The Count of Monte Cristo was something like 36 hours, and you could always get it on a free sign up on Audible (assuming they still do that trial thing). I don't think I would have ever read it, but listening to it was fun!
The Tina Fey book, Bossypants, was good on audio. If you like Louis Black, his book was good. I offered it to my son, who said no, but took it anyway. He and his friends listened to it twice on the same trip and then wasn't going to give it back! (I'm an older women, my son is in his 20's)
I'm a huge fan of Podcasts and they're great for long drives. Here are some of my favorites by subject:
Comedy Jordan, Jesse GO! - NPR Bullseye host and comedian/writer for @midnight host an irreverent comedy show that ranges in topics. Great guests and really witty, smart humor with a sprinkling of dick jokes. One of my absolute favorites, probably not for everyone but I love it. Jump back 100 episodes and enjoy. SMODcast - Kevin Smith and longtime friend/producer Scott Mosier talk sharks, nazis, Star Wars, and more. Their humor most definitely isn't for everyone but I've cried laughing at some of the scenarios they come up with. If you're already a fan of Kevin you'll love the long form discussions that he does so well.
NPR/Science! This American Life - the quintessential NPR show hosted by Ira Glass. 3 stories connecting to a topic told in an extremely interesting, profound, touching, funny way. There's a reason it's as popular as it is, small bouts of pretension and all. Radiolab - hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich and probably my favorite science podcast. They have shorter 15-20 minute episodes made for the podcast but their hour long radio episodes are my favorites. Similar in format to This American Life, they choose a topic and explore different stories through the lens of science. Mind-opening, inspiring, touching, and makes you feel smarter than you probably are. Recommended episodes: 23 Weeks 6 Days (you will cry your eyes out), Space, Black Box, Spite, Patient Zero. Freakonomics - the podcast that discovers the hidden side of everything. An author and Economist examine topics in ways you may have never thought of and pose questions that make you think. Far more interesting and engrossing than I thought it would be. Recommended episodes: The Upside of Quitting, We the Sheeple, Fear Thy Nature, Riding the Herd Mentality, Show and Yell. Snap Judgement - 'storytelling with beat.' Great true life stories told by great story tellers. Very well produced, enthralling, and fascinating. Recommended episodes: The Mercenary, Found, The Stranger. The Story Collider - science stories told by the scientists themselves. Short 15-20 minute stories told live in front of an audience. Honestly my least recommended in this category because they can be hit and miss, not all scientists are great story tellers. Recommended episodes: The Comeback, Passing As Myself, The Perfect Solution.
Vidjya Games The Indoor Kids - professional comedian Kumail Nanjiani and his former therapist current writer/producer wife Emily V Gordon talk video games. They have a good variety of guests on from the games industry, TV, movies, and comedians. They're not super hardcore gamers but are very funny and knowledgable. DLC - Jeff Cannata and Christian Spicer record a live show every monday with listener participation through a chat room and call-ins. Both lifelong gamers and review veterans they talk stories of the week, what they're playing, and finish off with a tabletop gaming segment. Always enjoyable and funny. Giant Bombcast - longtime video game journalism veterans talk about the industry along with some non sequiturs. I honestly haven't spent a ton of time listening to them, but when I do it's always a blast (hah).
The spookiest audiobook-assisted drive I have done was the unabridged Desperation by Stephen King on a 1,300 mile round trip alone across the big empty desert known as west Texas. It's about people on a road trip in a desolate part of Nevada who are kidnapped by a crazy sheriff and horror ensues. Anyone who's ever been through Ozona, Texas can see how I likened it to Desperation, Nevada.
I don't know if you've already left for your roadtrip, but I recommend "The Martian" by Andy Weir. Probably my favorite book right now. I had laser eye surgery (ASA) earlier this year and needed a couple of days of darkness afterwards so bought a couple of audiobooks. It's a great story.
Ruby - Intergalactic Gumshoe by ZBS.org - original & very amusing radio dramas with a Sufi bent - Ruby and her cast of unforgettable characters - Professor T.J Terew ("I love the smell of plastic, it makes me hot..."), Mustaffa the Aircar, Rodant Kipoor, and the mellifluous Father Mojo will amuse for many hours...
The Count of Monte Cristo was something like 36 hours, and you could always get it on a free sign up on Audible (assuming they still do that trial thing). I don't think I would have ever read it, but listening to it was fun!
Any music preferences?
Great book! But I've actually read it before. Audible is still doing the free download with an Amazon account
I've always been a huge country fan but in the past few years I've started branching out into all other types of music
I'm not a big country fan anymore, but I like me some good bluegrass! The Goat Rodeo Sessions is one of my favorite albums ever!
I've taken to binge-listening podcasts.
The Tina Fey book, Bossypants, was good on audio. If you like Louis Black, his book was good. I offered it to my son, who said no, but took it anyway. He and his friends listened to it twice on the same trip and then wasn't going to give it back! (I'm an older women, my son is in his 20's)
Try the library. The audio books are expensive.
I'm a huge fan of Louis Black's stand up comedy and didn't know he had a book out. Let the first download begin.
I'm a huge fan of Podcasts and they're great for long drives. Here are some of my favorites by subject:
Comedy
Jordan, Jesse GO! - NPR Bullseye host and comedian/writer for @midnight host an irreverent comedy show that ranges in topics. Great guests and really witty, smart humor with a sprinkling of dick jokes. One of my absolute favorites, probably not for everyone but I love it. Jump back 100 episodes and enjoy.
SMODcast - Kevin Smith and longtime friend/producer Scott Mosier talk sharks, nazis, Star Wars, and more. Their humor most definitely isn't for everyone but I've cried laughing at some of the scenarios they come up with. If you're already a fan of Kevin you'll love the long form discussions that he does so well.
NPR/Science!
This American Life - the quintessential NPR show hosted by Ira Glass. 3 stories connecting to a topic told in an extremely interesting, profound, touching, funny way. There's a reason it's as popular as it is, small bouts of pretension and all.
Radiolab - hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich and probably my favorite science podcast. They have shorter 15-20 minute episodes made for the podcast but their hour long radio episodes are my favorites. Similar in format to This American Life, they choose a topic and explore different stories through the lens of science. Mind-opening, inspiring, touching, and makes you feel smarter than you probably are. Recommended episodes: 23 Weeks 6 Days (you will cry your eyes out), Space, Black Box, Spite, Patient Zero.
Freakonomics - the podcast that discovers the hidden side of everything. An author and Economist examine topics in ways you may have never thought of and pose questions that make you think. Far more interesting and engrossing than I thought it would be. Recommended episodes: The Upside of Quitting, We the Sheeple, Fear Thy Nature, Riding the Herd Mentality, Show and Yell.
Snap Judgement - 'storytelling with beat.' Great true life stories told by great story tellers. Very well produced, enthralling, and fascinating. Recommended episodes: The Mercenary, Found, The Stranger.
The Story Collider - science stories told by the scientists themselves. Short 15-20 minute stories told live in front of an audience. Honestly my least recommended in this category because they can be hit and miss, not all scientists are great story tellers. Recommended episodes: The Comeback, Passing As Myself, The Perfect Solution.
Vidjya Games
The Indoor Kids - professional comedian Kumail Nanjiani and his former therapist current writer/producer wife Emily V Gordon talk video games. They have a good variety of guests on from the games industry, TV, movies, and comedians. They're not super hardcore gamers but are very funny and knowledgable.
DLC - Jeff Cannata and Christian Spicer record a live show every monday with listener participation through a chat room and call-ins. Both lifelong gamers and review veterans they talk stories of the week, what they're playing, and finish off with a tabletop gaming segment. Always enjoyable and funny.
Giant Bombcast - longtime video game journalism veterans talk about the industry along with some non sequiturs. I honestly haven't spent a ton of time listening to them, but when I do it's always a blast (hah).
+1 for the Freakonomics podcast. This Week in Science is good too, and has a catchy theme song!
Yes! SMODcasts, TWIT, etc are all great.
Freakonomics looks interesting. And like it would actually keep me awake. What are your favorites in that list?
JJGO, This American Life, and Radiolab are probably my top recommendations but Freakonomics is really great too.
Infinite Monkey Cage from BBC. It's awesome.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/timc
If you have Amazon Prime, the music playlists are nice. I've pretty well transitioned all my work listening to them.
Comedians on audiobook are always good for a long drive. Although it's not that long, my favorite audio presentation is Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds musical radio play. http://www.amazon.com/Jeff-Waynes-Musical-Version-Worlds/dp/B0009MAPUO
The spookiest audiobook-assisted drive I have done was the unabridged Desperation by Stephen King on a 1,300 mile round trip alone across the big empty desert known as west Texas. It's about people on a road trip in a desolate part of Nevada who are kidnapped by a crazy sheriff and horror ensues. Anyone who's ever been through Ozona, Texas can see how I likened it to Desperation, Nevada.
TAK!
you are a brave brave individual
I don't know if you've already left for your roadtrip, but I recommend "The Martian" by Andy Weir. Probably my favorite book right now. I had laser eye surgery (ASA) earlier this year and needed a couple of days of darkness afterwards so bought a couple of audiobooks. It's a great story.
Ruby - Intergalactic Gumshoe by ZBS.org - original & very amusing radio dramas with a Sufi bent - Ruby and her cast of unforgettable characters - Professor T.J Terew ("I love the smell of plastic, it makes me hot..."), Mustaffa the Aircar, Rodant Kipoor, and the mellifluous Father Mojo will amuse for many hours...