Oftentimes, the best stories are the true ones. From journalistic investigations and historical analysis to celebrity autobiographies and self-help advice, the nonfiction genre has no limit to the incredible tales to explore!
These tales are made all the better when listened to in audiobook format, which creates a deeper connection between the author and you, the listener. Keep reading to get started with our list of 10 of the best nonfiction audiobooks.
1) Monsters
In the age of #MeToo, the debate on whether we can separate the art from the artist rages on. Enter Claire Dederer’s Monsters, which seeks to answer the question, ‘What do we do with the art of monstrous people?’
From Michael Jackson and David Bowie to Pablo Picasso and Hemingway, history has provided a hiding place for people who have done horrendous things. Listen in as Dederer speaks on the conflict many of us feel as we consider to what extent it’s OK to enjoy beautiful art by real-life monsters.
2) I’m Glad My Mom Died
If you’re going to listen to any celebrity memoir this year, make it Jeanette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died. The flippant title sets the tone for this brilliant book, in which McCurdy unflinchingly recounts the best and worst experiences she had while working as a child star.
This funny yet eye-opening autobiography lays bare the realities of working for Nickelodeon as a child, making it a particularly pertinent read in light of the release of the true-crime docuseries Quiet On Set.
Narrated by the former child star herself, the audiobook version of this bestselling title provides an added layer of poignancy to an already raw and unwaveringly honest read.
3) Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?
Dr. Julie Smith’s Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before proves that self-improvement doesn’t have to be complicated.
This empathetic self-help book is filled with practical tips and tricks from clinical psychologist Smith’s toolkit. The book is divided into several bite-sized chapters, each aimed at tackling a different challenge. Whether you struggle to manage anxiety or want to build self-confidence, this book will help you achieve your goals.
4) Opinions
Every single title from Roxanne Gay is a must-read — or a must-listen, in this case.
Gay’s writing is nothing short of ground-breaking, and Opinions is no exception. A collection of Gay’s best nonfiction pieces from the past decade, this book covers pertinent issues in today’s society, from mass shootings to disinformation, more personal challenges, like navigating workplace irritation, as well as celebrities.
Even the casual non-fiction reader will find an immense amount of value and entertainment in this engrossing book, which is why it’s earned a space on our list.
5) Ultra-Processed People
Why can’t we stop eating food that isn't food? That’s the question British TV doctor Chris van Tulleken sets out to explore in Ultra-Processed People. And this deep dive into why we’re obsessed with processed food is nothing short of addictive.
If you want to know more about nutrition and where our food comes from, what UPF is doing to our bodies, and what we should be eating instead, you know what you’ve got to do.
6) The Psychopath Test
From brilliant writer and investigative journalist Jon Ronson, The Psychopath Test is fascinating, entertaining, and a little bit mad. And, really, this is a book about madness.
Follow along as Ronson talks you through his investigation into ‘madness,’ meeting with a neurologist who happened on a cryptic book she can’t make heads nor tails of, an inmate of England’s Broadmoor prison, and the psychologist behind the industry-standard Psychopath Test, unearthing exactly what traits make someone a psychopath along the way.
7) Bad Blood
If you like mysteries, you’ll love journalist John Carreyrou’s Bad Blood.
This book tells the real-life tale of Elizabeth Holmes and blood-testing start-up Theranos, charting the business’s meteoric rise and catastrophic fall after it was revealed that its ‘revolutionary’ technology didn’t actually work.
This is a story that has to be heard to be believed; as the journalist who first broke this incredible story of corporate fraud of massive proportions, you really need to hear the story from Carreyrou’s mouth — or his pen.
8) Taste
Stanley Tucci has a beautiful voice. He could narrate his shopping list, and people would tune in.
Thankfully, we don’t have to resort to desperate measures, as Taste, Tucci’s heartwarming memoir, exists. Voiced by the Emmy Award-winning actor himself, Taste covers more than just Tucci’s acting career, exploring his love for food and cooking (Tuccy has released not just one but two cookbooks) and his family.
9) Stamped from the Beginning
Stamped from the Beginning is an important read. Meticulously researched and written, this audiobook cuts straight to your core — and to the core of how racist ideas have played and continue to play a major role in American society.
In this New York Times bestseller, Ibram X. Kendi explores the importance of understanding how prejudices became entrenched in our communities if we want to create a more inclusive society in the future.
10) Notorious RBG
Few names are as instantly recognizable as “Ruth Bader Ginsburg.” Produced in a brilliant collaboration between journalist Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik, creator of the Notorious R.B.G. Tumblr, Notorious RBG tells the story of the late Supreme Court Justice’s far-from-ordinary life.
Funny, inspiring, and incredibly human, this audiobook has been praised for narrator Andi Arndt’s performance, making it a fine addition to our list.
