I’ve got another contest for you! How about a chance to win 10 audio books ($200 value)? Do you get tired of listening to the same lame songs on the radio on your way to work? How about listening to a book instead? Simply Audiobooks offers audio books on a CD as a rental program (similar to NetFlix) or as a download, that can be heard from your PC or mobile device. They claim to be North America’s largest audio book retailer with 22000 titles for sale, rental or download. Lucky for us, they are offering one reader here at the-gadgeteer.com a chance to win 10 audio books. All you have to do is comment on this post with a short paragraph telling us about your favorite book of all time. Then on 6/1/08, I’ll pick one random winner. 
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like a great idea – I carry audio books on my MDA all the time.
“Ender’s Game” is right near the top of my list.
There are a lot of SciFi books I really have liked. I’ve even gone to a few SciFi fan shows and met some of the authors. There are quite a few authors that live in the Chicago area, and close enough to visit for a weekend.
Nancy Kress – Beggars in Spain (first of a trilogy)
Issac Asimov – anything from the Foundation books
and
Benford – Bear – Brin – “The Killer Bs” added to the Foundation stories
and
Roger McBride Allen’s Caliban stories add a sort of side trilogy to Foundation stories
that’s just a few off the top of my head.
I have a friend who is a fanatical Neal Stephenson fan. When he learned I hadn’t read Snow Crash he teased me constantly until I finally agreed to read it. I bought the book and tried reading it several times but couldn’t quite get into it. I finally purchased the unabridged audio-book and was hooked almost instantly. I have listened to the Snow Crash audiobook at least three times and have bought the book for several friends who had previously never read it – it became a favorite book for each of them, they now also push Snow Crash on those they meet. I firmly believe anyone with an interest in Sci-Fi or technology must read Snow Crash.
Caleb Carr
“The Alienist”
Another word for a psychiatrist, Carr’s ‘Alienist’ investigates a string of murders in turn-of-the-century New York. The main character is one of the first to define a ’serial killer’ – something unheard of at that time. Great mystery/suspense/thriller if you like that sort of thing.
I am a huge fan of ‘reading’ books on my Zen player. I have way too many favorites (all reviewed at my goodreads page – http://www.goodreads.com/profile/susandennis) but if I had to pick just one… right now it would be Genius by Jesse Kellerman.
[Edited at May 27, 2008 14:40:24 PM.]
I tend to prefer long series over individual books, which is probably why I like The Sword of Truth books so much. My favorite, if I had to choose one, is probably Faith of the Fallen, maybe Temple of the Winds.
The Shannara Series by Terry Brroooks is also excellent, and I love that he has combined the Knight of the Word series into the rest of the Shannara (I had always thought of it as they both mention the “Word” and the “Void”.
Simply Audiobooks sound like the best thing since the old Books on Tape. I travel a lot. A good audio book and Bose QC2 noise cancelling headphones make a long flight bearable. I will definitely try Simply Audiobooks.
It’s hard to name one favorite. All time favs include “Thornbirds” and “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.” More recent is “Touching the Void” by Joe Simpson.
audio books are such a saving grace for commutes. i especially like the way that a good audio book can actually make me look forward to a long drive rather than dread it!
sooo many good books, but i would have to list one that prompted a life altering change for me; “The Total Money Make-over” by Dave Ramsey. My financial situation has never been better since following Ramsey’s easy to understand and follow plan for financial freedom. My family is DFEFM (debt free except for mortgage)!
Good book ideas everyone. Keep them coming
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BJ: Thornbirds as in the mini series with Richard Chamberlain? If so, I loved that book too. But then I’m a complete romantic sap
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Darrin: Good for you to be debt free! It seems hard to do in this day and age of instant gratification (IE credit cards). I’m proud to say that I’ve been debt free for about 5 yrs now. It’s a very satisfying feeling.
Choosing a single favorite book is like trying to discover the most perfect grain of sand on any given beach. The search itself would prevent one from truly experiencing the sun, the wind, the surf and even the sand. As of today, my favorites, depending upon which I read last, vacillate between two classic Stephen King novels: The Stand, the Complete and Uncut Edition and IT. The allure is his excellent character development and his admission that within each of us lives a constant struggle between good and evil all revealed as we ride along, a passenger of his superb story-telling vehicle, destined to be pulled down into his vortex of fear and forever changed by the experience. Even I want to look under the bed before going to sleep.
[Edited at May 28, 2008 08:40:13 AM.]
Hmm. There are many good books out, but I have to say “How to Eat Fried Worms” is one of my favorites. Yeah I know, it’s not an adult book nor a book I’ve read in the past 20 years. But growing up a little boy with two older brothers, this book (reminiscing) takes me back to the 80’s as a little goofball kid. I remember my bros and I digging for worms out front of our house, taking them inside, tossing them on a cookie sheet and baking the heck outta them. It was funny to watch them dip the crispy worms in ketchup and mustard ~ yum, (I didn’t have the guts for it.) Ever since then I really enjoyed this story and read it a lot when I was young. I just might have to pick it up for my 5 year old now, I’m sure he would enjoy it as well.
Another audiobook fan here – my favorite is usually the one I’m engrossed with at an any given moment. I enjoy a little bit of everything but especially, nonfiction and history. Anything by David McCullough is a must read/listen to. If it’s a really good audiobook I can’t imagine just reading it.
Recent good reads:
John Adams
Stiff – The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers – (quirky but fascinating and not gruesome)
Faithful – Boston Red Sox march to the World Series – by Stephen King and Stewart O’Nan even knowing the outcome it’s still a fascinating read – they chronicle the season thru their emails and correspondence.
No Ordinary Time – historical look at FDR and Eleanor lives
Naked in Baghdad – by NPR reporter Anne Garrels – her time during the first wave.
The River of Doubt – it’s about Teddy Roosevelt after his Presidency and a dangerous trip down a previously uncharted tributary of the Amazon – very gripping read.
Currently have two books going – Einstein and The Great Bridge – The Building of the Brooklyn Bridge.
[Edited at May 29, 2008 00:44:18 AM.]
Mike:
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I had to smile at your comment because I also loved that book as a kid. I even recently watched the movie that was made from it. I’m not ashamed to admit that I still like to read kid’s books. Heck, the Harry Potter series has so far pretty much ruined me for finding another book to really capture my interest like they did.
I really liked James Clavell’s “Shogun”. The characters came to life for me and I liked the broad scope of the storyline. I have not heard it as an audiobook, however.
My favorite book was the Davinci Code. I don’t usually read books more than once but I read this one three times. Each time I found things in it that I did not catch the first time.
Linda
Hurry up and read The Chronicles of Narnia before the rest of the movies release. Probably not be as good as Harry P, I really don’t remember.
I have read a few of the CON. I do need to re-read them. They are fun. Good idea
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I love reading mystery, adventure, novels and books dealing with science and technology. Hard to pick a “best read” so I’ll arbitrarily say The DaVinci Code.
We have a winner:
Darrin
Congrats!
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stunned, thankful and stunned!!
thank you Julie for the chance to enter and to Simply Audiobooks for sponsoring the drawing!
just another reason to love this site!!
Darrin:
You are very welcome
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Let us all know how you end up liking the audio books.
I can’t believe that no one has recommended Hobbit/ Lord of the Rings!
It is one of the few books I have read multiple times. I even read them out loud to my daughter – when she was young. Have the Hobbit on audio books, and have LOTR on many different versions – including keeping it in ebook format on my Palm TX.
Excellent book series that should be required reading fo any geek.
Gareth
Favorite book of all time has to be David Weber’s Mutineers’ Moon. I like most of his books, but in this one, the moon isn’t the moon. It’s a planetoid-sized Utu-class starship of the Fourth Imperium hiding in our system.
[Edited at June 04, 2008 10:05:11 AM.]
Favorite?
That’s hard… For extended listening, I’d have to say Count of Monte Cristo, it’s around 50 hours; Anything J. R. R. Tolkein, anything C. S. Lewis, anything Isaac Asimov… all told i have over 30 days of audiobooks….
Jeremie