Holiday travel is right around the corner. Before know it you’ll be getting the car or hopping on a plane to go home for Thanksgiving. I often wait until the last minute to pick out an audiobook for my road trip. This list of the best books for holiday travel offers some of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to. I don’t think you’ll go wrong with any of them.
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Best Audiobooks for Holiday Travel
A good audiobook can make you forget you’re traveling. I’ve gotten into audiobooks that are so good I hardly want to stop for gas or the bathroom. Choosing a good audiobook requires not only a good book, but also a good reader. A bad reader can absolutely ruin an audiobook. The titles I offer here are outstanding books, and I’ve listened to most of them on audio. Be sure to sample the book before committing; tastes differ, so make sure the reader’s voice is compatible with your ear.
None of these books are on the 2024 bestsellers lists. Some of them were written a couple of decades ago, you probably won’t see any of these on most lists. But all of these audiobooks are absolute gems. They’ll keep you in the story, wondering what happens next. I have included the length of each book so you can choose something that matches up with the length of your trip. Safe and happy travels!
My #1 Pick
This book occupies a special place in my heart… because it is so, incredibly good! I first listened to it on CDs, on a road trip from one duty station to another. I stopped at a Barnes & Noble en route and something about it caught my eye. Since then I’ve read it on paper and listened to it at least once more. I’ve given away several copies of it, and purchased at least one audiobook copy for a friend. I’ve also recommended it to dozens of people, and now to all of you.
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. This book weaves two interesting historical events: the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, and the serial killer who was prolifically operating at the same place and time. Larson’s books are historical narratives. They read like fiction, but every feeling, thought, quote, etc. is not merely imagined; they are all taken from letters, diaries, newspaper quotes, etc. I have never read history quite like it, and I honestly believe The Devil in the White City is the pinnacle of Larson’s work. This one will keep your hands on the wheel, because you’ll want to find out what happens next. Length: 14 hours, 58 minutes.
Audiobooks About The Ocean
For some reason, I absolutely love listening to books about the sea while I’m driving or flying. There is an inherent element of travel in seafaring books. That’s why this is the biggest category of best audiobooks for holiday travel – I love them! I’ve included three, in case you’ve read one or two on here.
In The Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick. I listened to this with an ex on our way back from our epic Iceland/Ireland trip. This book details the sinking the whaleship Essex, the only vessel known to have been sunk by an attacking whale. Much more of the story is the tale of the survivors, who spent an unimaginable length of time in life boats. Not only that, but you’ll learn more than ever thought possible about the whaling industry. In The Heart of the Sea is absolutely fascinating. Length: 10 hours, 2 minutes
In Harm’s Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors by Douglas Stanton. The USS Indianapolis is one of the great tragedies of World War II. It was the last US vessel sunk in the war. It sunk just days before the end of the war. Terrifyingly, its survivors we plunged into the sea with hundreds of sharks. In Harm’s Way details their desperate plight for survival. I listened to most of this on a red-eye from San Diego to D.C. and could not get enough! Length: 8 hours, 12 minutes
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann. The H.M.S. Wager was a Royal Navy ship that wrecked in 1741, on an island off the coast of Patagonia. The crew mutinied and intrigue ensued…and many of these men even made it back to England to stand trial. The Wager is a tale of men surviving against all odds and is another one I had a hard time putting down. Length: 8 hours, 28 minutes.
Audiobooks About the Travel Industry
When traveling, you might want to listen to a book about the hospitality industry. There are two books that jump to the top of the list in this category.
Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles and So-Called Hospitality by Jacob Tomsky. This hilariously-written book exposes the seedier sides of hotels and hoteliers. The author worked in a large, well-known hotel in NYC, not a Hilton Garden Inn out by the airport, so you can rest easy that this probably isn’t happening at your hotel. Tomsky talks about the problem guests, the celebrities, the sex, drugs, and intrigue. He also tells you how to get out of paying for anything in the minibar and *maybe* how to get upgraded. Length: 8 hours, 3 minutes. I truly wish this one were longer!
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain. This fast-paced, irreverent, at times downright-dirty is as good a beach read as I’ve ever picked up. The audiobook, which is read by the author, is maybe even better than paper because Bourdain is able to spice up the text with his New York accent and inimitable inflections. He talks about his introduction to the cooking world at the “Dreadnaught,” and the chef having his way with a bride at her wedding reception. He loosely charts the rest of his life to that point and gives plenty of inside info, including why you shouldn’t order fish on Monday. Kitchen Confidential is MUST READ. Length: 8 hours, 19 minutes.
Audiobooks For VERY Long Trips
You may have a very long round-trip ahead of you. You could listen to a couple of books, or jump into one long enough to equal three, four,or even five standard-length books. I have a couple of favorites in the genre, and both are fiction.
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty. I just listened to this audiobook last year, and not during any special travel. It was recommended to me twice, within a week, by two people who have never met each other. I took that as a sign. Lonesome Dove follows Gus, the Captain, and various other characters through a cattle drive. It’s half Western, half coming-of-age tale, and maybe a dash of a meditation on the nature of life itself. This book was a tale I couldn’t put down, and it made me think…a lot. I don’t want to say too much more about it because I don’t want to spoil anything, but it is one hell of a listen. Length: 36 hours, 41 minutes.
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet. I have to confess, I haven’t listened to this one audio. I’ve read the book and watched the TV miniseries, and the book is phenomenally good. This is one of those epic books, following multiple seemingly-unrelated characters that all come together by the end. Pillars of the Earth is an epic struggle between good and evil and it will hook you in quickly. This book is the first in a series, but admittedly the only one of the series that I’ve read. Length: 40 hours, 56 minutes.
Closing Thoughts on the Best Audiobooks for Holiday Travel
I hope I’ve given you something for the holiday trip coming up…or just something to listen to as you rake leaves and commute to work. All of these books are some of the best books I’ve ever read, and all are incredibly entertaining. A good audiobook will make you look forward to getting back on the road after a stop for gas…just to see what happens next. I hope you all have a safe holiday season!
