
Over the past few years (I think it started during the pandemic), I’ve become a really big audiobook person. Whenever I am out walking (most mornings!) or doing chores around the house, I have an audiobook (always via the Audible app) on. I tend to listen to mostly non-fiction via audio (simply because I stay engaged longer… sometimes reading non-fiction will make me sleepy). Memoirs are my favorite (especially when read by the celebrity!) but I do not descriminate. If it is a subject I am interested in, I’m all ears. (Literally!).
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PS – for even more great listens, head to The Library and filter to audiobooks!
My Favorite Audiobooks
Memoir
Memoirs are definitely my favorite listens! There is nothing better than feeling like you just spent an hour talking with your celebrity best friend.
Going There, by Katie Couric
Katie Couric does not hold back in her memoir! I had never been a big morning show person or even a fan of Katie Couric. I knew who she was and she seemed like a smart, good person. But she just wasn’t someone I cared about or thought of as relevant to my life. I loved this book. Loved. Katie takes us all the way from her childhood through her rise in media to the #metoo movement and what happened between her and Matt Lauer all the way through until today. I went from not knowing anything about her to feeling deeply invested in her life. It is heartbreaking (we witness her husband’s death from colon cancer), self-deprecating and vulnerable at times, and also very salacious (like I said: she does not hold back). Order it here.
Sociopath, by Patric Gagne
I went into this thinking I was going to get some sort of juicy, dark confessional. And at times, it was! But it was so much more than that. It was a raw & real memoir of someone who I think I’d like a lot in real life. This is Gagne’s memoir, starting from childhood (when she would sneak out of the house late at night, when she realized that she made people uncomfortable before even starting kindergarten) through adulthood. It is a story of trying to fit in and conform, a story of feeling nothing (and not liking that feeling very much). Trying to learn more about her diagnosis and realizing that sociopathy had been neglected by mental health professionals for decades. Working with a therapist, being told she couldn’t have a normal life. Being haunted by the sterotypical sociopaths of pop culture (always the villain). Finding romantic love and wanting to keep it. The book is utterly engrossing and so interesting; but also very hopeful. I really loved it. I definitely recommend listening to it as the author is a fantastic narrator. Order it here.
Taste, by Stanley Tucci
This book was just… completely lovely! I am a huge fan of Stanley Tucci (and could listen to him read the dictionary to be honest) but loved getting to know him and his story better. I had no idea of his previous marriage (and losing his wife to cancer) or his own personal journey with cancer. And you know I love a foodie memoir. The way he talks about food will make you hungry (and it will make you want to travel). And I (somewhat randomly), really enjoyed learning about the food he ate on set and when he traveled for work. I also loved all his stories about his friends (you know, Meryl… Ryan and Blake). No gossip but fun stories. And you will feel like he is your old pal by the end of the book. I will say that my only complaint is that if you do listen to this book, which I would recommend, you are going to want to buy a hard copy as well just for the recipes. So many recipes – it’s part memoir, part cookbook! Order it here.
Open Book, by Jessica Simpson
Okay first of all, when I listened to this I was that annoying person, referring to Simpson as “my best friend Jess” the whole time. This one was SUCH a departure from my usual type of read (I generally could not care less about celebrities/celeb culture) but I loved listening to it – Jessica was a fun narrator and I enjoyed it IMMENSELY. What drew me in was when Kate Kennedy talked about it in her stories, talking about how much celebrity “tea” there was and oh MY was there tea! I did watch Newlyweds back in the day so that was part of it. And I’ve also related to Jessica on and off throughout her life (I think she’s someone people underestimate. And I’ve had a lot of people think I’m stupid because I can be spacey; there’s a difference). She talked about all of her relationships in an extremely unfiltered way (the John Mayer parts were my favorite!) Highly recommend, and if you are quarantined in NYC and taking daily walks to stay sane, Jessica makes for the perfect walking partner!!! Order it here.
Human Interest
Generations, by Jean M. Twenge
The longer title of this book is Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents–And What They Mean for America’s Future. It was one of the best books I have read in ages. And I’ve been telling anyone who will listen to read it! I chose to listen to it via audiobook, which was mostly great except they often reference PDFs (and the narrator reads out several lists which can be tedious). It is long (approximately seventeen hours!) but so worthwhile. It goes through each of the current generations and is really just so helpful whether you are looking to better understand your parents’ generation, yourself/your own generation, or the younger generations. In addition, it walks us through individualism and technology and how both of those things have changed generations bit by bit. It also debunks certain myths and offers helpful explainers for other things (such as why millennials and Gen Z-ers are generally more depressed and anxious than other generations). I loved this book so much and found it to be absolutely fascinating. Highly, highly recommend! Order it here.
Filterworld, by Kyle Chayka
This book got quite a bit of hype and I’m here to tell you that it is worth it. And for me, absolutely lived up to all of the online praise. I first heard about this book via this podcast episode (which got SO much attention and I found very interesting). I wound up listening to it and found myself more and more engrossed as I continued. Of course as an influencer I know all about the social media algorithms. But what about Air BnB, Spotify, and so much more. It’s not just online spaces; offline spaces have been affected as well. The book talks about so much: from the flattening of culture and how strange it is that trendy restaurants and rentals look the same across the world. Or how our taste is being shaped by these algorithms with us just passively standing by. But also: what to do about it, and how to find your own taste when everything has become so homogenous. I found the whole thing fascinating. And alarming. I had really only thought about algorithms in the sense of how they impact my business vs. my personal life (and taste, decision making, etc.) It’s excellent and will make you really think. Order it here.
Get the Picture, by Bianca Bosker
I listened to this one and absolutely loved it! If you are curious about the art world, want to develop your eye, or just love art, this is a good one! Bianca Bosker is a journalist who found herself curious about the art world. Bosker is a journalist (you may remember her other book, Cork Dork!) who begins the novel wandering into the art world, not understanding the hype. By the end of the book, she’s completely upended her life in the name of art. She begins working with one gallerist, and then another… works as a studio assistant for the legendary Julie Curtis, spends time as a security guard for the Guggenheim, and befriends a set of art collectors and follows them around. She literally throws herself head-first into this weird and wonderful world. In the process, she learns a ton (and teaches us along the way), refines her eye (and helps us refine our own eye), and has a lot of fun doing it. It is a wild ride and a super fun (but also educational) read. This book will educate you, teach you how to see, change how you think about everything, make you laugh… all the things. I can’t recommend it enough! Order it here.
Capote’s Women, by Lawrence Leamer
This book was amazing and such a fun listen. I have always been especially drawn to/captivated by mid-century glamour… style icons like Babe Paley and C.Z. Guest… the sort of lives Slim Aarons photographed. This book was a (sometimes ruthless and brutal) look into their world, with Truman Capote at its center. It was really fun to listen to and felt like fiction at times. I found the chapters on Lee Radziwill particularly salacious. For years, Capote struggled to write his (never published) final novel, Answered Prayers, a thinly veiled work of “fiction” that documented the dark secrets behind his group of female friends (which he called his swans). Ultimately, when he published a few chapters of the book in Esquire magazine, it cost him his friendships. The swans almost immediately banished him from their high-society world and he was left a social pariah. In this book, Laurence Leamer re-creates the world of the swans (Barbara “Babe” Paley, Gloria Guinness, Marella Agnelli, Slim Hayward, Pamela Churchill, C. Z. Guest, Lee Radziwill (Jackie Kennedy’s sister) – their secrets, relationships, and friendships… with Truman at the heart of the novel. It’s absolutely fascinating. I learned a lot and was also entertained throughout. Order it here.
Hitchcock’s Blondes, by Lawrence Leamer
I really loved this and found it to be a great listen on audiobooks. It was doubly great as it a) gave me something to listen to and taught be a lot and b) gave me loads of films I need to watch – despite being a pretty big movie buff, I realized there’s so much I haven’t seen. I just found this book so interesting and would get really excited any time I put it on to listen. It is not only a biography of Alfred Hitchcock but also the glamorous (always blonde!) actresses that he cast in his films. Somehow in just one book we learn about his life, all of these women’s lives. And of course, the films they starred in. Hitchcock was obsessed with “his” blondes but they’ve rarely been at the center of his story. We get to know June Howard-Tripp, Madeleine Carroll, Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly, Janet Leigh, Kim Novak, Eva Marie Saint, and Tippi Hedren. I was utterly fascinated. Especially with the bits about Grace Kelly and Janet Leigh. I will say that I thought he was unfair to Tippi Hedren. But I don’t know very much and have only ever listened to her memoir. So am probably a bit biased toward her. It is a fun read or listen and I felt like I learned so much (and have so many movies to watch!). Order it here.
Business
The Kingdom of Prep, by Maggie Bullock
This is the story of J.Crew from the beginning. Before there was Mickey and Jenna, there was Arthur Cinader and his daughter Emily… who built the brand out of nothing. I knew absolutely nothing of their story but found it inspiring, interesting, and honestly: relevant for anyone building a brand. The way that they conducted their lifestyle photo shoots, Emily’s discerning eye (with parallels to Anna Wintour). Then we get to Mickey and Jenna, which is simultaneously nostalgic but with new information. I couldn’t tear myself away from it. I simultaneously learned so much about the company (and thought a lot about how I run my own business) while simultaneously experienced a ton of nostalgia (both from nineties era J.Crew when I would save my babysitting money to order from the catalog) to early aughts era J.Crew when I lived in stripe tees, colored denim, and bubble necklaces. This is one of my favorite books of 2023 and a must-read if you ask me! Order it here.
Unreasonable Hospitality
, by Will Guidara
This was one of my favorite books in a long time. It was meant to be a chaser to Setting the Table as Guidara was a protege of Danny Meyer but I liked it even more! Guidara climbed his way up the restaurant ranks (working under Meyer for a hefty chunk of the time), ultimately buying Eleven Madison Park (with Daniel Humm) from Danny Meyer. The story of how they built and grew EMP is pretty legendary. At times it reads like a sports book where you are rooting for a team and just want them to win. I found myself becoming emotional so many times as the restaurant won awards and excellent reviews. It’s equal parts restaurant memoir where you root for this team, but also a business book. Guidara applies lessons he has learned in the restaurant world to other professions like real estate. I truly believe anyone, in any profession, could benefit from reading this. And it’s also very fun. I listened to it on audio (Guidara narrates) and cannot recommend it enough. I have actually never dined at Eleven Madison Park. And now I’m dying to go (though I hear it’s quite different now!). Order it here.
Fiction
Like I said above, I tend to read fiction and listen to non-fiction, but there are some exceptions. Listening to The Dutch House felt like spending ten hours with Tom Hanks while he told me/acted out a beautiful story. On this note, I have heard that both Daisy Jones and the Six + Such a Bad Influence are great via audio thanks to a full cast!
The Dutch House
, by Ann Patchett
This book came so highly recommended by so many (with the primary recommendation being to listen to it as Tom Hanks narrated it!). This is one of the times you really appreciate a book in audio, as Tom Hanks doesn’t just read it, he performs it! The Dutch House is the story of two siblings, Danny and Maeve… spanning five decades. They take us all the way through their childhood through late adulthood. As children, they suffer horrible loss (twice!) and they find themselves unable to let go of the past. (Or maybe it is the past that will not let them go). The story follows them from their beautiful child home (The Dutch House, a lavish, mostly glass property outside of Philadelphia) and back again. It is horribly sad at times, wickedly funny at others. And overall a wonderful story about love, loss, and embracing the things we cannot change. I loved it. Truthfully I don’t know if I would have loved it as much in paper form (I appreciate literary fiction but don’t always enjoy it?) but I absolutely adored it in audio form. Order it here.
Grace, this is such a good list! I am listening to Sociopath right now and agree it is different than what I was expecting, in the best way. I also prefer listening to memoirs or non-fiction – with fiction you really need the right narrator. That said, two fiction listens that I think are phenomenal are Tom Lake (another Ann Patchett, and narrated by Meryl Streep!) and Project Hail Mary (this is completely outside my typical genre, but I absolutely loved it and I think the audiobook is to thank for that!).
Thank you for the recs!!!! I loved Tom Lake and wish I listened to it. But I don’t love it enough to re-listen!
I’ve heard soooo many good things about Project Hail Mary. I think maybe the audiobook is the way to go!
One of my favorite audiobooks is a regular book you recommended–Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic. She has a great speaking voice.
Ooh that is such a great idea to listen. I love her!!!
Such a good one!
Perfect timing, Grace!! I just embarked on a road trip from DC to Atlanta and downloaded The Dutch House on your recommendation! Thank you!
Yay! That makes me happy!
Thanks for this list! I also loved Dutch House on audio. Just ordered Get the Picture for my road trip. I’d also strongly recommend Hail Mary by Andy Weir on audiobook – it is really entertaining. North Woods was very good on audio – can’t remember if you have read that yet.
I hope you love Get the Picture!!!
I am a huge audio book fan and just added several from your list that I had not enjoyed yet. Thank you for offering a list for this particular type “reading/listening” style.
I would recommend “James” by Percival Everett and “Ordinary Bear” by C.B. Bernard on audiobook too!
I am listening to James right now! It is amazing!!!
Looking forward to checking these out. Generally more of traditional reader but when it’s in the author’s voice it’s a game changer! Viola Davis “Finding me” is probably my favorite. Also loved “ Born a crime, Trevor Noah, “ Bits and pieces “ Whoopi’s Goldberg and very underrated ( she’s such a lyrical writer) “ Managing Expectations “ by Minnie Driver.
I feel exactly the same way!!!
I’ve very intrigued by “ Hickcock’s blondes. He was horrible to Tippi Hendren, he basically ruined her career.
He was, and that was really my only criticism of Leamer’s book… I felt like he was tough on Tippi too! Speaking of Tippi, I LOVED her audiobook -narrated by her!
Oh thanks! I’m going to get that Tippi book. I just finished “ Romancing Mister Bridgerton “ on audio and it was really fun. I was not familiar with the books, watched the series and now am working on the books. There are well written and different from the series.