Audio books may not offer the timeless look, feel and smell (oh, the sweet smell of freshly printed leaflets!) of regular books, but they certainly present their own unique set of advantages – They’re lightweight (actually, they’re weightless!), they’re portable, they eliminate dangerous paper cuts, they’re compact, and, best of all, you can typically find a good selection of audio books that are a lot cheaper than their printed counterparts – oftentimes free!

Take a look at this list of the 100 best free audio books – we bet you’ll find some worthy of your attention:

100 Best Must-Hear Audio books That Won’t Cost You a Penny

• Something New – P. G. WodehouseA comical adventure following a competition to retrieve a stolen artifact and claim the reward.
• Short Science Fiction Collection – A variety of stories of the sci-fi genre
• The 9/11 Commission Report – 9/11 ComVarious Authorsmission The final report of findings from the devastating events of September 11, 2001
• Ghost Story Collection – Various authors A compilation of 10 scary stories
• The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle A full reading of the classic novel that began the Sherlock Holmes craze we still enjoy today.
• Erewhon – Samuel Butler A satire of Victorian society
• Beyond Good and Evil –Friedrich Nietzsche A thought piece on politics and philosophy by a renowned existentialist
• Candide – VoltaireA reminder that life doesn’t always provide a happy ending
• Beowulf – UnknownThe classic English tale of the heroic Beowulf, written more than a millennium ago
• The Adventures of Pinnochio – Carlo CollodiThe story surrounding America’s most recognized wooden boy
• Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases – Grenville Kleiser A practical guide to the English language
• This Side of Paradise – F Scott Fitzgerald From the author of The Great Gatsby, this stunning work mirrors the experiences of Fitzgerald himself
• On the Origin of Species – Charles Darwin One of the most widely criticized books of its time, it follows Darwin’s theory of evolution
• The Mystery of the Yellow Room – Gaston Leroux From the author of Phantom of the Opera, this mystery focuses on a crime committed in a locked room
• Sex: Avoided Subjects Discussed in Plain English – Henry Stanton A guide to sexual behavior and relationships from a 19th century perspective
• The Gods of Mars – Edgar Rice Burroughs A sci-fi novel of the protagonist’s return to Mars after a 10-year leave
• The Colors of Space – Marion Zimmer Bradley An alien-disguised human tried to uncover the mysteries of space travel
• The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame The classic tale of talking animals and their adventures
• The Adventures of Reddy Fox – Thornton W Burgess A series of stories about a grandmother fox teaching her grandson about the world
• Short Story Collection – Various Authors A variety of 10 fictional stories
• The Phantom of the Opera – Gaston Leroux The original tale of the famed Opera Ghost that haunts a Paris theatre
• Short Mystery Story Collection – Various authors Ten short mystery tales, including ones from Kate Chopin, P. G. Wodehouse, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Tales of Terror and Mystery – Sir Arthur Conan DoyleA collection of short, scary, mysterious stories by the creator of Sherlock Holmes
• The Railway Children – Edith Nesbit This beloved children’s book follows three children on a London railway adventure
• Twelve Creepy Tales – Edgar Allan Poe A collection of spooky stories from a true horror master
• Night and Day – Virginia Woolf A look at spiritual and moral issues
• Just So Stories –Rudyard Kipling The creator of The Jungle Book brings this collection of stories that describe how common things might have originated
• The Adventures of Sally – P. G. Wodehouse A light romantic comedy following the topsy-turvy escapades of Sally
• Spoon River Anthologies – Edgar Lee Masters The fictional epitaphs of 212 residents of Spoon River, as told by their deceased personas
• The Diary of a Nobody –George Grossmith This comic depiction follow the trials and triumphs of a bumbling middle-aged man
• American Indian Fairy Tales – H. R. Schoolcraft A series of Native American legends and lore
• The Story of Mankind – Henrik van Loon A simple look at history for a younger audience
• The Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter – Beatrix PotterA beloved collection of the best works of Beatrix Potter
• Legend of Sleepy Hollow –Washington IrvingThe classic haunted tale of the Headless Horseman
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – F Scott FitzgeraldThe original tale of the recent Hollywood blockbuster
• The Scarecrow of Oz – L Frank Baum A look at Oz through the Scarecrow’s adventures
• Ghost Stories of an Antiquary – M R James A collection of spooky tales guaranteed to leave you with goosebumps
• The Art of Public Speaking – Dale Carnegie A must-hear for anyone who needs or is involved in speaking to crowds
• Five Sci-Fi Short Stories – H Beam Piper A glimpse in fictional futuristic and alternative realities
• The Handy Cyclopedia of Things Worth Knowing – Joseph Trienens More comical than practical, this look of advice from over a century ago might give you a new appreciation for modern society
• The Red House Mystery – A A Milne The creator of Winnie the Pooh constructs this whodunnit tale
• Lilac Fairy Book – UnknownPart of a series of colored fairy books detailing folklore of several European countries
• Blue Fairy Book – UnknownPart of a series of colored fairy books detailing folklore of several European countries
• The Power of Concentration – Theron Dumont A self-help guide to perfecting concentration
• Last of the Mohicans – James Fenimore Cooper A fictional look at the French and Indian War
• The Problems of Philosophy – Bertrand Russell A connection between philosophy and ordinary people
• A Practical Guide to Self Hypnosis – Melvin Powers A guide for ordinary people to engage in self hypnosis
• The Jungle Book – Rudyard Kipling Follow the saga of Mowgli, Baloo, and Bagheerah in this classic telling
• Tik Tok of Oz – L Frank Baum Another spin from the wonderful Wizard of Oz series
• Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl – Harriet Jacobs A close up look at slavery, as told by a woman born into the practice
• The Brown Fairy Book – UnknownPart of a series of colored fairy books detailing folklore of several European countries
• The Crimson Fairy Book – UnknownPart of a series of colored fairy books detailing folklore of several European countries
• The Pink Fairy Book – UnknownPart of a series of colored fairy books detailing folklore of several European countries
• The Grey Fairy Book – UnknownPart of a series of colored fairy books detailing folklore of several European countries
• The Yellow Fairy Book – UnknownPart of a series of colored fairy books detailing folklore of several European countries
• The Olive Fairy Book – UnknownPart of a series of colored fairy books detailing folklore of several European countries
• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis CarrollA delightful tales about a young girl’s adventures after she falls through a rabbit hole into a whimsical land
• The Emerald City of Oz – L Frank Baum The continuing adventures in the land called Oz
• The Tin Woodman of Oz – L Frank Baum A look at Oz via the Tin Woodman
• The Snow Queen – Hans Christian Andersen The base story that lead to Disney’s Frozen
• The Velveteen Rabbit – Margery Williams The beloved children’s tale of a child’s love for a velvet rabbit
• Pygmalion – George Bernard Shaw A play that details how a phonetics professor can transform a rough-edged girl into a linguistic lady
• Poems, Puzzle and Stories by Lewis Carroll – Lewis CarrollThe Alice in Wonderful creator also crafted mindful riddles and puzzles
• The Game of Logic – Lewis CarrollAnother collection of mind-bending thoughts from the creator of Alice in Wonderland
• The Art of Money Getting – P T Barnum A bit dated, but some rather helpful advice on how to get money and keep it
• Zoo Stories – VariousA collection of antics involving fictitious zoo denizens
• Katie, the Ordinary Witch – Various A series of stories about a young girl who can do magic
• Aesop – Aesop The classic retelling of the famed Aesop’s Fables
• Oprah Winfrey on Career, Life and Leadership – Oprah Winfrey A modern audio book choice featuring advice from one of the country’s most influential women
• The Secret – Rhonda Byrne One of the best-selling self-help books of the millennium
• Dr. Lissa Rankin on Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof You Can Heal Yourself – Dr. Lissa Rankin A look at how one doctor believes you can overcome your illnesses without modern medicine practices
• The Surprising Science of Motivation – Daniel H Pink A guide to utilizing and improving your motivation
• 21-Day Meditation Challenge – Deepak Chopra A meditation guide on how to live with passion and abundance
• Why Are We Happy? Why Aren’t We Happy?–Daniel Gilbert A TED talk that explains what we think will make us happy can have the opposite effect
• The Secret of Dreams – Yacki Raizizun A guide to the meanings behind common dreams
• The Patchwork Girl of Oz – L Frank Baum The continuing adventures in the land called Oz
• The Marvelous Land of Oz – L Frank Baum A boy named Tip unites with the Oz characters for new adventures
• Ozma of Oz –L Frank Baum The continuing saga of Oz, as told from Ozma’s perspective
• Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz – L Frank Baum The adventures of Dorothy during her trip to the magical land of Oz
• Road to Oz –L Frank Baum Dorothy and Toto meet a new cast of Oz characters and come face to face with new adventures
• Rinkitink in Oz – L Frank Baum The 10th installment of the magical Oz series
• Lost Princess of Oz – L Frank Baum Dorothy and Toto set out to find the kidnapped Princess Ozma and Glinda the Witch’s stolen magic
• The Magic of Oz – L Frank Baum A young boy discovers a powerful magic word in Oz
• Glinda of Oz – L Frank Baum The final installment in the Oz series
• Brave New World – Adolph Huxley The radio drama version of Huxley’s groundbreaking novel
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – C S Lewis Four children discover the world of Narnia after wandering into an old wardrobe
• Prince Caspian –C S Lewis The second installment of the Narnia series, though some argue it should fall fourth in the lineup
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader –C S Lewis The third installment of the Narnia series, though many choose to read this one fifth
• The Silver Chair –C S LewisThe fourth installment of the Narnia series, although some may argue it should be considered the 6th in the series
• The Horse and His Boy – C S Lewis The fifth installment of the Narnia series, though some argue this one should be read third
• The Magician’s Nephew – C S Lewis The supposed prequel to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
• The Last Battle – C S Lewis The final installment in the magical Narnia series
• 1984 – George Orwell An eerie satirical depiction of futuristic society that somewhat mirrors actual life in our current time
• A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis – Sigmund Freud A glimpse into psychoanalysis prepared for laymen
• The Interpretation of Dreams – Sigmund Freud A closer look at what our dreams could mean, as discovered by renowned scientist Sigmund Freud
• Stories of King Arthur and His Knights – U Waldo Cutler A collection of tales centered around one of history’s most legendary, elusive figures
• The Faerie Queene – Edmund Spenser Written as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth and the Golden Age she helped to create
• My Father’s Dragon – Ruth Stiles Gannett A young boy befriends a cat before setting off to rescue a dragon
• Eve’s Diary – Mark Twain A short, comedic telling of earth’s first woman as depicted from the diary she keeps
• Hans Christian Andersen: Fairytales and Short Stories Volume 1 – Hans Christian Andersen A compilation of some of Andersen’s most well-loved stories
• Madame Butterfly – John Luther Long A Japanese girl marries an American naval officer and becomes a disgrace to her family

Where to Find the Best Free Audiobooks

Now that you know which audio books to look for, where can you find more like them? There are surprisingly many sites making a killing on handing out free audio books, but we’ve found several gems you should check out first:

Lit2Go

Lit2Go specializes in classic stories and poems that reside within the public domain.

Free Classic Audiobooks

Here you can find most of the familiar classics in mp3 format.

Librivox

From classic works to translations in a slew of other languages, Librivox offers a huge selection of free audio books to download.

Loyal Books

Besides of the most beloved classics, you can also find a large selection of hard-to-find or out-of-print books, along with titles from lesser known writers.

Storynory

Hearing a story is a great way to encourage your child’s love of reading, especially when you aren’t available to read it to them yourself. Storynory has a lot of original titles you can’t find anywhere else.

Learn Out Loud

Dedicated to all things educational, you can find some valuable self-help and other nonfiction resources, free for the listening.

OpenCulture

Currently boasting over 900 free audio books, you can find a good variety of classic literature and poems.

Scribl

Formerly known as Podiobooks, you can find a worldwide variety of novels, short stories, essays, and series.

Kiddie Records

Reminiscent of the books-on-record days, this site is dedicated to providing a look (and sound) back to a classic form of children’s storytelling, but with a modern, digital vibe.

Mind Webs

This old-time radio series from the 1970s through the 90s has been converted to a digital audio format for your enjoyment.

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