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Membership

Photo of a row of blue and purple books with headphones on top as if the books are wearing the headphones.  White Listening Books logo. Blue and purple gradient background

If you live in the UK and find that your illness, disability, learning or mental health condition impacts on reading, holding or turning the pages of books, then Listening Books is for you!

We are a registered UK charity who have been working to widen access to literature for people of all ages since 1959. Our service caters to a vast range of disabilities and illnesses which may provide a barrier to reading, such as glaucoma, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, cancer and dyslexia, for example. 

We have over 9,000 fantastic titles for you to enjoy - from bestselling novels and autobiographies, to groundbreaking non-fiction and books to improve your wellbeing. There's something for everyone in the Listening Books collection!

Living with any illness or disability can be tough, but we're here to make sure that you always have the comfort and companionship of a good story at the push of a button. 

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What do I get with a Listening Books membership?

When you take out a membership for yourself or a loved one, you will receive access to a whole host of audio-related goodies, including:

  • Access to a growing collection of over 9,000 audiobooks.
  • Thousands of newspapers and magazines from around the world at no additional cost.
  • Audiobooks that you won't find anywhere else, such as our Sound Learning titles, which we produce and record in-house to support the national curriculum and learning. 
  • Priority access to exclusive interviews with authors and audiobook narrators.
  • Friendly support from our dedicated membership team.
  • Opportunities to win prizes in competitions.
  • Members-only biannual audio newsletter.
  • Our Listening Books Bookclub via Facebook.
  • The Listening Books audio-themed podcast.

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What if I can't afford a membership?

Thanks to the kind support of charitable trusts and companies, we are able to offer free memberships to those who would find our membership fee of £20 per year an obstacle to membership.

If this applies to you or the person on whose behalf you are applying, please indicate that you would like a free membership in the "Select Membership" section of our online joining form.  To join online now, please click here or select Join Now at the top of the page.

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The Tick of Two Clocks

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Format: Online

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The Age of Diagnosis

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The Ship of Cloud and Stars

Author: Amy Raphael, George Ermos

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Dear NHS

Dear NHS

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Hope & Glory

Hope & Glory

Author: Jendella Benson

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The Gift

Author: Alan Titchmarsh

Format: Online

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The Dictator's Wife

Author: Freya Berry

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The Burning House

The Burning House

Author: Neil Spring

Format: Online

Shroud for the Archbishop

Shroud for the Archbishop

Author: Peter Tremayne

Format: Online

Fall Off, Get Back On, Keep Going

Fall Off, Get Back On, Keep Going

Author: Clare Balding

Format: Online

Join Now