Audio Book suggestions?!?!

Just looking to see how many people listen to audio books and if you have any suggestions or recommendations?

I am just about to finish up the biography on Steve Jobs (I have a few tracks left) and think I am going to grab Barbarians at the Gate for my trip this coming weekend. Barbarians should only take care of half the trip so I need some ideas for a book on the way back.

Personally, I can't stand reading books, so I never do. However, a buddy gave me Steve Job's biography on CD and I found it great...(1) I love learning about things I never knew and (2) driving is so much better when you are partly distracted. If any of you drive...or ride...to work everyday and have to battle traffic, I would suggest trying it out. Honestly, I was shocked. Sitting in traffic is literally my number 1 pet peeve yet I've found that doing so while listening to a book essentially eliminates my frustration. Instead of feeling rushed, like you want to get to your destination immediately, I actually found myself more concerned about not getting there too fast because I wanted to hear more of the story. Anyways, just give it a shot.

All that jazz aside, I would like some recommendations. I think I would like either more biographies or books geared toward 'self-help' or personal improvement...so I feel as though I'm either learning something or gaining a potential benefit from listening. I'm also open to other suggestions. I've had friends tell me about random books they are reading that were good, but I have never been the least bit interested in reading fantasy or fiction. I heard that Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer was a really good listen, but the movie is coming out and I'm curious as to whether or not knowing the story would ruin the movie for me. Any thoughts?

Regards

 

My brother listens to books while driving to the hospital each morning (he's 4yr med). I think he's gone through The Iliad, 1984, The tale of two cities, and a bunch of other classics, and I like riding with him when he's playing them, though sometimes I miss a lot of the story.

You say you you have never been the least bit interested in reading fantasy or fiction, then ask about Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer?

I really keep planning to get to Machiavelli's "The Prince," and I really enjoyed Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina,' but I don't know if they would appeal to you. Most of the books I've read and enjoyed aside from these I don't know if they are available in audio though.

 
Aimez:
You say you you have never been the least bit interested in reading fantasy or fiction, then ask about Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer?

Yeah, I should have been a bit more clear. I've never been a big book read period, but what few I've attempted generally aren't fiction. I read a lot, everyday online, but it has more to do with technology and cars and finance and business and then random, interesting stories that I run across.

I think that I would be more open to fiction novels if I could listen to them, as opposed to read them, which is why I mentioned Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer. In my mind, I would rather just go the lazy route and watch the movie and enjoy it for what was presented, not compare and contrast how the movie didn't do the book justice or didn't follow the plot, etc. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't necessarily find reading to be 'fun' like I would a movie. I know a ton of people who read Hunger Games and told people they "loved" the movie when in all actuality, after asking them about it, they didn't think the movie was anywhere near as good as the book, but they were such fans of the books they mindless just said the movie was great.

I'm curious if that is how people tend to feel about books vs. their movie counterparts. I know American Psycho receives great reviews from members of WSO, but any of them that read the book would certainly say that the movie didn't do the book justice...admittedly, that isn't always attainable in the allotted 2 hours. I just want to know if that bothers people when watching the movie?

Lastly, I think some people are just wired different. I don't fancy myself a very creative person, which is why I think books don't maintain my interest like they do others. I know people that read several books a month, that's their escape from the world...I seem to prefer visual stimulation. As a convenient example, a number of FB 'friends' are reading 50 Shades of Grey and one of the girls commented about one of the characters saying, she just doesn't have a personality and that "she's sweet and gorgeous but just don't think she's fun at all. I keep waiting for her fun and personality. to come out. Wait for it......". I find it amusing that someone has decided that a character in a book is "gorgeous". I mean, how do you do that, lol? I realize many people enjoy reading precisely because they can build this 'movie' in their head with the characters and picture them how they perceive them from the story, etc. but it seems I lack that ability and/or focus.

At any rate, I appreciate your suggestions. I've looked into some of the 'classics' but haven't bit the bullet on any. Most of them are very long, 20+ hours in some cases, and I actually just walk 2 blocks to work...so I really don't get much time to listen unless I'm on a road trip visiting some friends/family (which is rather infrequent) or grabbing a few minutes here and there when running errands from time to time...so I'm hesitant to get started on a 30 hour book because it would likely take me so long to finish it.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 
cphbravo96:
At any rate, I appreciate your suggestions. I've looked into some of the 'classics' but haven't bit the bullet on any. Most of them are very long, 20+ hours in some cases, and I actually just walk 2 blocks to work...so I really don't get much time to listen unless I'm on a road trip visiting some friends/family (which is rather infrequent) or grabbing a few minutes here and there when running errands from time to time...so I'm hesitant to get started on a 30 hour book because it would likely take me so long to finish it.

Regards

All good. I understand, If I start reading a good classic, there goes the next two days of my life, and I hate leaving a book unfinished, particularly when you don't have the time atm. Different sides of the same coin I think.

 

Some people record themselves doing the GMAT flashcards. It might take a few hour to record though. Good luck.

“The only thing I know is that I know nothing, and i am no quite sure that i know that.” Socrates
 
AcquireThis:
Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged... It'll shock you to see how quickly commuting can knock out 63 hours of audio.

Yeah, that was one of the first ones I went to check out when I realized I would need a new book for my upcoming trip...then I saw the length and figured it would probably take me a year to finish it since I don't have much of a commute at this point in time, lol.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 
Best Response

Seeing as you already have a finance related book (Barbarian's is a great read... A true finance classic), I'm going to suggest some non-finance books (you can find the audiobooks on itunes):

  • "Culture and Imperialism" by Edward Said... Fascinating book about the role of culture, language and literature as tools of conquest.
  • "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell... A real gem about the nature of success, whether it's pro athletes, technology billionaires or partners at big law firms. It will challenge the way you think about success (both your own and others).

One book you should get read and not listen to is "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking. You have to read it in your own internal voice. It doesn't work as an audio book, but it is mind expanding.

 

I used to be a reviewer for Audiofile Magazine -- really! I did a lot of business books -- and some are definitely better than others. I just finished The Big Short, (Michael Lewis), which was just right -- and, like most of Michael Lewis' books, you always take home something in an interesting way.

You might also like Dan Ariely's books -- I listened to The Upside of Irrationality and then went and read/listened to a whole bunch of other books about decision-making and neuroscience, and found them surprisingly easy to listen to.

In terms of biographies, Walter Isaacson's book on Benjamin Franklin was fascinating, although long (not as bad as Ayn Rand). He also has a book on Einstein, but I am still intimidated by the subject matter.

As for fiction, enjoyed all the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo books, and listening made the Swedish names a lot easier to get through!

Betsy Massar Come see me at my Q&A thread http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/b-school-qa-w-betsy-massar-of-master-admissions Ask away!
 

It takes me about an hour to get to work every morning due to traffic jam and I always listen to some gangsta westside compton hiphop cd's like the game, singing along, or rather rapping, out loud to force myself to fully wake up.

This moth!@fu1!@#ing gangta sh!@ definitely helps me get myself ready for the day.

But I started to wonder if I could something more productive than this, and a good friend of mine recommended listening to an audio book!

so.. I, too, am trying to give it a shot.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.

 

Is the Barbarians at the gate audiobook free?

The difference between successful people and others is largely a habit - a controlled habit of doing every task better, faster and more efficiently.
 
mhurricane:
Is the Barbarians at the gate audiobook free?

Not free. Audible gives you credits. First 3 months are $7.49 or so, and you get 1 book free a month. Then it goes up to something like $15.

This version is abridged. Unabridged isn't on Audible.

Betsy Massar Come see me at my Q&A thread http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/b-school-qa-w-betsy-massar-of-master-admissions Ask away!
 
melvvvar:
it's pretty clear who on WSO reads books and who does not.

Now it's pretty clear who the book listeners are!

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 

Growing up on a farm in Eastern Europe we didn't have a computer and our TV received 2 channels so all my free time was divided between sports and reading. I used to absolutely love it (even won a school contest for most books read in a year), but that changed after my family moved to North America. I've been listening to audiobooks for a couple years now for all the reasons you mentioned CPH and can't imagine reading non-coursework literature. I've listened to about 10 books the last two months alone!

Here is why I'm not happy with my preferred method of consuming books: low retention rate and minimal expansion of your vocabulary as compared to ACTUALLY reading it.

I know it's more convenient to sit back and listen to someone read it to you, most of the time with divided attention. Reading books forces you to focus on the material, thus remembering much more, and see the actual words in front you. If any of you ever had to memorize a poem for a class how did you do it? Did someone read it to you over and over or did you read it yourself dozens of times? Repeating the words you see infront of yourself is a form of stimulation, one especially effective at expanding your vocabulary and memory.

I noticed how many small details I did not remember from the first few audiobooks I listened to as compared to when I used to read and I realized how much I'm missing out on. Unless I have ample time on my hands, which isn't the case these days, I'll stick with audiobooks, but a miniscule part of me keeps reminding me how much I'm missing out on. Don't get me wrong, I love the concept and will continue to listen to audiobooks, but it's good to physically pick up a book once in a while and without any distractions devote your attention to the storyline.

As to any specific suggestions, I'm currently listening to "48 Laws of Power". Highly recommended if anyone hasn't read it.

" A recession is when other people lose their job, a depression is when you lose your job. "
 

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