Review: Best Audiobook Service in India [Audible] 2021

Are you a lover of audiobooks? or books or stories in general? then you must try Amazon’s Audible audiobook service.

If not, then you should give it a try to Audible audiobook service. You might get hooked on it. 😍

Blog read time: 6.35 mins

In this blog post, I will let you know about
– What is the Audible audiobook service
– It’s features, cost, additional tips (must-read)
– Why it’s the perfect gift for every age and celebrations (with real-life gifting examples)

Give it a try or gift it to your loved ones and earn brownie points.

I am a homemaker with two kids. This Covid-19 pandemic has been very stressful. I’ve always worked hard and managed to get some “Me” time but now, it’s somehow subsumed in this horrible catastrophe.

Audible, the audiobook service is helping me sail through this tough period!

How I discovered Amazon’s Audible audiobooks?

Full disclosure, I love reading books. Well, I used to love reading books in my teens and college days. I was an avid reader. Though more than reading I used to enjoy the stories. The quality of knowledge and their vast variety is what always fascinated me.

Then job, marriage, kids happened and now I am a full-time homemaker. I lost touch with my books.

Now, you might think I am complaining, I am not. I am very happy and have a very fulfilling life. I am today’s woman, I make my own choices and enjoy the full support of my family in all the decisions I make.

As Captain Raymond Holt from the Brooklyn Nine-Nine tv series would put it “Any basic bitch would be lucky to be like you” and I agree 😉

Somewhere in mid of April 2020, I needed to shut down and relax. I needed to get my “Me” time. So I picked up a novel but couldn’t get too far with it. I was not able to maintain the flow. It was not clicking… If you know what I mean.

Then for our wedding anniversary, my sweetheart husband gifted me a Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphone and Amazon’s Audible audiobook service.

Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Headphones

These are lightweight and have a good battery life (in single charge)

Noise-cancelling
Alexa enabled
Touch controls.

Buy this - headphone

click on image to checkout Audible

What is Amazon’s Audible audiobook service?

Amazon.com Inc owns Audible which is an online audiobook and podcast platform. You can hear your favourite audiobooks. They have more than 2,00,000 audiobooks. Available in English, Hindi and many other languages.
You can find your favourite audiobooks, stories, talk shows, life lessons, etc over there.

This was a game-changer for me!

If you’re interested in reading about Audible and its History then click the Wiki link here.

What do you get from Audible?

You get more than 2,00,000+ audiobooks in English, Hindi and many other languages.

You get the following when you subscribe to Audible:

There are more than 2,00,000+ audiobooks to choose from
Audiobooks are in English, Hindi and many others
You get 1 free credit every month
Use your credit to buy an audiobook of any cost or length (I used mine to buy one audiobook that costs ₹ 5,243)
Keep your bought audiobooks, even after cancellation of subscription
There are free audiobooks also.
Podcasts, interviews, Audible Suno are also available
There are also audible original audiobooks (best quality)
Swap your audiobook, if you don’t like it or for any reason
You can connect your Amazon Echo Device and use Alexa to listen (my cooking sessions are now Amazing)

click on image to checkout Audible

Great gifting option for 2021 holiday season!

What is the cost of Audible audiobooks service subscription?

You can join for free and try it out for 30 days. If you like the experience then you can buy the subscription for ₹199 per month.

The Best thing is that you can cancel your subscription anytime, for any reason. You will get to keep all the audiobooks that you have bought.

Pro Tip: If you’re an Amazon Prime Member you get 90 days free trial. If you’re not already a prime member then become one. The benefits outweigh the cost of members by a huge margin.
Try Amazon Prime here

How to join Audible?

Download the app and get a subscription

Follow these steps:

Download the Audible app from your app store.
Create or Login securely with your Amazon account
Sign-up for your free trial
Use your credit to buy any audiobook and
Start Listening!

click on image to checkout Audible

Try yourself first, If you like it then share Audible with everyone.

Read our latest book review on 7 Amazing Coming-of-Age books that you have to read today by clicking here.

Additionally tips for improving your Audible audiobook experience

The following tips have the potential to make your experience 10-folds. They are not necessary by any means. It’s a good-to-have thing but it’s a pleasurable experience even without it.

Your first audiobook – Make it your favorite one

This is critical. Since it’s your first audiobook, pick something that you like. Pick your preferred topic and an audiobook that will keep you hooked. So don’t go by others’ suggestion, make it your choice.

Sample an audiobook for its narration

This is another critical one for me. Listen to the sample of the audiobook and get a feel of the narrator’s voice. You will realize that their pace, diction, pronunciation, clarity, tonality, etc make a huge difference. Buy only if you like what you hear. After all, you’re the one who is doing all the listening.

Get a comfortable pair of headphones, preferably wireless

Comfort is the key while choosing your headphone. Your ears will thank you since you would be wearing it for the entire duration of the audiobook. Make them wireless as the wired ones are prone to causing tangles and accidents. I learnt it the hard way 🙁

Set the Narration Speed

Set the speed of narration or the speed at which the audiobook is being read to your preferred pace. Thus making your experience more delightful.

Build a habit to listen daily

If you’re not used to it, then putting on a headphone and listening might feel tedious at first. Trust me, it gets to feeling normal pretty soon and it becomes a habit before even you know. Some chores are now impossible to complete without my Audible.

Use it for unwinding/relaxing

Here is what I do. Get a warm beverage (if it’s winter) or something cold, find a nice cosy spot (my garden balcony works perfectly for me). Then select an interesting audiobook, close your eyes, and relax. Let others take care of the house for an hour or two 😂

Pro Tip: Sometimes when I play an audiobook that I had bought a long time back, the audiobook plays but the audio doesn’t come. If you face this issue, then just delete the audiobook from your app and download it again. Works perfectly!

The holiday season is upon us, do you have your gift ideas ready?

I got the perfect gift and this season I will share Amazon’s Audible audiobooks with everyone.

Top 7 reasons why audiobooks are a great gift idea for all ages, seasons and occasions

If you use them then they will increase your capability to focus and listen
Also, increases your vocabulary and pronunciation skills
Podcasts are interesting, they increase your knowledge on a variety of topics
Stories. They are the best!
Audible audiobook subscription is not expensive, just ₹199 per month
It’s the perfect way to pass your time. Thus making it a productive use of your time while relaxing.
It’s for all age groups, kids, teenagers, adults, seniors
Also your friends and relatives.

Be it Dussehra, Diwali, Christmas, New Year, Birthdays, Anniversaries or any other occasion, Audible is a perfect gift.

click on image to checkout Audible

Click on any image or this link to checkout Audible

4 real-life examples of gifting Audible and their feedback

My Gift

You have already read about how I was gifted with this perfect gift.

My first audiobook was Scion of Ikshvaku (link to the audiobook) by Amish Tripathi and narrated by Sagar Arya

It was a perfect start for me as I am fond of Mythology based stories. It is an interesting story by Amish and beautifully narrated by Sagar. He has a nice soothing voice. Thus making the narration a great experience.

Last audiobook: Think Like a Monk (link to the audiobook) by Jay Shetty and narrated by Jay Shetty

Current audiobook: The Unusual Billionaires (link to the audiobook) by Saurabh Mukherjea and narrated by Gaurav Marwa

Feedback:“SUPERB“

My Dad’s anniversary gift

It was my parents’ anniversary, so I gifted my 72-year-old dad an audible membership. He prefers Hindi literature.

Last audiobook: Godaan (link to the audiobook) by Munshi Premchand and narrated by Sameer Goswami

Current audiobook: Yoddha (link to the audiobook) with Neelesh Mishra on Audible Suno

Feedback: “wish this was there 40 years earlier”

My Niece’s Christmas gift

She is a 17-year-old teenager. I gifted her the membership as her Christmas gift.

Last audiobook: The Modern Scholar: Ethics: A History of Moral Thought (link to the audiobook) by Professor Peter Kreeft and narrated by Peter Kreeft

Current audiobook: Like a Girl: Real Stories for Tough Kids (link to the audiobook) by Aparna Jain and narrated by Suchitra Pillai, Varsha Varghese, Tisca Chopra, Aparna Jain, Ritu Dalmia, Malishka Mendonsa, Kirti Jayakumar, Rasika Duggal

Feedback: “doesn’t replace a nice book but it’s sometimes good to listen to others“

My Sister-In-Law’s gift

I gifted her the membership not on any occasion, it was more like, WOW! see what I have discovered. You’re not familiar with this concept? Try it out sometimes, it’s so fulfilling. Sharing/gifting without any occasion, just simply sharing your discovery/happiness with your loved ones. Amazing!

Last audiobook: A Suitable Boy (link to the audiobook) by Vikram Seth and narrated by Ayesha Dharker, Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal, etc

Current audiobook: searching for the next one to listen

Feedback: “Great experience, especially listening on portable speakers“

Conclusion

This season make Amazon’s Audible audiobooks your preferred gifting item. I will do and you should also share the gift of knowledge with everyone.

I would encourage you to try it out yourself first. If you feel good about it then share it with others.

It’s a perfect gift of knowledge for everyone on every occasion. What’s better than that?
Not expensive at all so light on your pocket.
A gift that guarantees a variety of amazing adventures and journeys to the listener.
It improves one’s subconscious mind.
Helps in enhancing one’s focusing skills.
Thus rejuvenating you.
Gives you a vast pool of knowledge about any topic of your choice.
Best of all, it makes ours better and more informed societies.

click on image to checkout Audible

Few things that can be improved

They should add new books like Amish’s Shiva Trilogy at a faster pace.
The Audible Original has a great narration quality, somehow the quality should be enforced on other audiobooks also.
More audiobooks in other languages should be added at a faster pace.