Audiobooks are still relatively new to many people. Reading a paperback and listening to an audiobook are two distinct experiences. Even though you’re consuming the same material, the medium makes a lot of difference. So, if you are a beginner and it’s hard to commit to longer audiobooks, you’ve landed on the right page. I will share the best short audiobook recommendations in this article with run times below five hours. All these Audiobooks are available on Audible platform. You can get the Audible Free Trial now and read your favorite audiobook for totally free. Let’s begin!

Best Short Audiobooks To Listen!

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1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Though people fear classics, many classic books are short and can be read in a few hours. One such book is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The length of this audiobook is four hours and forty-nine minutes. It’s a book about a self-made millionaire Jay Gatsby who pursues Daisy Buchanan, whom he loved in his youth. He realizes he can only be happy by bringing Daisy back into his life.

The Great Gatsby is celebrated as the great American novel because it shows the lifestyle and idealism of the 1920s New York Elites. The commentary on wealth, class, and society makes this book a masterpiece. And to make it even better, the audiobook narration has been done by the American actor Jake Gyllenhaal. His voice channels the charisma of the vintage era and will leave you mesmerized. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧

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2. All Systems Red by Martha Wells

All Systems Red by Martha Walls is a science fiction novella that follows the story of a Murderbot, a sentient robot/security unit. The security unit was sent with the scientists to the far-off planet to assist them, but the bot hacked its programming. The story also comments on capitalism and the government. The length of this audiobook is just three hours and seventeen minutes. Kevin R. Free, an Audie Award Winning book narrator, has given his voice to this book. His narration is expressive, fun, captivating, and keeps you hooked on the story. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧

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3. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor is the winner of the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award for Best Novella. And rightfully so! It’s the story of a woman named Binti, the first of the Himba people to get accepted into the esteemed intergalactic university called Oomza University. Binti runs from her home and boards a transport spaceship to reach Oomza University.

The ship then gets hijacked by an alien race called the Meduse, and the adventure begins. The length of the audiobook is just two hours and thirty minutes, and the narration by the American actress Robin Miles makes the listening experience ten times more enjoyable. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧

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4. Why Not Me by Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling has her separate fan base, so if you are a fan, high five! And if you aren’t, then chances are this book will convert you into one. Why Not Me is a collection of essays where Mindy shares her experiences and anecdotes from Hollywood. We all know how hard it is to establish yourself in an industry where you are seen differently because of the color of your skin, etc.

There is a lot of loneliness and agony involved in the whole process of finding your footing. So, when a personality like Mindy Kaling talks about love, friendship, and loneliness, it feels relatable. The run time for this audiobook is four hours and fifty-seven minutes, and Mindy has narrated the book herself, which helps the humor to land precisely where it should. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧

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5. The Gifts Of Imperfection by Brene Brown

If I tell you that you can change the course of your life in a day, will you believe me? Probably not. So, let me recommend you Brene Brown’s audiobook, The Gifts Of Imperfections, with a run time of four hours and thirty-one minutes. This book will teach you what it means to live a whole-hearted life and how to do that. The guideposts inside the book will give you actionable steps to start your inner transformational journey while listening to the audiobook. It feels powerful when Brene Brown reads out her book for you. It establishes a beautiful connection between the author and the listener. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧

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6. The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy

Ariel Levy is an American writer who works for the New Yorker Magazine. From a very young age, Ariel had a vision of the kind of woman she wanted to be and to achieve that, she traveled and followed her destiny. However, one significant loss left Ariel vulnerable and in need of reinvention. Listening to Ariel Levy narrate her memoir is powerful and emotional. The runtime of the audiobook is four hours and fifty-three minutes which is relatively short for a memoir. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧

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7. Elevation by Stephen King

Elevation by Stephen King is three hours and forty-six minutes long audiobook keeping you hooked until the end. It follows the story of Scott Carey, who sees mysterious signs of an illness on his body. He is losing weight alarmingly. Meanwhile, he gets wrapped up in helping a lesbian couple who are trying to open a restaurant. Stephen King’s narration makes you feel the eerie atmosphere of the plot. Elevation is an excellent audiobook for beginners who haven’t tapped into Stephen King’s work yet. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧

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8. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Korede and Ayoola are sisters, Korede being the elder one. Ayoola is more beautiful and gets her way around people and things. Korede helps Ayoola dispose of her dead boyfriend’s body. This is the third boyfriend in a row who she killed. Now Korede is in love with a doctor, and she is waiting for him to approach her. But the guy asks for Ayoola’s phone number instead, making Korede worry about what could happen if the two get together. Oyinkan Braithwaite’s writing is witty and frightening. The audiobook is beautifully narrated by Adepero Oduye, an American actress, singer, and writer. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧

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9. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata is one of the most unusual books I have ever read. It’s a book about a woman Keiko Furakara who could never fit anywhere. It neither felt like she belonged in her family nor her school. At the age of eighteen, Keiko started working at a branch of a Convenience Store called Smile Mart. Finally, she found a place where she could fit in. The rules about social interaction were laid out clearly, making it easier for her to abide by them and thrive.

After working in the store for eighteen years, her identity is mingled with the store. Her family pushes her to marry, settle, and find another job. How will Keiko manage after going through such a huge change? Convenience Store Woman is three hours and twenty-one minutes long audiobook. The Hongkong actress Nancy Wu narrates the audiobook, and her voice compliments Keiko’s story. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧

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10. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo 

Marie Kondo is a Japanese Cleaning consultant with a waitlist of clients who want to get insights about decluttering from her. The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up is a short and crisp audiobook with a run time of four hours and fifty minutes. Marie Kondo shared several tips about shifting your approach towards keeping things you need and want to keep rather than just tossing them around the house. You will learn the six basic rules of tidying that are life-changing. Lucy Scott is an experienced narrator, and her calm voice makes the listening experience relaxing. You can get the audiobook here! 🎧

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These are the Best Short Audiobooks to listen! Getting into the habit of listening to audiobooks may seem daunting initially. But starting with short audiobooks will help you learn the habit quickly. You can also check out our Best Audible Audiobooks list! Happy Listening!

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