It starts with someone who is a survivor in a spacecraft who doesn’t remember anything-what a great setup! Then you’ve got lots of characters involved in the tale.

The reason I like his books is because they’ve also got a great sense of humor. With Andy Weir, you’re always going to get a great story, and then a little bit of science. Tell me more about the book, and why it’s such a great listen. Let’s turn to the first book on the shortlist, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, which is a work of science fiction. The difference with audiobook of the year is that we do collect information about marketing and sales and that is rolled into the evaluation: it’s not just a great audiobook, it’s a great audiobook that was recognized by consumers for being an excellent listen, and for getting a lot of attention.īy Andy Weir & Ray Porter (narrator) Read In fact, if you win an Audie, at least nine people have listened to the book, which is fantastic.

Publishers submit a title, saying, ‘This would be a good one for audiobook of the year.’ Then it’s evaluated in the same way that any title is evaluated, which means it goes through multiple layers of listening. What’s the process for getting on the shortlist for audiobook of the year at the Audies? Are you trying to choose a mix of fiction and nonfiction, memoir etc.? As for the five books I’ve put together today, we’re talking about four titles that were nominated for audiobook of the year and then one of my favorites from the year that happens to be nominated in fiction. Unofficially, all the signs tell us that, yes, it was another good year for audiobooks. In terms of what the year has been like, I would say officially that we don’t know yet because we’re just gathering the data for 2021 from the annual Audio Publishers Association survey. How has the past year been for audiobooks and can you tell me how the books we’re talking about today were chosen?

Foreign Policy & International Relations.

Best nonfiction audiobooks