Audiobooks while you work out?

Kennkaru
Kennkaru Posts: 210 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Since music is more or less my career, and I spend most of my day listening to or participating in music, I really enjoy a good audiobook while I'm working out. I absolutely adore reading and try to do as much as I can, but we all know there aren't enough hours in the day for everything we WANT to do.

What are some great audiobooks that you guys have "read"? I'm not just asking about the quality of the literature, but also the performance of the reading. Great books can be turned into a painful experience with a bad reading.

I'm currently working on Stephen King's "11/22/63" and it makes for an excellent walking, running, or lifting distraction. I'm impressed by the reader's ability to create different distinct voices for each character- and his Russian accent is pretty good!

Listening to a story while I work out really takes my mind off of the activity, and it seems to go by so much faster.

Now...someone just needs to invent a way for me to watch baseball while I run outside and my life will be complete.
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Replies

  • mrstilly515
    mrstilly515 Posts: 4
    I am a huge audibook fan! I have an hour commute each day and listen to audiobooks while I drive. I started listening to them while I run, since I'm not a huge music fan. They are great to keep my mind working and help me keep from focusing on the distance/pace.

    I love Jodi Picoult. She has a ton of books out, and most have a pretty active plot. I've also read the Hunger Games, Harry Potter and Twilight series on audiobook. They also keep me pretty interested (although there is one Harry Potter book that is a little slow). I like John Grisham and Nicholas Sparks as well.
  • charlottelouise12345
    charlottelouise12345 Posts: 16 Member
    I haven't actually listened to them yet, but one of my favourite authors (Tamora Pierce, young adult author though so not everyone's cup of tea :p) had a lot of her audio books done by a company who uses full cast, so each character and the narriator actually has their own voice actor. She even wrote one book specifically to be relieased in full cast audio. Quite excited for when I fiiiiiinally get around to buying them! :)
  • sarah_7626
    sarah_7626 Posts: 31 Member
    I'm definitely guilty of listening to harry potter on the treadmill...
  • dragonnldy77
    dragonnldy77 Posts: 1
    I love audiobooks! It's mostly all I listen to in the car since I dont have a lot of time to read. Lately I ahve been listening to Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. His reader's are great and they are just silly - laughing gets me through the workout! The right reader's make all the difference.
  • FoamyRiver
    FoamyRiver Posts: 276 Member
    I love the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich--the ones read by CJ Critt. The ones read by Lorelei King aren't nearly as entertaining. I also like listening to anything read by Scott Brick. He does most of the Nelson Demille books. Jim Dale also does an amazing job on the Harry Potter series.
  • aaaaaamy
    aaaaaamy Posts: 24
    Harry Potter, but the one read by Stephen Fry, not the American one. Amazing.
  • EmeliaFoo
    EmeliaFoo Posts: 186 Member
    The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society -Funny title I know, but the audiobook is wonderfully done. It's being adapted to film now with Kate Winslet set to star.

    Here is the description from Amazon:

    “ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

    As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

    Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

    Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.
  • CatseyeHardcast
    CatseyeHardcast Posts: 224 Member
    Stephen Fry doing Harry Potter is very well done
  • Teapotdomescam
    Teapotdomescam Posts: 156 Member
    Hmmm never thought about it, but come to think of it, it's a really great idea!
  • MisterDubs303
    MisterDubs303 Posts: 1,216 Member
    Anna Karenina kept me company on the treadmill... until she jumped off.

    I'm too cheap to be a snob. Librovox on my iTouch. Multiple readers. Some good, some bad.
  • maru84
    maru84 Posts: 128
    Anything by Michael Palmer- they're medical dramas and will keep your heart rate up!
  • jworb
    jworb Posts: 146 Member
    The Help is a FANTASTIC audiobook.... very theatrically performed, and keeps things interesting even though it is long.

    also the whole Hunger Games trilogy, I listened to them all in about a week and a half.

    if you like nonfiction/comedy at all, Bossypants by Tina Fey is hilarious and intelligent
  • elfo
    elfo Posts: 353 Member
    Tony Robbins!
  • gehlerc
    gehlerc Posts: 651 Member
    Bump -- great topic!
  • kmozymoz
    kmozymoz Posts: 187
    If you want something non-fiction, I've heard Tina Fey's "Bossypants" is a hilarious audiobook.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    barney stinson's Bro Code :smile:
  • mbw2586
    mbw2586 Posts: 88
    I LOVE audiobooks! I'm not sure I can go back to working (as in, my job) without them! I'm currently listening to The Hunger Games series. The narrator is pretty decent with the voicing and pulling me into the book.

    One book that I listened to not long ago was called The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen and it was so good. I really enjoyed it and thought the narrator did a great job, considering there were accents involved. I wish they would make this a movie!
  • mbw2586
    mbw2586 Posts: 88
    If you want something non-fiction, I've heard Tina Fey's "Bossypants" is a hilarious audiobook.

    OMG, YES. I listened to this at work and probably snorted no less than 10 times. Thanks for reminding me, I think I'm going to re-listen!
  • thekarens
    thekarens Posts: 254 Member
    I'm an Audible member and I also get audiobooks to download from my library. Joe Abercrombie First Blade series was excellent! It's a dark fantasy novel, which isn't my normal cup of tea, but the reader was so good!

    I'm currently listening to the Alexia Tarabotti Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. Excellent, if you like Victorian era fantasy.

    I also agree about 11/22/63. I loved that one.
  • u2fergus
    u2fergus Posts: 422 Member
    Anna Karenina kept me company on the treadmill... until she jumped off.

    I'm too cheap to be a snob. Librovox on my iTouch. Multiple readers. Some good, some bad.

    Yes!!! Librivox is excellent. If you can find anything read by Nicholas Clifford or Simon Evers on there, it will be very good. There are lots of other good readers, too, though.

    Harry Potter is very well done on audiobook and is my all-time favorite to listen to again and again. I like Stephen Fry, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with Jim Dale's reading of it, either.

    As far as professional audiobook readers I especially like, I recommend Flo Gibson, Timothy West, and Margaret Hilton. This is obviously very subjective, though, so maybe listen to a sample first to see if their voices suit your taste.

    I am DEFINITELY an audiobook exerciser... it's about the only time I have to read real books these days. :(
  • yepitsjen
    yepitsjen Posts: 79 Member
    "Bossypants" IS hilarious.

    If you like fun, detective novels (that are somewhat violent), go with Dennis Lehane's Patrick Kenzie series. They can be listened to in any order, but I would start with: "Darkness Take my Hand" and go to "Gone, Baby, Gone."

    I have an audible account and share books with my two BFFs. I listen to books on the treadmill and while lifting. It makes it go faster than just music.

    I'm listening to the Game of Thrones series now- the actor is amazing.
  • timherrmann
    timherrmann Posts: 18
    I've "read" about 80 audiobooks. You can get a great deal (2 books per month in the form of credits for $20 a month) at Audible.com... I like history, and recently listened to Lincoln's Team of Rivals. For Fantasy/Science Fiction, try Jim Butcher's series. For religous, The Shack....For Horror, Stephen King's The Dome is very good; anything by Koontz is also usually good. I tend to stick with unabridged versions as much as possible. I also listen to classics, like Dracula, Frankenstien, Uncle Tom's Cabin, To Kill a Mockingbird...whatever you like. Nice thing about Audible.com, when you buy the book, it's maintained in a digital library and you can download it to multiple ipods or computers.
  • NotGoddess
    NotGoddess Posts: 1,198 Member
    I love listening to audiobooks too! Here are my faves of those I've 'read'

    The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, read by James Marsters (Spike of Buffy fame). Loved reading the books but the Jame's voice really made them come alive.

    The Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, read by Johanna Parker. I tried to read these books but just could not get into them. But Johanna's reading is amazing.

    Unlimited by Jillian Michaels, read by Jillian Michaels. I love how she varies from flighty to serious to whimsical with her voice.

    Another vote for the Discworld audiobooks. Those read by Stephen Briggs are the best (and get the unabridged versions!)
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I love them too - my favorites are:

    Flanagan's Run by Tom McNab (great for runners!)
    Time Traveller's wife (love the book, annoyed by the movie)
    Cloudstreet by Tim Winton (it's an Aussie classic!)
    My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

    and just about an yof the stories from ABC (Australia) Life Matters. They are free podcasts and really interesting.
  • bebreli
    bebreli Posts: 227 Member
    I LOVE Audiobooks!! I also love when the reader gives a great performance.

    My favorites include:
    Harry Potter - I have to disagree with the other posters because Jim Dale was AMAZING!!!!!!
    The Historian - This is one of my favorites!!
    Hunger Games
    Milliennium Series
    Twilight Series
    The Help
    Inheritance Cycle
    Then Came You
  • BeetleChe13
    BeetleChe13 Posts: 498 Member
    I haven't actually listened to them yet, but one of my favourite authors (Tamora Pierce, young adult author though so not everyone's cup of tea :p) had a lot of her audio books done by a company who uses full cast, so each character and the narriator actually has their own voice actor. She even wrote one book specifically to be relieased in full cast audio. Quite excited for when I fiiiiiinally get around to buying them! :)

    *high pitched squeal* You're kidding! I LOVE Tamora Pierce. I must look into these. =D
  • zoom2
    zoom2 Posts: 934 Member
    The BEST audiobooks EVER are David Sedaris' books...because he reads them and he is a total trip. I trained for 3 marathons listening to him and to the first 2 Chelsea Handler audiobooks. Sometimes I would have to stop running because I was laughing so hard that I couldn't breathe and my knees were buckling. :laugh:
  • NotGoddess
    NotGoddess Posts: 1,198 Member
    Wanted to bump this for audiobook lovers. I found a new website- podiobooks.com. It has tons of free books, many read by the authors. They are available as podcasts. It's a neat idea so I thought I'd share.
  • neti_call
    neti_call Posts: 81 Member
    Jim Dale knocks any book he reads out of the park.
  • neti_call
    neti_call Posts: 81 Member
    Tina Fey's Bossypants had me laughing out loud at the gym. People were looking at me like i was crazy.

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