The Best Audiobooks About Surfing

Kem Nunn's 1984 noir mystery about the shadowy realities of the surf world has become modern classic. Set on and around Southern California's Huntington Beach, the story follows Ike Tucker, a young man searching for his missing sister. Following her trail takes him on a perilous journey through the shadowy underworld of surfing, populated with colorful—and sometimes dangerous—characters. Tapping the Source is an unflinching and utterly compelling look at 1980s California surf culture.

From best-selling author Taylor Jenkins Reid, this novel centers on one fateful night in the life of a prominent Malibu family in August 1983. As the progeny of a famous crooner, the Riva siblings—Nina, surfer and supermodel; Jay, a champion surfer; photographer Hud; and the baby, Kit—are used to being in the spotlight. But all four have something to hide, and on the night of their biggest party of the year, those secrets come out. Brilliantly narrated by Audie winner Julia Whelan, Malibu Rising is a family drama about betrayal and loyalty, love and power, history and ambition, and, of course, surfing.

This quiet and moving coming-of-age story about the healing power of surfing is set in Palos Verdes, California. Medina, tired of dealing with her parents' rocky marriage and her brother's drug addiction, turns to the ocean for solace. She finds unexpected comfort in the waves, as she slowly learns that true healing must come from within. Jorjeana Marie's soft, rhythmic voice brings both Medina's inner journey and the power of the ocean to life.

In this beautifully written, bittersweet novel, two teenage boys risk everything in search of the perfect wave. Set on the windswept coast of Western Australia, the surfing-obsessed best friends fall under the spell of an enigmatic yet charismatic surfing mentor. He encourages them to chase the biggest waves, and soon they find themselves taking bigger and bigger risks—in and out of the ocean. Breath is a complicated character study about youth, power, and the ghosts that refuse to let us go.

The Dawn Patrol is the first installment in Don Winslow's Boone Daniels series about a part-time private investigator with a full-time passion for surfing. Boone Daniels works just enough to support his surf obsession—until an unsolved case of a missing girl from his days with the San Diego police comes back to haunt him. What follows is a celebration of surfing wrapped up in a gripping, well-plotted mystery. Accomplished narrator Ray Porter deftly navigates every unexpected twist and turn.

William Finnegan is a successful journalist and a lifelong surfer. In Barbarian Days, he recounts learning to surf as a kid in California and Hawaii, and reveals how surfing soon became not merely a hobby but a way of life. Narrating his own story, Finnegan takes listeners with him as he journeys across continents in search of the best waves, experiences loss and heartbreak, and encounters both incredible natural beauty and tragic human failings. Told with candor and rueful humor, this is a powerful, and sometimes harrowing, memoir about one man's extraordinary life with the ocean.

In this thrilling work of science writing and investigative journalism, Susan Casey explores the phenomena of massive waves, freaks and giants of the ocean. For centuries, rumors have surrounded the existence of gargantuan waves, 100-feet high or taller, but it's only recently that scientists have been able to observe, document, and begin to grasp their staggering scale and ferocious force. Woven together with her account of scientific discovery is the story of a tribe of extreme surfers who travel the world seeking out these monstrous waves—at their own peril. Kirsten Potter's excellent narration will keep listeners riveted and gasping throughout The Wave.

Yes, he's well known as the founder of Patagonia, one of the world's most environmentally responsible outdoor clothing companies. Yvon Chouinard is also a legendary climber and surfer. In this memoir, he writes about the experiences that have shaped his life and worldview. Chouinard recounts his childhood and early outdoor adventures, and shares the philosophy which led him to found a company that strives to be both ethical and profitable. Let My People Go Surfing offers a fascinating window into the mind of a highly successful entrepreneur and avid surfer.

Liz Clark spent most of her childhood dreaming of sailing through the world's oceans and surfing unknown waves. In Swell, she recounts the extraordinary journey that transformed her dream into a reality. Setting out from California in a 40-foot sailboat, she sails south on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, she encounters challenging weather, new relationships, and the wonders of the natural world, and discovers a new way of seeing herself, the planet, and her relationship to it. Clark's poignant narration is full of the passion and excitement of someone determined to live life to the fullest.

Kelly Slater is an 11-time world surfing champion. He's won more championships than any other competitive surfer and pushed the sport to new extremes. And though he’s a fixture in the surfing world, he’s also well known as an actor for his role on Baywatch. In Pipe Dreams, Slater recounts the ups and downs of his storied career. He shares the behind-the-scenes moments and unforgettable stories, both humbling and funny, that characterize his life as a world-traveling surfer.

In this eye-opening listen, surfer and journalist Chas Smith offers a glimpse into the sometimes violent and often unexpected realities of Oahu's famous North Shore. Each winter, the area is flooded with surfers from all over the world, eager to catch the best waves. This influx of people has a profound impact on the local community—and not always a good one. Narrating his own work, Smith explores the intersections of race, class, power, geography, and culture, and how all of these factors contribute to the unique character of one of the most breathtaking places on Earth. Rocker Joan Jett lends her legendary voice to the foreword.

As a teenager, writer Jaimal Yogis left his home in the suburbs and headed for Hawaii with little more than the money for a surfboard. From there, he embarked on a coming-of-age journey that took him from the warm waters of the Pacific to communes and monasteries on multiple continents to the icy New York shore. Part meditation on surfing, part adventure story, and part spiritual memoir, Saltwater Buddha captures the undeniable allure of the surfer's life while reflecting on the eternal truths found in the deep blue sea.

This enchanting and informative memoir is full of fascinating tidbits—about history, the natural world, science, technology, literature, and, of course, surfing. In Caught Inside, Daniel Duane recounts the year he spent surfing up and down the California coast. In between stories about the waves he rides and the people he meets, he dives into unexpected territory—surfboard design, the physics of waves, the flora and fauna of the Western US, the wisdom of Mark Twain, and a whole lot more.

While surfing tends to attract extremely passionate competitors, few rival the devotion of Bethany Hamilton. Riding the waves from toddlerhood, Bethany was a rising surf star at age 13—when she lost her left arm to a stealth attack from a 14-foot tiger shark. Incredibly calm, she pushed aside her pain and panic while being rescued. Upon waking up from surgery, she asked her doctors, "When can I surf again?" One month later, Hamilton returned to the water and within two years had won her first National surfing title. Voiced by Eleni Pappageorge, Soul Surfer is an inspiring story of resilience, personal empowerment, and spiritual grit.