Summer. Audiobook.

One SICK book (+bonus recommendations)

I usually prefer physical books. Maybe you do too. Maybe you wouldn’t touch an audiobook with a ten-foot-pole.

I’ll tackle the great audio-vs-physical-books debate someday. But for now, let me recommend one fantastic audiobook that really does it for me.

(Oh, and today there are bonus recommendations at the end of the newsletter!)

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Sometimes we (I) get so wrapped up in reading as a mind-expanding, soul-stretching, empathy-building, IQ-raising Renaissance-man-pastime that we forget to just enjoy books.

Project Hail Mary is enjoyable. Immensely.

The most enjoyable part, to me, was going in blind. I knew nothing about the book other than:

1. It was science fiction (I got that from the cover)

2. It was about a long shot (I got that from the title)

3. It came very highly recommended from a YouTube friend (Phil Got Books)

I love going into books/movies/shows blind (if a trusted source has assured me it’s a quality piece). If I can help it I don’t watch movie trailers before I see a movie. I don’t read book reviews ahead of time. Personal preference.

So if you want the same experience I had, stop reading now & go listen to the audiobook. Otherwise, here are

3 Reasons to Listen to Project Hail Mary

1. Ray Porter’s Voice

Narrators make or break audiobooks. Porter makes it. I won’t elaborate too much, but he is shockingly good. Good in ways I didn’t know I wanted audiobook narrators to be good. It makes the book totally immersive. I never had to break my suspension of disbelief. (Plus, the book is written in first person, so Porter is the main character.)

2. Thematic Story Structure

No spoilers here, but in the first chapter, our main character wakes up with amnesia. As the story progresses, he remembers more and more. Weir arranges these flashbacks excellently — the whole book is structured flawlessly and really helps us feel like we’re the main character much more than a linear story would. We learn information when he does. It’s not a gimmick. It works super well.

3. Emotions! (You’ll Have Them)

Yes, it’s science fiction, and it’s kind of technical. But this is a human story, not a research paper. Be ready for joy, sadness, fear, cheer. I listened mostly in my car on my commute to work, and I found myself tense and smiling and wide-eyed in a pretty regular cycle. Mentally and emotionally, the story got my full investment.

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I’m sure the print version is amazing. But I wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook. It is, unfortunately, an Audible exclusive (so no shot to get it on Hoopla or other library apps) but you could maybe do what I did and get a free Audible trial, spend your one credit, and then cancel. If you end up listening to it, let me know at timdemoss.com/contact — I’d love to know what you think!

Till next time —

Tim

This edition of You Might Like brought to you from my childhood library.

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!!Other Bonus Recommendations!!

SABLE, fABLE by Bon Iver

This album took me a few listens, but it’s slowly become one of my very favorite albums. I like listening to it in sequence, from start to finish — it builds really nicely. (I’m listening to it right now.)

“And everything is peaceful love, and right in me.” — from Everything is Peaceful Love by Bon Iver

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A video I just made about pens

I wrote this newsletter by hand — I find it super helpful for not overthinking things. (Picture below.) Using nice pens is one of my favorite parts of being creative so I made a video about it!

First draft on paper, final on laptop.

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Fredrik Backman on Creative Anxiety and Procrastination

One of my favorite short inspirational talks on writing and general creativity. (Also I like to watch it when I need to remind myself what a good, short presentation looks like — no wasted space, nothing distracting.)

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury

Yeah I’ve recommended this before here — but it’s June now, a great month to finally pick it up! Read outside near grass or inside near a window.

And a bonus poem:

OOPSIE
I didn’t remember
To get off my phone
I meant to read books
   and rid peaches of stones
And move all of my bones
   and the muscles beside em
And look at museums
   and paintings inside em
I tried. Really hard!
It just can't be helped.
I got on my phone in two thousand and twelve.

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All right that’s really the end! See you next month.

— Tim