The 21 most popular audiobooks, according to Libro.fm — from Michelle Obama's 'Becoming' to cult-favorite 'Dune'

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $31.04

On a remote island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate the exclusive wedding of a rising television star and a magazine publisher amongst spotty cell service and rising tensions and jealousies. When someone turns up dead, the suspects are limited to those on the island in this dark and twisty thriller. 

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $31.50

Growing up in Idaho with survivalist parents, Tara Westover never saw a classroom or visited a doctor but determinedly taught herself enough math and grammar to be admitted to Brigham Young University. As education opened new doors for Tara, she found herself farther and farther from her roots in this coming-of-age memoir about self-invention, complex familial relationships, and creating your own destiny.  

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $31.03

"Talking to Strangers" is a deeply fascinating psychology book about our relationships with strangers and the strategies we use to make sense of the people we don't know. This audiobook experience is enriched with appearances from people Gladwell interviewed and clips from the evidence he uses. Malcolm Gladwell is well-known for his known for his nonfiction writing on psychology and sociology — you can check out his other popular books here.  

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $51.74

Though "Dune" was originally published in 1965, the 2021 movie starring Timothée Chalamet skyrocketed this audiobook's popularity once again. Narrated by a full cast, this science fiction read is about a boy named Paul Atreides whose noble family is betrayed and thrust into a war over an inhospitable planet with a resource worth killing for. 

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $28

When Noemí Taboada receives a strange and mysterious letter from her newlywed cousin asking for help, she travels to the Mexican countryside to the enigmatic High Place estate. With dark secrets lurking and few allies, Noemí must figure out how to save herself (and her cousin) in this eerie, gothic horror. 

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $31.50

When a popular boy is found dead in 1969, his quiet community immediately suspects the strange, wild girl they'd dubbed the "Marsh Girl" as the killer. Living off the land and in solitude, Kya Clark has always kept to herself until she finds herself drawn to two young men from town in this wise and moving historical fiction novel about human nature and our relationship to the natural world. 

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $29.88

This beloved, award-winning fantasy novel follows Circe, a daughter of the Titans who is banished to a deserted island after discovering her affinity for witchcraft. In this entertaining audiobook, Circe encounters incredible dangers, adventures, and famous mythological figures like the Minotaur, Icarus, and Odysseus. You can find more books inspired by Greek mythology here.

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $25.86

As a botanist and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Robin Wall Kimmerer has combined science, history, and culture to examine how our future of environmental consciousness is rooted in our relationship with nature. Thought-provoking and sincere, this nonfiction read is a beautiful and affecting book about viewing both life and nature through a unique lens. 

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $31.04

"Stamped from the Beginning" is a heavily researched nonfiction book about the history of racism and its power through slavery, the civil rights movement, and the way racist thinking continues to affect American society today. This profound 18-hour audiobook presents the ways that racist ideas were manipulated throughout history and how understanding this history can dismantle and discredit racist thinking. 

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $28

When Michelle Zauner's mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she was forced to reckon with her family, culture, and past in order to reconnect with everything that reminded her of her mother. From stories of food in her grandmother's kitchen in Seoul to performing with her band, this emotional memoir is a story of identity, loss, and heritage. 

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $28

In a challenging time of her life, Nora Seed struggles with the choices she's made and dreams of a different, better life when she finds herself on the steps of a strange, fantastical library. Inside, there are infinite books, each one showing Nora a different life she could have had — and still could have — if she'd made different choices. As Nora traverses the lives and universes parallel to her own, she must decide what makes her life truly worth living. 

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $31.04

Linus Barker is living a quiet life as a Case Worker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth when he's assigned a highly classified case and sent to check in on an island orphanage housing six dangerous children from a strange green blob to the literal Antichrist. As Linus learns more about the children and their dedicated caretaker, secrets begin to arise in this incredible fantasy novel about family and loyalty. 

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $31.04

When Danny Conroy's father found enormous wealth with a smart investment after World War II, he purchased an exquisite estate called the Dutch House. When Danny's stepmother throws him and his sister from the home and back into poverty, their sibling bond is truly tested in this historical fiction novel that spans five decades. "The Dutch House" audiobook is also narrated by Tom Hanks, making the listening experience even better. 

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $37.94

When Addie LaRue is about to be married off in 1714, she makes a trade with a dark god — and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. This remarkable, genre-bending novel traverses 300 years as Addie tries to leave her mark on the world, until the day she meets the first boy who can remember her. 

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $31.50

"Caste" is a 2020 award-winning nonfiction read about the unspoken caste system that continues to divide American society into rankings of power. Using examples through history, Isabel Wilkerson examines why our society has defaulted to caste systems, the effects they have on all people, and how we can break down these divisions to work towards an equitable future.

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $31.50

"Untamed" is equal parts reflective memoir and inspirational self-help book for any reader looking for a way to embrace their full selves and truly live. With anecdotes from her divorce, newly blended family, and personal failures and successes, Glennon Doyle's thought-provoking audiobook is an incredible motivator for self-actualization.  

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $35

In Michelle Obama's mesmerizing memoir, she reflects upon the events, experiences, and people who shaped her into the iconic woman she is today. Divided into three parts, Michelle Obama's story is full of meaningful advice, revelations, and wisdom.  

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $31.50

"The Vanishing Half" is a remarkable historical fiction novel about the identical Vignes sisters whose lives diverged in young adulthood, leading each down very different paths. While Stella passes as a white woman in a white community, Desiree lives with her Black daughter in their hometown. As this multi-generational, nonlinear plot unfolds, a remarkable story of historical influence, aspirations, and desires emerges. 

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $39.20

"White Fragility" is a nonfiction tool to help readers learn about the defensive reaction white people have when confronted with their personal prejudices, biases, and racism. Written by an anti-racist educator, this book explores how white fragility develops, how it keeps us from becoming truly anti-racist, and the ways we can engage with ourselves and others more constructively.

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $56

"A Promised Land" is former President Barack Obama's first presidential memoir that tells his story from his first political aspirations through the end of his first term as President of the United States. With honest reflections, fascinating insights, and emotional highlights from his journey, this memoir offers a deeply personal look at some of Obama's greatest and most challenging years. 

Available on Amazon with free Audible trial and Libro.fm, from $28

Libro.fm's bestselling audiobook of all time is "How to Be an Antiracist," a nonfiction book about racism and racial justice in America and how we as a society can facilitate an anti-racist future. Drawing from historical, legal, and scientific examples, this is a must-read for anti-racist self-reflection, activism, and change.