During my 2-3hrs total daily commute I've been listening to podcasts and getting a bit bored. I was considering subscribing to the Audible app when a coworker in a similar situation informed me that by going to my local library and getting a free library card, I can use the Overdrive app to check out audiobooks from the public library for free. So I did that, and now I have access to tens of thousands of audiobooks to fill my driving time. As is usually the case when presented with an overwhelming number of options, I can't decide which to choose. So I'm looking for recommendations: what are some good books available in audio format? My interests are science, technology, engineering, (some) history, (some) fiction, politics, et. al.
Keep in mind that since the audiobooks are treated like physical library books, there is a fixed number of any given title that can be checked out at any given time, and extremely popular books or new releases are typically on a wait list several weeks or months long. So older or lesser known books may turn out to be better suggestions.
And a secondary question: do you vett the authors who you read/listen to? Would you allow the words of a proven liar into your mental diet? For example, I just started this book called American Dialogue: The Founders and Us by Joseph J. Ellis. After getting a couple chapters in, I paused and googled the Author's name and the book title. Very positive reviews of the book and the author (well respected Historian, PhD from Yale, author of several history books, professor at Mount Holyoke College since 1979, etc.) yet apparently has been lying to students for decades, saying that he is a war hero, regaling them with tales of parachuting into Vietnam, etc. and got suspended from teaching for a year as a result. I didn't find anything in the reviews of his books that indicate they contain any historical falsehoods, but I'm still leery of listening further, with the concern that (especially after some elapsed time) I won't be able to compartmentalize the information in the cranial section labeled "potentially questionable." I don't want to ingest any rotten information which might affect my world view, just like I don't want to ingest any rotten food which might affect my health.
EDIT: I just realized that by using a political book as an example, I may have invited a political mosh pit. That wasn't my intent. It was just the only real world example I had. please don't turn this political.
Keep in mind that since the audiobooks are treated like physical library books, there is a fixed number of any given title that can be checked out at any given time, and extremely popular books or new releases are typically on a wait list several weeks or months long. So older or lesser known books may turn out to be better suggestions.
And a secondary question: do you vett the authors who you read/listen to? Would you allow the words of a proven liar into your mental diet? For example, I just started this book called American Dialogue: The Founders and Us by Joseph J. Ellis. After getting a couple chapters in, I paused and googled the Author's name and the book title. Very positive reviews of the book and the author (well respected Historian, PhD from Yale, author of several history books, professor at Mount Holyoke College since 1979, etc.) yet apparently has been lying to students for decades, saying that he is a war hero, regaling them with tales of parachuting into Vietnam, etc. and got suspended from teaching for a year as a result. I didn't find anything in the reviews of his books that indicate they contain any historical falsehoods, but I'm still leery of listening further, with the concern that (especially after some elapsed time) I won't be able to compartmentalize the information in the cranial section labeled "potentially questionable." I don't want to ingest any rotten information which might affect my world view, just like I don't want to ingest any rotten food which might affect my health.
EDIT: I just realized that by using a political book as an example, I may have invited a political mosh pit. That wasn't my intent. It was just the only real world example I had. please don't turn this political.
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