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matter of fact
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Now in Nonfiction
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Here in the strangest timeline, outcomes can be confounding. (I’m thinking of the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul spectacle, of course.) But when it comes to our Audiobook of the Year, it all makes sense. Percival Everett’s James is a modern masterpiece, and if you haven’t heard Dominic Hoffman’s performance, you are in for a treat. I am so excited to share all of our Best of the Year picks—and if you want to join the year-end fun, there’s still time to vote in the Readers’ Favorite Audiobook category in the Goodreads Choice Awards. With the likes of Malcolm Gladwell, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jonathan Haidt stepping into the ring, could we see a nonfiction knockout, or will James scoop up another victory? The timeline will tell.
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We listened. We debated. We obsessed. And we listened some more. At last, we’re proud to announce that the Best of 2024 is here, honoring the year’s most outstanding listens in every genre. As the year winds down, you’ll see a LOT of these lists; what makes ours different is that the audio experience is always paramount, and input from our listeners is key. One prediction? Your wish list is about to get longer.
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Honoring Indigenous identities
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Any time is the right time to listen to Indigenous stories, but each November, as we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, it is truly incredible to see the amazing breadth, creativity, and provocative thinking of Indigenous creators. I never fail to find something new and exciting from these multifaceted voices, starting with these instant downloads for me in nonfiction. Be sure to check out the full collection, which centers Indigenous perspectives and honors the tradition of oral storytelling.
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A triumph of friendship in a mental health tragedy
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In 2020, a levelheaded woman named Kat Alexander was starting IVF when she experienced a serious mental health crisis. Luckily, her best friend, the author Mara Altman, was there to help. Together, they chronicled their journey in a deeply moving Audible Original that took me places I did not see coming. Kind of like Jonathan Rosen’s Pulitzer finalist The Best Minds, but with a dual perspective that shines in audio, this is an intense but ultimately hopeful story of trauma, love, and healing—and a must-listen for anyone invested in breaking cycles of addiction or shattering mental health stigmas.
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Talking audio with the queen of voice, Jenny Slate
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Actress, comedian, and Marcel the Shell icon Jenny Slate joined me to discuss her brilliant new piece of unclassifiable audio, Lifeform. Loosely a motherhood memoir, it’s also an essay collection with dramatic interludes starring George Saunders (yes, that George Saunders) and SNL’s Will Forte and Vanessa Bayer, and poetic meditations on raccoon gossip and “going crone.” For the full effect, press play to hear Jenny discuss the book, her process, and fame in all her whimsically analytical, iconically voiced glory.
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Get outside your genre zone
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