Best audiobooks of 2020 so far

The Top 50 Best Audiobooks on Audible

These audiobooks were hand-picked by our Audible Editors for their unpausable stories, gripping plotlines, and incredible narration. We’ve crunched the data, heard from our members, and thought audio-first—yes, narrators played a pivotal role in our consideration!— when selecting this list. Towards the bottom of the page you'll find options to navigate between the #50-#31, #30-#11 and #10-#1 sections. Let’s dive into our best Audible books and listens.
  • Life cover art

    • Life

    • By: Keith Richards
    • Narrated by: Johnny Depp, Joe Hurley, Keith Richards
    • Length: 23 hrs
    • Release date: 26-10-2010
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 281 ratings
    • #50
    • The Rolling Stone’s Keith Richards and Hollywood star Johnny Depp. If that’s not a recipe for an entertaining audiobook then nothing is. Richards is recognized as one of the best guitarists in history and his memoir is as powerful as his on-stage performances.

      A rollicking structure allows the music to guide the listener through this audiobook, exploring memories, musical influences, his relationship with Mick Jagger and struggles with drugs. What makes this story so powerful is the access into the emotional and mental psyche of Richards. He’s an open book in which the profane and the profound collide in equal measure. A stream of consciousness audio experience delivers a true authenticity that can’t be found elsewhere.

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  • Beach Read cover art

    • Beach Read

    • By: Emily Henry
    • Narrated by: Julia Whelan
    • Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
    • Release date: 18-05-2020
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 474 ratings
    • #49
    • Beach Read is the perfect beach read. It does what is says on the tin and it does it very, very well.

      A romance writer and a literary novelist spend a summer swapping their literary genres in the hopes that it will address their writer’s block. Despite their striking differences they find common ground in a modern love story that explores friendship, regret, and betrayal with startling nuance. Actress Julia Whelan navigates the hilarious and awkward moments with precise and sincere narration.

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  • One Hundred Years of Dirt cover art

    • One Hundred Years of Dirt

    • By: Rick Morton
    • Narrated by: Rick Morton
    • Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
    • Release date: 01-04-2019
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 279 ratings
    • #48
    • Author Rick Morton recalls his traumatic childhood and turbulent family experiences in his memoir. Sparked by a shocking incident, Morton’s comfortable family life suddenly implodes—leaving psychological damage and leading to years of struggles.

      Throughout his detailed accounts of family breakdown, public housing, frequent dire emergencies, and never-ending financial issues, Morton’s humour and wit shine through —providing an engaging and moving experience. Narrated by Morton himself, the audiobook evokes strong emotions and acts as a testimony to the strength and power of family love.

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  • Interior Chinatown cover art

    • Interior Chinatown

    • A Novel
    • By: Charles Yu
    • Narrated by: Joel de la Fuente
    • Length: 4 hrs and 20 mins
    • Release date: 28-01-2020
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 30 ratings
    • #47
    • In Interior Chinatown, American writer Charles Yu tells the story of Willis Wu, a Chinese American actor stuck being cast as the stereotypical ‘Generic Asian Man’ and longing for his big break to play an exciting new role: ‘Kung Fu Guy’.

      Openly mocking the casting processes of Hollywood, Yu exposes the inequalities and prejudice in the entertainment industry through the format of a TV script – a unique approach that creates a vivid motion picture tableau in the mind’s eye. This blurring of on-screen and behind-the-screen is an innovative way of tackling the complexity of racial discourse in America. The audio is expertly narrated by the child of Filipino immigrant parents, actor Joel de la Fuente.

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  • The Sandman cover art

    • The Sandman

    • By: Neil Gaiman, Dirk Maggs
    • Narrated by: Riz Ahmed, Kat Dennings, Taron Egerton, Neil Gaiman, James McAvoy, Samantha Morton, Bebe Neuwirth, Andy Serkis, Michael Sheen
    • Series: The Sandman, Book 1
    • Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
    • Release date: 15-07-2020
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,961 ratings
    • #46
    • This is the closest that you’ll get to experiencing a Hollywood blockbuster movie entirely in audio. Complex and ambitious, The Sandman takes the listener down into a deep, complicated rabbit hole of a universe, full of fantastically dark themes, violence, and fascinating characters.

      Written by iconic English fantasy author Neil Gaiman, The Sandman traces its origin story to DC Comics. The groundbreaking depth of audio world-building means you hear every footstep, the whoosh of every gust of wind and the roar of every dark beast. Outstanding performances by James McAvoy, Michael Sheen, Kat Dennings, and Riz Ahmed are the icing on the cake.

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  • Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell cover art

    • Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

    • By: Susanna Clarke
    • Narrated by: Simon Prebble
    • Length: 32 hrs and 30 mins
    • Release date: 23-09-2005
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 429 ratings
    • #45
    • The immense hype around the book was well deserved, but the audio version transcends print. With playful language and complex characters leaping through headphones and permanently into the imagination.

      Narrator Simon Prebble smashes it out of the park. He is just dry enough for the Austen-esque humour to land, and just fragile enough for the strangeness and terror of magic to come through to the listener.

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  • Master and Commander cover art

    • Master and Commander

    • Aubrey-Maturin Series, Book 1
    • By: Patrick O'Brian
    • Narrated by: Ric Jerrom
    • Series: Aubrey/Maturin, Book 1
    • Length: 15 hrs and 49 mins
    • Release date: 01-01-2012
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 323 ratings
    • #44
    • Dare we say the audiobook is better than the movie? Absolutely, we do. This is adventure at its sharpest and most poignant. A tribute to the complexities of humanity so well written that listeners are transported and transfixed long after the audiobooks ends.

      Through O’Brian’s shockingly real descriptions of battle, squalor, and sea life you can almost feel the sea spray on your face or the listing decking under your feet. British actor Ric Jerrom captures the sly wit, irony and action packed moments perfectly. His robust accents in particular are a triumph. Get on board with this one.

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  • Atomic Habits cover art

    • Atomic Habits

    • An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones
    • By: James Clear
    • Narrated by: James Clear
    • Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
    • Release date: 18-10-2018
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 11,754 ratings
    • #43
    • In a world infatuated with big gains in productivity, author and entrepreneur James Clear takes the focus away from monumental changes and focuses on pivotal small steps: the Atomic Habits.

      In this New York Times best seller, Clear examines how tiny commitments, such as doing two push-ups every day, can lead to life-changing outcomes. Using real-life examples from people such as athletes, business leaders, and scientists, he shows the listener that even they can reach this high level of success by simply taking life changes one small step at a time.

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  • The Pillars of the Earth cover art

    • The Pillars of the Earth

    • The Kingsbridge Novels, Book 1
    • By: Ken Follett
    • Narrated by: John Lee
    • Series: The Kingsbridge Novels, Book 1
    • Length: 40 hrs and 56 mins
    • Release date: 18-10-2010
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 1,244 ratings
    • #42
    • This enthralling saga takes place during The Anarchy, a civil war between England and Normandy in the 12th century that led to a widespread breakdown in law and order. Ken Follett transports the listener to this fascinating and turbulent period in history and into the lives of fascinating characters, including the driven monk Philip, the tormented mason who becomes his architect, and an elusive woman who is haunted by a secret shame.

      Combining thrilling action with passionate romance and an intense battle between good and evil, this audiobook grips you from the very beginning. Professional voice artist John Lee narrates, bringing complex life and drama to this spectacular work. Truly an audiobook for the ages.

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  • Dark Emu cover art

    • Dark Emu

    • Black Seeds: Agriculture or Accident?
    • By: Bruce Pascoe
    • Narrated by: Bruce Pascoe
    • Length: 5 hrs and 36 mins
    • Release date: 10-01-2017
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,439 ratings
    • #41
    • Rarely does an audiobook come along that so thoroughly transforms the way we see our history, our world and our role in it. This is the power of Dark Emu. In his award-winning work, Aboriginal Australian author Bruce Pascoe takes the listener back to pre-colonial Australia, and reveals how indigenous culture was much more complex and advanced than most Australians were taught to believe.

      In this audiobook, Pascoe’s sheer passion for his subject fascinates with science and narrative. His meticulous research provides a valuable education too often omitted from our national collective memory.

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  • Your Own Kind of Girl cover art

    • Your Own Kind of Girl

    • A Memoir
    • By: Clare Bowditch
    • Narrated by: Clare Bowditch
    • Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins
    • Release date: 28-10-2019
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,807 ratings
    • #40
    • Active in the Australian music industry since 1998, Clare Bowditch has paved a name for herself as a powerful and successful musical talent who has worked with legends such as Leonard Cohen.

      By sharing her vulnerability and hard-won wisdom, Bowditch welcomes listeners to learn from her story and apply her secrets to find their own path to healing and success. Bowditch is an entertainer through and through and this quality makes this audiobook truly shine.

    Non-member price: $29.96 or 1 Credit

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  • Little Women cover art

    • Little Women

    • An Audible Original Drama
    • By: Louisa May Alcott
    • Narrated by: Emily Bauer, Laura Dern, Lauren Fortgang, Allison Hiroto, Carly Robins, Suzanne Toren
    • Series: Little Women
    • Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
    • Release date: 23-12-2019
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 111 ratings
    • #39
    • A beloved novel for more than a century, Little Women is a classic that is hard to look past. This version, narrated by an all-star cast including esteemed actress Laura Dern (who played Marmee in the recent film adaptation), gives this timeless novel another fresh breath of life.

      Combining Alcott’s vibrant, true-to-life characters and vivid historical setting with Dern’s engaging performance, it’s easy to disconnect from modern life and feel like an extension of the 19th century family.

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  • Talking to Strangers cover art

    • Talking to Strangers

    • What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know
    • By: Malcolm Gladwell
    • Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell
    • Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins
    • Release date: 10-09-2019
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,948 ratings
    • #38
    • No one mixes the world of audiobooks and podcasts quite like Malcolm Gladwell. The best-selling author of The Tipping Point and Outliers returns with an audiobook that examines the often dire and extreme consequences of miscommunication and misreading people who are different from ourselves.

      Diligently researched and immeasurably interesting, it includes not just Gladwell’s narration but also experts he interviewed – scientists, criminologists, psychologists – as well as re-enactments of court transcripts. It’s like attending one of the most interesting lectures of your life.

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  • Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy cover art

    • Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

    • By: Douglas Adams
    • Narrated by: Stephen Fry
    • Series: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Book 1
    • Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
    • Release date: 01-01-2012
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 3,075 ratings
    • #37
    • The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a title that will be recognised by the majority of people in the English-speaking world. And for good reason. It’s a gem of a novel. Following the adventures of Arthur Dent, the last surviving man after planet Earth is obliterated, you’re taken on Arthur’s bizarre escapades as he literally hitchhikes through the universe.

      This comedic science fiction literary classic is given a new lease of life in this thrilling version narrated by much-loved actor and comedian Stephen Fry. The iconic story will delight both dedicated science fiction fans, towel aficionados and those new to the genre.

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  • Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe cover art

    • Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

    • By: Benjamin Alire Saenz
    • Narrated by: Lin-Manuel Miranda
    • Series: Aristotle and Dante, Book 1
    • Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
    • Release date: 22-03-2021
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 65 ratings
    • #36
    • Lin Manuel Miranda, creator of the cultural phenomenon Hamilton, lends his voice to this moving contemporary story about two Mexican-American teenagers. His mastery of understated emotional delivery makes the relationship between Aristotle and Dante crackle with complexity and feeling.

      Love of family is the beating heart of this modern story that sees two individuals discovering truths about the universe and themselves.

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  • Greenlights cover art

    • Greenlights

    • Raucous Stories and Outlaw Wisdom from the Academy Award-Winning Actor
    • By: Matthew McConaughey
    • Narrated by: Matthew McConaughey
    • Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
    • Release date: 20-10-2020
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 10,489 ratings
    • #35
    • Many people weren’t ready for how moving and poignant a memoir this would be. McConaughey’s southern drawl is captivating as he shares important life lessons through his recollection of experiences, poetry, photography, prayers, and more. The idea of this audiobook emerged during his 52 days in exile in the desert, and much of his writing feels like a hazy, heat-induced dream.

      A refreshing and rare glimpse inside the mind of an esteemed celebrity, Greenlights has a surprisingly wide appeal for both entertainment fans and deep thinkers alike.

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  • How Much of These Hills Is Gold cover art

    • How Much of These Hills Is Gold

    • By: C Pam Zhang
    • Narrated by: Catherine Ho, Joel de la Fuente
    • Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
    • Release date: 07-04-2020
    • Language: English
    • 4 out of 5 stars 20 ratings
    • #34
    • One of Barack Obama’s favourite books of 2020, How Much of These Hills Is Gold is an often-overlooked star of modern fiction. This emotive audiobook earns a spot on our list by immersing you in the twilight of the American Gold Rush. It captures the arduous life of Chinese immigrants through the eyes of two sisters traversing the western wilds to find a place to bury their late father.

      Flipping between different times and character perspectives, this audiobook evokes questions of belonging, family and the early formation of the American Dream. The talented voices of Catherine Ho and Joel de la Fuente blur the lines of harsh realities and intoxicating magical realism.

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  • The Resilience Project cover art

    • The Resilience Project

    • Finding Happiness Through Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness
    • By: Hugh van Cuylenburg
    • Narrated by: Hugh van Cuylenburg
    • Length: 4 hrs and 45 mins
    • Release date: 19-11-2019
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 7,089 ratings
    • #33
    • After noticing how underprivileged students from a school in northern India experienced more overall happiness and fewer mental health issues than their privileged Australian counterparts, van Cuylenburg was determined to improve the well-being of Australian students.

      The perfect listen for students, teachers, parents, and more, The Resilience Project helps young people everywhere restore balance to their world. In this author-narrated audiobook, van Cuylenburg’s passion rings through clearly. You can’t help but feel inspired.

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  • I'll Be Gone in the Dark cover art

    • I'll Be Gone in the Dark

    • One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
    • By: Michelle McNamara
    • Narrated by: Gabra Zackman, Gillian Flynn - introduction, Patton Oswalt - afterword
    • Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
    • Release date: 22-11-2018
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,661 ratings
    • #32
    • If journalist Michelle McNamara has finished this true crime shocker before she died, she would have been incredibly proud of the final result. Her personal story of tracking the Golden State Killer provides fresh insights beyond the usual police procedural. She combines reports, victim interviews, and conversations with online true crime communities to create a rich and detailed investigation.

      But it all feels oddly haunting when you realise she wasn’t around to see her own evidence be used to bring the criminal to justice…

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  • This Is How You Lose the Time War cover art

    • This Is How You Lose the Time War

    • An epic time-travelling love story, winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novella
    • By: Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone
    • Narrated by: Cynthia Farrell, Emily Woo Zeller
    • Length: 4 hrs and 16 mins
    • Release date: 16-07-2019
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 153 ratings
    • #31
    • Joining forces, award-winning science fiction writers Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone have create a fresh take on the timeless tale of star-crossed lovers in this hidden gem. A slow-burning, dimension-bending exploration of love, this audiobook is playful and poetic in equal measure. It is presented as a series of letters between two time-travelling beings on opposite sides of a never-ending war that rages in and out of the past, present and future.

      Emily Woo Zeller, (winner of Best Female Narrator at the 2020 Independent Audiobook Awards) and Cynthia Farrell deliver subtle and varied performances. This audiobook surprises and challenges anyone who listens.

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Four audiobooks from the list you'll love

Daisy Jones and the Six cover art
Mythos cover art
World War Z cover art
Wolf Hall cover art