2025 Guide to Awesome Audio!
Updated: Jun 18, 2025
How to FIND the Best Audio Material for You
Spend some time browsing titles, using the links below for reviews and awards lists of audiobooks. It's recommended to also think about what it is you like in a book and in a narrator. Audiobooks require more of your time than reading, so also consider how many hours you would like to spend listening.
AUDIOBOOKS
Browse or search library audiobooks
Browse all audiobooks on CD sorted here in order by publication date.
Go directly to this search in CWMARS for a list of all of our audiobooks on CD, sorted by popularity. Sort or narrow down the results according to your own needs.
Go to this catalog search for all E-audio (electronic audio files) titles. You can also search within the Libby or Hoopla apps, in addition to finding E-audio books in the catalog.
Read audiobook reviews
Best Audiobooks of the year (AudioFile Magazine)
Audio in Depth (Library Journal)
BookPage's Audio Coverage (BookPage)
Goodreads Listopia Aubiobook Book Lists (Goodreads)
Audiobooks for Family Road Trips (Rakuten Kobo)
Audiobooks by Bestselling Authors (Rakuten Kobo)
Find audiobooks that have won awards
Audie Awards (Audio Publishers Association)
Earphones Awards (AudioFile Magazine)
Find narrators you like
Narrator Hall of Fame (Audible.com)
Audiobooks Narrated by their Authors (Rakuten Kobo)
The Listen List: Outstanding Audiobook Narration (American Library Association)
PODCASTS
Some podcast 'best of' lists
The following are just some of the 'best of' podcasts lists out there.
Podcasts that have won awards
Below are among the few national podcast awards given to the best podcasts in the U.S.
iHeartRadio Podcast Awards (iHeartRadio)
Podcast Awards: The People's Choice of 2024 (Podcast Awards)
Podcasts made by popular media
New Yorker Magazine podcasts (includes a Pulitzer Prize winner)
Podcast reviews
There are quite a lot of online podcast review sources, but you can find customer reviews of podcasts on your phone's podcast app as well.
Great Pods (critics' reviews and ratings)
Discover Pods: best podcast reviews
Types of Audio FORMATS and How to ACCESS Them
There are many ways to purchase audiobooks, but through the library you can access a huge selection of titles for free, using just your CWMARS library card.
Books on CD
You can find many books on CD throughout the CWMARS network. You just need a functioning CD player! Simply go to the CWMARS catalog and limit the format to “CD audiobook,” and enter a title, author or just a keyword. If the Milne doesn't have it, you can place a hold on a copy from another library. New audiobooks are also listed on our Wowbrary page weekly.
E-Audio Books
Using a smartphone or other device, you’ll find even more audiobook titles when you download the Libby and/or Hoopla apps. There you can search for, request and listen to titles electronically right from your device. For more detailed information about how to get started with E-audio, go to our eBooks and Digital Media page.
Podcasts
Podcasts are series-based audio files you can download or just stream, like a radio program you can listen to anytime. Most podcasts are available electronically free of charge. You can find them on your device’s podcast app or store (this varies by type of device), and subscribe to specific podcasts to receive regular updates. Libraries don’t own physical versions of podcasts, but we’re happy to help you access them!
Updated June 2025
After listening to audiobooks for years, I have learned that the narrator can matter just as much as the book itself. There have been times when I picked a highly recommended title, only to stop halfway because I could not get into the narrator’s voice. Now I usually check the length, reviews, and narrator before starting anything, especially if it is going to take several hours. I have the same habit with everyday things too, like using la calculadora de Alicia when I want to double check a calculation rather than trusting my first estimate. Small checks like these seem insignificant, but they often save you from wasting time later.
I’ve reached the point where I don’t choose an audiobook just because it appears on a “best” list. It really depends on what kind of day I’m having and how much time I can actually give to listening. Sometimes a familiar narrator makes all the difference, while other days I’d rather try something completely new. I also like the idea of checking the length beforehand, especially when I’m planning a long drive or a quiet afternoon at home. When I’m wondering what is today going to look like, I usually pick the audio based on the time I have rather than forcing myself into a particular title.
Such a fantastic guide to awesome audiobooks! There's nothing quite like finding a great narrator to bring a story to life while multitasking. Whenever I take a nice little break after browsing through listening recommendations and library updates, I love to unwind with some fun, completely free games that load instantly with no downloads required on minigame. Thanks for putting this list together!
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