Why Listen to Russian Audiobooks?

Russian audiobooks are convenient. Unlike paper copies of books, you can enjoy an audiobook anywhere. Whether you are driving or working out, you can also drive forward your learning and work out your Russian skills.

If that is not enough to get you hooked, Russian audiobooks are entertaining. Everyone enjoys a good plot! And with so many options, you are sure to find a Russian audiobook you will enjoy. Enjoying listening to the audiobook will make learning Russian that much sweeter.

Best of all, Russian audiobooks provide you with multiple learning options. You can use just the audio, or you can find a corresponding Russian text to read along in Russian. If you aren’t as confident in your Russian skills, you can also read the English-language version ahead of time so that you already understand the plot of the book and can focus entirely on the language. This versatility makes Russian audiobooks a great tool for any learner. Just choose the route you are most comfortable with!

The 5 Best Russian Audiobook Resources and 10 Highly Recommended Titles

1. LibriVox

LibriVox is a website dedicated to providing free audiobooks for works in the public domain. Since they have volunteers all over the world, many of these audiobooks are available in several languages, including Russian.

To access Russian-language audiobooks, go to their catalog and click the “Language” tab. Then, click “Russian” to choose from over 60 Russian-language audiobooks. You can listen online or download the audiobooks to a mobile device.

Recommendations: 

“Aesop’s Fables”

This classic set of children’s stories is a good option for beginning and intermediate Russian students. Each story is relatively brief which makes them more approachable than longer works. Plus, given the number of animal stories, it will certainly help reinforce animal names for any beginning Russian student.

“Childhood” by Leo Tolstoy

“Childhood” is Tolstoy’s first published novel, though it is largely autobiographical. It is the story of the young son of a landowner as he grows up in 19th-century Russia. Given Tolstoy’s important role in Russian literature, this is an important work for any Russian language and/or literature student. However, due to the complexity of the language, the audiobook is best for advanced students.

2. Audible

Audible is a subscription-based audiobook service from Amazon. For about $15 a month, it provides a wide selection of audiobooks, including Russian-language audiobooks. With their free app, you can listen from any mobile device.

To find their Russian-language content, use the “Browse Audible” drop-down menu to access the “Foreign Language” category. Scroll down to “Russian Language Best Sellers” and click “See All” to view over 2000 Russian audiobook options.

Recommendations: 

“The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakov

This Russian classic is the story of the devil and his pals arriving in Soviet-era Moscow. “The Master and Margarita” is a witty satire often hailed as one of the finest novels of the 20th century.

“Everyday Russian for Beginners”

This audiobook is aimed squarely at beginning Russian learners. If you want to learn Russian in a more traditional style but don’t want to use a textbook, this audiobook will help you get the basics down through listening and repetition.

3. YouTube

Yes, your favorite place to watch adorable cat videos can also provide you with terrific Russian-language audiobooks.

Just search “аудиокнига” (audiobook) or “audio kniga” for a wide selection of Russian-language audiobooks accessible via YouTube’s website.

Recommendations: 

“War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” is one of the best-known works of literature in world history. It follows the French invasion of Russian in the early 1800s and how it impacts several families. It is largely philosophical and uses advanced language, so it is best for advanced students. However, given the importance of the work, it is an ideal novel for language learners and literature aficionados to familiarize themselves with.

“Harry Potter” by J.K. Rowling

Yes, Potterheads rejoice. You have an opportunity to practice your Russian and an excuse to catch up with your favorite boy wizard all rolled into one great audiobook. While it is not a Russian novel, it certainly is popular and a valuable tool for language practice. While it is a children’s book, which would usually make it great for beginning learners, the presence of specialized terminology makes this book most appropriate for advanced learners and Potter-obsessed intermediate learners.

4. Audiobooks.com

Audiobooks.com is a subscription service that allows you one audiobook per month for a $14.95 subscription. Just download the app to stream from your mobile device.

Since there is no separate category for Russian language titles, the fastest way to find them is by searching “Russian.” Then, browse through the pages to find books you might be interested in. The easiest way to see at a glance if they are actually in Russian is by looking at the title page. If it is in Russian, the audiobook is too.

Recommendations: 

“Child Care: The Main Rules” by Svetlana Antonova

This Russian parenting audiobook will introduce you to both new ideas and new vocabulary! You’ll hear words and phrases related to babies, children, families and parenting. Listening to audiobooks in the health and wellness genre can be helpful for beginner or intermediate students, because you won’t have to follow along with a complex story.

“Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Follow Raskolnikov as he decides whether he should commit a crime. The vocabulary and plot of “Crime and Punishment” are quite complex, so this audiobook would best suit advanced learners.

5. Audiobooks in Russian

Audiobooks in Russian is an app available through iTunes. While it is free to download, accessing audiobooks requires in-app purchases. There are over 1000 audiobooks available, including books on economics, psychology and humor. Even the popular “50 Shades of Grey” series is available if that’s your thing. The selection is diverse, so there is something for every level of the language learner.

Recommendations: 

“Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert T. Kiyosaki

This popular personal finance audiobook will make you think harder about money. Though it was not originally written in Russian, listening to the Russian translation will definitely benefit you. It will simultaneously improve your Russian and financial literacy. It is best for advanced speakers since there are advanced terms and concepts. However, any advanced speaker who is interested in business or finance will benefit from this audiobook on several levels.

“Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand

Though originally written in English rather than Russian, the Russian-language audiobook of Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel is still a strong choice. By featuring a society in which industry has collapsed, “Atlas Shrugged” explores concepts like capitalism and government regulation. Due to the language and concepts, it is best for advanced Russian students.