An audiobook lending charity for those that find their illness, mental health, physical or learning disability affects their ability to read the printed word or hold a book.
Find Out MoreTop selling authors in fiction and non fiction for adults and children, including best selling titles, classics, and niche genres. New books added every month including educational titles unavailable elsewhere in the audio format.
See Our Books
“
The companionship and delight of a voice telling stories is incomparable. Listening Books distributes pure, undiluted pleasure and friendship. Not many schemes can make such a claim.
Stephen Fry, Patron
Listening Books
Registered charity no. 264221
Become a MemberOur service is quick and easy to use and opens up the wonderful world of books for people with an illness or condition that impacts on their ability to read the printed word. This could be a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, a mental health condition like anxiety, a visual impairment, or a physical condition that makes it more difficult to hold a book, such as arthritis.
We have a huge range of fiction and non-fiction titles for both adults and children, and we support school age children from age 7 upwards. Listening to audiobooks allows children and young people to listen to the same books their friends are reading, helping to instil a greater understanding and enjoyment of literature. For our adult members, listening to audiobooks can provide hours of entertainment, but they can also be a welcome distraction from loneliness or a health condition. We firmly believe having a print disability shouldn't affect your access and enjoyment of books!
Our members can also listen to thousands of newspapers and magazines from around the world, with title choices updated on a daily basis.
We support individuals, but also organisations that provide support, such as hospices, care homes and schools.
As a charity that enjoys the support of trusts, companies and individual donors, we are able to offer a significant subsidy on the cost of membership, meaning that the fee our members pay is less than 30% of true costs. And for those people who would find the membership fee a barrier to joining, we are able to offer free membership in many cases.
Our membership team always strive to provide a personal service to our members, and we are happy to support users via telephone, email or post to ensure they are getting the very best from their membership.
This is my third year as a member of Listening Books. The range of books offered has encouraged me to listen to work by authors new to me, as well as those I already like. Listening Books staff responded immediately when I needed help to use my account while in hospital. They also helped on two occasions when I had difficulty with downloads on my MP3 player. This friendly service makes Listening Books feel like an extended family. Molly, West Yorkshire
For individuals, membership costs between £20-£45 per year. We can also offer a limited number of free memberships for those who would find the fee a barrier to joining the service.
We have over 10,000 titles from a wide variety of genres in both fiction and non-fiction. Members are very welcome to suggest books or authors they would like to see in our catalogue!
Listening to an audiobook is not only a great source of entertainment, they can also help you unwind, de-stress and we have a selection of books that support education and the National Curriculum.
Choose from over 10,000 titles!
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles Book 4: Talking to Dragons
Author: Patricia C. Wrede
Format: Stream / Download
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles Book 3: Calling on Dragons
Author: Patricia C. Wrede
Format: Stream / Download
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles Book 2: Searching for Dragons
Author: Patricia C. Wrede
Format: Stream / Download
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles Book 1: The Dealing with Dragons
Author: Patricia C. Wrede
Format: Stream / Download
I have a neurological condition that makes it impossible for me to read (or even watch TV). Listening Books is an absolute Godsend for me as audio books are my main form of entertainment (and distraction from my illness). Listening Books offer a wide range of books in all genres and the staff could not be more friendly and helpful. I don’t know what I would do without the service.
Wendy, Listening Books MemberListening Books @ListeningBooks
This week's Friday Favourite is The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante, recommended by Emily B! "As a big Ferrante fan, I really enjoyed the recent Netflix adaptation of this book and am now listening to the audiobook. It is the story of Leda, a professor of English Literature who, on holiday alone in Italy, becomes overly interested in a large Italian family and particularly a young mother with her daughter who are part of the group. Her interest in the young mother's perceived dissatisfaction with parenthood sparks reflections on Leda's own journey and struggles as a mother, examining the subject with Ferrante's trademark candor and unflinching honesty." The Lost Daughter is available to stream or download from our website or the Libby app! [ID: Book cover of The Lost Daughter on a background of a photo of a sandy beach] . . . . . #FridayFave #TheLostDaughter #TheLostDaughterFilm #OliviaColman #ElenaFerrante #ElenaFerranteBooks #ElenaFerranteAddicted #MyBrilliantFriend #TheLyingLifeOfAdults #FreeAudiobooks
Listening Books @ListeningBooks
This week's Friday Favourite is The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante, recommended by Emily B! "Leda's journey and struggles as a mother are examined with Ferrante's trademark candor and unflinching honesty." Listen: https://t.co/9D1sqEjAQy #TheLostDaughter #FridayFave https://t.co/1C4SBetLkp
Listening Books @ListeningBooks
Did you know that we offer free mini-libraries of audiobooks to voluntary-run hospices? 💜 Find out more on our website today! [ID: Purple text in white box reads: "I would like to thank all the staff at Listening Books for the access to your huge audiobook Library. This very welcome gift is yet another way that our patients can get some level of normality into their lives at what is a very stressful and worrying time for them. This fantastic enhancement will hopefully bring those that want to take advantage of it many hours of listening and relaxing." - Stevan, CEO at Mary Stevens Hospice. Purple and pink gradient background] . . . . . #Hospices #HospiceSocialWorker #HospiceServices #HospiceNurse #Hospice #HopsiceVolunteer #HospiceCare #Care #Activities #FreeAudiobooks
