🛑 When Should You Take a Break from Audiobooks?

by Audiobook Obsessed | Jun 25, 2025 | 🎧 Audiobook Life

You shouldn’t. That’s it. That’s the post.

Seriously—what kind of cursed energy is this?
“Take a break from audiobooks”? That’s like saying, “Maybe I’m breathing too much today.”

No. Absolutely not.

🧠 Here Are Some “Valid” Reasons to Take a Break:

• You’re unconscious.
• The narrator started speaking backwards.
• Your earbuds melted.
• Your brain exploded from a plot twist you actually saw coming.
• You accidentally joined a book club and now everything feels like homework.

Otherwise?

Put those headphones back on, hit play, and keep surviving your day like the tired, chaos-surrounded legend you are.

Final Thought

Books don’t ask questions.
Books don’t judge.
Books let you escape while scrubbing dried ketchup off the baseboards.

Never stop listening.
And if someone tells you to “take a break,” you politely tell them Dave is calling—and then hit play on Chapter 12.

🎯 Finding Your First Audiobook (Without Losing Your Sanity or Your Credit)

by Audiobook Obsessed | Jun 4, 2025 | 🎧 Audiobook Life

Let’s be honest—there’s no magical “perfect” way to start your audiobook journey. But I’ll tell you what won’t help: asking your gym bro for his favorite “Alpha Mindset Warrior” audiobook. Or listening to Dave from accounting drone on about the one self-help book that “changed his life.” Don’t be like Dave.

✅ Step 1: Build a List

• Ask people you actually like for recommendations.
• Search the internet (you’re already here, so… great job).
• Use your audiobook app’s recommendations (the ones that aren’t trying to upsell you vitamins).

Just… filter for taste. If a guy uses “grindset” in casual conversation, skip his book list.

✅ Step 2: Start Free (Yes, FREE)

Use Libby.
Why? Because it’s free and I’m too lazy to look for anything better. And it works.
Got a library card? You’re golden. If not, you know… get one. You’re not on a watch list. Probably.

Other options? Sure. But Libby’s the MVP for figuring out what genres you like before burning real money or credits.

🧠 But What If You’re “Too Alpha for Free”?

First off: calm down, Spartan.
Second: most paid subscriptions (like Audible) come with included audiobooks—originals, series, even some hidden gems.

Are all of them good? No.
Were the first wave of Audible Originals kind of a trainwreck? Absolutely.
But they’ve gotten way better—and The Weirdies kids’ series? Surprisingly awesome.

🧪 Step 3: Experiment (You’re Not Getting Married)

Try a little bit of everything—sci-fi, romance, space cowboys with emotional trauma—whatever sounds good. Use Audible’s finder tools to spot high-rated books, then check if Libby has them. Waiting list? Fine. You didn’t waste a credit. Big win.

🎧 Final Thought from the Guy Ignoring Dave’s Book Club

There’s no wrong way to start—unless you’re making it weird.
Sample a bunch. Stick with what clicks. Bail on what bores you.And may your listening journey be ever in your favor.
(Said in your best narrator voice, obviously.)

Why Audiobooks Are Awesome (Even If You Haven’t Touched a Book Since High School)

by Audiobook Obsessed | May 21, 2025 | 🎧 Audiobook Life

Let’s cut to the chase: reading is hard. Not like hard hard, but “I-have-kids-and-a-job-and-no-time-to-sit-in-silence-for-300-pages” hard. Enter audiobooks: the glorious loophole that lets you “read” while mowing the lawn, folding laundry, or pretending to care during school pickup.

This isn’t a guilt trip about not reading more. It’s a survival guide for squeezing stories into a dad’s life that’s already stacked higher than a Costco cart before a three-day weekend.

Why Audiobooks Rule (And Paper Books Drool)

I became hooked when I realized I could deep-dive into a spy thriller while scrubbing a toilet. Instant addiction. Why? Because I’m finally getting stories into my life again—and doing it without sacrificing time, sanity, or muscle cramps from holding a book at eye level.

Multitasking Magic: Stories for the Overbooked

Let’s face it: our lives are a three-ring circus of chores, work, and “Dad, can I have a snack?” moments. Audiobooks let you:

• Listen while driving, walking, gym-ing, pretending to work…
• Feel productive while folding socks (yes, that counts).
• Escape, even if your escape route is the garage with headphones in.

The Narrator is Everything (Seriously)

A good narrator can turn a decent book into an all-out binge-worthy event. A bad one sounds like your high school math teacher reading The Iliad. No thanks.

Look out for:

• Narrators who act, not read. Voices, accents, emotion—the whole nine yards.
• Bonus: you’ll find yourself stalking favorite narrators like they’re celebrities. Totally normal.

Try New Stuff (Without Regret)

Audiobooks are low-pressure ways to try:

• Genres you’ve never touched before (sci-fi? noir? cozy mysteries with talking cats?)
• Authors you’ve heard of but never had the time for
• Books in other languages (for the overachieving dads out there)

Worst case? It sucks. You move on. No bookshelf shame. No sunk cost panic.

End the Day with a Story, Not a Doom Scroll

Picture this: you’re lying in bed, your kids finally asleep, and instead of doomscrolling TikTok until your brain turns into applesauce, you hit play on a killer audiobook.

Boom. Instant decompression:

• It’s like watching a movie, but you can close your eyes.
• Bonus: it won’t recommend 47 more shows you’ll never finish.

How to Get Started Without Losing Your Mind (or Wallet)

Look, don’t overthink it. Pick an app, hit play.

Dad-tested favorites:

• Libby – Free with a library card. Good for trying stuff without commitment. Like dating, but for books.
• Audible – Monthly credits, big library, shiny exclusives.
• Audiobooks.com – Same vibe, different flavor.

Pro tip: Start with Libby. Zero risk. Zero regret.

Final Word from the Garage

If you’ve ever said, “I’d read more if I had time,” congratulations—your loophole is here.

• Start with something fun.
• Don’t read what you should—read what keeps you hitting “next chapter.”
• And if someone recommends a book that “changed their life”? Cool. You’re just trying to survive Monday, not achieve enlightenment.

So go on—hit play, and welcome to your new favorite way to “read.”

So You Wanna Try Audiobooks? Read This Before You Waste a Credit

by Audiobook Obsessed | May 14, 2025 | 🎧 Audiobook Life

Let me guess—you’ve finally decided to dip your toe into the audiobook pool, but the moment you open an app, it’s like staring into the abyss. Thousands of choices, and you only get one credit a month. One precious credit. Blow it on a snoozefest, and you’ll be salty until the next billing cycle. I’ve been there. Let’s make sure you don’t end up there too.

Step 1: Pick the Right Genre (AKA: What Movie Would You Watch?)

Don’t overthink it. Don’t pick books you should be reading. You’re not in high school English anymore. Go for what actually excites you.

• Love action flicks? Spy thrillers? Apocalypse survivors punching their way to justice?
• Rom-coms with sarcastic inner monologues?
• Murder mysteries with weird detectives and too many plot twists?

Start with what you already know you like and branch out from there. This isn’t a “grow your mind” journey. This is a “stay sane while folding laundry” situation.

Step 2: Choose Your Weapon (App)

Here’s the dad-approved breakdown of audiobook apps:

• Audible – Paid subscription, new releases, big-name narrators, exclusive stuff. Great if you’re serious.
• Libby – Free with a library card. Yes, libraries still exist. Great for older titles, random finds, and testing stuff before you commit.
• Barnes & Noble Audio, Audiobooks.com, etc. – Same deal as Audible. All around $14.95 a month for a credit.

Pick whatever works. If they’ve got the book you want, it really doesn’t matter. Just… if you’re still playing CDs in your truck, this post may not help you. Bless your heart.

Step 3: Series or One-and-Done?

If you’re just getting started, I recommend standalone books. No commitment, no cliffhangers. You want a story that wraps up before you forget what the main character’s name was.

That said, some series—like the Jack Reacher books—let you jump in anywhere. No need to start at book one. Perfect for commitment-phobes.

Step 4: Go for the Hook (Or Regret Everything)

Some books start slow and “build tension.” Cool. Problem is, I’m usually building IKEA furniture while listening, and I need something to happen—preferably with explosions or betrayal—within the first 30 minutes.

Here’s the rule:
If I’m not hooked in one hour, I bail.
Life’s too short for a boring narrator whispering about someone’s tragic childhood for five chapters.

Step 5: Author Schmauthor (At First)

When you’re new to this, don’t stress about authors. That’ll come later. But if someone you actually trust recommends a book, go for it.

And if Dave from accounting tells you to listen to the latest “life-changing” productivity book—run. Dave’s on his fifth try at keto and hasn’t read a real book since college. 

Step 6: If the Book Sucks, Quit

I used to force myself to finish bad books because I paid for it. Big mistake. Now, if it sucks after an hour, I’m out. Libby is perfect for this because it’s free. No guilt. Just move on.

You can always come back later once you’ve built up some audiobook tolerance.