Author Elaine Castillo proposes an open-minded and inclusive approach to literature and film in her radical, refreshing book on critical thinking, How to Read Now (9 hours). Castillo urges writers and readers to understand that nonwhite characters don’t exist for the sole purpose of teaching empathy to white people, and that the excuse “it was a different time” holds no water for stories that perpetuate colonialist worldviews, even when written by such cherished literary figures as Jane Austen, J.K. Rowling and Joan Didion. But How to Read Now isn’t just a takedown of outdated concepts; it’s also a celebration of the works that get it right, such as the films of Wong Kar-wai and the poems of Tommy Pico.

As both writer and narrator, Castillo expresses her strong point of view well. She is at her best when recalling personal stories, from growing up Filipina in a majority Asian American community, to attending a lauded graduate program that failed to meet her expectations. This is an audiobook for readers ready to shake things up, to open their eyes and ears, and to grow as lovers of stories.

Read our Q&A with Elaine Castillo on ‘How to Read Now.’

When award-winning health science journalist Linda Villarosa’s New York Times Magazine article on the racial disparities in maternal and infant mortality rates went viral, it was clear her reporting had struck a nerve. In Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation (10 hours), Villarosa expands her research to look more broadly at how systemic racism contributes to health inequities for Black Americans, regardless of income or education levels. She underscores the urgent need for all Americans to understand how this discrimination harms our entire health care system. 

Award-winning narrator Karen Chilton’s serious yet approachable tone strikes just the right balance for Villarosa’s writing, clearly outlining the facts and figures the author uses to build her case while also conveying warmth during the many personal anecdotes Villarosa incorporates throughout. This is essential listening for anyone hoping to understand the roots of health care injustice in America.

Read our starred review of the print edition of ‘Under the Skin.’

Kwame Alexander’s Ghana-set historical middle grade novel, The Door of No Return (3.5 hours), unfolds from the perspective of an 11-year-old boy named Kofi, whose story focuses on his family, his village and a special girl named Ama. Ghanaian British actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith brings spellbinding intensity and strong, authentic accents to his narration, breathing life into both the young narrator and his storytelling grandfather. Well-performed side characters provide the backdrop, and the humorous nasal tone of the culturally brainwashed schoolteacher brings comic relief.

Holdbrook-Smith emphasizes the rhythm of Alexander’s novel, much of it told in verse, with charming, dramatic and aesthetic effects that endear Kofi to the listener. At times, listeners must pay close attention, as the story moves quickly, and names, dates and section titles run the risk of being missed, but listeners will be rewarded for their efforts.

Read our starred review of the print edition of ‘The Door of No Return.’

Banneker Terrace “ain’t pretty, but it’s home,” says Mimi of apartment 14D. In the opening story of Sidik Fofana’s debut collection, Stories From the Tenants Downstairs (6 hours), Mimi describes the Harlem high-rise as “one long gray-ass building” with 300-some apartments across 25 floors. The laundry machines don’t work, and the trash chute smells. But the people of Banneker Terrace are marvelous to behold, brought to memorable life by a talented cast of stage, television and voice actors.

Fofana reads the poetic “Intro,” then Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Nile Bullock, Dominic Hoffman, DePre Owens, André Santana, Bahni Turpin and Jade Wheeler voice the book’s eight stories, weaving together the tenants’ deeply personal tales and highlighting their individual struggles, fears and hopes.

Fofana’s intimate, unfiltered stories are powerful enough on the page, but they’re gloriously amplified by these performers.

Voice actors Edoardo Ballerini and Julia Whelan deliver exquisite performances in the audiobook for The Angel of Rome and Other Stories (8 hours), Jess Walter’s gratifying collection of vignettes about human connection and the twists of faith and fate.

Ballerini is masterful and controlled in his portrayal of ordinary people who experience something extraordinary. In “Fran’s Friend Has Cancer,” his expert pacing balances humor and darkness as Max bickers with his wife and realizes that an eavesdropper is recording their conversation. In the title story, Ballerini brings out 21-year-old Jack’s reluctance to study Latin in Rome—until the young man stumbles upon a higher cause, the actor Angelina Amadio.

Whelan’s crisp narration takes on humorous undertones in “Famous Actor” to portray an astute woman observing the absurdities of a self-absorbed actor. And in “Mr. Voice,” Whelan highlights the vulnerabilities of a girl raised by a stepfather who’s known for his popular radio personality, but whose big heart matters most at the end of the day.

Ballerini and Whelan infuse these engaging stories with warmth and surprise, making The Angel of Rome an ideal audiobook for readers who enjoyed Flights by Olga Tokarczuk and Exhalation by Ted Chiang.

Read our starred review of the print edition.

Inviting author Susan Cain to read her own audiobook for Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole (7.5 hours) was an excellent choice. As a meditation on the importance of melancholy, the book requires just the right amount of energy—enthusiasm, even—to keep listeners forging ahead. With her easygoing, conversational pace and a voice full of curiosity and optimism, Cain convinces us that pushing past any ambivalence about sorrow will be rewarding.

The author narrates her personal anecdotes with fondness, bemusement and fascination. Her interviews feel like exciting scenes in a story, and she brings listeners right along on these encounters. It sounds as if she wrote the book to be read aloud.

Fans of lectures by thought leaders such as Brené Brown will enjoy Bittersweet immensely, finding much to ponder about the role of intense emotion in our search for human connection.

Read more: 4 gentle guides for healing, including ‘Bittersweet.’