5 Audiobooks Under 5 Hours

If you are new to trying audiobooks, a short listen might be right up your alley. These 5 audiobooks under 5 hours long are not a huge time commitment. I think of it as being a taste of the wonderful world of audiobooks. They are a way to ease into listening to books. And honestly, they will make your chores go by fast, driving will be less annoying and you will feel a sense of accomplishment. The accomplishment comes in because these audiobooks will likely take less than two days to listen to — depending on your schedule.

5 Audiobooks Under 5 Hours

1. Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this lovely, easy-to-use illustrated guide to decluttering, the beloved author of The Happiness Project shows us how to take control of our stuff—and, by extension, our lives.   Gretchen Rubin knows firsthand that creating order can make our lives happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative. But for most of us, a rigid, one-size-fits-all solution doesn't work. When we tailor our approach to suit our own particular challenges and habits, we can find inner calm.   With a sense of fun, and a clear idea of what’s realistic for most people, Rubin suggests dozens of manageable tips and tricks for creating a more serene, orderly environment, including:   • Never label anything “miscellaneous.” • Ask yourself, “Do I need more than one?” • Don’t aim for minimalism. • Remember: If you can’t retrieve it, you won’t use it. • Stay current with a child’s interests. • Beware the urge to “procrasticlear.”   By getting rid of things we don’t use, don’t need, or don’t love, we free our minds (and our shelves) for what we truly value.

Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin is another addition to the genre of get your life in order and declutter books. I am here for this — I love those kinds of books. This one is quick. It’s only a little over two and a half hours on audiobook. The information is very easy to digest. I would say Outer Order, Inner Calm does not really add any new nuggets of information on how to organize and get your life in order. However, it did inspire me to shred some big piles of mail that have been sitting in our house for months, so that is great. It also quotes and talks about Marie Kondo, which I loved. I’d say this is a great book to listen to while cleaning and if you want to feel inspired to get rid of and donate items you just don’t need. The audiobook is read by the author and really an easily digestible listen.

2. Red At The Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Red At The Bone by Jacqueline Woodson is goddamn brilliant. I mean, every book I have read by Woodson is pure excellence. This book though, is the cream of the crop. Red At The Bone is a multigenerational book that culminates the stories of Melody, her mother Iris, and her grandmother, Sabe. Also, her father, Aubrey and grandfather, Sammy “PoBoy.” This book explores how the past impacts the future. It looks at class, sexuality, race, and gender. Melody is about to have her sixteenth birthday ceremony and is wearing a special custom dress that her mother never got to wear, because her mother was pregnant with her. We see all that had to happen to get Melody to that point, dating all the way back to Sabe’s history. And my goodness, this book is spectacular and emotional. I almost ruined my puzzle pieces with all the tearing up (I did a puzzle while listening which really helped my concentration on this book). I feel like it would be excellent whether you listen to Red At The Bone or read a physical copy. Just get your hands on this book as soon as possible.

3. Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

I think Jason Reynolds is a genius. No, really, I do. Everything I have read by him has been brilliant and just perfectly captures humanity in all it’s uniqueness, but also similarity. Of course, Look Both Ways does this too. I am not exactly a big middle grade reader as much anymore, but honestly I can’t resist reading something by Reynolds. So, I picked up this audiobook of short stories and eagerly listened. It’s about what happens when a school bus falls from the sky. More than that though, it’s about these kids who live on ten different blocks and so weren’t paying attention to the bus falling. There’s this one story that I liked the best about these kids who steal loose change to buy candy, but obviously, it’s deeper than that. Anyways, the audiobook has multiple narrators. It’s just so well done, hand Look Both Ways to your nearest middle grader. And maybe just also pick it up for yourself to experience the amazingness of Reynold’s writing.

4. A Sin By Any Other Name by Robert W. Lee

A Sin By Any Other Name by Robert W. Lee is an unflinching look at the South and generational racism. Robert W. Lee is a descendent of Robert E. Lee which means he has some problematic ancestry. I found it striking the instances where people felt like they could share racist thoughts and opinions with him based upon his family name. Lee is a pastor who came to prominence when he had a viral video rebuking racism after Charlottesville. This book tells his story of growing up in the South and removing his rose colored glasses. He realizes that racism is insidious and subtle. And so now he works against it. I just thought this was such an interesting reckoning. Yes, it’s told with a Christian bent, but it’s just so interesting. The audiobook is narrated by Lee himself. I listened at 1.25x speed which helped me really better be able to pay attention.

5. Before The Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson

I truly love the books that Jacqueline Woodson writes. Before The Ever After is intended for a middle grade audience, but don’t let that stop you from picking it up. Woodson thoughtfully explores the impact of CTE on the family of a former pro football player. Before The Ever After is told from the perspective of ZJ who happens to love music especially rap. Set during the 1990s, not a whole lot is known about CTE just yet. So, ZJ and his mother are navigating the loss of his father’s memory and personality. Meanwhile, ZJ also spends time playing football with his friends and going to school. There is the difficult parts of life mingled with the ordinary parts of life. The audiobook is narrated by Guy Lockard who sounds authentic in his portrayal of this story. I listened at 1x and 1.25x at various points.

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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