Who here listens to audiobooks?

[UConnSwag11]

Looking to find an audiobook service/app that's cheap and has a large selection of books. I've really only heard of audible

 

[fatlucy]

I need one too. Long commute.

 

[UCbcm]

I'm not familiar with audio book apps but if you haven't listened to the SERIAL podcasts yet, I recommend them. Great for long commutes, but there is only one "season" so far

 

[MadisonSquare Gordon]

I'm not familiar with audio book apps but if you haven't listened to the SERIAL podcasts yet, I recommend them. Great for long commutes, but there is only one "season" so far

And once you finish SERIAL, turn to Undisclosed. Awesome follow-up to SERIAL.

 

[Leebo]

I listen to audiobooks and use audible.

I also subscribe to about 15 podcasts.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

I have gotten away from it for a while, but I read (listened to) hundreds of books for free through the public library connection to "OverDrive" (there is an app that allows you to use your phone to download the books if you have the right library card number and was also able to get it through itunes, but more of a hassle) and some other sources. This has a listing of a lot of libraries in CT, but may be available in other areas/states (or something similar).

When you listen to audiobooks, you come to recognize some very talented people who read the books. They have become real performances.

 

[UConnSwag11]

I listen to podcasts but was thinking about getting into audiobooks and wasn't sure which service is the best

 

[Fishy]

I have a long commute - I'm in the car at least three hours most days.

I only listen to audiobooks, podcasts, and recently, Apple Music. The radio presets on my car are whatever they were when we got it because I've never even turned the FM receiver on.

The cheapest audiobooks are free - Open Culture, Project Gutenberg, etc. Most of the narration sucks and some of it is even computer-generated. But it's free, so there you are.

The best audiobooks are on Audible.com. I'm not sure what it costs, but I have the one-credit-a-month plan - basically, that's a book a month, so I tend to buy the longest books possible. (I am now an expert on wars because war books tend to be 40-50 hours long.)

Even though he is a nitwit, I agree with Dogbreath - you start to appreciate how good some of the narrators are. George Guidall could read Chinese menus for three hours and you'd listen. David McCullough narrates some of his own books and those are outstanding. The guy who played one of the guys who drilled a hole in an asteroid in one of those dopey Michael Bay movies is a great narrator, too.

 

[August_West]

I used to listen to audiobooks while driving. Now I watch HBO go. It's great

 

[UConnSwag11]

all these use a lot of data huh? or you download them to your phone? this is all new to me. I read physical books but im in the car a lot and would like to at least listen to the books if I can

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Fwiw, a CT library card allows you to borrow from pretty much any public library in the state, so there are many CD sets available as well.

and yes...

George Guidall could read Chinese menus for three hours and you'd listen.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

Fwiw, a CT library card allows you to borrow from pretty much any public library in the state, so there are many CD sets available as well.

and yes...

Free online downloads from some out of state godforsaken place....how about White Plains, NY?

Link

And let's say this hellhole has free access to Overdrive audio library downloads:

Overdrive Link

It's kind of like Netflix, lots of non-new release options. One could get a library card and listen to about 20 David Baldacci novels, Michael Connelly novels, the Jack Reacher series (which is a lot of fun even though Tom Cruise almost ruined it), Game Of Thrones (the narrator does like 100-200 different voices, IIRC), etc. There are a couple more sites in addition to Overdrive as well.

If anyone is interested, the Overdrive app on a smart phone is the easier way to download books compared to trying to use itunes (which is doable, but more complicated).

 

[UConnSwag11]

Free online downloads from some out of state godforsaken place....how about White Plains, NY?

Link

And let's say this hellhole has free access to Overdrive audio library downloads:

Overdrive Link

One could get a library card and listen to about 20 David Baldacci novels, the Jack Reacher series (which is a lot of fun even though Tom Cruise almost ruined it), Game Of Thrones (the narrator does like 100-200 different voices, IIRC), etc. There are more sites as well.

If anyone is interested, the Overdrive app on a smart phone is the easier way to download books compared to trying to use itunes (which is doable, but more complicated).

thanks, i'll try it out... i have no storage on my phone for some reason. i barely have any songs or apps

 

[Dogbreath2U]

thanks, i'll try it out... i have no storage on my phone for some reason. i barely have any songs or apps

No space on the phone will be a problem to be figured out.

 

[Leebo]

all these use a lot of data huh? or you download them to your phone? this is all new to me. I read physical books but im in the car a lot and would like to at least listen to the books if I can

Just download them when you're around wifi.

 

[UCHuskies08]

I use www.audible.com for audiobook downloading across multiple platforms

 

[David 76]

I emptied out a couple of towns libraries of all the books on CDs I was interested in.
Then I joined Audible for $15 a month you get a credit for any book. They also have specials where you can add an additional book free.
Does not use up my data. Good quality, good narrators.

 

[Drame]

What are some favorite audiobooks. I loved The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Looming Tower, also 1963 by S King.

 

[Taco]

I used to take out college lectures for long drives - usually history stuff - some of them were fantastic...ironic considering the number of college lectures I skipped while in college. Nowadays, I go the podcast route.

 

[mcs333]

If you like action thrillers, Stuart Woods series of Stone Barrington, former NYPD now lawyer and buddy DINO, NYPD detective. The series has 25 separate cases. Each book is approx. 10-12 hours.