Malcolm Gladwell is a great writer. He’s a master of creative non-fiction. And I’m a big fan of his work. I first read The Tipping Point a few years ago. Since then I listened to the audiobook versions of Outliers and, more recently, The Bomber Mafia.

Currently, I’m listening to Talking to Strangers.

As much as I love his writing style — his background as a journalist is front-and-centre in his storytelling — I would recommend to anyone that his audiobooks are the way to go.

I’m not sure of anyone else who does audiobooks the way he does.

First and foremost, he reads his own books. It’s something that I wish happened more than it does. Any voice actor can read a script, but only the author can enunciate the words the way they are intended.

Aside from that, he incorporates so much into his books. Rather than quoting interviewees, for example, he plays the recording of said person speaking. He incorporates music into his books. He plays clips from video and other recordings that bring what he’s telling so much closer to home.

These seemingly small details make for an experience far superior to merely listening to words being read.

I would recommend consuming Gladwell’s work on any occasion. But to do so through audiobook is next level.