10 Audiobooks You Can Binge During Your Workout

Get inspired while you pump iron

For years I have compiled music playlists to help motivate me while I lift weights or run on the treadmill at the gym. Recently, I’ve found that audiobooks can be even more inspiring than those musical compilations. In this article, I have compiled a list of 10 motivational audiobooks you can listen to while you work out. Here are some hand-picked recommendations that I absolutely loved and I am sure any gym rat would be able to appreciate.

1. Can’t Hurt Me

Written by: David Goggins Narrated by: David Goggins, Adam Skolnick Categories: Relationships, Parenting & Personal Development, Personal Development Length: almost 14 workouts long — 13 hrs and 37 mins

David Goggins is an inspiration. He’s an American ultramarathon runner, ultra-distance cyclist, triathlete, motivational speaker, and author. Did I mention that he’s also an ex-Navy Seal? It’s hard to believe that, at one stage in his life, Goggins was overweight, depressed, and had a dead-end job.

This audiobook takes an in-depth look at how he turned his life around and pulled himself out of the depths of despair through a philosophy of taking ‘personal responsibility’.

Goggins has uniquely structured this book in such a way that there is a podcast style question and answer session at the end of each chapter. Even at almost 14 hours runtime, the story flies by. The experience is one of those rare instances where the audiobook is actually better than the printed version, and you will devour it while you are pumping iron.

2. Own the Day, Own Your Life

Written by: Aubrey Marcus Narrated by: Aubrey Marcus Categories: Health & Wellness, Fitness, Diet & Nutrition Length: 11 workouts long — 11 hrs and 5 mins

Aubrey Marcus is the founder and CEO of Onnit, a mega lifestyle brand, and one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States. In this audiobook, he teaches you how one single day of positive choices can lead to a lifetime of concrete strategies for better living and optimal performance.

His question: How can we get the most out of our mind and body on a daily basis?

In this guidebook, he shows the listener how to optimize every moment of the day, from waking up in the morning until bedtime each night.

I’ve implemented many of his strategies. Trust me, you haven’t lived until you try his suggestion about cold showers! Marcus will bring you many more fabulous tips and tricks to help you enjoy life more, even when you’re sweating it out on the elliptical machine.

3. Atomic Habits

Written by: James Clear Narrated by: James Clear Categories: Business & Careers, Workplace & Organizational Behaviour Length: 5.5 workouts long — 5 hrs and 35 mins

Are you someone who wants to stick to your workout plan? How do we create positive changes in our lives that will last? In this audiobook, James Clear teaches us that, if we are having trouble changing our lives, the problem is not us. It’s the system we are using to make the change. He says we need to have a better system. Clear teaches us how to use tiny life changes to build systems that promote lasting change.

Along the way, readers are inspired and entertained with true stories about people from all walks of life, who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.

4. The Obstacle Is The Way

Written by: Ryan Holiday Narrated by: Ryan Holiday Categories: Politics & Social Sciences, Philosophy Length: 6 workouts long — 6 hrs and 7 mins

Often, people use exercise as a way to clear their mind and gain perspective on issues that they’re facing.

Here’s a different way of thinking about your problems:

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”- Marcus Aurelius

This audiobook draws its inspiration from stoicism, the ancient Greek philosophy of enduring pain or adversity with perseverance and resilience. Stoics focus on the things they can control, let go of everything else, and turn every new obstacle into an opportunity to get better, stronger, and tougher.

For those people dealing with a difficult problem, or who feel like they are unable to get out of a rut, author Ryan Holiday provides a framework to use the problem as a way to find the solution.

5. Extreme Ownership

Written by: Jocko Willink, Leif Babin Narrated by: Jocko Willink, Leif Babin Series: Extreme Ownership Categories: Business & Careers, Management & Leadership Length: 9.5 workouts long — 9 hrs and 33 mins

When on the battlefield, decisions made can be a matter of life or death.

Former US Navy Seals Jocko Willink and Leif Babin show listeners of this audiobook how leadership in battle is similar to leadership in business and life.

In gripping, firsthand accounts of heroism and loss, they prove that leadership — at every level — is the most important factor in whether a team succeeds or fails.

The best part is that they provide you with practical advice on how to use these battle lessons in your everyday life. If these guys can’t inspire you to take control of your life (and your workouts), nobody will.

6. The 5 AM Club

Written by: Robin Sharma Narrated by: Adam Verner Categories: Business & Careers, Management & Leadership Length: 11 workouts long — 11 hrs and 4 mins

I started waking up at 5 a.m. to do my workouts after I listened to this audiobook! To some, this may seem way too early, but that’s kind of the point.

Robin Sharma is a peak performance expert, and he uses a story about the struggle of two strangers to teach us the true benefits of waking up before the sun rises.

In this inspiring story, you will learn how geniuses, business titans, and the world’s smartest people start their mornings to produce incredible achievements. This is a must-read if you have ever considered working out before the crack of dawn.

7. Moneyball

Written by: Michael Lewis Narrated by: Scott Brick Categories: Sports & Outdoors, Baseball & Softball Length: 10.5 workouts long — 10 hrs and 26 mins

Hey there sports fans! This is one is a favorite of mine, as it’s part riveting story and part scientific study. Moneyball explores the idea that there may be a science to winning at baseball.

In this true story, Lewis explores how one of the smaller Major League baseball teams was able to become successful without having as much money as some of the other teams, by looking more carefully at the statistics of the players that they selected.

It’s inspiring for anyone who wants to improve aspects of their lives or work by taking a more analytical approach. And when you listen to it at the gym, you will begin to think of smarter ways to work out!

8. The 80/20 Principle

Written by: Richard Koch Narrated by: Richard Koch Series: Nightingale-Conant: Achievement Categories: Business & Careers, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Length: Almost 7 workouts long — 6 hrs and 47 mins

Do you want to get more results in your workout from less effort?

In Richard Koch’s excellent audiobook, we learn about the 80/20 principle, also known as the Pareto Principle, which states that 80% of our results come from 20% of our efforts.

The book shows you how to maximize the benefits of this principle in every aspect of your life, not just in terms of your health. It’s also a very entertaining listen.

10. The Obesity Code

Written by: Jason Fung Narrated by: Brian Nishii Categories: Health & Wellness, Fitness, Diet & Nutrition Length: 10 workouts long — 10 hrs and 9 mins

This is an incredible book for anyone trying to lose weight while working out. It takes a completely new approach to reducing pounds.

The idea, from Dr. Jason Fung, is to focus on when you eat. By doing this, you will control your insulin, which is a key hormone related to weight gain and loss.

The book lays out the science behind each idea and refutes the calories in/calories out approach to getting in shape. Some have called Fung’s hypothesis’ controversial. For me personally, I was able to lose 40 pounds as a result of the methods laid out here. I got down to my high school weight!

10. Never Split the Difference

Written by: Chris Voss Narrated by: Michael Kramer Categories: Business & Careers, Management & Leadership Length: 8 workouts long — 8 hrs and 7 mins

We exercise so that we can take control of our physical well-being. We also need to take control of other parts of our lives, and that means we have to learn how to deal with other people in order to achieve our goals.

Chris Voss, a former FBI hostage negotiator, describes harrowing real life scenarios where he had to use his negotiating skills to get out of life or death situations. Using 9 principles, he shows you how to apply his expertise to your own personal life.

This is a fun audiobook to listen to, and I recommend it because it is not only entertaining, but it provides you with practical tools to use in business and in personal situations.

11. Bonus Audiobook! Relentless

Written by: Tim S. Grover Narrated by: Sean Pratt Categories: Sports & Outdoors, Sports Psychology Length: Almost 7 workouts long — 6 hrs and 48 mins

What makes Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant different from other elite athletes? Tim Grover, who trained both athletes, can tell you definitively.

This audiobook will tell you how to get in the ‘zone’ and raise your performance. This is obviously something that would appeal to anyone who likes to work out, and I found Grover’s insights invaluable.

Who doesn’t want to be like Mike?

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