Nonfiction Audiobooks

[Anonymous]

I have recently discovered a passion for long form audio nonfiction. I listen to This Podcast Will Kill You and The Emily Show, and thoroughly enjoyed Truth Be Told (Bev McLachlin's autobiography). Looking for recommendations for engaging nonfiction audio books that you enjoyed (ideally ones that are available through DC public library!) and left you feeling good about the world. Especially interested in epidemiology, biography, and the history of mundane things (what ordinary people wore and ate, prevailing attitudes about religion, stuff like that rather than wars and dynasties and political boundaries shifting), but open to other suggestions!

[Anonymous]

Have you read Guns Germs & Steel? Sounds right up your alley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you read Guns Germs & Steel? Sounds right up your alley.

I have not read it but I checked and DC Libraries has an audiobook so I placed a hold! Thank so much! I tried to start going through This Podcast Will Kill You's reading list (where I know I've seen this before) but got discouraged when none of them came in audio format. For some reason I'm astonishingly bad at reading nonfiction but love listening to it.

[Anonymous]

Epidemiology (at least adjacent) -
Hidden Valley Road and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

I am not sure that I would call either "feel good" but truly fascinating.

Finding Me - Viola Davis was great, she reads it

[Anonymous]

Lighter reading than Guns, Germs..., but just about anything by Bill Bryson. Start with "At Home."

[Anonymous]

- Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari
- Atomic Habits by James Clear

[Anonymous]

I am a weirdo but I love the Time Traveler’s Guide audiobooks

[Anonymous]

A few I recently enjoyed:
Post Corona
The Nineties
Range
Educated

[Anonymous]

Devil in the White CITY. by far, the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few I recently enjoyed:
Post Corona
The Nineties
Range
Educated

OP circling back to report that I've been listening to Educated and enjoying it, although as I joked to a friend her childhood is like the depressing/evil mirror universe version of Bev McLachlin's. If you liked Educated, I highly recommend Truth Be Told.

[Anonymous]

Hellhound on His Trail about the assassination of MLK, the greatest 20th Century American, was the audiobook that got me into audiobooks. Read by the author, and I can remember where I was driving at certain points. Riveting.

[Anonymous]

I only listen to fiction, so no recommendations. However, I am a member of several libraries and dc has the smallest audio collection of all of them. Surrounding counties will offer reciprocity to dc residents, so I suggest you get more library cards to have better access. Also helps to be on more than one list of you are waiting for a popular book.

[Anonymous]

David Goggins.

[Anonymous]

Born a crime by Trevor Noah.

[Anonymous]

Braiding Sweetgrass - have not listened to the audiobook yet, but it’s one of my favorite nonfiction books. Plus the audiobook always seems to be available on Libby (dc library user here).