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I resisted the idea of audiobooks for a long time. Maybe that’s because I’ve always associated reading with holding the book in my hand and turning the pages. Oh, I also have a favorite reading corner. It’s by a window that overlooks the hills. Curling up on my oversized chair reading my books and looking out occasionally feels calm, peaceful, and relaxing.
But at some point, I found I was spending less and less time doing that. More often than not, time seems to rush past relentlessly, with little or no time to indulge.
It was my son who introduced me to Audible and audiobooks. I promised to take a look but didn’t. When I finally checked it out a week or so later, I was hooked. Audiobooks were the perfect solution. Honestly, sometimes we are so stuck in our ways that we miss out on some genius solutions out there.
Here’s Why I Think Audible Audiobooks Are Brilliant
Audible is a fantastic resource of audiobooks across all genres, fiction and nonfiction. I could be wrong but I think they have the largest library of audiobooks.
If you have never listed to an audiobook before and are not sure whether it’s for you, try it out by signing up for the Audible free 30-day trial. Of course, a free trial is useless without a book, so go ahead and pick up two free audiobooks of your choice with your 3-day free trial. Excuse the cliché but with a free month and two free books to try out audiobooks, you’ve everything to gain and nothing to lose.
If you decide to continue your Audible membership, you will get one audiobook every month for $14.95 a month and 30% off the price of all additional audiobooks you want to listen to. You can cancel your membership at any time. Whatever books you’ve bought are yours to keep.
Before picking up an audiobook, you can listen to an audible sample so you get a preview of what to expect by way of the tone of voice of the narrator. This can make a huge difference to your experience and will ultimately determine whether you enjoy the book or not.
One of the many advantages with Audible audiobooks is that you can sync your books across all of your device. This means you can listen on any device while you’re cooking or cleaning and continue on your phone when you step outdoors. You can pause it when you want to and pick up again where you left off with one click. The amount of reading you can get done using audiobooks is simply amazing!
Also, all of the books are available on Kindle and most are also available as paperbacks. What’s really interesting is you can switch between reading the Kindle version and listening to the Audible narration without losing your place with Whispersync for Voice. If you like the idea of switching between these two modes and you buy the Kindle and Audible narration, you get the latter at a reduced price.
I would never be able to go through all of those books if I had stuck to my guns and insisted on turning the pages. Don’t get me wrong – I still love reading paperbacks but this opens up a whole new world! I listen to my audiobooks while I’m sewing, doing crochet or while ironing.
The list of audiobooks you’ll find below focus on Happiness, Stress Relief, Finding Calm & Overall Wellness. I’ve read most of the books mentioned, and they are absolutely amazing. Those that I haven’t read are on my must-read list.
Click here or the image below to get your free Audible trial and prepare to listen to an interesting narration.
Inspirational Audiobooks On Happiness
The Happiness Project
Gretchen Rubin, Author & Narrator
The Happiness Project describes the author’s year-long experiment with trying to discover what leads to true contentment. Critics call it a “a cross between the Dalai Lama’s The Art of Happiness and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love.” That’s high praise and well-deserved too. The engaging narration combines classical philosophy with real-world applicability and has earned over 2,275 ratings.
Gretchen Rubin is also the author of another extraordinary, award-winning book, ‘40 Ways to Look at Winston Churchill’. This book is only available in paperback and hardcover.
Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be
Rachel Hollis – Author & Narrator
In Girl, Wash Your Face, author Rachel Hollis exposes some of the common lies and misconceptions that often hold us back from living our best life and becoming who we were meant to be. The irreverent title of the book is misleading. Girl, Wash Your Face is punchy and real, narrated in a kick-butt tone that is both entertaining and encouraging. The author talks about real issues and reveals specific practical strategies that will help readers live joyfully, productively, and with passion.
Girl, Wash Your Face is and a #1 New York Times bestseller and has over 16,500 ratings on Audible.
Best-Selling Audiobooks on Stress
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, and It’s All Small Stuff
Richard Carlson Author & Narrator
Written by one of the foremost experts in happiness and stress reduction, and a featured guest on over 2000 other talk shows including Oprah, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff is truly life-changing.
The narration by author Richard Carlson is thoughtful and insightful as it offers practical suggestions for everyday changes that can add up to a more relaxed, stress-free you. You’ll learn to calm down, lower your tolerance to stress, live in the present moment, trust your intuitions, and ultimately live each day as if it might be your last.
If little things in life drive you crazy continuously, this #1 New York Times bestseller will help you put those small annoyances into perspective and see that it’s all small stuff in the end. Brilliant!
Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: The Acclaimed Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases, and Coping – Revised & Updated
Written by Robert M. Sapolsky, Narrated by Peter Berkrot
Combining a healthy dose of humor with solid practical advice, Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers explains how prolonged stress causes or intensifies a range of physical and mental afflictions, including depression, ulcers, colitis, heart disease, and more.
The audiobook is a revised and updated edition of the author’s popular book with over 225,000 copies in print. It includes new chapters on the effect of stress on sleep and addition.
If you’re wondering about the unusual title, the author does a great job of explaining how humans and animals respond to stress and resolve conflict differently. An interesting ‘listen’.
Getting Things Done – The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
Written & Narrated by David Allen
If you find yourself unable to start because you are overwhelmed by stress, this book is for you.
Getting Things Done – The Art of Stress-Free Productivity offers practical tips on managing work-life balance in the 21st century. Although it was published over 15 years ago, this version is updated to address new challenges facing individuals and organizations in today’s rapidly changing world. The author has rewritten the book from start to finish, tweaking the text so it is more relevant to the new workplace.
Getting Things Done is considered one of the most influential books on stress-free productivity and the ultimate book on personal organization.
Best-Selling Audio Books on Mindful Living
The Art of Living: Peace and Freedom In The Here And Now
Written by Thich Nhat Hanh, Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, Gabra Zackman
One of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world today, Thich Nhat Hanh is a well known Zen master. In his hugely popular book, The Art of Living-Peace And Freedom In The Here And Now, Thich Nhat Hanh delves into the art of living in mindfulness. The book offers answers to life’s deepest questions and highlights seven meditations that generate understanding, love, and happiness so we can live deeply in every moment, right where we are.
If you have questions on life and death that tug at you incessantly, this book is for you. The Art of Living guides the listening to live a happier, more peaceful life and face ageing and dying with curiosity and joy instead of fear.
Assorted Audiobooks on Wellness
Yoga: The Top 100 Best Yoga Poses: Relieve Stress, Increase Flexibility, and Gain Strength
There are thousands of yoga poses. This beginner’s guide teaches 100 poses which can help you see results in terms of strength, pain relief, and an increase in inner calm.
Yoga counts for both aerobics and strength training, making it the perfect workout to do at least a couple of times per week. Yoga also counts as a moving meditation because it requires such focus.
The Longevity Plan: Seven Life-Transforming Lessons from Ancient China
Author John M. Day, a cardiologist, shares his own personal story of transformation based on his journey to a remote area of China known as Longevity Village. At Longevity Village, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression, obesity, insomnia and other common Western health issues are rare. Living to 100 years or more is common.
In The Longevity Plan, the author distills the main principles he learned into seven easy to follow instructions to help others experience the beneficial effects of all he learned.
Medical Medium Thyroid Healing: The Truth behind Hashimoto’s, Graves’, Insomnia, Hypothyroidism, Thyroid Nodules & Epstein-Barr
A growing number of people are suffering from thyroid issues; many don’t even realize it. The thyroid gland is essential in regulating our metabolism. If the thyroid is too slow, people experience weight gain. Too fast, people experience weight loss, but also heart issues such as palpitations.
In this guide Medical Medium Thyroid Healing, author Anthony Williams reviews all of the main thyroid disorders and how they can actually be the cause of various “mystery symptoms” that many doctors fail to recognize as thyroid problems.
Note: the author claims to be a medium, so the book may be a bit “New Age” for some readers.
Did you sign up for your 30-day Free Audible trial? Which of these inspirational audiobooks did you listen to and what did you think of it? I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to serve as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before using any natural medication or if you experience any unusual symptoms. See Full Disclaimer here.
