it: This groundbreaking novel is unlike anything else you’ve ever read. (Don’t worry if you find yourself getting a little lost at the beginning; there’s a lot going on and a multitude of characters. Stick with it, trust us!) And just look at that lineup of narrators! — Recommended by Barbara Ellis and LeAnna Efird; Audio Publishers Association 2018 audiobook of the year
No. 2: ‘Project Hail Mary’
Author: Andy Weir
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Running time: 16 hours and 10 minutes
Plot: Science teacher and biologist Ryland Grace is the unlikely hero who must save Earth from a sun-killing substance.
Why you should love it: “Project Hail Mary” is on a lot of online lists of best audiobooks. And the fact that it’s been made into a movie starring Ryan Gosling (scheduled for March 2026 release) should be enough to pique your interest. By the author of “The Martian.” — Recommended by LeAnna Efird, Andrea Walden-Morden and reddit.com reviewers; winner of the 2022 Audie Awards Audiobook of the Year
No. 3: The Harry Potter boxed set (seven books)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Narrated by: Jim Dale (American version) and Stephen Fry (British version)
Running time: Varies, between 8 hours, 18 minutes (“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”) and 27 hours, 2 minutes (“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”). Totals: nearly 117 hours of listening for the American version and 124 hours for the British. (Heck, you could easily finish all seven by spring.)
Plots: Harry Potter, Hogwarts, flying cars, dastardly demons. Good vs. evil. Love conquers all. Oh, come on. Do we really have to tell you more? For shame.
Why you should love them: Harry Potter is a literary phenom, and even if you’ve already read the books and/or watched the films, you owe it to yourself to get the full experience. You can’t go wrong with either version: Jim Dale’s theatrics are a treat, while British actor Stephen Fry brings us into the wizarding world as Rowling intended. Full cast editions — featuring actors like Kiera Knightly as Dolores Umbridge and Kit Harington as Professor Lockhart — are now available for preorder. (But we find it difficult to believe they’ll be any better than the Fry/Dale versions.) — Recommended by Barbara Ellis, goodreads.com and libbylife.com reviewers
No. 4: The Murderbot Diaries (seven books)
The Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells (Tordotcom/Recorded Books)Author: Martha Wells
Narrated by: Kevin R. Free, plus a dramatized version
Running time: Varies, from 3 hours, 17 minutes (“All Systems Red”) to 4 hours, 24 minutes (“Fugitive Telemetry”)
Plot: In a future time, a “killer” security android takes out his governing module and goes rogue, watching space operas and weighing in on the vagaries of the human species while protecting — and actually getting to like — them. And they kinda like him, too.
Why you should love it: Timely, certainly, since it dwells on sentient robotics and artificial intelligence. But listen to it because you will quickly fall for the quirky robot who is on a journey of self-discovery. (Choose the Kevin R. Free versions over the dramatized readings.) — Recommended by Jonathan Shikes, Barbara Ellis, reddit.com reviewers
No. 5: ‘My Friends’
Author: Fredrik Backman
Narrated by: Marin Ireland
Running time: 13 hours, 22 minutes
Plot: Four teens grow up in poverty, violence and neglect, forging a bond that lasts their lifetimes. Twenty-five years into the future, an 18-year-old girl will be saved by two of them.
Why you should love it: The writing, the character development, the flow, the pathos. It pulls you in quickly and never lets go. Everything you want out of a novel. This is Fredrik Backman (author of “A Man Called Ove” and “My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry”) at his best. — Recommended by Barbara Ellis and audible.com
Tina Fey was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for humor in Washington on Nov. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)No. 6: ‘Bossy Pants’
Author: Tina Fey
Narrated by: the author
Running time: 5 hours, 32 minutes
Plot: Autobiographical essays by the actress (“30 Rock”), writer (“Mean Girls”) and comedian (“SNL”).
Why you should love it: Well, she’s quick-witted, sarcastic, smart and funny as hell. That ought to do for starters. (New York Times bestseller, Audiobook of the Year at the 2012 Ausie Awards) — Recommended by Beth Rankin
No. 7: ‘Everything is Tuberculosis’
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green (Listening Library)Author: John Green
Narrated by: the author
Running time: 5 hours, 35 minutes
Plot: Green tells the story of Henry Reider, a young tuberculosis patient at Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone, and through him advocates for global health care reform.
Why you should love it: In its review, The Associated Press wrote: “The real magic of Green’s writing is the deeply considerate, human touch that goes into every word.” Well said. A New York Times and Washington Post bestseller. — Recommended by Katie Langford
No. 8: ‘The Correspondent’
Author: Virginia Evans
Narrated by: Maggi-Meg Reed, Jane Oppenheimer and others
Running time: 8 hours, 36 minutes
Plot: Sybil Van Antwerp uses letters (correspondence) to make sense of the world, and always has. She writes to family members, friends, authors, universities and others, trying to make sense of things, complain of injustices, express remorse.
Why you should love it: This one will catch you by surprise. It starts out slow, and the format takes a little getting used to, but you soon settle in for the lovely ride. It’s a quiet treasure. — Recommended by LeAnna Efird and Barbara Ellis; a New York Times bestseller
No. 9: ‘The Stand’
Author: Stephen King
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
Running time: 47 hours, 47 minutes (the uncut version)
Plot: A post-apocalyptic fantasy about the struggle between good and evil. On one side, a satanic figure named Randall Flagg who gathers his forces of badness to Las Vegas; on the other, the good guys, led by 108-year-old Mother Abigail in, of all places, Boulder.
Why you should love it: Sure, King has plenty of novels that would be great to listen to, but none more timely than this, even though it was first published in 1978. Yay, good guys! Yay, Boulder! — Recommended by Barbara Ellis, audible.com and reddit.com reviews
No. 10: ‘Pride and Prejudice’
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Audible Originals)Author: Jane Austen
Narrated by: Marisa Abela, Harris Dickinson, Glenn Close and 12 others
Running time: 4 hours, 34 minutes
Plot: Elizabeth Bennett, Mr. Darcy, heaving bosoms, unrequited love in the 1800s. Happy ending.
Why you should love it: Well, it’s a classic, for starters. You think you know the story, but you owe it to yourself to listen to this fantastic production and performances. — Recommended by Kristen Kidd, libbylife.com
And more to consider, in no particular order:
“The Last Devil to Die” by Richard Osman, narrated by Fiona Shaw, is part of The Thursday Murder Club series. A group of seemingly harmless retirees in an otherwise quiet English retirement home keep getting involved in local murders. Turns out they have mad skills that others don’t quite realize due to their careers as spies, detectives and more. (10 hours, 51 minutes) — Recommended by Sarah Ellis
“The Let Them Theory,” by Mel Robbins, read by the author. A self-help book by a writer who has made her living dispensing practical advice. Even if you don’t agree with everything here (and most of it is so obvious as to be painful), you do need to hear a lot of it. Trust me. (10 hours, 38 minutes) — Recommended by Barbara Ellis, audible.com; a New York Times bestseller
“Daisy Jones & the Six,” by Taylor Jenkins Reid, narrated by Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt, Judy Greer and others. Sex, drugs and rock and roll in the 1970s. Woo-hoo! (9 hours, 3 minutes) — Recommended by Suzanne Brown, libby.com reviewers
“Born a Crime,” by Trevor Noah, narrated by Trevor Noah. The comedian/commentator/television host pays tribute to his mother, who raised him in segregated South Africa. (8 hours, 44 minutes) — Recommended by Barbara Ellis; Audible’s Best Celebrity Memoir of 2016
Author Salman Rushdie attends the 2023 PEN America Literary Gala on May 18, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)“Knife,” by Salman Rushdie, narrated by the author. Written after he was stabbed on stage during a lecture in New York State in August 2022. This book will change your mind about Rushdie. (6 hours, 22 minutes) — Recommended by Kristen Kidd and Lynn Bronikowski; a best book of the year in 2024 by the New York Times Book Review
“Babel,” by R.F. Kuang, narrated by Chris Lew Kum Hoi and Billie Fulford-Brown. A sweeping historical fantasy about language (and translation) used as a tool of power over the British Empire. (21 hours, 46 minutes) — Recommended by LeAnna Efird, goodreads.com
“The Phoenix Crown, “by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld and Katharine Chin. Based on the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, this story highlights the struggles of a diverse group of women who come together to survive more than the destruction of their city. Wealth, corruption, history, mystery and romance — all the elements of a fascinating novel. I really enjoyed the French accent and pronunciations. (11 hours, 35 minutes) — Recommended by Sarah Ellis
“Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford,” by Clint Hill, narrated by George Newbern. Retired Secret Service agent Hill has stories to tell (well, the ones he’s allowed to) after 17 years on the front lines of White House security. Full of juicy presidential anecdotes. (14 hours, 31 minutes) — Recommended by Lynn Bronikowski
“Save Me the Plums,” by Ruth Reichl, narrated by the author. Food writer and restaurant reviewer Reichl’s memoir is “juicier than a Peter Luger porterhouse,” according to The New York Times. (7 hours, 55 minutes) — Recommended by Jonathan Shikes
“The Maid,” by Nita Prose, narrated by Lauren Ambrose. A Clue-like mystery surrounded maid Molly Gray, who stumbles on a dead body in a hotel room. (9 hours, 37 minutes) — Recommended by Jonathan Shikes; a New York Times best seller
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson (Dragonsteel)“Tress of the Emerald Sea,” by Brandon Sanderson, narrated by Michael Kramer. A fairy tale in the Cosmere series for “everyone who loved ‘The Princess Bride,’” Amazon wrote when it chose this as an Editor’s Pick. (12 hours, 27 minutes) — Recommended by Andrea Walden-Morden
“All the Light We Cannot See,” by Anthony Doerr, narrated by Zach Appelman. OK, so I’m a sucker for a World War II tale. Add in a blind girl and Paris, a love story and suspense, and you had me at the preface. (16 hours, 2 minutes) — Recommended by Barbara Ellis
“Hamnet” by Maggie O’Farrell, narrated by Ell Potter. This will have you rethinking everything you thought you knew about Shakespeare; the end will really get you. It’s been made into a movie starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal and in theaters now. (12 hours, 42 minutes) — Recommended by Kristen Kidd
“Educated,” by Tara Westover, narrated by Julia Whelan. Westover’s memoir recounts her difficult childhood in the mountains of Idaho with a father who saw no need for education and a violent brother. Along with Jeanette Walls’ “The Glass Castle,” this is among the most gripping stories of thriving despite a dysfunctional family. (12 hours, 10 minutes) — Recommended by Barbara Ellis; a top 10 best books of the year by The New York Times Book Review in 2018
“The Nickel Boys,” by Colson Whitehead, narrated by J.D. Jackson and the author. Based on an actual reformatory school for boys that operated cruelly and unchecked for 111 years in Tallahassee, Fla., (6 hours, 46 minutes) — Recommended by LeAnna Efird; winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for fiction
“Happy-Go-Lucky” by David Sedaris, narrated by David Sedaris. Looking for a laugh? Listen to anything David Sedaris. He’s a riot and reads his own stories in such an entertaining way. His “Holidays on Ice” might be perfect this time of year. (7 hours, 30 minutes) — Recommended by Kristen Kidd
“People We Meet on Vacation,” by Emily Henry, narrated by Julia Whelan. For light reads, I like listening to Whelan read the novels of Emily Henry, such as this and “Book Lovers.” They are modern rom-coms, and Whelan has a lovely voice for both male and female characters. (10 hours, 46 minutes) — Recommended by Suzanne Brown
Heartwood by Amity Gaige (Simon & Schuster Audio)“Heartwood,” by Amity Gaige, narrated by Justine Lupe and six others. The variety of narrators works because the story is told through various points of view after a woman goes missing on the Appalachian Trail. (8 hours, 45 minutes) — Recommended by Suzanne Brown; called “the best thriller of 2025” by The Boston Globe, a “Read With Jenna” selection
“Tom Lake,” by Ann Patchett, narrated by Meryl Streep. A favorite actress narrating a favorite author. I was all-in. (– Recommended by Suzanne Brown
“Demon Copperhead,” by Barbara Kingsolver, narrated by Charlie Thurston. A gripping story of drug addiction among the young in the Appalachias is a modern retelling of “David Copperfield.” (21 hours, 3 minutes) — Recommended by LeAnna Efird; winner of the Pulitzer for fiction in 2023, among The New York Times Top 100 books of the 21st Century
“The Oxford Inklings: Lewis, Tolkien and Their Circle,” by Colin Duriez, narrated by Simon Vance. The story of a wide group of the great fantasy fiction writers of our time, who became colleagues and friends in the early years. Well-researched account of the ways in which they had a great deal of influence on each other’s stories, as well as their literary creations. (6 hours, 36 minutes) — Recommended by Sarah Ellis
“Our Missing Hearts,” by Celeste Ng, narrated by Lucy Lieu and the author. The underlying theme of book (and people) banning is carried by the account of a young boy in search of his mother, who has disappeared after being targeted as a revolutionary for her beliefs and her writings. The society that is described is frightening in its parallels to some current events. (9 hours, 51 minutes) — Recommended by Sarah Ellis; a Reese’s Book Club pick, New York Times bestseller
“Ticking Clock: Behind the Scenes at 60 Minutes,” by Ira Rosen, narrated by the author and L.J. Ganser. Rosen, a “60 Minutes” producer, tells all — from anchors who take afternoon naps to those who hit on women. (11 hours, 9 minutes) — Recommended by Lynn Bronikowski
Go As A River by Shelly Read (Spiegel & Grau by OrangeSky Audio)“Go As A River,” by Shelley Read, narrated by Cynthia Farrell. A Colorado author writing about a Colorado story. Read tackles racism, poverty, tragedy, agriculture and more with this story of one woman’s survival, using the flooding of the town of Iola to create Blue Mesa Reservoir in the 1960s as a backdrop. (9 hours, 58 minutes) — Recommended by LeAnna Efird and Barbara Ellis
BONUS
Some podcasts, all recommended by Kristen Kidd:
The New York Times Book Review: It’s great to hear top book reviewers talk about the latest bestsellers, and there are some excellent author interviews.
Poetry Unbound (hosted by the wonderful Padraig O Tuama) is a beautiful way to experience poetry and a poetry expert’s take on some of the best work out there.
Popcast by The New York Times is co-hosted by music critics Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli with input from others– entertaining discussions with music clips and interviews providing background on artists.
In Trashy Divorces, Atlanta-based co-hosts Alicia and Stacie take turns sharing what they learned in researching famous people whose marriages did not last. They are fun, keep it clean, and play off of each other well as one tells the other reacts and together we all learn that the lives of celebrities are not all glamour and good times.
The Wirecutter Show is another New York Times production in which consumer reporters share findings and recommendations following extensive testing of every kind of consumer good imaginable. It’s fascinating and so informative with so many practical tips — a great resource!
In Julia Louis-Drefus’ podcast Wiser Than Me, the actress chats with celebs like Jane Fonda and Isabel Allende. Charming and unassuming.
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