How to Listen to Audiobooks While Working Out: The Complete Guide

· 8 min read

Ditch the playlist and try an audiobook at the gym. Here's how to pick the right book, set the right speed, and stay motivated while you sweat.

If you've been cycling through the same Spotify playlist for months, here's an idea: swap the music for an audiobook. Millions of listeners already do it, and once you try it, you'll wonder why you waited so long. An engaging story makes a 45-minute treadmill session feel like 20 minutes. A gripping thriller turns a boring elliptical routine into something you actually look forward to.

But not every audiobook works for every workout. Here's how to match the right book to the right exercise, plus tips for making the experience seamless.

Match the Book to the Workout

Different exercises demand different levels of cognitive attention. Here's what works where:

Running, Walking, and Cycling

These rhythmic, steady-state activities are the sweet spot for audiobooks. Your body is on autopilot, freeing your mind to fully engage with a story. Almost any genre works here — thrillers, memoirs, literary fiction, non-fiction. Many runners report that audiobooks help them run longer because they lose track of time.

Best genres: Thrillers, mysteries, memoirs, narrative non-fiction

Weight Training

Lifting works well with audiobooks during rest periods and moderate sets, but you may lose focus during heavy compound lifts. The solution: choose books with short chapters or episodic structures. If you miss 30 seconds during a heavy set, you won't be lost when you tune back in.

Best genres: Non-fiction with short chapters, essay collections, self-improvement

Yoga and Stretching

Low-intensity flexibility work pairs beautifully with calmer audiobooks. Avoid fast-paced thrillers that create tension in your body when you're trying to relax. Memoirs, gentle literary fiction, and mindfulness books work well.

Best genres: Memoirs, literary fiction, mindfulness, poetry

HIIT and High-Intensity Intervals

Honestly, most people find it hard to follow a story during intense intervals. If you want to try, pick something you've already listened to (a re-listen where missing 20 seconds doesn't matter) or save audiobooks for the warm-up and cool-down.

Playback Speed for Exercise

Many gym listeners bump up the playback speed slightly. The ambient noise of a gym or outdoor environment can make normal-speed narration feel sluggish. Here are some guidelines:

Start at 1.0x and increase by 0.1x increments until you find your comfort zone. You should be able to follow every word without straining.

Gear That Makes a Difference

Building the Audiobook Workout Habit

Best Audiobooks for Working Out

If you want specific recommendations to start with:

Anyplay's offline download feature makes it easy to always have a book ready for the gym. Download a few options before your workout, and you'll never be stuck with a stale playlist again.