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19 Best Nonfiction Audiobooks For Road Trips Guaranteed to Entertain You
Find the list of great non fiction audiobooks to listen on your next road trips in 2023.
Long gone are the days when road trip means packing all your bags; now it’s all about bringing along great non fiction audiobooks to listen to. When on long and length drives on the road, listening to a captivating audiobook become the perfect escape. So explore the best nonfiction audiobooks for road trips- educational and insightful books to make the journey more enjoyable.
I have already made the best fiction audiobooks for road trips, but unlike novels, non fiction audiobooks offer thought-provoking ideas and perspectives which will make you engaged throughout the extended road trips.
This collection of nonfiction audiobooks for car journeys offers a diverse subject matter, for every listener’s interest. If you’re a fan of crime audiobooks, American Sherlock and Say Nothing are excellent choices. But perhaps you are on a solo road trip and want to listen to an inspiring self-help audiobook, which is precisely why I have included Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth to the list.
Either way, these inspirational and educational audiobooks for road trips and travel are surely going to help you make the most out of your upcoming trip(s).
So, dive into the great inventory of audiobooks that include biographies, self help audiobooks and so much more!
The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre
An enthralling audiobook for the fans of real life espionage biographies.
This book is about thirteen hours long, so ideal for a really long car journey. Because you can actually listen to the book like a thriller, you won’t even know how quickly the time passes. The Spy and the Traitor recounts the real-life story of the Soviet double agent Oleg Gordievsky, who helped to prevent the cold war. The book also follows Aldrich Ames, an American turncoat. Macintyre focuses on their lives incorporating both the Western and Russian perspectives.
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Waypoints by Sam Heughan
Brace yourself to embark on an exhilarating journey into Scottish Highlands in Sam Heughan bestselling memoir.
You might know him as the star of the popular Outlander series, but in the audiobook, you’ll discover more about his life story and the events that define him. Waypoints is an insightful, entertaining and deeply personal book to listen to during a cross-country road trip.
And what’s even more exciting is that the audiobook also features the clip and sound effects from the hike as well!
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American Sherlock by Kate Winkler Dawson
Make the most out of your long drive listening to this gripping crime audiobook about the life of the real life Sherlock Holmes.
Edward Oscar Heinrich was a true genius and a pioneer in American forensics. His knack for finding clues and deducing the answers have made him one of America’s greatest forensic scientists. Also read by the author, American Sherlock is a true crime narrative that you can listen to like a fiction novel.
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Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
This true crime audiobook investigates the murder of a missing mother of ten, Jean McConville, during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The author Patrick Keefe is an investigative journalist, known for his masterful storytelling, so when he combines that with the mastery of a suspense novelist, Say Nothing becomes a gripping and utterly absorbing audiobook.
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Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
So, you want to listen to a non fiction audiobook on your next road trip with friends, how about I suggest you a book that will keep you entertained and inspired during the whole car journey.
Matthew McConaughey’s memoir Greenlights is many things. It’s funny, emotional, straightforward and brilliant. As he reflects on his own life, he elucidates the concept of greenlights. McConaughey is a fascinating storyteller and listening to the book in his own voice will be an absolute delight!
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In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
When you know you are going to spend hours on the road, listening to funny non fiction audiobooks like In a Sunburned Country is a remarkable idea. Bill Bryson takes you on a little adventure to Australia where he has rather unique and sometimes risky encounters in the Australian wildlife. An delightful cultural travelogue with a healthy dose of Bryson humor.
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I can’t make this Up by Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart’s inspirational memoir is another giggle-worthy audiobook that you can listen to during your road trip adventure. He chronicles a deep and honest picture of his life in North North Philadelphia, growing up with his protective mother and absent father. And those who knows Kevin Hart, know comedy is in his blood so the whole narrative is filled with Hart’s signature wit and humor.
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Taste by Stanley Tucci
When an Italian actor decides to write a memoir, it’s almost guaranteed that it will revolve around food. Tucci talks A LOT about food.
Taste follows actor’s hardship days in his film career, rough patch of his personal life, and so much more. The audiobook, read by the author of course, will leave you with recipes of sumptuous Italian food, like how to make the best tomato sauce and even recommendations for best restaurants across the globe.
So a word of caution- don’t listen to this audiobook on an empty stomach, especially if you are on a road trip!
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I’d Like to Play Alone, Please by Tom Segura
If you’re always in the mood for entertaining and engaging non-fiction audiobooks for journeys on the road this audiobook is perfect for you. Tom Seg is a funny guy, and time will fly when you listen to his signature curmudgeonly humor. These are anecdotes about his personal life and some ridiculous things that might have accidently shaped his life. And the most hilarious stories are the ones that happened during his road trip. So it might be something you might be able to relate to while listening to the book on your trip.
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Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
David Sedaris’ collection of essays is witty, reflective, sharp and an unconventional life story.
He describes his upbringing in North Carolina, his struggles in overcoming the speech impediment etc. The fascinating part about the book is that each story is sprinkled with Davids’s witty so you will burst into laughter during the whole narration. So I would highly suggest this short but joyful audiobook for your short car trips.
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A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
The next non fiction audiobook is a smart choice for long, solo road trips. Eckhart Tolle is a renowned spiritual guru. In A New Earth, Tolle examines the world of toxicity and ego and enlightens you to lead a fulfilling life. One of the top spiritual books that answers your purpose in life and encourages us to surround ourselves with the joy of being.
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The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
Here is another book read by the author. Comedian Tiffany Haddish’s memoir is an honest account of her traumatic childhood and foster care. But if you know Tiffany, you also know that no matter what she does, she is inherently funny. As she opens up about her initial tragic days of abuse, molestation and illiteracy, she also adds a little humorous twist to each event.
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Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff
Another great audiobook that you can listen to on solo journeys. Leading psychologist Dr. Kristin Nef uncovers the secrets to deal with negativity and anxiety. She teaches you a unique approach that will encourage you to rely on oneself instead of external validation. For that Neff offers daily exercises that can help practice self love and acceptance. Check out this post for more self-love book recommendations.
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Never Finished by David Goggins
I know I have been recommending one self book after the other, in a selection of non fiction audiobooks for road trips, and it’s for a reason.
Road trips are the best way to take some time to listen to inspirational books that you may not have on your daily schedule.
So for example, Never Finished is a fascinating book that can truly change your life. This transformative guide helps you focus on your future. Based on the author’s personal experience and self -discovery the book urges you to transform yourself to become the person you aspire to be.
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Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Perhaps you really want to listen to an interesting audiobook based on a true story on your road trip, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is a great choice. The World War II biography is based on Olympic runner and aviator Louis “Louie” Zamperini. After surviving a plane crash during the war, Lt. Zamperini became a Japanese prisoner for nearly three years. This monumental story of survival and silence is worthtuning into.
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The Only Woman in the Photo by Kathleen Krull
If you’re looking for an informative non fiction audiobook for family road trips with kids, The Only Woman in the Photo is a fantastic selection. This empowering biography takes you to the life of Frances Perkins, who was the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet. The story of this remarkable woman would be a hit with kiddos.
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The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Author Gary Chapman coined the term “love languages”, to describe five different ways romantic partners express and experience love. Immerse yourself in the audiobook to learn about the love languages that will transform your relationship with your partner. A concise and practical guide on taking your relationship to new heights.
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Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Want to listen to audiobooks on real life topics during a road trip? Sapiens discusses a sweeping narrative of human evolution spanning two and half million years. Noah Harari brings to life the fascinating and compelling history of humans, the facts and myths about how we dominated the planet. Starting from stone-age all the way to the twenty-first century, you’re going to learn a lot about our history!
Narrator Derek Perkins has an engaging voice which is a perfect fit for this non fiction book narration.
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Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
The harrowing inside story of a tech startup in Silicon Valley will have you fully engrossed in this audiobook narration. Elizabeth Holmes was widely known as a female Steve Jobs, as a founder of her multibillion-dollar company Theranos. As a Stanford dropout, her company promised to revolutiozise blood testing with a unique technology. Holmes even managed to get investors like Larry Ellison and Tim Draper on board. But only problem was that the technology failed to function.
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I hope you’ve found enough non fiction audiobook titles to enjoy during your next adventure.
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