Table of Contents
Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
A tale of London – not the city you know, but the London Below, the city unseen by the majority yet no less real, populated by the ignored, lost, and forgotten. It’s a world that Richard Mayhew, a Scottish expatriate to the Big Smoke, slips into when he helps Door, a young woman on the run from unstoppable assassins who have killed her entire family. Now invisible and forgotten by London Above, Richard and Door – along with the trickster Marquis de Carabas and the stoic Hunter – must travel across Night’s Bridge, seek an audience at the Earl’s court, and acquire a rare key from the Black Friars for the angel Islington if either of them have a hope of returning to their former lives. Gaiman’s urban fantasy takes the metropolis of London and rebuilds it into a unique realm of mythology, on that will leave you wondering what’s really happening, a half-glance out of sight, the next time you find yourself wandering around the city. The audiobook is read by Gaiman himself, while a full-cast audio drama offers a more immersive journey through London Below. (£19.99 each, or free with Audible).
The Emperor of all Maladies, by Siddharta Mukherjee
You may think that a book subtitled “A Biography of Cancer” would not be the lightest of listens and you would be right, but that doesn’t make it any less brilliant. Siddhartha Mukherjee does a remarkable job of charting the history of this complex disease, webbing together the narrative with stories from his own experience an oncologist. It’s a triumph precisely because it never loses sight of the people at the heart of the story: the researchers who pushed forward and found treatments in unusual places and the patients and their families who faced losing everything.
Dune, by Frank Herbert
In 2012, WIRED US readers voted Dune the best science-fiction novel of all time. It’s also the best-selling of all time, and has inspired a mammoth universe, including 18 books set over 34,000 years. The series is set 20,000 years in the future in galaxies stuck in the feudal ages, where computers are banned for religious reasons and noble families rule whole planets. We focus on the planet Arrakis, which holds a material used as a currency throughout the Universe for its rarity and mind-enhancing powers. The audio version adds a sense of eerie suspense to proceedings, and is well worth a listen before the long-awaited movie adaptation
The Future of Medicine, by James Temperton
WIRED’s very own James Temperton is here to guide you through the latest developments in the world of medicine. Part of our series of books published with Penguin Random House, The Future of Medicine is a fascinating look at some of the technologies that are changing the way we look for and treat illness. If that doesn’t spark your interest, our book on climate change is also available to listen to, and you can check out the rest of the series here.
“Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir
Free on Audible with 30-day trial
Available on Amazon for $14.49
Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission — and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.
Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.
All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.
His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery — and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.
And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone. Or does he?
“The Last Thing He Told” Me by Laura Dave
Free on Audible with 30-day trial
Available on Amazon for $16.30
Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: “Protect her.” Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers — Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.
As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss, as a US marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity — and why he really disappeared.
Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they’re also building a new future — one neither of them could have anticipated.
“Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” by James Clear
Free on Audible with 30-day trial
Available on Amazon for $11.98
No matter your goals, “Atomic Habits” offers a proven framework for improving every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.
“Once upon a Time in Hollywood” by Quentin Tarantino
Free on Audible with 30-day trial
Available on Amazon for $7.48
Rick Dalton – Once he had his own TV series, but now Rick’s a washed-up villain-of-the week drowning his sorrows in whiskey sours. Will a phone call from Rome save his fate or seal it?
Cliff Booth – Rick’s stunt double, and the most infamous man on any movie set because he’s the only one there who might have gotten away with murder…
Sharon Tate – She left Texas to chase a movie-star dream, and found it. Sharon’s salad days are now spent on Cielo Drive, high in the Hollywood Hills.
Charles Mason – The ex-con’s got a bunch of zonked-out hippies thinking he’s their spiritual leader, but he’d trade it all to be a rock ‘n’ roll star.
Hollywood 1969 – You shoulda been there.
“Notes on a Silencing” by Lacy Crawford
Free on Audible with 30-day trial
Available on Amazon for $16.99
In this searing book, Crawford tells the story of coming forward during the state investigation of an elite New England prep school decades after her assault, only to find for the first time evidence that corroborated her memories. Here were depictions of the naive, hardworking girl she’d been, as well as astonishing proof of institutional silencing.
The slander, innuendo, and lack of adult concern that Crawford had experienced as a student hadn’t been imagined; they were the actions of a school that prized its reputation above anything, even a child.
This revelation launched Crawford on an extraordinary inquiry deep into gender, privilege, and power, and the ways shame and guilt are used to silence victims. Insightful, arresting, and beautifully written, “Notes on a Silencing” wrestles with an essential question for our time: what telling of a survivor’s story will finally force a remedy?
A Promised Land, by Barack Obama
Like re-watching The West Wing during the Trump administration, the former President’s book is a ticket to saner times, delivering in his soothing voice. Unlike other books by former politicians, it’s more of a look at the process of getting things done in politics, rather than an attempt to justify what he did or didn’t achieve in office.
Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell
Cloud Atlas is a difficult book to get through, there’s no doubt about that. But the beauty of audiobooks is that they make getting through difficult novels a breeze. Cloud Atlas spans a number of centuries, and is told from the perspective of six different interconnected characters. The tonal shift from flowery 19th century prose to incomprehensibly simplistic by the final chapter comes across beautifully in audio form. And best of all, each tale is read out by a different narrator, bringing the book to life better than the polarising film ever could. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
The Hunting Party, by Lucy Foley
A modern murder mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie, The Hunting Party sees a group of friends – Londoners, Oxford graduates, just the worst people – heading up to a remote lodge in Scotland for their annual New Year’s Eve get-together. But things quickly take a dark turn, and with the lodge cut off from the outside world, it’s up to the lodge’s only two staff to piece together what happened, while battling dark secrets of their own. It’s a fun, slightly ridiculous story – and you will probably hate some of the characters, but it works well for audiobook because the story switches between different characters, and each has their own voice actor. Just don’t listen to it if you’re somewhere remote. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold, by Stephen Fry
Greek mythology can at times feel a little impenetrable with all the various gods, goddesses and nymphs, with countless stories of love, wrath and revenge. Stephen Fry has made it easily digestible by picking out key events from the creation of the universe to the gods meddling in human affairs, adding dialogue to modernise them. Though your head will boggle at the complex family tree of the Greek gods, you’ll learn about the legends that inspired millennia of writers, from Shakespeare to Rick Riordan. Fry narrates the audiobook, giving voices to the characters to bring it to life. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
The End of the Affair, by Graham Greene
Set during the blitz, Graham Greene’s classic novel is a semi-autobiographical account of an adulterous man’s jealously toward his lover. When she breaks off their tryst he’s consumed by insecurity and hires a private investigator, suspecting she is seeing someone else instead. It’s based in no small part on a notorious affair Greene himself conducted with Catherine Walston, the wife of a prominent Labour MP, and this real life context and Greene’s customary skill combines in one his most highly-regarded works. It’s narrated expertly by Colin Firth who is perfectly cast to portray the inner monologue and lamentable pettiness of Maurice Bendrix. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
The Harry Potter series, by JK Rowling
A whole generation was enthralled by the magical world of Harry Potter: from the moment Hagrid rescued Harry from the clutches of the hateful Dursleys to the escalating battles against the fearsome (and very evil) Lord Voldemort. Yet even for someone who has read the book series over a dozen times since the first one came out in 1997, Stephen Fry delivers a masterclass in sheer entertainment. Every character has its own voice – every line is delivered with gusto. It’s a brilliant way to rediscover and enjoy a classic. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
How to be a Woman, by Caitlin Moran
If you are a woman, you should have already read this book. But if you don’t have time to read it right now, let Caitlin Moran do it for you. Her awkward, autobiographical account tackles hair removal, getting fat, tiny pants and being one of too many siblings in a way that will leave you cringing one minute and laughing the next. This audiobook isn’t for everyone – if you haven’t read her columns we recommend starting there. Listening to Moran’s mostly-deadpan voice, narrating all of the most awkward things that beset the minds of most women under 30 and tying in her own experiences should answer the classic question of ‘what do they want?’ Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
If you want to listen to audiobooks then your best bet is Audible, which is owned by Amazon. Just download the app, which is available on iOS and Android, or you can listen to your audiobooks using an Alexa speaker. An Audible subscription costs £7.99 per month. You get one credit each month which you can use to purchase any audiobook you want and you keep the book even if you end your subscription.
Calypso, by David Sedaris
If you’re a fan of David Sedaris’ previous books and podcasts, strap in: you’re about to have (possibly) the best one-sided conversation of the year. If not – good luck. If you don’t want to hoot with laughter on public transport, this is not the book for you. In Calypso, Sedaris delivers a barrage of sheer brilliance with a remarkably deadpan voice: a quest to attempt to feeding his benign tumour to a snapping turtle, disastrous family gatherings at his dream holiday home dubbed the Sea Section and his wildly inappropriate compulsion to buy useless fashion (including a toilet brush hat) with his sisters in Tokyo. Sedaris has built his essays on the weird and wonderful things of everyday life – but with Calypso, he bravely exposes ugly flaws with the same panache as his finest quips. You’ll walk away transformed. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story, by Anthony Daniels
Since Star Wars first premiered in 1977, millions of people have met, loved and loathed the now-iconic golden droid C-3PO from a galaxy far, far away. Inside the minute hinges of C-3PO’s suffocatingly tight metal costume was Anthony Daniels, who acts as a softly-spoken guide with a unique backstage pass to the intricate world unveiled on screen. In a deeply personal account of the personalities behind the iconic movie series, Daniels unveils how he became an accidental star of the franchise, the pain and challenges of being trapped in a golden cage and the friendships he made along the way. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
The Body, by Bill Bryson
Travelogue master Bill Bryson has retired to the library in recent years, and his surprisingly soft Midwestern tones are perfect for audiobooks. In his latest book, The Body, Bryson takes a characteristic approach that will be familiar to his readers, unearthing fascinating, disgusting and hilarious nuggets of information about our bodies, in what’s billed as a ‘guide for occupants’. He explores everything from genetics to our immune system, and all in a soothing voice that will definitely keep you calm while you panic Google various ailments. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
This Is Going to Hurt, by Adam Kay
This diary of life on the medical frontlines, by junior doctor turned comedian Adam Kay, sold more than a million copies in print and shone a light on the chaotic and compassionate world of the NHS. The audiobook is read by Kay – who first came to fame in the mid-2000s with a Tube-strike inspired parody of Going Underground by The Jam, while part of comedic musical duo Amateur Transplants. The audio version includes extra diary entries about Kay’s life on the hospital ward. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
La Belle Sauvage, by Philip Pullman
The long-awaited follow-up to Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy sees the protagonist of those books, Lyra Belacqua, but much earlier in life. The action of the first part of this new trilogy The Book of Dust follows Malcolm Polstead – an 11-year-old living on the outskirts of Oxford – as he’s swept away in a flood of biblical proportions while trying to protect the infant Lyra from mysterious assailants. The audiobook is read by Michael Sheen, who brings his customary energy to this book, and who will also lend his voice to the next volume, The Secret Commonwealth, which will be released in October. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
Rivers of London, by Ben Aaronovitch
Set in modern-day London, the series follows copper Peter Grant as he’s slowly introduced to the world of magic lurking beneath the city’s streets. If you’re reluctant to dive into a world of wizard’s hats and magic wands, don’t worry – author Ben Aaronovitch approaches the premise like a scientist, and Grant conducts controlled experiments that would put the stars of CSI to shame. The audiobooks, expertly narrated by Kobna-Holdbrook Smith, are a particular pleasure, particularly when the series dives into the world of jazz in book two. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders
Acclaimed short story writer George Saunders’ first foray into a longer fiction was a huge critical success. He won the 2017 Man Booker prize for his portrayal of a grieving Abraham Lincoln, harangued by ghosts after his son’s death. The audiobook has a suitably stellar cast, featuring Susan Sarandon, Lena Dunham, Ben Stiller, and a host of other famous – and slightly less famous – actors. There are 166 different cast members in total. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
Solo: A James Bond Novel, by William Boyd
If you’re after an easy listen, William Boyd’s James Bond Novel Solo fits the bill. Set in a fictional African nation, an ageing Bond is dispatched posing as a journalist to foil a separatist movement. Read skilfully by actor Dominic West, the novel’s 1969 setting is a pleasant antidote to the modern movies and it benefits from an excellent villain in Kobus Breed, a ruthless mercenary on whom Bond seeks revenge. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
The BBC’s radio adaptations of Douglas Adams’ seminal comedy works are legendary and all six series – one for each book – are available on Audible. With each clocking in at around two-and-a-half to three hours, complete with brilliant music, sound effects and full cast, they’re the perfect way to enjoy the adventures of the last surviving man from Earth and his alien ‘friends’ through your headphones. If you’d rather experience the books in full, all six are also available with narrations from Stephen Fry and Martin Freeman, who played Arthur Dent in the somewhat mixed movie adaption. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
Narrated by Elizabeth Moss, the star of the ongoing television adaptation, The Handmaid’s Tale is an increasingly powerful reminder of the thin ice that the modern, relatively liberal society that we live in is resting upon. Margaret Atwood’s novel has spawned countless imitators since it was published in 1985, but its description of Offred’s life in Gilead and the slow ratcheting back of progress that led society to that point remains chilling. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial
A Legacy of Spies, by John le Carré
Written by John le Carré, A Legacy of Spies acts as both prequel and sequel to one of his earliest novels, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold – famously adapted into an excellent film starring Richard Burton. Here a now retired intelligence officer is summoned to London to defend his actions during a Cold War operation where a British agent was killed. Decades later, the agent’s son is suing the British government for wrongful death and the bureaucratic apparatus is desperate to pin the blame and tarnish the legacy of their forebears. It’s an absorbing listen thanks to le Carré’s skill in building character and tension, and it’s enhanced further by the deft narration of actor Tom Hollander. Buy on Amazon or start a 30-day Audible trial