Imagine having to cover hundreds of miles ahead of you in complete silence. Maybe this is light stuff for someone practicing Zen Buddhism, but truck drivers tend to like going into different spaces—far out and far away. With their eyes on the road and their ears free to roam, many truckers are among the most expert audiobook listeners on the planet. Racking up impressive listening hours alongside their mileage, many truckers have their audio preferences down to a science—and often, that means science fiction.
It turns out that as truckers transport our goods, many like listens that transport them into other galaxies and alternate universes: fantasy, action, and adventure are also popular genres among many long-haul drivers, though their tastes run the gamut. Unlike many of us, in their working worlds, truckers have plenty of time to listen to a thriller unravel or to get lost—not on the road, but in a juicy historical fiction title. Truckers are the ultimate power listeners.
“Even though he’d been paying for membership,” Ashley says, “I would joke to colleagues that he married me for my Audible library.”
When Ashley T., an Audible customer service trainer, met her future husband Chris, listening played a big part in their whirlwind relationship. Chris was a long-distance driver, and texting wasn’t an option when he was on the road. They listened to each other’s lives, goals, and interests, one of which was audiobooks on Audible. Chris was already a member when they met. “Even though he’d been paying for membership,” Ashley says, “I would joke to colleagues that he married me for my Audible library.”