Last Updated on by Nishil Prasad
One of the best things about audiobooks is the flexibility that they offer you. Whether you’re driving or doing your household chores, you can listen to audiobooks whenever you want. And if you feel like you don’t have time to read between your busy schedule, audiobooks are the perfect solution. In this article today, we’re going to look at some of the best audiobooks for men.
These audiobooks contain everything you expect from good books and stories. From epic adventures to business lessons to stories filled with grit and thrill, these books will be the perfect partner no matter the occasion. Without further waiting, let’s look at our list of the best audiobooks for men.
Best Audiobooks For Men & Guys
1. Odyssey by Homer
Odyssey, the latter half of the two Homerian epics, chronicles the journey of Odysseus as he travels back to his island home, Ithaca. On the way, he encounters dangers and mythical beings of all kinds. Meanwhile, in Ithaca, things have not been smooth either as suitors fill the palace for the hand of Penelope, Odysseus’ wife.
Translated by Allen Mandelbaum who preserves the epicness and grandiose nature of the original text, the book takes you along to those ancient times. Filled with metaphors about life and the world around us, Odyssey is a tale with many flavors. Derek Jacobi narrates this book with a deep and rich voice that gives you the impression of a bard telling you this story of magnificent adventures.
2. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
What is worse than facing an apocalypse? Surviving it. Living in a world where there’s nothing left for you to live for, a world that’s devoid of everything that made it a “world”. This postapocalyptic story, arguably Cormac McCarthy’s masterpiece, follows a father and son as they walk through an America seething in its ashes. Dark skies, empty streets, a torturous chill in the air, and lawlessness everywhere.
It is in these circumstances that they have to survive and head to the coast in hopes they’ll find something there. All they have is a pistol, some clothes and food, and each other. A moving portrayal of humanity at its best and worst, The Road is bold and visionary in its entirety. Tom Stechschulte voices the book with a heavy and morbid style that serves to bring the story alive in the best possible way.
3. Hard Times by Charles Dickens
There’s a reason Dickens is so beloved almost two centuries down the line. His gaze at society and its conventions and his ability to portray the most fundamental of human emotions with depth and precision are a few reasons why he’s universally read even now. The story is set in Coketown where resides Mr. Thomas Gradgrind. Mr. Gradgrind is a big admirer of rules and restrictions and believes in the utilitarian model of society.
It is when things around him start going terribly wrong that he’s forced to admit that his worldview might be at fault. A scathing commentary on a society rapidly becoming obsessed with capitalism, Hard Times is a beautiful defense and championship of creativity and human imagination. Michael Pennington narrates the audiobook with different voices and accents for different actors, providing a truly immersive experience for the listener.
4. Screw It, Let’s Do It: Lessons in Life and Business by Richard Branson
A lot of men, around the world, dream to do something big in their lives, perhaps open a business of their own. This is the reason we had to include this title in this list of best audiobooks for men. After all, who would be better than the man who established the Virgin Group, which owns over 400 companies right now, to tell you lessons on business and life, right?
In this no-nonsense guide, Richard Branson shows all the ways he and his company has achieved success through the years. And through this, he shows how you can do so too. Inspiring and motivational, the book helps you in pushing yourself toward achieving your own goals. Adrian Mulraney narrates the audiobook brilliantly, perfectly complementing the text and providing a pleasant listening experience.
5. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
The inspiration behind two major motion pictures, Unbroken is the story of human resilience amidst impossible odds. On a May afternoon in 1943, a bomber flight crashed into the Pacific Ocean, but the bombardier survived. This is his story. An athlete, a rebel, and a lot many things, Louis Zamperini became an airman when war arrived in his country. But all that would eventually lead to the unfortunate day in 1943.
It’s not what happened till then that really mattered. What really mattered was what happened after. He would survive miles after miles of open ocean, sharks, enemy aircraft, hunger and thirst, and much more. Laura Hillenbrand pens the story cinematically, bringing out the various emotions and aspects of the story while keeping you hooked till the very end. The story is further dramatized by Edward Herrmann’s narration who keeps you captivated throughout the piece.
6. Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer
Jeffrey Archer is a household name when it comes to mystery and thriller genres, so we had to include him in this compilation of best audiobooks for men. Paths of Glory is the story of George Mallory, a brilliant student, a great soldier, a loving husband, a father, and a schoolteacher. And a passionate mountaineer. It’s that last aspect of his life that’s behind the story captured here by Archer.
He was last seen in 1924, trying for the third time to climb the highest peak on earth’s surface, Mt. Everest. His body would be found decades later, in 1999. What really happened there? Did they ever reach the summit? It’s these questions that form the core of Archer’s grand novel. Roger Allam narrates the book in a voice that is simultaneously majestic and heavy and that takes you decades back, to a man and his dream of conquering a summit.
7. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
You might have already seen the classic Spielberg film that adapted this story. But that shouldn’t stop you from this classic sci-fi thriller. A tale about genetic engineering gone horribly wrong, the book is based on the idea of what might happen if we could create an organism through its DNA material. Now dinosaurs are back on earth and anyone can see them in an amusement park. All of this until something goes completely sideways.
It doesn’t matter if you love or know about dinosaurs, or whether you find the sci-fi genre to be generally dull, this book is a treat to read for everyone. With masterful control of each plot element and character, Crichton frightens and awes in equal measure. Scott Brick further takes the story up a higher notch with his dramatic adaptation of the text that keeps you hanging on to his every word.
8. The Fight by Norman Mailer
Muhammad Ali. Now, who hasn’t heard of that name? This book is about his 1974 match with George Foreman, both having been paid 5 million dollars each for this contest. With an eye for spotting and writing about all the hidden details and background, Norman Mailer captures the entire game and everything surrounding it to create a compelling story that’s more riveting than an actual game.
The way Mailer writes about the strategies and little aspects of the game provide a wider insight into the nature of the game and the psyche of those two boxing greats. Arthur Morey further brings out the thrill aspect of this story beautifully in a narration that often feels like you’re listening to the commentary of a charged game. It’s a book that you’re surely going to love even more in its audiobook format, and why it’s a part of this list of best audiobooks for men.
9. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Often, war fiction tends to glorify men battling and killing each other. It glorifies the bravery and valor of those who died fighting, and who survived impossible situations. But what about those who are haunted by it? What about those who were scarred for life? This story follows Paul Baumer who enlists for war along with his classmates at the young age of 19. War affects them all, living or dead, in irreparable ways.
Banned during Hitler’s reign, this book shows the futility and despair that is any war. One of the most beloved war classics of all time, All Quiet on the Western Front is as tragic as it is eloquent. Frank Muller creates a hurried, almost breathless, audiobook rendition that presents this cry for humanity with poignance and a sense of solemnity.
10. Hell’s Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga by Hunter S. Thompson
Written and published at a time when Hell’s Angels were at the peak of their activities and presence, Hell’s Angels reads like a novel, despite being a work of nonfiction. If you’ve ever wondered about how criminal gangs operate and what it’s like to be a part of their group, this is the perfect book to pick up! The book is based on Thompson’s personal experience living with the gang and learning about the everyday aspects of their life.
A wonderful example of investigative journalism, Hell’s Angels makes for an exhilarating read thoroughly. Scott Sowers voices the book with a grittiness and wildness that perfectly complements the text he’s reading, transporting you into a universe entirely different from yours. It showcases the different shades of violence flawlessly, which is why this is a part of our best audiobooks for men list.
Leave a Reply