The Best Listens for Tom Hanks Fans

Written and narrated by Tom Hanks, this short story collection is a must-listen for any fan. Hanks has written 17 short stories that range from heartwarming to surprising, but always manage to capture the wit and warmth that Hanks is known for. From a man who becomes an unexpected bowling celebrity to the story of an eccentric billionaire who finds more than he bargained for on a business trip, there’s something nostalgic and inviting for every listener in this collection. The final entry in the collection is a short screenplay, where Hanks is joined by Peter Gerety, Peter Scolari, Cecily Strong, Holland Taylor, and Wilmer Valderrama in a delightful ensemble performance.

Tom Hanks narrates best-selling author Ann Patchett's latest novel, an intergenerational story about the Conroy family’s rise to wealth and their stumbles along the way. Spanning five decades, The Dutch House focuses on siblings Danny and Maeve as they navigate family drama, hardship, and their own codependency. Hanks is the perfect narrator for this story, which calls for a skillful balance of humor, cynicism, and deep emotion.

Stephen Colbert’s parody gem went viral when he introduced it to the late, great Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are, on The Colbert Report. In audio, it offers Tom Hanks the perfect opportunity to show off his talent for humor and comedic timing. This quick and hilarious listen also includes some bonus banter between Hanks and Colbert.

Tom Hanks lends his vocal talents to this audiobook, which examines the effects of World War II on the lives of 40 ordinary Americans from across the country. The narrative tracks their journeys across the world, through the small and large events that shaped the war, and how these individual experiences became part of a global event that shook the world. In the audio performance, Tom Hanks is joined by Ken Burns, Josh Lucas, and Rebecca Holtz.

The word is officially out that Tom Hanks's debut novel is coming this spring! Titled The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, the saga of how a star-studded, blockbuster action film comes to life after World War II surely draws on Hanks's intimate familiarity with Hollywood. But with an ambitious 80-year scope and epically detailed comic-book inspirations (Hanks created three original comics for the story), the premise is even wilder and more intriguing than we could have imagined. Casting for the audiobook has not been announced, but it's a fair bet who has first dibs—and in any event, listeners can expect a show-stopping production.

Rom-com fans who love Tom Hanks will adore this fun romance novel narrated by Rachel L. Jacobs about Annie, who is obsessed with Tom Hanks and rom-coms. All she wants is a sweet, funny, sensitive guy like Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle to sweep her off her feet—is that too much to ask? When a Hollywood movie starts shooting in her neighborhood and Annie begins working on set, her hopes are high...but then she meets the leading man and he couldn’t be less like Tom Hanks. So why does she keep sharing the most epic rom-com moments with him?

Speaking of rom-coms, if You’ve Got Mail is your favorite Tom Hanks rom-com, then pick up this upbeat novel about Hana, who dreams of a career in radio while waitressing part-time at Three Sisters Biryani Poutine, her mother's restaurant and the only halal restaurant in their close-knit neighborhood. Hana suddenly finds her mom’s livelihood and her own security to chase her dreams threatened by a rival upscale halal place opening up nearby...owned by the surprisingly young and attractive Aydin. Ulka Simone Mohanty narrates this witty novel of a young woman pursuing her dreams while everything she knows begins to unravel.

If you loved The Dutch House, then you’ll likely love The Vanishing Half, narrated by Shayna Small. This moving novel tells the story of two sisters—identical twins—who grew up in a small Black community, only to run away at 16. As adults, one sister is back in their hometown, raising her own daughter, and the other sister is passing as white far away, married to a white man who knows nothing about her past. Regardless of their different paths, their lives remain intertwined.

Tom Hanks stars in the 2020 film adaptation of News of the World—but try to check out the audiobook narrated by Grover Gardner before seeing the movie. It’s about Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, a veteran of the Civil War who works as a news reader, reading aloud the news for illiterate crowds. When he’s paid to transport a young girl who was kidnapped back to her family, the treacherous journey brings them together...but what is Kidd to do when it’s clear that her family doesn’t want her?

Another celebrity—J.K. Simmons—narrates this audiobook about a grumpy old man who is hiding his deep pain behind a curmudgeonly attitude. But all of that is challenged when new neighbors with two children move in next door (and flatten his mailbox in the process), and work their way past Ove’s tough exterior and into his heart. A movie adaptation starring Tom Hanks is in the works!

If you enjoyed Tom Hanks’s narration of The War, and you’re a fan of Band of Brothers (which was produced, co-written, and co-directed by Hanks), then you’ll want to listen to this nonfiction work about the first all-Black armored unit in WWII. The unit was formed mainly as a publicity stunt by the Army to gain African-American support during WWII, so Army officials never intended to deploy it...until heavy casualties in 1944 forced them to call up the 761st. The men fought heroically, despite heavy casualties, and liberated many towns and concentration camps.

If you’re looking for a humorous and heartfelt novel narrated by a Hollywood star who’s as beloved as Tom Hanks, try this listener-favorite novel written by Nora Ephron, the creator of Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. Meryl Streep narrates the story of Rachel Samstat, a cookbook writer, who, at seven months into her pregnancy, discovers that her husband is cheating on her and finds solace in whipping up delicious dishes with a side of revenge.

For a lyrical, soulful novel about life and love narrated by a talented actor, you cannot go wrong with Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, performed by Hamilton superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda. Recorded before his skyrocket to fame and much beloved, this novel follows the friendship between two boys in southern Texas as it deepens into romance.

Dead Eyes is a podcast from actor and comedian Connor Ratliff, who investigates why Tom Hanks fired him from a very small role in HBO’s Band of Brothers. The podcast became a cult hit, gaining the notice of Hollywood insiders who went on the record to weigh in (check out episode 19) and, finally, the ultimate get: Tom Hanks himself (episode 31).

In this humorous podcast series, Conan O’Brien embarks upon a journey to find friends by starting a podcast series and inviting people on air. Tom Hanks joined Conan in 2020 to talk about recovering from COVID and his work.

Dan Carlin takes a trip through history with a unique and interesting lens. In this special Addendum episode, Carlin and fellow history-buff Hanks talk World War II naval history and Hanks’s film Greyhound.