---
title: "Cal's Best Finds — Is it worth the hours, and is the narrator any good?"
description: "History, science, biography and memoir, often better heard than read."
url: "https://calsbestfinds.com/category/narrative-nonfiction/"
lang: "en"
image: "https://calsbestfinds.com/og/default.jpg"
---

Category

# Narrative Nonfiction

History, science, biography and memoir, often better heard than read.

## Narrative Nonfiction reviews

[Full Review](https://calsbestfinds.com/format/full-review/)[Narrative Nonfiction](https://calsbestfinds.com/category/narrative-nonfiction/)

### [Emergency Neil Strauss Review: The Book That Changed How I Live](https://calsbestfinds.com/shelf/emergency-neil-strauss-review/)

Neil Strauss, narrated by Neil Strauss

The highest writing score on this site, and it is not a score for the sentences. Writing 4.75, narration 4.0, and the reason to read this one rather than listen to it.

Writing

4.75

Narration

4.0

8 hr 17 min

[Full Review](https://calsbestfinds.com/format/full-review/)[Narrative Nonfiction](https://calsbestfinds.com/category/narrative-nonfiction/)

### [Everyone Loves You When You're Dead Book Review: No Audiobook, and Why](https://calsbestfinds.com/shelf/everyone-loves-you-when-youre-dead-book-review/)

Neil Strauss

Five hundred pages of interview fragments, scored 4.25. There is no audiobook of it at all, and having read it, I do not think that is the loss it looks like.

Writing

4.25

Narration

none exists

544 pages

[Author Spotlight](https://calsbestfinds.com/format/author-spotlight/)[Narrative Nonfiction](https://calsbestfinds.com/category/narrative-nonfiction/)

### [Neil Strauss in Audio: Two of the Big Ones Are Abridged](https://calsbestfinds.com/shelf/neil-strauss-author-spotlight/)

I have read all of his own books in print and heard three of the recordings. The audio catalogue is patchier than the bibliography looks: two of the best-known are abridged, one has no audiobook at all, and the only unabridged one is a full cast.

[Full Review](https://calsbestfinds.com/format/full-review/)[Narrative Nonfiction](https://calsbestfinds.com/category/narrative-nonfiction/)

### [The Game Neil Strauss Audiobook Review: What the Cut Costs](https://calsbestfinds.com/shelf/the-game-neil-strauss-audiobook-review/)

Neil Strauss, narrated by Neil Strauss

Writing 4.0, narration 3.5, and the gap between them is the edition. The only audiobook is abridged, it cuts the field reports, and it does not announce itself.

Writing

4.0

Narration

3.5

9 hr 27 min

[Full Review](https://calsbestfinds.com/format/full-review/)[Narrative Nonfiction](https://calsbestfinds.com/category/narrative-nonfiction/)

### [The Truth Neil Strauss Review: A Reckoning, Not a Sequel](https://calsbestfinds.com/shelf/the-truth-neil-strauss-review/)

Neil Strauss, narrated by Neil Strauss, with Ione Skye, Jessica Sattelberger, Justin Gunn, Adele Jacques, Mem Kennedy, Carola Madis, Leah Cevoli and John Runnette

Writing 4.25, narration 4.0. The genuine reckoning with The Game rather than a sequel to it, and the rare read-first verdict that still rates the audiobook.

Writing

4.25

Narration

4.0

16 hr 50 min

[Read Or Listen](https://calsbestfinds.com/format/read-or-listen/)[Narrative Nonfiction](https://calsbestfinds.com/category/narrative-nonfiction/)

### [On Writing Anniversary Edition: Which One, and Read or Listen?](https://calsbestfinds.com/shelf/stephen-king-on-writing-anniversary-edition/)

Stephen King, narrated by Stephen King

Four editions are in circulation, the covers barely differ, and the listings do not say what is inside. Here is what each one adds, and which half of the book each format suits.

Writing

4.25

Narration

4.5

9 hr 7 min
