Unmissable Audiobook List: The Five audiobooks written by popular podcasters That Will Change Your Daily Travel
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To tell you the truth, I was once one of those people who criticized audiobooks as being “cheating”. I was the one who firmly believed that ”real reading” occurred only when you have physical pages and the pleasurable feeling of a heavy book in your hands. However, I found out that it was different: the moment I discovered audiobooks written by popular podcasters, my daily commute was turned into my happiest time.
You know, the spell of the moment that occurs when, like, the best slot masters of audio and music storytelling—they decide to write books. They are the pacing experts, they are the masters of keeping you engaged just with their voice and most importantly, they are the ones who understand that listening to a tale should feel like having an interesting conversation with a knowledgeable friend.
I can’t help it; I have spent many sleepless nights consuming this specific genre, but the result is that I learned that audiobooks made by famous podcasters have some specific things. First of all, they are not ordinary audiobooks; they don’t just offer an audio reading of the text, but are made by individuals who have an intimate understanding of the medium. Essentially, in this article, I am introducing you to five titles of these transformative audiobooks that have changed my perception of not only the ways of podcasting but also of storytelling.
What Makes Podcaster-Written Audiobooks So Unique?
Before suggesting my favorite titles, let me tell you why I’m so much into this particular category of audiobooks. Podcasters dedicate their entire career to mastering the means of intimacy through audio. They possess the know-how of voice modulation and timing of pauses for considerable effects, like making even the most boring topics sound interesting.
Well, when these digital storytellers merge books with audio, all of a sudden, something remarkable happens. They devise not just simple texts on pages, they create auditory experiences that are supposed to be exclusive to a listener. Therefore, the end product is the kind of audiobooks that are more engaging than educational talks.
1. How to Tell a Story by The Moth
If you have ever listened to The Moth podcast, you will surely agree with me that they are live storytelling masters. Their book How to Tell a Story is not just about storytelling techniques; it is a masterclass in human connection presented by people who have perfected the craft of storytelling.
What I admire most about this audiobook is that it is full of practical tips. The Moth team does not simply list what makes a good story, but shows it through examples that will make you laugh and cry and you name the rest. As a person who always loses his way telling the right stories at dinners (I am not ashamed to state that I am that person who starts his story with ”So this funny thing happened…” for ten whole minutes before moving to the real point of the story), this book came to me like a revelation.
The production quality is precisely what you would expect from The Moth: crisp, close, and perfect timing. It’s like peeping behind the curtain of your favorite podcast episode creation process and simultaneously acquiring some tools to use in your own life.
2. Broken (in the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson
Although Jenny Lawson maybe is best known for her blog and previous books, she is also a podcasting powerhouse with her ability to discuss mental health with both humor and honesty. Broken (in the Best Possible Way) showcases exactly why her approach to audio content is so compelling.
This audiobook deals with topics like depression, anxiety, and the general chaos of life but it does this with a perfect mixture of heart and humor. The thing that makes it even better is the way in which Lawson presents the material—she really knows when to punchline and lighten the atmosphere before going deep into sadder subjects. The experience she gathered in her podcast is so prominent in every chapter.
Mary has always been one of the funniest characters in my company, and during our trips, she brought joy and laughter (which surprisingly earned me some strange looks at red lights when she was recounting them). Moreover, I felt very much impressed by her brave narratives on mental health issues. Having such feelings in an audiobook is truly an extraordinary thing that is true for both the best podcasts and this particular book too.
3. Please Don’t Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson
Phoebe Robinson is one of the leaders of the podcasting market with her shows like 2 Dope Queens and Sooo Many White Guys. In the same way, her book is full of that similar energy and insight to the audiobook format, thus making you stick to every word.
The thing I admire the most in Robinson’s method is how she is such a unique comedian that she is able to mix comedy with social aspects. She deals with every subject she comes across with the same sharp wit and genuine warmth that makes her podcasts so addictive. The audiobook format is the ideal medium for Robinson to fully exhibit her personality. She is always humorous; still, her timing is so good that you get wrapped up in the story. Each chapter feels like you listen to a longer-established podcast session, but now with an in-depth research book format. Moreover, the main message she gives about life as a creative person in today’s world is forever relevant and practical.
4. Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller
Lulu Miller is a co-creator of the podcast Invisibilia and is a contributor to Radiolab, therefore, you can bet she has figured out ways of getting complicated viewpoints across while keeping it fun. Why Fish Don’t Exist serves to show that podcast listeners can make a significant impact on the written material.
This audiobook opens with a seemingly simple question on the classification of fish, and then leads to a much bigger issue, which is a meditation on chaos, order, and how one is to find meaning in a chaos-filled world. Miller’s scientific background in journalism is proved as she yawns and laughs throughout combined history, philosophy, and personal reflections.
The part most interesting for me was how Miller, through her storytelling talent from the podcast, could maintain your attention even on the hard materials related to science. She shows the way of making it all clear and rising tension, which is a transfer from one science to another for me.
5. The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers
Ashley Flowers has a true crime franchise with Crime Junkie, one of the biggest podcasts in the genre. The Missing Half is her work as a writer and also serves as her transfer from being a podcast host to a novelist, and the result implies that this is why podcasters frequently write good audiobooks.
In this thriller, Flowers unleashes her skills from the podcast world—she builds up suspense, she drops the key information in time, and she keeps the audience busy with finding the next step in the plot. The fluency of the story is simply the best; no wonder they have had so much practice in keeping a podcast audience hooked from week to week.
This is what makes it different from other audiobooks—Flowers applies her knowledge of creating great audio content to each of the single chapters. Each chapter finishes with an unexpected twist that develops the listening experience while you are looking for a peaceful moment to continue the audiobook.
The Ideal Companions on the Commute
This is what I learned after thoroughly analyzing the audiobooks written by popular podcasters: they capture the essence of audio content that many traditional audiobook narrators fail to comprehend. They know from their studies that listening is a profound personal interaction and they devote years to becoming experts in such a kind of practice.
These five audiobooks have reshaped my commuting experience entirely. Instead of resenting the traffic jams, I now enjoy the rides, even if that means driving extra miles just to know how the story evolves. They have also made me a better listener in podcasts and conversations alike.
The Importance of This for Your Listening Experience
If you are a person who has a passion for podcasts but at the same time has been reluctant to audiobooks, these titles provide the ideal connection between them. They mix the warm conversational intimacy you adore from podcasts with the more profound chapter exploration that books offer.
What is wonderful about audiobooks written by famous podcasters is that they are born from the people who work with the mediums they have a perfect grasp of. They don’t merely read the text that is on the page; they are constructing soundscapes aimed at touching the audience on a more profound level.
Whether you want to brush up on your storytelling skills, tackle complex issues, or just seek some fascinating company on your ride, these audiobooks won’t fail to surprise you!
What a surprising thing! I have been surprised certainly, and I do believe that they will change your perception of both the podcast and the book format.
The next time you are going through audiobook options, spare a thought to giving one of these podcaster-authored books a go. You will be absolutely amazed with the positive spillover it will have on your commute (and your mind).
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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