Listening Is The New Reading - Here's The 10 Best Audiobooks For Men To Reignite That Literary Spark

When was the last time you thought to pick up a book? Be honest. Chances are, it was that dog-eared holiday read you panic-bought at the airport WHSmith while waiting for your flight to Ibiza. Reading is the ultimate luxury: an endeavour that requires two key ingredients — time and hands. And if there’s one thing modern life doesn’t allow, it’s either of those.

Think about it: when are your hands truly free? Not on your morning commute (gripping a Tube pole for dear life). Not at the gym (weights don’t lift themselves, sadly). And certainly not at work, where your fingers are permanently glued to a keyboard. Leisurely page-turning? It’s about as realistic as a weekend in Monaco on a Ryanair budget.

Enter audiobooks, the ultimate hack for the time-starved modern man. All the culture, none of the wrist strain. Whether you’re pounding the treadmill, stuck in traffic, or doing the dishes, audiobooks slip seamlessly into your day. Suddenly, Dostoevsky becomes your gym buddy, and Barack Obama is your daily commute companion. It’s working smarter, not harder — and let’s be honest, that’s the mantra we all aspire to live by.

And its never been easier now that Audible, Amazon's online audiobook library, is available as part of any Amazon Music Unlimited subscription. You get one audiobook a month included to listen to alongside all your usual ad-free songs and playlists, in the crisp HD sound quality Amazon Music is known for (that's arguably why it outshines its streaming competitors). But which to choose?

There are, obviously, a lot of books out there. Which of them to read is less clear. And let’s face it, men have historically been a little ahem slower to turn the page when it comes to books so could do with a little nudge in the right direction. We've curated our pick of audiobooks most likely to get you back in the reading game, from classics to new releases, ready to transform you from occasional beach reader to bona fide book worm. Discover them below. 

A mind-bending, time-hopping whodunnit with Turton’s signature genius for twisting plots tighter than your old school tie. The plotline really is in the name - think Agatha Christie meets Black Mirror.

Fry retells Homer’s epic with a wit as sharp as Odysseus’s sword. Think monsters, murder, maelstroms, gods, giants and men. Ancient Greece's most heroic story has never sounded so modern — or so ridiculously entertaining.

Your favourite Thursday Murder Club author is back with a brand new bunch, solving crimes with the finesse of Poirot and the banter of your cheekiest mate at the pub. The characters in this are like a murder mystery party made real life.

A jaw-dropping exposé of the family that pedalled and profited off the USA's opioid crisis. Gripping, infuriating, and somehow even more compelling than the cutthroat Disney+ drama adaptation.

When retired Maths teacher Grace Winters is left a run-down house in Ibiza by a long-lost friend, she hops on a plane and searches for answers about her friend’s life, and how it ended. What she uncovers is stranger than she could have dreamed. A warm, witty exploration of parallel lives that makes you question your choices — and appreciate the one you're living. Plus, Joanna Lumley's narrating voice is like a literary hug.

Rooney’s introspective genius shines in this sharp, modern exploration of tangled relationships. Following the story of two Irish brothers, their messed up love lives and their grief following the death of their father, it’s the existential crisis you’ll oddly enjoy.

A sharp, hilarious exploration of race, class, and identity in 1970s London, told through the eyes of Karim Amir, a teenager navigating life as the British-born son of an Indian father and English mother. Packed with wit, heart, and a glam-rock soundtrack, it’s a provocative and wildly entertaining coming-of-age story that feels just as relevant today

If you’re new to audiobooks, why not start with something comforting and familiar? Stephen Fry's narration of Harry’s first wizarding adventure feels like a warm cup of cocoa on a chilly evening.

Spycraft meets soul-searching in this deeply personal espionage masterpiece, inspired by the writer's own life as as a real spy. Intrigue, betrayal, and some of the sharpest prose in the business — le Carré at his best.

If you've seen the film, the book is even better. A razor-sharp satire on excess and vanity, this cult classic will have you questioning Wall Street, consumerism, and whether Patrick Bateman’s skincare routine is actually worth it.