People say audiobooks are not for everyone, I rather say, not all books can be converted into audiobooks. Many people start with wrong audiobooks and since their first impression is bad, they never try another one.
Like most people, I don’t get enough time to read a physical book, which is why I turned to Audible a few years back. And since then, I’ve read 35 Audiobooks. Most of them are non-fiction and rated 4+ on Goodreads. So, in no particular order, here is my non-fiction reading list on Audible.
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Best Nonfiction Audiobooks
1. The Martian by Andy Weir
Okay, this is the only fictional audiobook in the list, but a must listen for everyone. Now, if you haven’t already watched the movie, it’s a fictional story about an Astronaut, ‘Mark’ who gets stuck on Mars, fights for survival.
I find the audio version is better than both the movie and the printed book. Just as you visualize the character in your head while you are reading a book, you can visualize the astronauts, growing potato plants on Mars. The narrator, RC Bray adds some great depth and emotion through his voice.
As a first-time listener, if you are in for some light comedy, go for it.
Check out The Martian
2. 12 Rules of Life
If you are interested in self-help and psychology, you must have heard of Jordan Peterson.
12 Rules of Life is a new book written and narrated by the author Jordan Peterson, where he talks about 12 practical principles for how to live a meaningful life. Although, there is a lot of practical knowledge, here are 2 key points
- The world is a horrible place filled with suffering.
- If you want the world to be better, start with yourself.
If you are always looking for ways to make your life better, listen to this book. Though, if you are not sure, if the self-help genre is for you, you can listen to this teaser video by him on YouTube.
Check out 12 Rules for Life
3. Sapiens
Sapiens is another mind-opening book that is highly recommended by Bill Gates.
According to the author, human history can be divided into two parts – before the cognitive revolution and after that. Before the cognitive revolution, our ancestor used to live in a group of no more than 150 people and didn’t have the ability to form meaningful relationships. In a way, we were not much different from animals living in the heard.
But, it was only after the cognitive revolution, the sapiens started living in a dual reality. On one hand, the objective reality of rivers, trees, and lions; and on the other hand, the imagined reality of gods, nations, and corporations.
Overall, if you are interested in the history of humanity as well as how artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and other technologies will change us in the future. Definitely give it a try.
Check out Sapiens
4. Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance
This is my favourite book, and have recommended it countless times in my videos.
It’s a biography on Elon Musk, explaining where he comes from and where he is going.
I was so fascinated by this book, that I completed the audiobook in 2 days (and read it again a few months after). The author has done a terrific job to help you visualize Elon’s journey from the age of 4 to 40.
This is a must read for everyone, especially if you are into space travel, science, entrepreneurship or Elon Musk in general.
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Check out Elon Musk
5. 48 Laws of Power
By now, you might have known that I’m a sucker for non-fiction audiobooks. And Mastery and 48 Laws of Power were my books that introduced me to the world of audiobooks.
The audio version of the book might not be amazing like that of ‘The Martian’ or ‘World War Z’. But to find out if the audiobook is for you or not, you can listen to watch some of the videos by the author – Robert Greene.
Check out 48 Laws of Power
6. The One Thing
If you struggle with focus or time management, this is the book for you.
My key takeaway from the book is, all the information you need to achieve anything is already out there on the Internet. All you need is the focus. It’s better to do fewer things more efficiently rather than doing more things with loose focus.
Check out The One Thing
7. Total Recall
Total Recall is an autobiography of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Arnold is not just the terminator in movies but even in real life. The book shows his journey from a small village in Austria to how he came to America to become a successful bodybuilder, actor, businessman, and governor of Califonia.
If you are like me, who only get inspired by people who have done it themselves, this is the book you need.
Check out Total Recall
8. How to Get Rich
Okay, I admit, terrible clickbait title for a book. But since it had 4.2 ratings on Goodreads, I went for it anyway. And, I’m glad I did.
The author ‘Felix Dennis’ is a self-made millionaire who talks about what it actually takes to get rich like how to generate cash, how to hire employee, how to negotiate etc. rather than talking about generic stuff like working hard and waiting for the right moment.
Overall, getting rich is not for everyone, it won’t necessarily make you happy, in fact, it’ll bring more stress, but if you would like to be rich anyway, this book is a step in the right direction.
Check out How to Get Rich
9. The Hard Thing About Hard Things
This book features the journey of CEO Ben Horowitz, who is now a co-founder of biggest venture firm a16z.
Most business book out there talks about the glamorous life of the CEO, but not many talks about the hard decisions the CEO has to make every day. This book talks about that.
My favourite takeaway from the book – Startups are like riding a roller coaster, one moment you think you can conquer the world, the next moment, you are close to bankruptcy. There are no easy answers when you are the CEO and that’s the hard thing about hard things.
It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to build a successful startup.
Check out The Hard Thing About Hard Thing
10. The Millionaire Next Door
If you want to be a millionaire, you need to think and act like a millionaire. Now, this doesn’t mean, you have to buy the fastest car and the biggest house. Instead, it’s just the opposite.
The book talks about how most millionaires live below their means and have a fixed budget for everything. And when it comes to investing, they invest in appreciating assets like stocks, real estate, business, etc
Check out The Millionaire Next Door
Closing Words
Well, these were some of my best nonfiction Audiobooks and also a good recommendation for the first-time listener. Let me know which is your favourite book, in the comments below. I’ll keep updating the article, as I come across new books. Till then, keep listening and never stop learning.
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