Stephen Fry reads Douglas Adams’ comic sci-fi about Arthur Dent, who is swept off Earth just before it is demolished for a bypass. Funny, quick and sized for a day behind the wheel. Rated 4.6 stars by nearly 57,000 listeners.

Tina Fey’s sharp, funny memoir about growing up awkward, working in comedy and balancing a career with motherhood. She reads it herself, and it fits easily into a long day of driving. Rated 4.5 stars by more than 61,000 listeners.

Matthew McConaughey’s memoir collects stories and life lessons from his career and upbringing, and it sounds like a long chat with a friend. Rated 4.8 stars by more than 186,000 listeners.

Santiago, a shepherd boy from Andalusia, sets out for Egypt in search of treasure and learns about following his dreams along the way. Jeremy Irons reads this short fable, and it is built for a single sitting. Rated 4.7 stars by more than 86,000 listeners.

Steve Martin looks back on his years as a stand-up comedian, from his early days at Disneyland to sold-out arenas and the decision to walk away. He reads it himself in a dry, funny voice, and at four hours it is ideal for a short drive. Rated 4.5 stars by more than 15,000 listeners.

David Sedaris reads his hilarious essays about growing up and moving to France. The short pieces are easy to pause at any rest stop. Rated 4.5 stars by more than 12,500 listeners.

A man returns to his childhood home and remembers a strange, frightening summer involving the girl who lived at the end of the lane. Gaiman reads his own short, atmospheric fantasy, and you can finish it in a single drive. Rated 4.5 stars by more than 25,000 listeners.

Lillian takes a job caring for two children who burst into flames when they are upset. Kevin Wilson’s strange, warm comedy, read by Marin Ireland. Rated 4.5 stars by nearly 12,700 listeners.

A security robot that has secretly hacked its own controls would rather watch TV than do its job, until a mission goes wrong. The first Murderbot story is fast, funny and finishes in about three hours. Rated 4.5 stars by nearly 23,000 listeners.

Jennette McCurdy’s blunt, darkly funny memoir about child stardom and her controlling mother, read in her own voice. Rated 4.9 stars by nearly 127,000 listeners.

Trevor Noah’s funny, moving memoir of growing up mixed-race in apartheid South Africa, read by the author. Rated 4.8 stars by more than 4,400 listeners.

An astronaut is stranded alone on Mars and has to science his way home. Wil Wheaton reads this problem-solving survival story with plenty of jokes. Rated 4.8 stars by more than 46,000 listeners.

A full-cast oral history of a 1970s rock band’s rise and breakup, told like a documentary. Rated 4.6 stars by more than 42,000 listeners.

Four friends in a retirement village investigate cold cases, until a real murder lands nearby. A cozy, funny mystery, and a good one to share. Rated 4.4 stars by more than 10,200 listeners.

Bob Johansson wakes up as a digital copy of himself and is sent to explore the stars as a space probe, copying himself along the way. Clever, funny sci-fi read with great charm by Ray Porter, the narrator of Project Hail Mary. Rated 4.7 stars by more than 109,000 listeners.

A widow who cleans an aquarium at night befriends a giant Pacific octopus who narrates part of the story, and together they start to solve a mystery. Warm, funny and moving. Rated 4.8 stars by more than 71,000 listeners.

Kya grows up alone in the North Carolina marsh, and years later she is accused of murder. Part coming-of-age story, part mystery, read by Cassandra Campbell. Rated 4.8 stars by nearly 298,000 listeners.

Alicia Berenson shoots her husband and then never speaks again, and a psychotherapist becomes obsessed with making her talk. A twisty psychological thriller with an ending that sticks. Rated 4.5 stars by more than 90,000 listeners.

Millie takes a live-in job as a maid for a wealthy family and soon realizes that things in the house are not what they seem. A fast, twisty thriller that is easy to binge. Rated 4.6 stars by nearly 46,000 listeners.

Reclusive Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo finally tells her life story to a young journalist, including the story of her seven husbands. A glamorous, emotional page-turner read by three narrators. Rated 4.6 stars by nearly 100,000 listeners.

Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant 1960s chemist, ends up hosting a TV cooking show and teaching her viewers far more than recipes. Funny, sharp and satisfying. Rated 4.7 stars by more than 39,000 listeners.

Best friends Poppy and Alex take a trip together every summer, until one goes wrong. Emily Henry’s romcom is made for travel. Rated 4.4 stars by more than 25,000 listeners.

A lone astronaut wakes on a ship with no memory and a mission to save Earth. Ray Porter’s performance makes this one of the most loved audiobooks anywhere. Rated 4.9 stars by more than 316,000 listeners.

A treasure hunt through a virtual world full of 1980s pop culture, read by Wil Wheaton. Rated 4.8 stars by more than 262,000 listeners.

Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic of Paul Atreides and the desert planet Arrakis, in a multi-cast production. Rated 4.7 stars by more than 127,000 listeners.

A high school teacher steps through a portal in a diner’s pantry to 1958 and tries to stop the Kennedy assassination. Part time-travel adventure, part love story, and long enough for a cross-country drive. Rated 4.7 stars by more than 75,000 listeners.

Darrow, a miner on Mars, is pulled into a brutal competition among the ruling class in this fast, violent sci-fi saga. Tim Gerard Reynolds is a fan-favorite narrator. Rated 4.7 stars by more than 82,000 listeners.

Rob Inglis’s full reading of the first Lord of the Rings book, as Frodo leaves the Shire with the Ring and a handful of companions. Rated 4.8 stars by more than 67,000 listeners.

Michelle Obama reads her memoir about growing up in Chicago, building her career and life in the White House. Rated 4.9 stars by more than 183,000 listeners.

On their fifth anniversary, Amy disappears, and suspicion falls on her husband Nick. Gillian Flynn’s dark thriller is split between two narrators and is hard to turn off. Rated 4.4 stars by more than 60,000 listeners.

A man and his ex-girlfriend’s cat are dragged into a deadly alien game show set in a collapsing dungeon. Dark, profane and very funny, and Jeff Hays’ performance is a big reason it became an audiobook phenomenon. For adults. Rated 4.8 stars by more than 73,000 listeners.

The true story of Olympian and WWII airman Louis Zamperini’s survival at sea and in prison camps. Rated 4.8 stars by more than 51,000 listeners.

Kvothe tells his own story of rising from orphan to legend. Nick Podehl narrates. Rated 4.7 stars by more than 109,000 listeners.

A WWII nurse is swept back to 18th-century Scotland in the first book of Diana Gabaldon’s long-running series. Davina Porter’s performance is a fan favorite. Rated 4.6 stars by more than 80,000 listeners.

Jim Dale’s reading of the first Harry Potter book is a family-car classic, equally good for kids and adults. Rated 4.9 stars by more than 204,000 listeners.

Percy Jackson discovers he is the son of a Greek god. Fast, funny and easy to follow for kids and parents alike. Rated 4.7 stars by more than 34,000 listeners.

Bilbo Baggins joins a company of dwarves and a wizard on a quest to win back a treasure from a dragon. Rob Inglis gives each character a voice. Rated 4.8 stars by nearly 67,000 listeners.

Kate Winslet reads Roald Dahl’s story of a brilliant little girl who stands up to her awful parents and a terrifying headmistress. Short, funny and good for ages 6 and up. Rated 4.8 stars by more than 8,000 listeners.

Stanley Yelnats is sent to a desert camp to dig holes, and a century-old mystery unfolds. At 4.5 hours, it fits a day trip. Rated 4.7 stars by nearly 4,800 listeners.

Four siblings step through a wardrobe into Narnia, where it is always winter. Michael York reads the classic in about four hours. Rated 4.7 stars by more than 17,000 listeners.

A robot stranded on a wild island learns to survive among the animals. Short, sweet and good for younger listeners. Rated 4.7 stars by nearly 3,000 listeners.

Lyra Belacqua sets out to find her missing friend and ends up in a fight that spans many worlds. Philip Pullman narrates this full-cast production. Rated 4.6 stars by more than 20,000 listeners.

Young Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is recruited to a battle school in space to prepare for an alien war. A multi-voice production of Orson Scott Card’s sci-fi classic, good for teens and adults. Rated 4.6 stars by nearly 45,000 listeners.

Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her sister’s place in a televised fight to the death. Tatiana Maslany’s performance keeps this dystopian adventure racing along, and it works for teens and adults. Rated 4.9 stars by more than 17,000 listeners.

John Steinbeck’s account of driving across America in a camper truck with his poodle, Charley, narrated by Gary Sinise. A road trip classic that suits a road trip. Rated 4.6 stars by nearly 5,900 listeners.

In 1954, Emmett Watson leaves a juvenile work farm planning to drive west with his younger brother, but two friends from the farm send the trip in the opposite direction, toward New York. A big, warm road novel read by three narrators. Rated 4.6 stars by more than 24,000 listeners.

Bill Bryson travels around Australia, from the outback to its biggest cities, and writes about its odd history and wildlife with his usual humor. He reads it himself. Rated 4.6 stars by more than 6,500 listeners.

Cheryl Strayed’s memoir of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail alone after a family loss and a divorce. A trip story that pairs well with a drive. Rated 4.4 stars by more than 25,000 listeners.

Exes Addie and Dylan end up sharing a car with friends on the drive to a wedding, and the story shifts between the trip and their past relationship. A romcom set almost entirely on the road. Rated 4.2 stars by more than 1,000 listeners.

Jack Kerouac’s Beat Generation classic about restless friends crossing America, read by Will Patton. Rated 4.1 stars by more than 4,600 listeners.