Spotify’s announcement of the introduction of audiobooks in the U.S. comes with an infographic about audiobook listening habits.

A month after bringing audiobooks to users in the U.K. and Australia, Spotify has extended the offer to the United States.

If you are a Spotify Premium member, you can get instant access to a large selection of audiobooks, with no extra cost.

You can go directly to this link on the web to browse the catalog of Spotify audiobooks. Currently, there are over 200,000 audiobooks included, compared to 150,000 at the beginning of October 2023.

However, you have to keep in mind that you can listen to Spotify audiobooks for only 15 hours per month. An average audiobook takes around 10 hours, so your Premium subscription will let you finish one audiobook.

The blog post announcing Spotify audiobooks coming to the U.S. includes a few interesting facts about audiobook listeners. The data was gathered in a consumer survey of over 1,000 Americans.

The key outcome is that Gen Z and millennials lead in audiobook listening. 72% of 18-to-34-year-olds report that they listen to audiobooks. Relaxation (63%) and comfort (51%) are the top reasons for audiobook listening.

Here are other interesting facts:

▸ 37% of audiobook listeners have listened to an entire audiobook a second time or more.

▸ 66% of 18-34-year-old audiobook listeners in relationships say they’ve listened to audiobooks with their partner to “spice things up”.

▸ Almost half of audiobook listeners consume audiobooks while traveling or on vacation.

▸ 70% of audiobook listeners are more likely to listen to additional audio content after listening to audiobooks.

Are you a Spotify Premium subscriber? If yes, are you going to try the audiobooks?

Source: 200,000+ Audiobooks Are Now Available to Spotify Premium Listeners in the U.S. – Spotify Blog

Keep reading. Here are other news and lists:

The audiobook market is poised for continued growth. With the rise of smart speakers and the growing popularity of podcasts, audiobooks are well-positioned to become an even more integral part of our lives.

Market Us has just released a report that shows that the global audiobook market will reach an estimated USD 39.1 billion by 2032 from USD 4.2 billion in 2022.

North America was the market leader in 2022, driven by the widespread availability of digital devices and the popularity of subscription-based services, such as Audible, Apple Books, or Scribd.

However, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region, “with increasing smartphone adoption and a growing interest in English-language content.”

The non-fiction segment accounted for the largest revenue share in audiobooks market in 2022.

Self-help and personal development audiobooks continue to be popular, along with business and finance audiobooks for professionals.

Adults constitute the major target audience, utilizing audiobooks for entertainment during commutes or multitasking activities.

This incredible growth of the audiobook market is driven by the increasing popularity of digital media, the convenience of smartphones, and the growing trend of consuming content on the go.

Source: Global Audiobooks Market Report – Market.Us

Keep exploring. Here are other tips and news:

This move is part of Spotify’s broader strategy to become a one-stop shop for all things audio, offering users a wide range of content to choose from, including music, podcasts, and now audiobooks.

By offering instant access to a large selection of 150,000+ audiobooks, Spotify is making it easier for Premium subscribers, as well as managers for Family and Duo accounts, to discover and listen to audiobooks.

The company has partnered with respected audiobook publishers, including Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and RB Media, to bring its users a wide range of titles, including bestsellers, new releases, and classics.

We believe that offering personalized music, podcasts, and audiobooks on a single platform gives you a superior way to connect with your favorite artists, podcasters, creators, and authors—all in one spot.

Spotify is also making it easy for Premium subscribers to find and manage their audiobooks. The company has created a dedicated audiobook hub on its website and app, where subscribers can browse and search for audiobooks by title, author, genre, and more.

If you are a Spotify Premium member, and live in the U.K. or Australia – where the new feature is already available, you can go directly to this link on the web to browse the catalog of Spotify audiobooks.

Spotify Premium audiobooks will be available for the U.S. users in the following months. The company does not reveal plans for the rest of the world.

What the company is not boasting about is the monthly usage. You will be able to listen to Spotify audiobooks for only 15 hours per month.

15 hours? Really? An average audiobook takes around 10 hours, so within your “unlimited” Premium access to Spotify audiobooks, you will be able to finish one audiobook.

Hopefully, it may change, as the company claims it’s working on more ways to unlock access to Premium audiobooks.

Are you planning to try Spotify audiobooks when they finally arrive in your country?

Source: Spotify Premium Will Include Instant Access to 150,000+ Audiobooks – Spotify Blog

All Jane Austen’s novels are available for free from Project Gutenberg, both as ebooks and audiobooks. You can also read them online, right on your computer.

Jane Austen’s novels are beloved for their sharp wit, timeless themes, and memorable characters. 

They are often seen as a perfect blend of comedy, romance, and social satire, and they offer an insightful look at the world of early 19th century England.

You don’t have to pay a penny to start the Austen adventure. Works of one of the most beloved writers in English literature are in the public domain. It means you can read them free of charge – legally.

Below, you will see a list of Jane Austen’s books available as free downloads from Project Gutenberg. The order is based on an average number of downloads in the last 30 days.

What is Project Gutenberg? It’s a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, to encourage the creation and distribution of ebooks. It is the oldest digital library, with over 60,000 free ebooks.

You can add books to your e-reader or e-reading app by picking up EPUB3. This file format is compatible with Kobo, Apple Books, Nook, Google Play Books – and also Amazon Kindle (mobi is no longer supported). You can download the files with one click to Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.

If you don’t want to download the files, you can read Jane Austen’s books directly in your browser. Simply click on “Read this book online: HTML5” link on book detail pages.

Moreover, Project Gutenberg also offers audiobook versions of Jane Austen books. They can be downloaded in Speex, MP3, Apple iTunes, or Ogg Vorbis format.

Are you a Jane Austen fan? Take a look at my design collection that features Jane Austen’s original, remastered handwriting from her letter to sister Cassandra, written in April 1811. You can get it on Zazzle.

Jane Austen novels in chronological order

1. Sense and Sensibility (1811)
2. Pride and Prejudice (1813)
3. Mansfield Park (1814)
4. Emma (1815)
5. Northanger Abbey (1817) – posthumous
6. Persuasion (1818) – posthumous
7. Lady Susan (1871) – posthumous

Jane Austen books – free ebooks and audiobooks

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is Jane Austen’s most famous romance novel. It follows the life and loves of the five Bennet sisters as they navigate the complexities of life in the early 19th century English countryside.

The novel looks at themes of class, marriage, and first impressions, and follows the young women as they attempt to find their place in the world.

Pride and Prejudice is widely regarded as one of the most influential novels of all time and has been adapted into numerous film and television adaptations.

The novel is considered a masterpiece of English literature and is often studied in English classes.

⇢ Ebook ⇢ Audiobook

Emma

Emma is set in Highbury, a fictional village in England, the novel revolves around the meddlesome Emma Woodhouse, who interferes in the relationships of others but eventually comes to recognize and develop her own feelings of love.

Throughout the novel, Emma is determined to find a husband for her friend Harriet, and also to arrange her own romantic future.

The novel explores themes of love, friendship, and social class, and presents a sharp critique of early 19th-century English society.

⇢ Ebook ⇢ Audiobook

Sense and Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility was first published in 1811 and is Jane Austen’s first novel.

Set in southwestern England, the follows the lives of two sisters – Elinor and Marianne Dashwood – as they navigate the social expectations of 18th century society.

This romantic novel is widely considered to be one of Austen’s most successful works, and is typically seen as a precursor to the romantic comedy genre. 

Sense and Sensibility is renowned for its vivid characterization, exploration of complex emotions, and the use of irony and satire.

⇢ Ebook ⇢ Audiobook

Persuasion

Persuasion is Jane Austen’s novel published posthumously in 1818.

In the novel, Austen examines the effects of time on love and relationships. Anne Elliot is a 27-year-old unmarried woman whose family has fallen on hard times. 

Anne is approached by an old suitor, Captain Wentworth, who she rejected eight years earlier. His return to the social scene forces her to reconsider the choices she has made in the intervening years. 

The book is seen as a continuation of Jane Austen’s exploration of the themes of social class and female agency set forth in her earlier novels.

⇢ Ebook ⇢ Audiobook

Northanger Abbey

Northanger Abbey is set in the late 18th century and follows Catherine, a voracious reader of Gothic novels, as she visits the city of Bath and the nearby estate of Northanger Abbey.

While in Bath, she meets the Tilneys, a wealthy family who invite her to stay at their estate, Northanger Abbey.

There, Catherine finds herself drawn into a world of horror, suspense, and romance, as she struggles to make sense of the strange and sometimes sinister events that occur around her.

⇢ Ebook ⇢ Audiobook

Mansfield Park

Jane Austen wrote Mansfield Park at Chawton Cottage between 1811 and 1813.

The story centers on Fanny Price, who is sent to live with her wealthy aunt and uncle at their estate, Mansfield Park.

Despite her poverty-stricken upbringing, Fanny grows into an intelligent and moral young woman.

As she navigates her relationships with her family, she develops a strong sense of self-awareness and morality. The novel explores themes of love, marriage, class, and morality.

⇢ Ebook ⇢ Audiobook

Lady Susan

Lady Susan is Jane Austen’s novella, most likely written in 1794, but published for the first time in 1871.

The main character, Lady Susan, is a beautiful and manipulative widow, who schemes to find wealthy husbands for both herself and her daughter.

The novella explores themes of love and marriage, as Lady Susan examines the different paths she can take to find a suitable partner.

It’s worth noting that Lady Susan is considered one of Austen’s most enigmatic and controversial characters.

⇢ Ebook ⇢ Audiobook

Bonus: The Letters of Jane Austen

Letters of Jane Austen insight into the life and mind of the writer, and offer a glimpse of the world she lived in.

One of the collections of the letters was selected by Sarah Chauncey Woolsey from Austen’s nephew Lord Edward Bradbourne, and published in 1908 by Little, Brown, and Company.

The collection includes letters written between 1796 and 1817. Among them, there are several letters to her sisters, including Cassandra.

The final letter is from Cassandra Austen to her niece Miss Knight, after the death of Jane.

⇢ Ebook

Book cover images: Project Gutenberg, Wikimedia Commons.

Jane Austen Collection on Zazzle

Jane – a collection featuring Jane Austen’s original, remastered handwriting from her letter to sister Cassandra, written in April 1811. 

The design is available in dark and light colors on dozens of products, including t-shirts, leggings, notebooks, stickers, wireless chargers, laptop sleeves, and iPhone cases.

Keep exploring. Here are other popular lists and tips:

The Kobo bookselling team selected the best new books in fiction and non-fiction. Editors’ picks in romance and other genres will be released in the coming days.

When it comes to annual book rankings, most book lovers are aware of the best books picked by Amazon editors or editorial teams of leading book websites.

If you are a Kobo user, you don’t have to check out the best books picked elsewhere so that you can go back to Kobo to browse for titles that you have added to your wish list.

The easiest thing you can do is check out the best books that were selected this year by the Kobo editorial team.

So far, Kobo revealed one Best of 2022 list. Next lists, including romance picks, will be published by the end of the year.

The first list includes Kobo’s Top 20 ebooks & audiobooks of 2022 in fiction and non-fiction.

What makes this list special is that it combines both ebooks and audiobooks.

The reason is simple: opposite to, for instance Kindle, you can get in the Kobo store either an ebook or audiobook version of a digital publication – and seamlessly enjoy it in a single Kobo app for your tablet or smartphone.

What’s included in the Top 20 Kobo Ebooks and Audiobooks of 2022?

You will find here All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir, a heart-wrenching novel steeped in “teenage longing to escape a stifling small town.”

The audiobook version of All My Rage, narrated by Deepti Gupta, Kamran R. Khan, and Kausar Mohammed, was also named one of the best audiobooks of 2022 on Audible.

Matthew Perry’s audiobook, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, touches on his pre-stardom childhood, including a successful stint in competitive tennis, and the struggles he faced in adulthood.

Babel by R. F. Kuang is a wickedly clever work of speculative fiction. It plays with the form of the academic novel while weaving in elements of fantasy.

Which book on the list is your favorite?

⇢ Kobo 2022

Tip: Check out the latest news from Kobo by visiting the official Kobo blog or following their social media channels.

Keep exploring. Here are other tips and news for ebook lovers:

[ef-archive number=5 tag=”lists”]

Are you looking for a deal on Audible audiobooks? You can save $36 on Premium Plus membership.

Audible Premium Plus normally costs $14.95 per month, but the deal offers a monthly fee reduced to $5.95 for the first four months. It means you save 60%.

Audible Premium Plus provides unlimited access to Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts. You earn 1 credit per month to buy any title from a premium catalog.

After the deal period ends, your credit card will be automatically charged with $14.95 each month, not $5.95. You can, however, cancel your membership any time to avoid paying the full price.

Here is a full catalog of Audible Plus audiobooks – you can explore it without signing up to Audible.

The deal is available directly on Audible website. You can’t find it on Amazon.

I have spotted the deal just now, but it is valid much longer than Cyber Monday. You have time until December 31, 2022.

⇢ Get the deal

Are you interested in audiobooks? Keep exploring:

[ef-archive number=5 tag=”audiobooks”]

The best books don’t always make the best gifts. That’s why it’s always good to know what most other users are giving as gifts. Amazon has a great tool for that – here is what you need to know.

How do you find the books you could give as gifts to your significant other, a family member, or a friend?

There are many well established tools for book finding (and I’m sure you’ve tested them many times already): book bestseller lists of all possible kinds, book awards, book reviews and gift lists from leading literary blogs, or book recommendations by social media influencers.

On Amazon only, you can easily find a few book recommendation tools and services:

▸ Annual and daily Top 100 book bestseller lists – these rankings list the most sold books in, respectively, the current year and current day. You can browse the lists of print books and Kindle ebooks, as well as Audible audiobooks.

▸ Best Books of the Year – these rankings list the Top 20 best books picked by Amazon editors in the most popular categories. The rankings are published twice a year (in June-July and in November-December).

▸ Amazon Charts – these weekly lists rank Top 20 books in two categories: Most Sold (based on the number of copies sold), and Most Read (based on the number of daily Kindle readers).

These tools are great if you are looking for a book you’d like to read yourself.

The problem is that not every best selling book would make a great gift. And not every book that’s a great gift would make it to a bestseller list. 

You may say that there is a special Editors’ Holiday Gift Picks section that puts together the rankings curated by Amazon editors, and that these rankings are intended specifically to help you find the best book to gift.

The problem here is the same as with book reviews or book recommendations. Someone, even the most renowned authority, may just be wrong.

And here is the solution: thousands of people who have the same goal – finding the best book to give as a gift – can’t be wrong. And you can follow their way, because they are recommending the books using their wallets.

Did you know Amazon curates the lists of most gifted items in almost every major product category? It’s a lesser-know feature many Amazon customers are still not aware of, so I have decided to give it a bit more attention.

Called Amazon Gift Ideas, this special store section puts together the Top 100 most popular products ordered by customers as gifts. These rankings are updated daily. By the way, this section’s title is misleading, because it doesn’t highlight the major benefit. The section should be called “Most Gifted on Amazon”.

As you know, you can order lots of products on Amazon as a gift. When you proceed to checkout, you will find gift options under product details. When you check the “this is a gift” option, the item you buy is automatically counted into the most gifted Top 100 list in the relevant category.

[ef-reco id=”155812″ title=”Read also” info=”Top article”]

How to find most gifted books on Amazon

1. Go to Amazon Gift Ideas front page on Amazon, and from the left sidebar choose “Books” for print books or “Audible Books & Originals” for audiobooks.

2. Products in the ranking are presented the same way as in the bestseller lists, with the orange rank in the top left corner, title, author, number of reviews, and average rating. You can click on either the book cover or book details to go to the product page.

3. If you want to see books in a specific genre, find it in the left sidebar. You will see that any major genre has subgenres you can click to further specify your needs. The category structure in the lists of most gifted products is the same as in the store.

For your convenience, here are the exact links to the most gifted books on Amazon:

▸ Books – print books that were ordered as gifts by Amazon customers. The list is updated every day.

▸ Audiobooks – Audible audiobooks, and Audible Originals that were ordered as gifts on Amazon. The list is updated every day. 

I guess that titles ordered as gifts directly on Audible website count into the list of most gifted audiobooks as well. Amazon and Audible platforms are highly integrated.

Make sure to bookmark these webpages in your browser to quickly access them the next time you want to buy a book or audiobook as a gift.

To bookmark any page in a browser, click on a star you should find in the search box. Alternatively, you can use a shortcut – Ctrl+D on a PC computer and Command+D on a Mac computer.

Most gifted books on Amazon – tips and facts

How to find most gifted Kindle ebooks on Amazon

As you have probably noticed, there is no Kindle ebooks category among Amazon Gift Ideas rankings.

In my opinion, it’s because of the Kindle for Groups feature, which is mainly used for corporate gifting. It lets you buy as many copies of a single Kindle ebook as you want, and send them to the recipients via email.

As a result, the list of most gifted Kindle ebooks would be populated by titles for professional development.

There are two alternative ways to find most gifted Kindle ebooks on Amazon:

1. Visit a page with Popular Gifted Kindle Books 

It’s a selection of Kindle ebooks that is probably put together manually by Amazon editors, but it should be based on the actual number of orders as gifts.

The list includes between 150 and 200 books and it includes evergreen titles such as A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander, or Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.

2. Start browsing most gifted Amazon print books 

Browse the “Books” section of Amazon Gift Ideas. If you find a title that you believe is worth giving, go to its product page and order its Kindle version (if available).

Please keep in mind that many gifted print books are image-rich and usually their Kindle editions are not available.

Here are the best genres in the most gifted books category, where you can find both print and Kindle editions:

• Literature & Fiction
• Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
• Romance
• Biographies & Memoirs

Most gifted or bestsellers – which Amazon lists are better?

I have compared the lists of the most gifted books with bestsellers, and the conclusions are:

▸ On the top level – without going to specific genres – the lists overlap in less than 10%. It’s because the most gifted books are the ones for kids, while the bestselling titles are from various categories.

▸ When you compare “Literature & Fiction” category, between 30% and 50% of titles are present on both lists. The top 5 is occupied by the books everyone is talking about, for instance, the latest novel by Stephen King. But you don’t need any of these lists to take this book into consideration, do you?

▸ I have noticed that in categories that provide both print and Kindle editions – such as literary fiction, mysteries, biographies, or romance – the list of most gifted books are more relevant.

– The books come from recognized authors. These authors write for well-known publishers, such as Simon & Schuster or Penguin Random House.

– On the contrary, the books on the bestseller lists are offered by Amazon imprints, and come from many authors that write exclusively for Amazon.

– Also, there are lots of Kindle Unlimited titles among them. As a result you may see many best selling titles that you know nothing about.

▸ My advice is to use the lists of most gifted books instead of bestseller lists. You will find hot new releases from familiar authors much quicker. 

Most gifted books and audiobooks on Amazon – tips

▸ Please keep in mind that the lists of most gifted books are refreshed every day. If you visit them today, you will see the books that have been ordered as gifts in the past 24 hours.

▸ If you want to gift a book for Christmas, you should visit the lists at the time most users are buying Christmas gifts. 

▸ Make sure to bookmark the lists of the most gifted books and audiobooks on Amazon in your browser to quickly access them when the time comes. Click on a star you should find in the search box, or use a shortcut: Ctrl+D on a PC computer and Command+D on a Mac computer.

▸ If you want to find the books that were most gifted in the past, you can use an online tool called Wayback Machine. It’s a digital archive of the web and collects archived copies of web pages. For instance, if you want to buy a book for your Mom for Christmas, you can use Wayback Machine to learn which books were most gifted before Mother’s Day. Here is the archive of the page made two weeks before Mother’s Day 2022.

▸ If you start browsing Amazon from the lists of bestsellers, you can quickly jump to the most gifted items by clicking on the “Gift Ideas” tab at the top of the list. The navigation bar with bestsellers, new releases, movers & shakers, most wished for, and most gifted items is available only on the front page of Amazon Top 100 lists.

▸ The lists with most gifted products are obviously available not only for books and audiobooks. You can browse all major categories, from Amazon devices, to home appliances, games, personal care products, electronics, toys, or clothing. ⇢ Browse all categories

Most gifted books on Amazon – conclusions

I think the lists of most gifted books and audiobooks on Amazon are a very helpful but still overlooked way to find books you could give as gifts for Christmas, Mother’s Day, birthday, or wedding.

A recommendation based on other users’ gift buying choices is a way to increase the chances the book you give will not end up in the present drawer.

⇢ Books ⇢ Audiobooks

Keep exploring. Here are other lists and tips for modern book lovers:

[ef-archive number=5 tag=”lists”]

These days, you can hardly find someone who is not fond of audiobooks.

Audiobooks are fun. They are a new way to discover the world of literature. They let you enjoy the story together with other people. They allow you to follow the plot when you wouldn’t be able to read.

Most people listen to audiobooks on their smartphones or tablets, using dedicated audiobook player apps. If you are an Amazon customer, you know it’s not the most convenient solution. Unlike in other digital platforms (naming only Kobo, Google, or Apple), you will need two apps to enjoy both ebooks and audiobooks: Kindle and Audible.

Wouldn’t you like to have all your ebooks and audiobooks managed in one place? The Kindle e-reader is the perfect tool for that.

Choose the best Kindle for audiobooks

Kindle as an audiobook player – things to know

Are Kindle e-readers ready to play audiobooks? Yes, they are, but you should be aware of the following circumstances and limitations.

All Kindle models lack audio-related hardware

Currently, no Kindle model comes with:

• built-in speaker or speakers
• 3.5 mm mini jack port

Amazon’s last e-reader with speakers was Kindle Touch launched back in 2011. I don’t expect Amazon to bring back either the speakers or a mini jack. These hardware elements will make the devices more expensive, especially that there is another way to play audiobooks.

All Kindle models come with Bluetooth

All current Kindle models have a built-in Bluetooth module. Thanks to that, you will be able to connect Bluetooth headphones or speakers to your Kindle.

Connected Bluetooth enabled speakers or headphones is the only way to hear audiobooks played on your Kindle. In the next few years, Bluetooth will be the default tool for listening to audiobooks on all Kindle e-readers.

Audiobook player features are provided by the software

Even without built-in speakers, Kindles are great audiobook players.

When you tap on an audiobook cover in your Library view or Home screen, an audiobook interface pops up, and you can control the playback just like you do it in a dedicated audiobook application on your smartphone or tablet.

You can only listen to Audible audiobooks

The thing to remember is that on your Kindle you can listen only to Audible audiobooks. Even when you upload an audiobook file to your Kindle via the cable from your computer, you won’t be able to play it.

It’s because audiobook player features are powered by Audible – and Audible only.

Not all Kindle models support audiobook playing

All new Kindles come with an Audible audiobook player built right into the interface. However, some older models can’t play audiobooks.

Audible maintains a list of audiobook-compatible Kindle models: Does Audible work on my Kindle?

No Kindle model comes with memory card slot

Opposite to Amazon Fire tablets, Kindle don’t sport microSD card slots, so there is no way to extend the memory in case you would like to download more audiobooks from your Audible account.

Best Kindle for audiobooks – features that don’t matter

Screen size and resolution

It doesn’t matter whether your Kindle has the 6, 6.8, or 7-inch display. You won’t be looking at it for hours, but just for a few seconds – to start and stop the audiobook.

For the same reason (the time you spend looking at the display), the screen resolution doesn’t matter either.

Warm light

Warm light feature, present in the Paperwhite or Oasis, changes the tone of the front light from blue to yellow during the evening. 

Blue light may cause problems with sleep, but such problems may arise when you read for a long time. You don’t need a warm light feature if you stare at the display for a few seconds.

Water resistance

The fact that the Kindle is the device you put away the moment the audiobook starts playing totally changes the way you use this device.

You won’t be holding it in your hand or hands for long hours. You won’t need to place the Kindle on a stand to allow for hands-free reading. You will most probably put the Kindle on a desk or a bedside table – in a safe place where there is no risk of spilling a liquid.

What you should be more careful about are the Bluetooth speakers or earphones. You take them, not the Kindle, to the bathroom when you want to listen to audiobooks while taking a bath.

Best Kindle for audiobooks – features that matter

Battery life

A common opinion is that e-reader batteries last for weeks. According to Amazon, Kindle e-reader batteries run up to 6, 8, or even 10 weeks. A stunning performance, don’t you think?

Well, that’s based on a specific assumption – that you read for half an hour a day, with a screen brightness set to 13. How many hours a day do you read on your Kindle? Is it really half an hour?

If you read for an hour a day, the battery will last not 8 but 4 weeks. How much time would that be in hours, anyway?

Let’s calculate the battery life for Kindle 11, which runs up to 6 weeks on a single battery charge.

6 weeks × 7 days × 0.5 hours = 21 hours

A typical tablet, for instance any of the Amazon Fire models, can run on a single charge for around 10 hours.

It turns out the Kindle’s battery is not so powerful, especially if you want to listen to audiobooks continuously.

The length of a typical audiobook is about 10 hours. You can listen to two or three full audiobooks and then you’ll need to plug-in your Kindle to the power socket.

As you see, the longer the battery life, the better.

Memory space

An e-reader can hold thousands of books. This is true only when we are talking about text-only novels. They usually take no more than 5 MB of the space.

What about audiobooks?

Each hour of the Audible audiobook requires approximately 28-30 MB of space when you download it in high quality. For the standard quality, it’s 14-15 MB per hour.

Let’s assume you want a standard quality and it takes 10 hours to listen to the entire audiobook. You will need 150 MB of space for this audiobook file on your Kindle.

150 MB for a single audiobook is 30 times more than for a single ebook.

If you want to make your Kindle an audiobook center, you should buy the model with the largest possible internal memory.

Please note that not the entire space is available for the user. You should assume that some 2-3 GB are already taken by system files. As a result, if you buy the Kindle with 8 GB of internal memory, you will have 6 GB at your disposal.

Here is how many 150 MB audiobooks can fit into different memory sizes:

• 8 GB (6 GB for the user) is enough for 40 audiobooks
• 16 BG (14 GB for the user) is enough for 95 audiobooks
• 32 GB (30 GB for the user) is enough for 200 audiobooks

How many audiobooks do you have? Do you want to keep and manage them in one place? The more memory space you get, the better.

How to choose the best Kindle for audiobooks

The most important thing you should ask yourself is: will I use the Kindle for ebooks and audiobooks or just for audiobooks?

Obviously, when it comes to mixed content use (ebooks + audiobooks) there is no clear answer. There are two many factors to consider.

But if you are looking for a Kindle model that would be used primarily for audiobook listening, the answer is simple: the cheapest possible with the largest possible internal memory.

The basic Kindle is all you need. It has 32 GB of internal memory, its battery life is extended to 6 weeks (over 20 hours of continuous playback), and it still costs below $100.

Keep exploring. Here are other lists and tips:

The most detailed and comprehensive book infographic this year puts together the latest facts and figures about reading habits, literacy rates, and popular books.

Back in 2020, we read more books than ever. 35% of the world population read more due to the pandemic and frequent lockdowns. How has the situation evolved the following year?

World Reading Habits 2021 – the new infographic created by Isabel Cabrera for the Global English Editing blog is even more detailed than the previous one. It reveals which countries read the most books, which books and book genres are most popular, and compares literacy rates between people of different ages, among others.

Most data is collected from different sources, so it was not possible to compare the reading stats between continents. That’s why the infographic groups the facts and figures regarding each continent.

At the end of the infographic, you will see a few interesting comparisons between print and ebooks. As you may have expected, the popularity of ebooks is still way behind paper books. In fact, 2021 saw ebook sales decline by 8%, with print books outselling ebooks four to one. In 2021, ebooks made only 9% of total book industry revenue.

The trend is positive for audiobooks. Their popularity is rising, and North America is leading the market with a share of over 46%. Audiobooks are also getting more and more popular in China. Almost 35% of adults and 43% of minors listened to audiobooks last year.

Here are other interesting highlights:

• Americans read in 2021 almost one-fourth more than last year.
• Americans aged between 20 and 34 spent about 6.6 minutes reading daily.
• 39% of Americans prefer newly printed books, and only 5% go for audiobooks.
• On average, people in Europe spend more than one hour per day reading a book.
• Finland, Poland, and Estonia are the biggest bookworms, based on the share of people reading books.
• Almost 17% of the Finnish population claim reading books is one of their main activities.
• In Asia, readers in India, Thailand, and China spend the most hours reading per week. And China has the highest percentage of everyday book readers.
• In 2020, almost 35% of adults and 43% of minors in China listened to audiobooks.
• Reading books is the 5th most popular leisure activity in Africa, with 7 in 10 adults claiming they read for pleasure.
• The worldwide adult literary rate was 86%, almost unchanged since 2015. The literacy rate is expected to grow to 90% by 2030.
• Andorra, Luxembourg, Norway, and Liechtenstein are the countries that report 100% literacy rates.
• Two-third of over 780 million illiterate adults worldwide are female.
• In age groups, Millennials read more books than any other generation. They mainly use libraries to source reading materials.
• Boomers and The Silent Generation choose bestsellers, while Generation Z prefers to use social media to find books.
• 66% of readers believe printed books offer a more unique and fulfilling reading experience than digital format.
• The publishing industry employs 315 thousand people worldwide.
• Ebooks sales make only 9% of the total book industry revenue. They have decreased by 8% in 2021 but still are higher than in 2019.
• Ebook subscription usage is up 26% in 2021, compared to the time before the pandemic.
• Dues to pandemic-related school closures, more than 100 million children worldwide are falling behind the minimum proficiency level in reading.
• Book genres that made the most money are romance ($1.4 billion), mystery & crime ($730 million, and spiritual & self-motivation ($720).
• Over 50% of kids aged between 6 and 17 borrow from school or public libraries.

Please note that it may take longer than usual to load the page, as the visual is long and resource-heavy. Please make sure to visit Isabel Cabrera’s original post on the Global English Editing blog.

Interested in infographics about books and reading? Keep exploring:

[ef-archive number=5 tag=”infographics”]

Now, when all Kindle models are capable of playing Audible audiobooks, it’s high time to look at the best available headphones, earbuds, and portable speakers.

What you have to keep in mind is that Kindle e-readers don’t have a headphone jack. The only way to listen to Kindle audiobooks is via Bluetooth speakers and headphones.

The main advantage of Bluetooth headphones is that they are wireless. You are not limited by cables and irritated by cable mess. You can freely move around your room or garden while the Kindle is lying on a table.

The main disadvantage of Bluetooth headphones is that you need to recharge them. Compared to the Kindle, which runs a few weeks on a single charge, you’ll have to find a power source every even day.

That’s why, in the list below, we’ve rounded up Bluetooth headphones and speakers that have the longest possible battery life.

Nevertheless, if you are going on a vacation to a distant cabin in the woods, and plan to listen to audiobooks via your Kindle, make sure to take the charger. You will need it.

One would ask: why should I listen to audiobooks via the Kindle if I can do it via Echo smart speaker? There are two reasons: you can’t download audiobooks to the speaker (so listening offline is not possible), and you probably won’t take it on your holidays.

Kindle audio – highlights

In the following overview of the best, most innovative Kindle compatible speakers, headphones, and home appliances, you will see:

• Innovative bedside and desk lamps with built-in Bluetooth speakers
• Long-battery earphones for every weather condition
• Outdoor speakers with extensive high-fidelity sound
• Compact and waterproof Bluetooth speakers
• Powerful solar-powered speakers that double as power bank
• Wearables with built-in speakers, including sleep mask and winter cap
• Most reliable folding wireless headsets

What are the best headphones and speakers that you can use to listen to audiobooks from the Kindle? Let’s take a look.

Kindle Bluetooth headphones, speakers, and wearables

1. Senso waterproof earphones

Our pick: Best sports Bluetooth earphones

You are looking at one of the most popular earphones on Amazon. They are sweat and waterproof, with IPX-7 rating. They will be a perfect companion of the waterproof Kindle Oasis!

Most importantly, these earphones have one of the most effective batteries in a category. The new and improved lithium polymer battery will allow you to listen to audiobooks for up to 8 hours. What’s more, it takes only 1.5 hours to recharge them.

Senso Bluetooth earphones come with Bluetooth v. 4.1 technology, enabling you to connect to devices that are 30 feet (10 meters) away.

2. Multi-purpose bedside lamp with speaker

Here is something that will make every book lover happy – a bedside lamp from Boiabs puts together five benefits into one minimalist design that can be an irreplaceable element of every modern bedroom.

First of all, it’s a reading lamp (in case a gift recipient loves to read books the classic way). Touch activated LED-powered lamp offers as many as 48 combinations of brightness and colors.

Then you have a digital alarm clock and calendar that features a sleep mode. You can play audiobooks from a microSD card, AUX input, or a flash drive.

Most importantly, the device sports a Bluetooth speaker, so that you can wirelessly connect your Kindle or another device with an audiobook app. A built-in 4400 mAh battery will let you play audiobooks for long hours.

3. One-piece earbud with noise-cancelling mic

Our pick: The best one-piece earbud with the longest playtime

I’ve seen many people who buy a pair of wireless earbuds but use only one because they want to be aware of what’s happening around them.

So, why buy two earbud if you can just invest in a single, good-quality one? One-piece earbuds become more and more popular, and they are worth exploring.

From Mpow comes a slim, one-ear Bluetooth headphone that offers high-quality sound and is equipped with noise-cancelling microphone.

This upgraded Mpow earbud adopts a professional CSR chipset which, combined with Bluetooth 5.0 module, makes multi-data transmission stable and offers wide wireless range.

The earbud weighs only 3 grams (0.1 oz), supports 8 hours of playtime, and 300 hours of standby mode – all after just 2 hours of charging.

4. Portable solar speaker with 50-hour playtime

Our pick: Portable speaker with the longest playtime

If you are looking for a Bluetooth speaker that would be used more flexibly, in different conditions and places, for as long as possible, the one from Color Coda should meet your expectations.

This large-capacity compact speaker comes with 5,000 mAh li-polymer battery that will also let you use the speaker as a portable power bank to charge your smartphone or Kindle.

Plus, on the back there is the latest high-power solar panel with high conversion rate. All that will guarantee the playtime of up to 50 hours!

5. Mpow Flame Bluetooth noise-cancelling earbuds

If you are determined to buy wireless sport earbuds that have a long battery life and provide noise cancelling technology, take a look at the slim design offered by Mpow.

The earphones are waterproof, come with Bluetooth 4.1, and have a richer and clear sound. The quick charge of 1.5-2 hours will enable you to listen to audiobooks for up to 9 hours.

Mpow earbuds are available in seven fashionable colors, including Flash Blue (shown above), Viridis Green, and Light Gray.

6. Bluetooth-enabled sleep headphones and eye mask

Here is a perfect gift for people who listen to audiobooks to relax and get to sleep peacefully.

These soft sleep headphones feature ultra-thin Bluetooth speakers. Thanks to that, you can listen to music or audiobooks even if you are a side sleeper.

The second great feature is an eye mask which adopts 3D ergonomic technology to block out 100% of external light “for you sweet deep sleep.”

Bluetooth-enabled stereo speakers can play audiobooks from your audiobook app for an entire night. The producer claims the battery will handle 8 hours of continuous use. Imagine listening to audiobooks all night long!

7. Outdoor heavy-duty speaker with subwoofer

A solid, waterproof and shockproof speaker can be a great outdoor companion, no matter whether you listen to audiobooks in the garden, on a camping site, or during a mountain hiking.

From Kunodi comes one of the most popular heavy-duty Bluetooth speakers you can find on Amazon.

The speaker is shockproof, dustproof, and waterproof (IPx45 rating), has a built-in subwoofer for increased sound quality, and a microphone for hands-free calls.

Available in six colors, including Camo, Green, and Red.

8. Bluedio T2s folding wireless headset

Are you looking for solid Bluetooth headset with a playing time reaching 40 hours? Meet T2s from Bluedio.

The headset combines Bluetooth 4.1 low power high speed chip with ergonomic design featuring adjustable foldable headband and ear cups covered with soft leather. Best of all, it comes with an optional 3.5 mm jack cable.

Available in four colors: Black, Blue, Red, and White.

9. Waterproof outdoor rock speaker

Does the gift recipient spend a lot of time in the garden or on a terrace? What do you think about gifting them an outdoor speaker that blends into the nature?

Take a look at this gorgeous rock-looking from Alpine Corporation.

This high-quality speaker can connect to any Bluetooth enabled device, including the latest Kindle e-readers. 50-foot high-fidelity sound will reach you no matter how far you are.

A durable design is lightweight, weather-resistant, and waterproof. Most importantly, the speaker is powered by a solar panel, even during cloudy days, so you don’t have to recharge it too often.

A battery works up to 12 hours on a full charge – enough to enjoy an entire audiobook (or even two).

10. Bluetooth speaker that looks like a book

Here is a great idea if you know the giftee loves to listen to audiobooks in the living room or home library.

Called “Cloud Book,” this speaker is designed to look like a real book and has dimensions of a hardcover. It’s available in three colors, so it can fit into any space.

The speaker can connect directly to a Wi-Fi network for Internet radio, a personal audiobook library, or favorite online music services.

A rechargeable battery will let it play audiobooks for up to 12 hours.

11. Anker SoundCore speaker with 24-hour playtime

If you are looking for a device that could allow you to listen to audiobooks together with other family members, you should pick up a Bluetooth speaker instead of headphones.

And one of the most popular devices on Amazon, durable, compact, and offering long battery time, is SoundCore from Anker.

The speaker has a minimalist design, offers superior sound quality, but its most appreciated feature is long playing time. The high-capacity li-ion battery can let you listen to audiobooks for even 24 hours without the break!

Available in three colors: Black, Red, and Blue.

12. Edifier MP200 cubic compact speaker

If you want the speaker, but need it to be as compact as possible and as heavy-duty as possible, then you’ll be satisfied with the MP200 line from Edifier.

The speaker has a cubic design and comes with a hand string for easy carrying. The IP54 technology protects the speaker from rough environment. The simple 3-button panel lets you easily control the audiobook playback.

MP200 comes with the largest number of color options available in the compact Bluetooth speakers. You can choose from seven colors, including White, Light Green, and Yellow.

13. Premium bedside lamp with speaker and charger

Are you looking for a Bluetooth speaker that you could place in your bedroom? Take a look at a premium home decor appliance that combines a stylish bedside or desk lamp, a Bluetooth speaker, and a wireless charger.

Developed and offered by Masdio, this exclusive-edition lamp is shaped to look like a tree, and includes a speaker optimized to deliver crystal clear full-range sound.

The lamp features a wireless charger. Simply, put a wireless charging compatible smartphone on the lamp’s base – no need to connect the cables.

14. Foldable 45-hour playtime over ear headphones

From Letscom comes one of the most popular headphones you can get on Amazon. It’s also among the best-rated headphones, as it combines a reasonable price with high-quality and great features.

Besides 3 EQ sound quality, Bluetooth 5.0, Type-C charging port, lightweight and foldable 90-degree swivel design, these over ear headphones allow you to play music or audiobooks for up to 45 hours!

This longest playtime in the category is achieved thanks to a built-in 750 mAh rechargeable battery.

15. Fashionable winter cap with wireless headphones

Our pick: Best Kindle-compatible wearable

Here is another refreshingly different idea in this overview. Instead of getting a bookshelf speaker or wireless earphones (which are quite common as gifts) go for a creative outdoor wearable.

This winter cap from Rotibox combines a winter cap with wireless headphones. It will allow the gift recipient to listen to favorite audiobooks during daily commuting or outdoor activities – without the need to wear extra headphones.

The wearable sports Bluetooth 4.1 module and comes with a user-friendly control panel on the side. It also includes a built-in microphone.

What’s most important, the built-in rechargeable battery guarantees up to 6 hours of continuous playing.

The cap is available in almost 50 different colors and shapes! It’s fully washable, simply remove the headphones from the pouches.

16. Steampunk candle lamp with Bluetooth speaker

Our pick: Best-rated wireless speaker home decor

There is a growing number of home appliances that come with an integrated Bluetooth speaker, for instance alarm clocks, reading lamps, or power banks.

None of them looks as gorgeous as a new desk light that offers a steampunk look, flickering light, and speaker with a clear sound.

The lamp’s flame mode gives soft warm light that resembles flickering of a candle. You can adjust the light brightness by rotating a switch in the base of the lamp.

The wireless speaker supports Bluetooth 4.2 technology. Many reviewers have pointed out that it gives a surprisingly crisp and powerful sound.

How long is the playing time? It’s the most important question for audiobook lovers. This steampunk, battery operated lamp & speaker can play audiobooks for up to 8 hours at the maximum volume.

Keep exploring. We’ve got more posts and tips: