12 of the best non-fiction audiobooks narrated by authors

Audiobooks are great, but do you know what’s even better? Audiobooks narrated by authors, of course!

While it’s always entertaining to listen to a book in audio format, it’s made even better by an author's narration. Not only does it allow the pace and cadence of the author’s words to come through authentically, but it also provides insight into the emotion behind the words.

Non-fiction books, in particular, are made even better when read aloud by their authors. Whether you’re delving into a memoir or a cutting-edge wellness book, hearing the author say their own words adds a level of clarity and connection that can be hard to grasp on the page.

Hear Price Harry tell his own story, in his own words, with his own voice. Get James Clear’s habit-building advice straight from the man himself. Listen to Dr Julie Smith’s soothing voice provide anti-anxiety tips. So many amazing non-fiction authors have narrated their own audiobooks – so what are you waiting for?

12 of the best audiobooks narrated by authors

SPARE by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex

SPARE is Prince Harry’s memoir, which is made even more powerful by hearing him narrate it. With its raw, unflinching honesty, the book is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

BIOGRAPHY • ROYAL FAMILY

Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono

'When I started to write this book I was hoping to draw in detail what I'd previously only sketched in songs,’ says Bono. And that he did! Writing (and narrating) in his unique voice, Bono takes readers on a journey from his early days in Dublin to his unlikely path to becoming a part of U2, one of the world’s most influential rock bands ever.

MEMOIR • MUSIC

Jack Charles: Born-again Blackfella by Jack Charles

Stolen from his mother at a young age and placed into institutional care when he was mere months old, Uncle Jack was raised under the White Australia Policy. This honest memoir provides a new perspective on one of Australia’s most celebrated actors, allowing listeners to remember Jack on his own terms.

MEMOIRS • AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr Julie Smith

 Dr Julie skyrocketed to internet fame when her short-and snappy therapy-inspired videos took off on social media. Fans of the clinical psychologist will love hearing her voice read Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? as she provides extensive wisdom and advice on dealing with a whole range of mental health problems that impact us all.

PSYCHOLOGY • PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

A Promised Land by Barack Obama

In this personal account, Barack Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to his election in 2008 when he became the United States' first African American to hold the office. Reflecting on his presidency, Obama offers a thoughtful exploration of what it’s really like inside the Oval Office.

BIOGRAPHY • POLITICS

The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama

If you want even more from the Obamas after listening to A Promised Land, then Michelle Obama’s The Light We Carry should be next on your list. Following up on her number one bestselling memoir, Becoming, this inspiring book tackles the tough questions many of us wrestle with.

MEMOIR • SELF-HELP & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Atomic Habits by James Clear

This million-copy bestseller is made even better by James Clear’s narration. A truly transformative book, Atomic Habits offers up minuscule changes that can have life-altering outcomes. Guiding readers through easy practices (like Habit Stacking, the Two Minute Rule, and more), Clear breaks habit-building into easy and digestible action points.

SELF-HELP & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales

In this national bestseller, journalist Leigh Sales investigates what happens when ordinary people endure the unthinkable. Talking intimately with people who have faced the toughest hardships, she offers insight into how we cope with life’s unexpected blows. While it may sound like a sad listen, the stories are actually warm, candid and inspirational.

TRUE STORIES • AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR

Dear Dolly by Dolly Alderton

In Dear Dolly, fans of Dolly Alderton can hear the bestselling author dish out her signature wisdom and wit. Listen as Dolly reads some of the questions that people have written into her column in The Sunday Times, providing warm and honest answers along the way.

SOCIETY & CULTURE

Don’t Stop Believin’ by Olivia Newton-John

There’s something truly special about hearing Olivia Newton-John tell her story. Sharing her journey, from Melbourne schoolgirl to international superstar, she covers everything from Grease to her journey with cancer and her tireless charity work.

MEMOIR & MUSIC

Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown

In Atlas of the Heart, bestselling author Brené Brown examines the eighty-seven emotions and experiences that define us. In doing so, she helps us to understand ourselves and each other better. Hear the author speak about her extensive research, with her amazing storytelling skills that will draw you in.

SELF-HELP & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

An Immense World by Ed Yong

Listen as Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author, Ed Yong, welcomes us into previously unfathomable dimensions. By viewing the world through the eyes of animals, readers will learn about the alternate realities that exist right under our noses.

ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL HISTORY