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10 of the Best New Nonfiction Audiobooks for Adults

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Ann-Marie Cahill

Staff Writer

Ann-Marie Cahill will read anything and everything. From novels to trading cards to the inside of CD covers (they’re still a thing, right?). A good day is when her kids bring notes home from school. A bad day is when she has to pry a book from her kids’ hands. And then realizes where they get it from. The only thing Ann-Marie loves more than reading is travelling. She has expensive hobbies.

Audible

Until July 31, Amazon Prime members can get 3 months of Audible for free with a trial. That's 3 audiobooks for free! We'd recommend THE WOMAN IN ME by Britney Spears, JUST FOR THE SUMMER by Abby Jimenez, or JAMES by Percival Everett. Choose from hundreds of thousands of titles.

Now, more than ever, I crave nonfiction audiobooks to help block out the world and fill my head with facts and real stories. It would be easy to run away, dive into my fiction TBR collection, and embrace the escapism — and I have absolutely no judgement if that’s what you would prefer. But honestly, there is so much great nonfiction being published right now, I feel like I am regaining some balance in my life through osmosis. 

Audiobooks are a fantastic medium for the nonfiction genre. There are so many topics that benefit from the conversational nature, speaking the quiet bits out loud, and allowing our minds the time to roll the thoughts around. It harkens back to the days of open forums filled with philosophy, learning, and shared knowledge. Truth be told, most of us don’t have the time (or inclination) for that anymore. Audiobooks give this back to us but on our own terms. We can set up a book on our favourite topic, press play, and soak up the knowledge at our own pace. Whether history, true crime, or the scientific sexiness of the humble triangle (a real thing, I swear), there is something for everyone with nonfiction audiobooks. That’s why I have curated this list of ten of the best new nonfiction audiobooks to fill your digital shelves.

New Nonfiction Audiobooks Looking Back on History

History is a popular genre for nonfiction audiobooks, especially those that illuminate an old topic in a new way.

cover of Straight Acting: The Many Queer Lives of William Shakespeare by Will Tosh

Straight Acting: The Many Queer Lives of William Shakespeare by Dr Will Tosh, read by the author

Coming straight from the Head of Research at Shakespeare’s Globe, London (pun intended), this audiobook is like a personal guided tour through Shakespeare’s history. Except this time, we’re not hiding in the costume closet. Tosh explores Shakespeare’s England, showing a culture far more comfortable in its queerness than we have previously been led to believe. It’s a breath of fresh air on a topic continuously denied for too long. And it’s a lot of fun too.

cover of Bad Girls of Ancient Greece: Myths and Legends from the Baddies that Started it All by Lizzy Tiffin (read by Madeleine Leslay)

Bad Girls of Ancient Greece: Myths and Legends from the Baddies that Started it All by Lizzy Tiffin, read by Madeleine Leslay

History tends to favour the hero men, relegating most female or nonbinary characters to support roles or even villains. For some of us, that’s a good thing — and Tiffin enjoys highlighting the mastery of Bad Girls in Ancient Greece! Her debut book is perfect for anyone interested in Ancient Greece. It reads like a podcast, diving into the history and giving it context with the social environment.

Best New Nonfiction Audiobooks About Sports

If the Paris Olympics have you excited about all things sporty, check out these new audiobooks. While history and fact set the scene, the real strength is how they fit so well into contemporary life.

cover of The Other Olympians: A True Story of Gender, Fascism, and the Making of Modern Sport by Michael Waters (read by Jennifer Pickens)

The Other Olympians: A True Story of Gender, Fascism, and the Making of Modern Sport by Michael Waters, read by Jennifer Pickens

Not meaning to take away from your enjoyment of watching the Olympics, but how well do you really know what you’re watching? Trans rights have always been part of Olympic history (and administration), dating back to World War II and continuing to today. This riveting audiobook brings all the facts and showcases why we need to acknowledge true history in today’s social climate. Pickens’ measured voice is the perfect delivery for Waters’s research: a clear voice with even clearer facts.

cover of Straight Up by Ruby Tui (read by author)

Straight Up by Ruby Tui, read by the author

If you have ever watched a Māori or Polynesian Haka, then you know the power of pride and respect that emanates from the movements and the culture. You can hear that same strength in Tui’s voice, reading directly from her memoir and sharing insights into her childhood and later life as a Rugby hero. I strongly recommend some tea breaks while listening to this. It will move you.

New Audiobooks with a Touch of (Social) Influence

Social influencers already have a platform (or several) to share their stories. But often, what they present on social media differs from how they tell their real story. Here are two nonfiction audiobooks where the storytelling is even better than the social media haze we see.

cover of 12 Trips in 12 Months by Jen Ruiz (read by author)

12 Trips in 12 Months by Jen Ruiz, read by the author

Most travel influencers make it look easy to take off and travel full-time. Ruiz, on the other hand, shares her experience of working a full-time job and shaping her travel around that. That same relatable nature resonates through her voice in the audiobook. It’s part memoir, part inspiration, as Ruiz tells her story across 12 months of travel and life experiences.

cover of The Outsider Advantage by Ciera Rogers (read by author)

The Outsider Advantage by Ciera Rogers, read by the author

I am all for celebrating difference, and Rogers shouts this loud and proud. While I must confess to not following her social media accounts, I can’t help but appreciate her brutal honesty in this audiobook. Rogers starts her chapters with affirmations, leading into personal stories and experiences that challenge her yet empower her to do better and aim higher. I genuinely came out of this audiobook feeling stronger, and that’s a huge plus on any day.

It Would be a True Crime to Miss These New Audiobooks

There’s a reason why true crime podcasts are so popular; it’s the same vibe as nonfiction audiobooks, and when done right, they can be so compelling.

cover of Mafiopoli: Living Among the ‘Ndrangheta by Sanne de Boer (read by Guilia Innocenti)

Mafiopoli: Living Among the ‘Ndrangheta by Sanne de Boer, read by Guilia Innocenti

The Mafia is real, and de Boer has moved right into the middle of it. It’s easy to think you’re listening to a thriller novel or TV Drama, but this is real life, nonfiction: “It happened in my town.” Sanne de Boer is an experienced Dutch journalist living in Calabria (Italy) who was surprised to discover a darker side to her neighbourhood. Her research is impeccable, detailing the impact on her local community and its connection with her home in The Netherlands. An unstoppable force with an unstoppable audiobook.

cover of There is No Ethan: How Three Women Caught America’s Biggest Catfish by Anna Akbari (read by author and Justin Price)

There is No Ethan: How Three Women Caught America’s Biggest Catfish by Anna Akbari, read by the author and Justin Price

Scams happen every day worldwide, and every victim says the same thing: I didn’t expect it to happen to me. This audiobook provides insight into how people fall victim to scams, or more particularly, “catfishing” — the creation of a fake identity with the intent to trick someone. For Akbari, there was no loss of money or assets. Instead, there was a deep questioning of why? — not just why it happened to her, but why this story matters to us all. This is a true crime investigation into what makes a “catfisher” and what makes us susceptible to them.

The Science of Great Nonfiction Audiobooks

Audiobooks are a great way to make scientific concepts more accessible and applicable in real-world scenarios.

cover of Braiding Sweet Grass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer (read by author)

Braiding Sweet Grass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer, read by the author

Kimmerer walks in two worlds: a Potawatomi woman (the Indigenous people of the Great Plains) and a professor of plant ecology, familiar with the tools of science. There is a lyrical blend of her native spiritual wisdom, inspiring a deeper scientific study into how it works in nature. It’s hopeful and gentle, giving a real sense of guidance that we, too, can balance between two worlds. There is also an audiobook version available for younger readers, which is worth sharing with the kids. 

cover of Love Triangle: The Life-Changing Magic of Trigonometry by Matt Parker (read by author)

Love Triangle: The Life-Changing Magic of Trigonometry by Matt Parker, read by the author

Parker’s earlier book, Humble Pie, was the first mathematics book to be a Number 1 Best Seller, mostly because he encouraged us to laugh at maths. Parker is back at it with Love Triangle, taking everything we hold dear in society and breaking it down to its simplest form: the triangle. Just like my high school maths teacher, Parker weaves his magic and produces amazing stories from the world of trigonometry. Unlike my high school maths teacher, Parker presents it in a way I understand and enjoy. For maths lovers, this is the ideal audiobook. For maths haters, this is still the ideal book. You’ll probably laugh more than the others.


For more nonfiction audiobooks, Kendra has a compelling list of releases from April 2024. You should also check out Neha’s evergreen list from 2022. Happy reading (and listening)!