15 Best Nonfiction Audiobooks for Road Trips

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A road trip is the perfect time to dive into a great audiobook. Over time, I have shared lists for family road trips, 20 short listens, laugh-out-loud picks, and the best audiobooks for couples on the go.

This article focuses on 15 of the best nonfiction audiobooks for road trips that will make your next drive both fun and entertaining.

15 Nonfiction Audiobooks for Road Trips

You can get any audiobook on this list for free by joining Audible’s 30-day free trial. Cancel the trial at any time and the audiobook is yours to keep forever.

1. Unruly

Are you interested in history? Do you like David Mitchell’s brand of humour? If the answer is yes in either case, this audiobook is a must listen.

David takes you on a journey from fall of Rome to the reign of Elizabeth I. He brings to life the kings and queens who shaped the nation, and explains why their stories still matter today.

You will know the human condition, idea of nationalism, the significance of Shakespeare, and a range of other subjects about English monarchs.

David’s trademark wit and comparisons with our present lives makes this audiobook a delight to listen to.

2. The Other Side of History

Robert Garland takes you on a fascinating journey spanning over 40,000 years of human history. It is an epic story of civilization through the eyes of a commoner.

You get a glimpse into the lives of regular people who lived before us including Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, Romans, Britons, and Europeans.

Garland is the professor you wish you had for your history classes. He narrates history from ordinary person’s point of view and makes it relevant to our lives today.

This is the best history class you will ever have. After listening to the 48 lectures, you may think your history teachers were not as passionate about the subject as Garland.

I felt like walking in the sandals our those in the past.

3. Endurance

This story proves that truth is more fascinating than fiction at times. As Mark Twain said, unlike fiction, truth doesn’t have to stick with what’s possible.

Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition aboard the Endurance is one of the most gripping survival stories ever told.

Trapped by sea ice thousands of miles from help, with little supplies and their ship destroyed, Shackleton and his crew faced unimaginable hardship as they fought to stay alive on the shifting ice.

What makes this tale even more extraordinary is that many of the men kept diaries, giving us a vivid account of their courage, suffering, and resilience.

This is not just a story of survival. It’s a reminder of human strength, and it may just change the way you look at your own challenges.

4. Into Thin Air

This is a spectacular audiobook about a fascinating subject, what is it about mount Everest that draws people in, despite the danger and risk of life itself?

Jon Krakauer reached the summit of Everest after 57 sleepless hours, only to descend into one of the deadliest storms in Everest’s history.

It is a gripping account of the deadliest season in the history of Everest. Krakauer’s eyewitness account of what happened on the roof of the world.

5. The Boys

What’s it really like to grow up in front of the camera? This is the story of two artists who have been in the entertainment world for decades, Ron Howard and his brother Clint Howard.

They provide a personal and honest introspective look inside the lives of famous people that were part of our growing up years.

They open up about everything from preparing for a role to surviving Hollywood as young actors, and what it takes to be a good parent in an unusual world.

Its deeply personal story of family, love, bad luck, and determination.

6. Helter Skelter

This is a gripping story of one of the most baffling and horrifying cases of 20^th century.

Vincent Bugliosi, persecuting attorney in the Manson trial, provides insight into the Manson family, selection of victims, the crime, the trial, and the aftermath.

This book gives you all the background to how everything came together, using court transcripts, notes, interviews, case files, firsthand experience, and more.

Vincent Bugliosi weaves a comprehensive tale about one of America’s most infamous (and famous) killing sprees.

7. I’m Glad My Mom Died

In her memoir, iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy shares a deeply personal account of her childhood, her struggles, and her path to healing.

She had her first audition at age six, pushed by a mother who dreamed of fame.

To keep her mom happy, Jennette followed a strict “calorie restriction” diet, weighed herself five times a day, and learned to hide her pain behind a smile.

This is a raw, heartbreaking, and brave story about control, identity, and breaking free. It also offers a powerful look at the darker side of child stardom and the entertainment industry.

8. A Short History of Nearly Everything

One of the best nonfiction audiobooks for road trips if you want to understand complex science topics in layman’s terms.

You don’t need any prior knowledge on the subjects. The book is full of fascinating facts and covers everything that happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization.

The book offers insights into everything from dinosaurs to human origin and extinct animals.   

I love how Bill Bryson makes complicated topics easy to understand in his signature hilarious and informative style.

9. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

Neil deGrasse Tyson is my go to source when it comes to unveiling the mysteries of cosmos. He simplifies Astrophysics in simple terms and makes complex topics easy to understand.

This audiobook is your introduction to how universe works filled with great storytelling and sparkling wit.

From Big Bang to black holes and from quarks to mechanics, Tyson explains important concepts in everyday language.

This book gives you an overview of how universe works and understanding of earth and our existence.

10. A Walk in the Woods

This is Bill Bryson’s hilarious account of hiking the Appalachian Trail, the longest continuous footpath in the world, stretching over 2,000 miles across 14 states.

With his signature wit and curiosity, Bryson blends humor, history, and stunning descriptions of America’s wild landscapes.

You will laugh, learn, and maybe even feel inspired to lace up your boots and hit the trail yourself.

Narrator William Roberts perfectly captures Bryson’s voice, bringing the story to life with warmth and charm.

11. Born a Crime

Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, went through everything bad a kid can experience.

Born to a white Swiss father and a Black Xhosa mother in South Africa, a union that was literally a crime, Trevor grew up in a world that did not know where he belonged.

This book is a collection of 18 emotional and inspiring stories of Trevor growing up and struggling to find his place in the world. He is funny when humor is possible.

Noah is a great story teller and his narration ads authenticity and emotions to the story. The ending will stay long with you after it’s over.

12. Educated

This multi-million copy bestseller extraordinary memoir earned its place on countless ‘Book of the Year’ lists, from The New York Times to Amazon.

Tara grew up in rural Idaho with no school, no medical records, and no birth certificate. Her family, deeply isolated and preparing for the end of the world, kept her far from the outside.

At 16 years of age, she left her home and discovered the importance of education.

What follows is a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and her love/ hate relationship with her family, particularly with her radical father and violent brother.

Educated was declared ‘The Book of the Decade [2010 – 2020]’ by Independent.

13. Bossypants

Tina Fey is one of the pioneer women in comedy and this is a look at her real-life experiences from her childhood to launching her comedy career and eventually becoming a global success.

Tina does not stick to the usual style of autobiography which make this book refreshingly honest, hilarious, and different.

The title ‘Bossypants’ is the perfect reflection of her unapologetically unique life.

14. Dad is Fat

This audiobook will turn your road trip into 5 hours of comedy show. You will love it more if you are a parent.

Jim Gaffigan’s hilarious take on parenting captures the joy, chaos, stress, and love of raising a big family.

The book is in short essays format and presents a perspective of parenting from a dad who feels he and his wife are outnumbered in their own home.

Jim’s witty and thoughtful observation of what it is like having five kids will make you laugh out loud from start to finish.

15. Empire of Pain

This book is a great piece of journalism. The time and effort put into the investigation shines through bright.

It’s a story of how rich abuse their power. A key role played by the Sackler family in the opioid crisis, and their continuing refusal to take any responsibility. 

The book discusses the background of how these people were connected to making huge amounts of money from pushing deadly drugs.

This is a must listen for the medical and pharmaceutical fraternity and anyone who’s lives, or lives of their loved ones, has been affected by drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and other addictions.

The story is the inspiration behind the Netflix series Painkiller.