Audiobooks for New Years

Happy New Year!

Start the New Year off right with some Self-Development or Motivational audiobooks. Plus some Inspirational ones as you go forward.

Cuz we all need a little help every now and then.

Don’t forget to like the reviews that feed your addiction.

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Click on any book image or the Read More → link below to read the full review for each book. Click the back arrow to return to this page.

INSPIRATIONAL MEMOIRS:

Inspirational Memoirs:

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Religion & Spirituality, Social Science, Motivation & Inspiration, Mental Health

Trust First

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Religion & Spirituality, Social Science, Motivation & Inspiration, Mental Health

A True Story About the Power of Giving People Second Chances

By: Bruce Deel, Sara Grace / Foreword By: Simon Sinek / Narrated By: Bruce Deel

Length: 6 hrs and 2 mins

My first Listen of 2023, and pass the tissues please…!

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Religion & Spirituality, Social Science, Motivation & Inspiration, Mental Health

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals, Food, Self Development, How To

Walking with Peety

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals, Food, Self Development, How To

The Dog Who Saved My Life

Written and Narrated By: Eric O'Grey, Featuring: Mark Dagostino

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Plenty o’ Peety—but—plenty o’ dieting advice as well…

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals, Food, Self Development, How To

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Essays & Poetry

One Native Life

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Essays & Poetry

By: Richard Wagamese / Narrated By: Christian Baskous

Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins

Such a warm and healing book!

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Essays & Poetry

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Religion & Spirituality, Social Science

Tattoos on the Heart

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Religion & Spirituality, Social Science

The Power of Boundless Compassion

Written and Narrated By: Gregory Boyle

Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins

Whazza? No longer available but through CDs?!? This is a gem, an epic of love hard-won! Beautiful!!!

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Religion & Spirituality, Social Science

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals

The Last Sanctuary in Aleppo

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals

By: Alaa Aljaleel, Diana Darke / Narrated By: Peter Noble

Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins

Seriously! One person CAN make a difference!

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals

A Handful of Happiness

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals

How a Prickly Creature Softened a Prickly Heart

By: Massimo Vacchetta, Antonella Tomaselli / Translated By: Jamie Richards / Narrated By: James Anderson Foster / Introduction: Hillary Huber

Length: 4 hrs and 5 mins

Unfortunate, tho’ not fatal, narration does kinda sorta mar a PERFECTLY WONDERFUL story! Loved it!

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, History

Across That Bridge

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, History

A Vision for Change and the Future of America

By: John Lewis / Narrated By: Keith David

Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins

Beautiful, brutal, at times disheartening but ALWAYS filled with such love

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, History

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir

The Blue Sweater

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir

Bridging the Gap between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World

Written and Narrated By: Jacqueline Novogratz

Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins

Really good, and somehow she makes helping others seem possible?!

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Social Science, Science & Technology, Teens

Spare Parts

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Social Science, Science & Technology, Teens

Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream

By: Joshua Davis / Narrated By: Will Damron

Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins

And the battle goes on and on. And on… So very WOW-ish!

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Social Science, Science & Technology, Teens

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality, Animals

Flash

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality, Animals

The Homeless Donkey Who Taught Me about Life, Faith, and Second Chances

By: Rachel Anne Ridge / Narrated By: Nan McNamara

Length: 7 hrs and 1 min

Finding God, finding spirit, in the least of his creatures

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality, Animals

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Philosophy, Animals

The Little Book of Bob

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Philosophy, Animals

Life Lessons from a Streetwise Cat

By: James Bowen / Narrated By: Kristopher Milnes

Length: 1 hr and 59 mins

The best person to teach you wisdom will always be a cat!

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Philosophy, Animals

Nonfiction, Well Known Figure, Bio & Memoir

A Full Life

Nonfiction, Well Known Figure, Bio & Memoir

Reflections at Ninety

Written and Narrated By: Jimmy Carter

Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins

Changing times; unwavering values

Nonfiction, Well Known Figure, Bio & Memoir

Nonfiction, Sports, Bio & Memoir

My Year Of Running Dangerously

Nonfiction, Sports, Bio & Memoir

Written and Narrated By: Tom Foreman

Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins

Don’t run? You’ll still NEED this!

Nonfiction, Sports, Bio & Memoir

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Philosophy, Animals

Following Atticus

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Philosophy, Animals

Written and Narrated By: Tom Ryan

Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins

More than just man’s best friend!

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Philosophy, Animals

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals, Action & Adventure

Free Days With George

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals, Action & Adventure

Learning Life’s Lessons from One Very Big Dog

By: Colin Campbell / Narrated By: Rudy Sanda

Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins

Awwwww, what a great dog!

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals, Action & Adventure

A Street Cat Named Bob

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals, Action & Adventure

By James Bowen / Narrated by Kristopher Milnes

Length: 6 hrs and 3 mins

Fellow travelers on a hard but lovely road

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals, Action & Adventure

Self Development:

Self Development:

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals, Food, Self Development, How To

Walking with Peety

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals, Food, Self Development, How To

The Dog Who Saved My Life

Written and Narrated By: Eric O'Grey, Featuring: Mark Dagostino

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Plenty o’ Peety—but—plenty o’ dieting advice as well…

Nonfiction, Bio & Memoir, Animals, Food, Self Development, How To

Nonfiction, Self Development, Professional Development, Motivation & Inspiration

Soundtracks

Nonfiction, Self Development, Professional Development, Motivation & Inspiration

The Surprising Solution to Overthinking

Written and Narrated By: Jon Acuff

Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins

Can’t help it; I just love Jon (Are We On A First-Name Basis Yet?) Acuff!!!

Nonfiction, Self Development, Professional Development, Motivation & Inspiration

Nonfiction, Social Science, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration

On Living

Nonfiction, Social Science, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration

Written and Narrated By: Kerry Egan

Length: 4 hrs and 11 mins

A StoryHolder tells tales of love

Nonfiction, Social Science, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration

Nonfiction, Self Development, Professional Development

Power Moves

Nonfiction, Self Development, Professional Development

Lessons from Davos

Written and Narrated by: Adam Grant

Length: 3 hrs and 3 mins

LOVE Adam Grant, but if you’ve listened to his podcast, you’ve heard this all before.

Nonfiction, Self Development, Professional Development

Nonfiction, Self Development, Relationships

The Gifts of Imperfection

Nonfiction, Self Development, Relationships

10th Anniversary Edition

Written and Narrated By: Brené Brown

Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins

Obviously Brown’s first baby steps—bypass if you’ve listened to her later works…

Nonfiction, Self Development, Relationships

Nonfiction, Philosophy, Animals, Self Development, Religion & Spirituality

Feline Philosophy

Nonfiction, Philosophy, Animals, Self Development, Religion & Spirituality

Cats and the Meaning of Life

By: John Gray / Narrated By: Simon Vance

Length: 3 hrs and 23 mins

Warning: More Philosophy than Feline. Oh and oooone more thing, just a bit of a heads up….?

Nonfiction, Philosophy, Animals, Self Development, Religion & Spirituality

Nonfiction, Self Development, How To, Professional Development

Crucial Conversations

Nonfiction, Self Development, How To, Professional Development

Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition

By: Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler / Narrated By: Joseph Grenny

Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins

These just might be the Conversations we’re having now at home as well as work…

Nonfiction, Self Development, How To, Professional Development

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration

Take Control of Your Life

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration

How to Silence Fear and Win the Mental Game

Written and Narrated By: Mel Robbins

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

You either like Mel Robbins’s style… or you haaaate it…!

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

Start

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average, and Do Work That Matters

Written and Narrated By: Jon Acuff

Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins

Tired of Average? Join Acuff on this humorous journey to Awesome

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration

Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration

Written and Narrated By: Brené Brown PhD LMSW

Length: 3 hrs and 20 mins

Yes, yes, yes: There is indeed the book, but this, the conference is sooo much better!

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration

The Happy Mind

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration

A Simple Guide to Living a Happier Life Starting Today

By: Louis Fourie, Kevin Horsley / Narrated By: Dan Culhane

Length: 2 hrs and 9 mins

As long as you’re not expecting brain science, this is a great little audiobook

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration

If You Want to Write

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration

A Book about Art, Independence, and Spirit

By: Brenda Ueland / Narrated By: Pat Carroll

Length: 1 hr and 27 mins

Sooo good, yet sooo freakin’ Abridged!

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration

Nonfiction, Self Development, How To, Religion & Spirituality

How to Fix a Broken Heart

Nonfiction, Self Development, How To, Religion & Spirituality

Written and Narrated By: Guy Winch

Length: 2 hrs and 46 mins

Two types of grief? Actually—these tools can be used on any type of grief…!

Nonfiction, Self Development, How To, Religion & Spirituality

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Empowerment

Big Magic

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Empowerment

Creative Living Beyond Fear

Written and Narrated By: Elizabeth Gilbert

Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins

The joy of saying YES!

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Empowerment

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

The 1% Rule

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

How to Fall in Love with the Process and Achieve Your Wildest Dreams

Written and Narrated By: Tommy Baker

Length: 4 hrs and 22 mins

1% per day?!? Even I can do that

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

Nonfiction, Self Development, How To, Professional Development

Novice To Expert

Nonfiction, Self Development, How To, Professional Development

By: S.J. Scott / Narrated By: Greg Zarcone

Length: 3 hrs and 2 mins

How NOT to look like an idiot

Nonfiction, Self Development, How To, Professional Development

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

Rejection Proof

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

How I Beat Fear and Became Invincible Through 100 Days of Rejection

By Jia Jing / Narrated by Mike Chamberlain

Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins

What? I have only SIX rejection slip? Why so few?!?

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

Nonfiction, Self Development, Empowerment, Professional Development

Dare To Lead

Nonfiction, Self Development, Empowerment, Professional Development

Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts

Written and Narrated By: Brené Brown

Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins

Lead? Who, me?!?

Nonfiction, Self Development, Empowerment, Professional Development

Nonfiction, Self Development, How To, Professional Development

The Tools

Nonfiction, Self Development, How To, Professional Development

Written and Narrated By: Barry Michels and Phil Stutz

Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins

Tools you’ll need for a lifetime—just USE them!

Nonfiction, Self Development, How To, Professional Development

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

Deep Work

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

By: Cal Newport / Narrated By: Jeff Bottoms

Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins

Good only if you’re entirely new to Self-Development books—otherwise a lot of repetition

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

Achieve

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

Find out Who You Are, What You Really Want, and How to Make It Happen

By: Chris Friesen/ Narrated By: Chris Abell

Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins

Mostly for those who passed The Marshmallow Test…

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

Bluefishing

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development

The Art of Making Things Happen

Written and Narrated by Steve Sims

Length: 3 hrs and 53 mins

In Business or in Life—you NEED this book!

Nonfiction, Self Development, Motivation & Inspiration, Professional Development