[The Monkey]

I just started a new job that requires a commute by car (about an hour). I'm all set for music, but I am also interested in checking out some books on CD. Any recommendations? I'm interested in anything as long as it is good. Fiction, non-fiction, reference, etc.

 

[Voltron]

I have heard all of the Harry Potters on tape/cd and they are well done. In fact, I have heard all but the latest one so many times I could puke, but the kids love them and I liked them the first *few* times.

Last one I chose to listen to was Devil in the White City and I imagine that was better on tape than reading it because it is a very interesting but can also be tedious/dry because of the incredible amount of detail about the Worlds Fair construction.

 

[n_maher]

I second Al's recommendation of the Harry Potter series. I've only heard Jim Dale's readings of them but they are fantastic (if you enjoy the series) and will pass many a day's commute given that they are unabridged versions of the books. I just started listening to The Deathly Hallows this morning - after speed reading the book last weekend it'll be great to have someone read it to me at a more leisurely pace.

Also, I think Stephen King's The Stand is pretty good. The character voicing is only average but the content of the story more than makes up for it in my book. Again, unabridged and likely to take weeks to get through given that the book is some 1150+ pages long.

I've also heard a couple of Grisham audio books as well and they're entertaining but seeing that you're a lawyer they might not be your cup of tea.

Congrats on the new job Vincent.

 

[blessingx]

I can recommend the following titles -

DisneyWar James B. Stewart
History of the World J.M. Roberts
The Genius Factory David Plotz
Assassination Vacation Sarah Vowell
The Partly Cloudy Patriot Sarah Vowell
Buddha Karen Armstrong
Stiff Mary Roach
His Excellency Joseph J. Ellis
Salt Mark Kurlansky
Reefer Madness Eric Schlosser
The John Updike Audio Collection John Updike
The Culture of Fear Barry Glassner
A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn
Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them Al Franken
Middlesex Jeffrey Eugenides
The Promise of Sleep William C. Dement
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life Walter Isaacson
A Short History of Nearly Everything Bill Bryson
The Crisis of Islam Bernard Lewis
War Letters Andrew Carroll
Live from New York Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller
Bush at War Bob Woodward
Seabiscuit Laura Hillenbrand
The Old Man and the Sea Ernest Hemingway
Me Talk Pretty One Day David Sedaris
1776 David McCullough
Europe's Last Summer David Fromkin

Also This American Life and X-Minus One episodes can be great to listen to on the road.

EDIT: And consider Audible.com (or thru iTunes) if you're going to plow through lots of titles.

 

[daycart1]

There is a -complete- "Lord of the Rings" if you are in for something lo-o-ng. It is very well read, though the guy's name eludes me at the moment.

 

[The Monkey]

Awesome, guys, thanks!

 

[Ooztuncer]

wolverine

 

[diogenes]

Second on “This American Life” and would add:

www.teach12.com

 

[Oistrakh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by n_maher /img/forum/go_quote.gif I second Al's recommendation of the Harry Potter series. I've only heard Jim Dale's readings of them but they are fantastic (if you enjoy the series) and will pass many a day's commute given that they are unabridged versions of the books. I just started listening to The Deathly Hallows this morning - after speed reading the book last weekend it'll be great to have someone read it to me at a more leisurely pace.

I third that recommendation for harry potter.

There are also good recordings of LOTR and hobbit

 

[Voltron]

Wow, Ric's list is awesome and makes me want to give up Howard on my short drive. I would second his Audible.com rec because that is really a great service through iTunes or not. Happy commuting Vincent!

 

[musicmind]

Quote:

Originally Posted by diogenes /img/forum/go_quote.gif and would add: www.teach12.com

The best way to become intimately familiar with the Brandenburg Concerto no 2