Audiobook Selection for Commuters

Commuters in and around Atlanta often find themselves in their cars for 40-120 minutes a day.  Audiobooks are a great way to pass the time and can make driving to and from work much more pleasurable. Listening to audiobooks during this time can be challenging as you will be breaking up your listening into many small chunks, so it’s important to select a novel you can keep up with.  Here are some helpful tips for making a great selection.

1. Get audiobooks in your favorite genre or by a favorite author. This is a great way to ensure your enjoyment.
2. Unless you are already familiar with the story, avoid any book described as ‘epic’ as there will likely be too many characters to keep track of from day to day.
3. Avoid novels that are technical or extremely detailed.  Listening while driving should not require too much of your attention.
4. Avoid dramas that you know will make you cry.  The Fault In Our Stars is a great audiobook, but do you really want to explain to your coworkers why you are arriving at work with swollen, red eyes from crying?  Probably not.
5. Consider comedy.  It will put you in a great mood while you are stuck in traffic.
6. If you commute with kids in the car, consider a juvenile title.  Classics like C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series are likely to entertain everyone.
7. Do not hesitate to abandon an audiobook if it hasn’t grabbed your attention in the first 10 minutes.

Visit your Forsyth County Public Library to check out our extensive audiobook collection on CDs or visit our website www.forsythpl.org to download an eAudiobook to your digital device.


Kim Ottesen
Information Specialist - Youth Services