Get some of the best celebrity audiobook recommendations to expand your library and discover more classic stories.

Famous person audiobook recommendations

People love stories in all formats, from short stories and novels to audiobooks and movies. Audiobooks often provide the best storytelling experience for a literary enthusiast. They are immersive and don’t overlook details, telling the full story with the help of a great narrator.

But the abundance of titles doesn’t make picking an audiobook easy. That’s why recommendations from celebs and famous people are worth considering due to the insight they can provide.

Great audiobooks recommended by famous people

Famous people often talk about the best audiobooks, novels, and short stories that inspired them. Here are some titles that may interest you.

Meryl Streep - The Bridges of Madison County

Meryl Streep rarely gives insights into her personal life. But occasionally, the actress shares some of the things that inspired or moved her. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller is one of Streep’s favorite timeless classics.

The actress found the tale about people who found happiness and acceptance in later life fascinating. She went on to play opposite Clint Eastwood in the 1995 movie adaptation of the love story.  

Tom Hanks – Sapiens

Actor Tom Hanks is a literary enthusiast. He is passionate about typewriters, loves reading, and narrates many audiobooks. He adores storytelling and bringing stories to life and lists Sapiens, the 2011 Yuval Noah Harari, as one of his favorite books.

The non-fiction book takes readers and audiobook listeners on a breathtaking journey through all of human history.

Anne Hathaway - The Girl on the Train

Written by Paula Hawkins, The Girl on the Train was one of the top thriller novels of 2015. Actress Anne Hathaway could easily make this her first book club book, seeing as the movie based on the novel starred Emily Blunt.

With Blunt a personal friend and fellow literary enthusiast, it’s easy to see why Hathaway would recommend The Girl on the Train in paperback and audiobook formats.

Claire Danes - A Single Mom

Claire Danes’ first encounter with author Christopher Isherwood came during college. In particular, the actress appreciated the writer’s direct and inclusive style.

A Single Mom by Christopher Isherwood is a book that discusses the abstract beauty of the United States through the eyes of people of different cultures and backgrounds.

Reese Witherspoon - Where the Crawdads Sing

Avid readers and book lovers know about Reese’s Book Club. It’s one of the most famous celebrity book clubs in the world. The novel Where the Crawdads Sing is among the top recommendations from the actress herself.

The heartbreaking coming-of-age story of a young woman moved Witherspoon so much that she directed the movie adaptation.

Alan Cumming - The Passion

Alan Cumming is a successful Broadway and screen actor. But not many people know he’s also a published author, narrator, and avid reader. One of Cumming’s most inspirational reads is The Passion by Jeanette Winterson.

The actor likes the visceral storytelling and historic European setting.

Benedict Cumberbatch - The Hobbit

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Benedict Cumberbatch recommends The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. The fantasy novel makes for an unmatchable experience.

Moreover, Cumberbatch plays the main antagonist in the film adaptation and voices the greedy and powerful dragon Smaug.

Jake Gyllenhaal - To Kill a Mockingbird

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal has often said that his favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It isn’t difficult to see why, as the book achieved instant success. The Pulitzer Prize award-winning novel is a powerful story of racial injustice.

It often introduces high school teens and young adults to a dark time in the country’s history. Readers may also appreciate the sequel, Go Set a Watchman.

Mindy Kaling - The Blind Side

The Blind Side, by Michael Lewis, is a non-fiction book about NFL athlete Michael Oher. It’s an inspiring tale of unlikely friendships and defeating the odds.

The writing made such a big impression on actress Mindy Kaling she wants author Michael Lewis to pen her life story.

Find classic audiobooks on Speechify Audiobooks

Audiobooks are the answer if you want to check out some of these celebrity recommendations but don’t have time to read them. Speechify Audiobooks is a service with over 70,000 titles, from classics to non-fiction to bestsellers across many genres.

The app lets users listen to audiobooks online and offline on most devices and offers high audio quality for every title. If you want to check out the selection, sign up for Speechify and get a premium audiobook for free.

FAQ

What are some audiobooks narrated by celebrities?

Celebs, and actors in particular, make excellent voice actors. Therefore, it’s easy to find audiobooks narrated even by Oscar-winning stars. Here are just a few examples:

• Heartburn by Meryl Streep
• Sense and Sensibility by Rosamund Pike
• Go Set a Watchman by Reese Witherspoon
• Ready Player One by Wil Wheaton
• Lincoln in the Bardo by a full cast with names like Lena Dunham, Nick Offerman, Bill Hader, Don Cheadle, etc.
• Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mariska Hargitay, and Jeremy McCarter
• The Dutch House by Tom Hanks
• Pet Sematary by Michael C. Hall
• Daisy Jones & the Six by Judy Greer

What are some great audiobooks to read?

The Handmaid's Tale, The Dutch House, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Hamilton are among the most popular audiobooks.

Who is the most famous audiobook narrator?

While some of the most popular narrators come from Hollywood, Academy Award-winning actors aren’t the most famous narrators. Many would consider Jim Dale, Julia Wheelan, or Frank Muller as the perfect narrators. Although comedian and actor Stephen Fry is also an excellent storyteller.

What are the most listened-to audiobooks?

The most listened-to audiobooks include:

• The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen
• Daisy Jones & the Six, written by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• The Dark Tower, written by Stephen King
• The Republic of Gilead series, written by Margaret Atwood
• The Dutch House, written by Ann Patchett

Who has the best selection of audiobooks?

Speechify has one of the best audiobook libraries and rivals Amazon Audible regarding quality, variety, and popularity.