Have a hankering for some audiobooks? Audible is holding one heck of a sale right now, giving users three months of access for $3. That’s a dollar per month. This is something of a winter tradition for the Amazon-owned platform and the promotion ends on January 21.
An Audible subscription grants one audiobook per month to keep. This can be selected from a massive catalog of new releases and bestsellers. The collection here has just about everything.
Amazon
However, it’s easy to plow through a single book in a month. Users also get streaming access to thousands of curated titles. Think of it like Netflix for audiobooks. The catalog is limited, but it gets the job done in a pinch. Subscribers do get access to all Audible original content and they will receive discounts on purchasing audiobooks outright.
In other words, it’s a neat little service and well worth a buck. The regular price is $15, so make sure to cancel at the end of that three months if you aren’t enjoying the platform.
Black Friday is a great time to take a look at what subscriptions you may be able to save on. From video streaming services to budgeting apps, many services will have some Black Friday promotion you may be able to take advantage of. One of the best we’re tracking is for Audible. You can sign up and get your first three months for just $3 in total, plus get a $20 Audible credit on top of that.
This breaks down to $1 per month for the first three months, which is a boon for audiobook fans. Just make sure to cancel before the 90 days are up, as the subscription will auto-renew at $15 per month. That’s not the worst deal in the world, given the vast number of titles available on the platform, but still.
Audible has a diverse catalog that goes beyond audiobooks. It also hosts podcasts and Audible Originals. Subscribers get to choose one audiobook each month to keep in their collection for free, including best-sellers or new releases. Users also get unlimited access to the Plus Catalog, which houses thousands of audiobooks. Finally, active members get discounts on many audiobooks when looking to purchase.
Winter is coming and this is a good way to make sure you have plenty to listen to throughout the next three months. This deal does have a time limit. It expires on December 16.
Amazon is offering a great promotion for new Audible subscriptions (affiliate link here and below). Audible is an Amazon company that sells and produces spoken audio content. You can now sign up and get the first three months at just $0.99 per month, plus a $20 credit. Plans will cost $14.95 per month after free trial. Check out the details below.
Offer Details
Sign up now to get 3 months of Audible Premium Plus for just $0.99 per month, plus a $20 Audible credit. Offer ends December 1, 2025 at 11:59pm PT. This subscription comes with:
1 bestseller or new release of your choice each month.
Tons of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts. Listen all you want. More added every week.
Audible plans start at $7.95 per month after promo period, but you can cancel at anytime. Here’s the pricing:
Audible Plus $7.95/month: listen all you want to thousands of included titles in the Plus Catalog.
Audible Premium Plus $14.95/month: includes the Plus Catalog + 1 credit per month for any premium selection title.
Audible Premium Plus Annual $149.50/year: includes the Plus Catalog + 12 credits a year for any premium selection titles.
Guru’s Wrap-up
This is one of the best offers we have seen for Audible. If you want to try out the service, then this is a good time to sign up. Premium Plus members get credit(s) good for any titles in the premium selection (1 credit = 1 title) and access to exclusive sales as well as 30% off all additional premium selection purchases.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this article. While your support is always greatly appreciated, you should always check shopping portals such as Rakuten, TopCashback, RebatesMe, ShopBack and others for possible cashback.
Amazon is offering a free 3-month trial for its Audible subscription (affiliate link here and below). Audible is an Amazon company that sells and produces spoken audio content. Plans will cost $14.95 per month after free trial. Check out the details below.
The Offer
Sign up now to get 3 months of Audible Premium Plus for free. Your free, 3 month trial comes with:
1 bestseller or new release of your choice each month.
Tons of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts. Listen all you want. More added every week.
Audible plans start at $7.95 per month after free trial, but you can cancel at anytime. Here’s the pricing:
Audible Plus $7.95/month: listen all you want to thousands of included titles in the Plus Catalog.
Audible Premium Plus $14.95/month: includes the Plus Catalog + 1 credit per month for any premium selection title.
Audible Premium Plus Annual $149.50/year: includes the Plus Catalog + 12 credits a year for any premium selection titles.
Guru’s Wrap-up
We have seen this offer in the past, and it is available once again as part of Prime Day. If you want to try out the service, then this is a good time to sign up. Premium Plus members get credit(s) good for any titles in the premium selection (1 credit = 1 title) and access to exclusive sales as well as 30% off all additional premium selection purchases.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You should always check shopping portals such as Rakuten, TopCashback, RebatesMe and more for possible cashback.
D.C. filmmaker Matt Ogens is out with his new documentary “Madu,” which screens at the AFI New African Film Festival on Sunday and Tuesday before streaming on Disney+.
WTOP’s Jason Fraley previews ‘Madu’ at AFI Silver Theatre (Part 1)
He earned an Oscar nomination for his Netflix documentary “Audible” about the football team at the Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick, Maryland.
Now, D.C. filmmaker Matt Ogens is out with his new documentary “Madu,” which screens at the AFI New African Film Festival at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Sunday and Tuesday before streaming on Disney+ on March 29.
“It’s always meaningful to be able to share it with the community that I grew up with,” Ogens told WTOP. “I was born in D.C. and grew up there, just outside of D.C. in Maryland. … So to go back with this new film, which is really near and dear and meaningful to me is great. Family, friends, people I grew up with, whoever wants to come, I look forward to being able to present the film and do a Q&A after. It means a lot.”
The film follows Anthony Madu, a Nigerian boy who became a viral ballet sensation.
“Two and a half years ago, my producer … sent me a text in the middle of the night, a video of this 11-year-old boy barefoot doing ballet moves in the rain,” Ogens said. “The video ended up going super viral, Viola Davis retweeted it and it really spun out and got a lot of attention. … He just said, ‘Find this kid.’ I was very curious. … Sometimes you just get these stories that just hit you in the gut. I wanted to know this kid’s story.”
After FaceTiming with Madu’s family, Ogens decided to codirect the documentary with Nigerian filmmaker Joel ‘Kachi Benson, flying a Disney camera crew to Africa to film in Madu’s home near Lagos, Nigeria.
“He grew up just on the outskirts of Lagos, about a two or three-hour drive away in an impoverished area that a lot of people in Downtown Lagos don’t even know exists, but there’s this beauty and love in his home, in his family, in his community,” Ogens said. “Juxtaposed against a kid who’s bullied and doesn’t really feel like he belongs because he does ballet. If you’re a kid in Nigeria, especially a boy, you don’t do ballet — you play soccer.”
During the production, Madu was accepted into the Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham, England.
“His mother gets a call from a very prestigious ballet school,” Ogens said. “They get to know him and they see and feel his passion the same way that we did and they offered him a full seven-year scholarship, which is amazing for him because suddenly he’s going to go to this new world where he is around people that value and appreciate ballet. He’s not going to get bullied, made fun of or mocked for doing ballet.”
Madu hopes to continue to inspire others by dancing as his lifelong career.
“His dream, as he states at the beginning, is to be a principal ballerina and really represent Nigeria wherever he goes,” Ogens said. “If he stays in England or comes to America or another country or comes back to Nigeria, it’s a win because he’s bringing that back with him. Really, he wants to inspire the rest of us in the world that we can dream big. Even though it seems impossible and so far off and Mount Everest to climb, it is possible.”
There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.
Do you love to read?
Do you wish you had more time to do so?
Do you fashion yourself a multitasker?
Or are you the type or person who enjoys
learning new things, but has very little time to commit?
If you answered yes to any or all of these
questions… audible books may just be what the doctor ordered.
I mean, seriously… pretty much everything
Amazon touches turns to gold.
Sure, there are other audiobook sites and apps
out there… but few with the same level of customer service or content Amazon
can offer.
In this article, I’ll touch on what sets
Amazon Audible apart.
We will cover:
The main features of the program
How to find Audible books
The different platforms it’s available on
Pros and cons of the program
“Who” is it for
Final thoughts
So let’s get started, shall we?
Want a Free Audiobook from Audible?
Get one audiobook for free when you sign up for a 30-day Audible Free Trial. Here are some of the best audiobooks from S.J. Scott:
What is Amazon Audible?
Simply put, Amazon Audible is an audiobook
subscription membership program, offering nearly 200,000 titles… many of
which are classics or bestsellers.
There is also a wide selection of Audible
Original titles.
Audible currently offers a 30-day free trial,
which includes 1 audiobook download (referred to as one credit) and 2 Audible
Originals from a rotating selection.
Note:
you can’t just choose any Original audiobook. Amazon provides approved choices
for free downloading every month.
Existing Prime members are entitled to two
audiobook downloads (or credits), plus 2 Audible Originals… rather than one
credit for non-members.
After the trial period ends, membership
includes access to 1 audiobook download and 2 Audible Originals per month.
You can cancel at any time, no questions
asked… similar to Amazon’s general return policy. I’ve always found returns
simple with Amazon, be it with Prime products or Video.
Your credit card is only charged if you fail
to cancel within the free trial period.
Once you’ve logged in, you are able to browse from a plethora of titles.
You can search by:
Category (26 categories in total)
Lists & Collections (such as Best Sellers, New Releases, Coming Soon, Best of)
Featured (Audible Theatre, Audible Escape, Harry Potter, Reese’s Book Club, Audible Latino, Audio Shows, Blogs)
From a laptop or desktop, you can use a mouse
to scroll over titles and view a pop-up summary.
Otherwise, simply tap or click on the book title you find interesting to be brought to a summary page.
There you will be given information regarding
the book’s length, release date, narrator’s name and language.
You will also have access to:
The publisher’s summary
Critic Reviews
Member Reviews
Additional Audiobook Suggestions from the same Author and/or Narrator
Should you decide to go ahead and select the
title, you’ll be shown a membership price.
Typically, the free credit earned each month
covers the cost of one title… so you wouldn’t be charged anything additional
for one audiobook.
When you select a title, it is placed in your
cart and any available credits will be used.
Should you decide the book isn’t worth the
read, you can simply exchange it for another at no additional cost.
Think of it as a money back, no risk, reading
guarantee.
Amazon Audible also boasts a unique feature called Whispersync. Whispersync for Voice-ready allows you to move between audiobook and Kindle book seamlessly from one device to the next.
Since it is available in a corresponding
audiobook version, Audible offers the chance to purchase it for a discounted
price (or one credit).
By electing to purchase the audio version, I
am now able to read the book on my tablet before bed… and pick up where I left
off via audiobook while out for my morning jog.
How cool is that?
And for a busy working mom to four small kids…
this feature is worth its weight in gold.
Or, in this case, the modest membership fee.
In addition to the best sellers, Audible
Originals really set the service apart from the competition.
What competition, you ask?
Among the most popular are:
Audiobooks
Serial Box
Google Play Books
Bookmobile
Chirp
Still, none of these have yet to truly
threaten what Amazon Audible is doing.
The business models vary, for starters.
Primarily, while many of these services come
by way of free app, there is typically a “pay per title” fee… which can really
add up.
Conversely, the ones that charge monthly
membership fees offer a fraction of the title selection that Audible does.
And getting back to that…
You can easily browse Audible Originals by category and recommendations.
Audible Originals are exclusive audio titles created by celebrated storytellers from worlds as diverse as theater, journalism, literature and more… all produced in the Audible studios.
Similar to the best sellers, you are able to
browse Audible Originals by category and recommendations just for you.
“Quick Listens for the Commute” appealed to me… especially when I got a glimpse of one of my favorite comedians, Nick Offerman, on the summary page. This, however, was not one of my free Original choices (remember, you get 2 per month).
So instead, I selected to download “You Can Thank me Later”, a novella by
Kelly Harms. It’s free for the month of November.
A wide array of podcasts are also included
with Amazon Audible. And there is no denying the rising popularity of podcasts
these days.
I believe NBC even had a series about a
corporate exec-turned-podcaster.
Access to Audible Daily Deals, with audiobooks available for as little as $2.95
30% off any additional titles you purchase as a member
Keep your library of titles forever, even if you cancel membership
The Audible app keeps your place, even when you switch devices
Access Audible across all your devices including Alexa-enabled devices,
Amazon Kindle, audio players, and any Bluetooth speaker.
Always ad-free!
I’m Sold! So, How Do I Find My Next Audiobook?
Searching for your next listen is easy with
the Amazon Audible taskbar.
You can search two ways:
Utilize the Browse Feature, which is broken into categories
Type a title or topic into the search bar
Once you type something into the search bar,
you are brought to a suggestions page, based on the matching keyword. These
suggestions are in all categories.
You can sort by:
Newest arrivals
Best Selling
Title
Running Time
Average Customer Review
You can also filter your search by:
Category
Packages (escape for example, is a special Romance category)
New Releases (30 day, 90 day, Coming Soon)
Audiobook Length (from less than 1 hr to more than 20 hours)
Language
Program Type
Program Format
Whispersync availability
Depending on how specific you want to be, the
search will be drastically cut down to a manageable list.
And, voila! You’re set to select.
Whatever audiobooks you choose are placed in
your library.
Once a book is in your library, you can access
and manage it at any time via the “Library” tab.
That is also where you actually download the
title to your device. You can also submit a review from here.
Where to Enjoy Amazon Audible
Once you’ve selected your listens, downloading the Audible App is required in order to be able to enjoy audiobooks.
The app is free and available for the
following, making listening on your smartphone a snap:
You can also enjoy Amazon Audible on these
supported devices:
Sonos Speakers
Alexa-enabled Devices
FireTV
Kindle
Kindle Oasis
Fire Tablet
Android, IOS and Windows Tablets
Computer & mp3 (via the Audible Cloud Player and iTunes)
The Pros and Cons of Amazon
Audible
Let’s face it… life can’t be all sunshine and roses.
But Amazon Audible comes close in its efforts to make top quality reads accessible to anyone with the ability and willingness to listen.
So let’s start with the pros:
Largest audiobook selection among its competitors
Large selection of original titles
All books purchased are yours to keep forever, even if you cancel the membership
Whispersync for Voice
Audible app syncs with other audible apps and purchases (including iTunes and Google Reads)
Seamless bookmarking (your current spot, whether audio or visual, is always saved and synced)
Impressive selection of free content
Amazon Prime membership-affiliated free content
Amazon Household Library, which allows you to share your audiobooks across devices with another member of your family
Bluetooth speaker connectivity
Well-known narrators, actors and actresses
Member discount to purchase additional books
Abbreviated versions of many audiobooks, offered at a lower price
Ability to change the listening speed (speed it up or slow it down)
Ad-free listening
Two Tiers of Membership (Gold or Platinum), offered monthly or annually
Roll over credits available for unused purchases (5-12 rollovers depending on membership type)
Refunds available within 1 year of purchasing a book
Ability to put your membership on Hold for a set period of time
Amazon’s award winning customer service and support
There is no contract, so you can unsubscribe and resubscribe at any time if you find yourself not reading as often as you’d like
And now the cons:
Unused membership credits expire after one year
Unused credits disappear if you cancel the membership before using them
Audiobooks can be more expensive than the hard copy or eBook.
Amazon Audible titles are occasionally more expensive than amazon.com or competitor book sites
If you read more than the allotted amount of credits each month, the cost per book can add up
iPhone users are currently unable to purchase books directly through the Audible app due to contract restrictions, so you must download via a computer.
Books cannot be streamed, so downloading to your mobile device will use up storage.
As you can see, rather clearly, the pros
seriously outweigh the cons here.
But don’t take my word for it… see for
yourself with the 30-day free trial.
And if you have any more questions or
reservations, be sure to visit and FAQ page.
Is Amazon Audible Right for Me?
Amazon Audible is for people who will listen to at least one book per month.
You may be wondering what type of person
benefits most from Amazon Audible?
Well, that answer is three-fold.
First,
it’s for busy people who don’t typically have as much time to read as they’d
like.
If you work long hours… commute to work by
bus or train… have a busy social calendar… a heavy college course load… or
have kids… chances are, you don’t have a lot of down time.
You’re lucky if you get your daily workout in
– or get to eat dinner at a normal speed once in a while.
But read a book?
Now that’s just unheard of.
Or at least it was… before Amazon Audible.
Thanks to its groundbreaking and intuitive
interface, you are able to take your books from the sofa, to the gym, to your
kid’s dance lessons, to the office.
Audible goes wherever you go and makes reading
for pleasure accessible again.
It’s also great if you want to get out of your
comfort zone and learn about something new.
Don’t have time to listen to the news?
You can for free with Audible.
Need to recenter yourself? Audible meditations
cost nothing more than the time you’re willing to invest in them.
Second,
Amazon audible is for people that will commit to listening to at least one book
per month.
As with most everything that is worthwhile,
the audible membership is not free. That being said, the monthly fee covers 1
audiobook credit and 2 Audible Original reads.
These credits, however, vary their worth based
on the book’s list price.
The monthly fee, which gives you 1 or 2
credits per month based on your membership plan, essentially is the most you’ll
pay for one book.
That being said, depending on what you opt to
read… books valued at say, $40 USD, are a huge savings for members paying a
fraction of that monthly.
Alternately, if a book you are interested in
purchasing is on sale or retailing for less than $10, you may be best served to
purchase the book and save the credit for a more expensive title later…
especially considering you are able to roll over a certain number of credits.
Finally,
Amazon audible is for the audiobook junkie.
Nobody does it better than Amazon.
If you can’t live without your audiobooks, the
service offers the best selection there is.
Hands down.
More than 150,000 hands… to be exact.
There is no real competition.
And although other sites may cost less on
paper, or offer unlimited titles, the selection suffers because of it.
Plus, as an Audible member, you’re given
access to:
Daily Deals
30% off all titles
Flash sales on membership
Audible Originals
Lifetime access to all purchased audiobooks
If you think about it, the typical person will
purchase the hardcopy of a book and put it down without finishing. Perhaps,
never finishing it.
Why?
Because life happens!
But if the book is accessible 24/7, on
multiple platforms… you’re much more
likely to make it to the end.
Plus, if you keep your eyes open for those
“member only” deals, you might find yourself purchasing multiple books for the
price of one.
Amazon audible is for the audiobook junkie.
So… is Amazon Audible Worth It?
If you’re still with me, you don’t need to be
a psychic to guess what I’m about to say.
If you want to “read” more… Amazon Audible is
for you!
If you can commit to listening to at least one
or two titles per month… Amazon Audible is for you!
If you are an audiobook fanatic… Amazon
Audible is for you.
Yes, it costs money.
But in my humble opinion, it’s a drop in the
bucket compared to the other stuff we spend money on.
Lattes.
Lunches.
A pair of shoes we don’t really need.
Not only are the Audible book titles and
narrators in a class unto themselves… but if you seek, you shall find deals.
And more deals.
Couple that with award winning customer
service and no-hassle cancellation and return policies… and Audible is the
clear cut winner in the category.
The cons are hardly worth a second thought –
and really only come into play if you don’t take full advantage of what Audible
offers.
Hey, I’m not trying to sell you on audiobooks.
You like them or you don’t.
You want to read more, or you don’t.
But if you do, start your free trial today.
I promise you will be kicking yourself for not
doing it sooner.
And if you’re on the lookout for more books to read, be sure to read these articles:
Nicole Krause has been writing both personally and professionally for over 20 years. She holds a dual B.A. in English and Film Studies. Her work has appeared in some of the country’s top publications, major news outlets, online publications, and blogs. As a happily married (and extremely busy) mother of four… her articles primarily focus on parenting, marriage, family, finance, organization, and product reviews.
George Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece “1984” is getting a new audio-only treatment from Audible.
The Audible original audio drama, set to premiere April 4, stars Andrew Garfield (“Tick, Tick…Boom,” “The Amazing Spider-Man”) as Winston alongside Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked,” “Harriet”) as Julia. They are joined by Tom Hardy (“Inception,” “The Dark Knight Rises”) as the voice of Big Brother and Andrew Scott (“All of Us Strangers,” “Fleabag”), who plays the mysterious and dangerous O’Brien.
The cast also features Romesh Ranganathan as Parsons, Natasia Demetriou as Mrs. Parsons, Chukwudi Iwuji as Charrington, Francesca Mills as Syme, Katie Leung as Ling, and Alex Lawther as Ampleforth.
Audible will release “1984” audio original globally on April 4, 2024, exactly 40 years after the date of Winston’s first diary entry. Listen to the trailer at this link. According to Audible, the “1984” adaptation has been officially authorized and endorsed by the Orwell estate. Richard Blair, George Orwell’s son, called it “sensational” with a “brilliant cast,” per the company.
The Audible original will feature an original score composed by Matthew Bellamy, producer and songwriter who is the front-man of Muse, and composer Ilan Eshkeri (BBC’s “A Perfect World,” “Ghost of Tsushima”). The score is performed by a 60-piece orchestra at Abbey Road Studios.
Audible’s “1984” is directed by BAFTA-winner Destiny Ekaragha (“Ted Lasso,” “The End of the F***ing World”) and written by Joe White (“Blackout Songs,” “The Little Big Things”). According to Audible, the adaptation remains faithful to the original text, “leaning into the horror of the dystopian setting, whilst going deeper into Winston and Julia’s love story,” the company said. “In a world where love and sex are forbidden, Winston and Julia are the last lovers on Earth.”
Ekaragha said in a statement, “This is my first experience directing an audio drama, and what an honor it was to work so closely with a cast of this caliber. I can’t wait for everyone to hear what Andrew, Cynthia and Tom have done with these iconic characters.”
Pictured above (l. to r.): Andrew Garfield, Cynthia Ervio, Tom Hardy, Andrew Scott
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
It’s certainly been a year of buzzy book releases, from Britney Spears’ The Woman In Me to Matthew Perry’s Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing. But if you’ve yet to pick up copies of your own to join in on the conversation, there’s a very easy (and better yet, cheaper) way to catch up.
For those who prefer to listen to stories instead of reading hardcover books, Amazon’s Audible is a great option. The online service carries bestselling audiobooks, exclusive Originals, podcasts, and much more for listeners to access on a daily basis. And right now, Audible is running one of its most enticing promotions to date—pay $5.95 for the first four months.
You’ll enjoy unlimited listening to an ever-growing selection of titles with zero commitments—you can cancel anytime. In addition, the deal comes with one credit per month to purchase any premium selection title you please.
This deal only lasts through December, so make sure to opt in for the 60 percent discount while it’s still available through Amazon’s Audible homepage—just click ‘Get This Deal.’ It’s the perfect last-minute gift for anyone on your list!
While it may not be the full audiovisual experience, a Buffy the Vampire Slayer audio drama is still way cool. It’s been a while since we got any proper new Buffy content, with the original series only running from 1997 to 2003. Even with that ending, there were still tons of character threads and occasional plot holes that could have been addressed to make a more complete story. Hopefully, this sequel audio series, which will be on Audible, does some work to deal with that.
The new series is called Slayers: A Buffyverse Story. It was written by Amber Benson, known for playing Tara in the Buffy TV series. She’s partnered with Christopher Golden, who has written a number of novels taking place within the Buffy universe. The voice cast returning from the Buffy TV series includes James Marsters, Charisma Carpenter, Anthony Head, Juliet Landau, Emma Caulfield Ford, Benson, James Charles Leary and Danny Strong. Sarah Michelle Gellar is not in the show but there’s a good reason for that: In the series, Spike winds up meeting with a Slayer from a reality where Buffy never existed.
The upcoming scripted audio original picks up 10 years after the events of the final episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Since then, Spike has gone deep undercover in Los Angeles, convincing the forces of darkness that he’s back to his evil ways. When his cover is compromised by sixteen-year-old Indira Nunnally (Hayes), Spike finds himself on baby-slayer-sitting duty once more. While he attempts to track down a watcher for his eager new protégé, their paths collide with the veteran Slayer of a parallel reality where Buffy Summers never existed…a reality where Cordelia Chase is the one-and-only Slayer. She needs Spike’s help with a classic big bad terrorizing her world…his old flame, Drusilla.
Slayers: A Buffyverse Story will premiere on Audible on October 12.
The 13 Best Final Girls in Horror Movie History
Witches and slasher villains and interdimensional beings from Hell have nothing on these expert survivors.
