Good fiction recs? Are audiobooks effective?

I started Game of Thrones recently (never watched the show), has given me the love of reading I haven't felt for years (I only read nonfiction since college). Would highly recommend, particularly if you haven't seen the show.

Last series I did via audiobooks during commute and chores, it works fine, though I find my thoughts wander and I have to pause or rewind here and there, but that's part of the point of (audio)books (stimulating inspiration). If it suits you better, do it.

I imagine audiobooks to work well with fiction. Descriptive text that you can imagine in your head and if you zone out you won’t completely miss the entire point.

I tried to listen to Ezra Klein ‘Abundance’ on Audible and I could not understand anything if I zoned out for a while

I can't do audiobooks for fiction. I'm way too ADHD and some of the voice acting is awful. The few audiobooks I listen to are all non-fiction, but to each their own. 

The bigger question is: what kind of books do you like? Happy to make recommendations, but a starting point helps. 

I made several recommendations in a thread named "Literature Recs" for what it's worth. I don't use audiobooks though for fiction - but that's because I listen when I'm running or cycling outdoors and it's way too easy to get distracted

Read the First Law series of books, they will blow your mind.  If you are at all interested in Lord of the Rings or any other fantasy novel, this series is a must.

To try and make better suggestions, could you share what genre of fiction do you tend to like? 

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“Immortal Life: A Soon To Be True Story” by Stanley Bing.  It’s a sci-fi story written in 2017 by a CBS executive and narrated by him in the audiobook.  He passed away in 2020, but I’d say he’s created a world in his story that could be the future 50 - 100 years from now.  

A 130 year old trillionaire printing his strap on synthetic penis using a 3D printer before sex.  He creates one more product that would even make his biggest business rivals a devoted customer and willing acquisition roll up, and that is eternal life via mind upload into a humanoid.  Shed the biological body you were born with, and copy over your thoughts into a medium that will never die.

A book reader in 2026 would appreciate this book more than when it first came out in 2017.  We’ve seen more of a glimpse of the future recently, which is why this book is a hidden gem. 

I listened to the audiobook via the San Francisco library, so your local library might have it.  Just giving appreciation to an author who is no longer with us, and might help you think of a long term trends to get interested in.

The Count of Monte Cristo

The Wager by David Grann. Read last year, one of the best books I've read. It's nonfiction, but written in an engaging way like a fiction novel. Not a nerdy nonfiction for learning, just a truly crazy story. Think Ernest Shackleton meets Lord of the Flies. Literally cannot recommend it highly enough, a couple folks around the office have spoken highly of it independently as well.

I really like Tom Wolfe. Bonfire of the Vanities and A Man in Full are his best work. 

zen and art of motorcycle maintenance

il deserto dei tartari

il nome della rosa

odyssey & Iliad 

death of Ivan ilyich 

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Men should read a Court of Thrones and Roses series and learn to act like the male characters if they want to get some. Ask your girlfriend about it. That or Fourth Wing.

Assortment of standouts for me, some repeats from others in the thread. Good luck finding something that keeps you enthralled until the last page!

• Hyperion by Dan Simmons
• Stoner and/or Butcher's Crossing by John Williams
• House of Suns by Alistair Reynolds
• Red Rising (entire series) by Pierce Brown
• Circe by Madeline Miller
• The Persian by David McCloskey

vince flynn