Is An Audiobook Version Of The Rick Rubin Book Available?

Big yes — if you mean Rick Rubin’s recent book 'The Creative Act: A Way of Being', there is an audiobook edition and you can find it pretty widely. I actually listened to it on my commute when the days were still weirdly warm, and Rubin’s voice gives the whole thing a calm, meditative vibe that made me pause and take notes on my phone between stops. The audiobook is offered through major retailers like Audible and Apple Books, and many library apps (Libby/OverDrive, Hoopla depending on your library system) carry it too. If you prefer indie options, check Libro.fm for a store-supporting-a-local-shop route.

If you’re hunting it down, a quick search on whatever platform you use will usually show whether the edition is narrated by Rubin himself or by a hired narrator — with this title, the sample on Audible clearly features Rubin’s own voice, which I found charming and surprisingly intimate. There’s often a free sample you can listen to, so I’d recommend trying that first to see if you like the pacing and tone; I fast-forwarded through a chunk on my first listen to get to the essays I’d heard others mention online. Also keep an eye out for different formats: sometimes a paperback edition is bundled with an audiobook credit sale, or different regions get slightly different narrators or bonus content.

If you don’t have a subscription to any of the big services, the library route is my go-to. I borrowed it on Libby and it was seamless — saved me the cost and let me keep the book for long enough to revisit chapters. Another tip from late-night listening: use the speed control if you’re comfortable at 1.25x–1.5x; Rubin’s delivery stays thoughtful even when nudged up a bit. Lastly, if you actually meant a different Rick Rubin title (he hasn’t written a long bibliography of books beyond this big one), let me know which one and I’ll help track it down — but for 'The Creative Act' you should be able to snag an audiobook with only a little searching. It left me doodling ideas for a week afterwards.

I’d say start with the sample and decide whether Rubin’s voice is your vibe — for me it felt like getting a backstage pass to someone’s sketchbook of creative thinking, which I loved.

I’ll be honest: the first time I checked, I was only half expecting an audio version of 'The Creative Act: A Way of Being' to exist, but it does, and it’s surprisingly accessible. I’m a slow reader and love falling asleep to nonfiction, so audiobooks are how I digest most creative or craft-adjacent books these days. When I found Rubin’s audiobook on Audible and in my library’s digital shelf, I felt that familiar little thrill of finding a book I can “read” while doing dishes or taking a long walk.

From a practical perspective, there are several places to get it. Audible and Apple Books typically have the commercial releases, and you’ll often see options for purchasing or using a membership credit. For budget-friendly access, check Libby/OverDrive or Hoopla through your local library — I’ve borrowed lots of trendy nonfiction that way. If you want to support independent bookstores, Libro.fm sometimes offers the audiobook or a similar purchase option. Also, remember that different countries can have different availability windows or narrators, so if you don’t see it in your region, try a VPN-friendly marketplace or ask your library to request it.

One small personal detail: Rubin’s tone on the recording felt like a late-night conversation to me — which made re-listening to certain chapters more rewarding than reading them on the page. If you like extras, check the edition notes; sometimes publishers include author interviews or bonus audio content. And don’t forget to preview the sample before buying — it’s a cheap way to avoid buyer’s remorse if you don’t vibe with the narration. If for some reason the audiobook isn’t available where you are, options include checking for translated audio editions or looking for author interviews and podcast episodes where Rubin discusses the book’s themes.

If you want, tell me what platform you use and I can walk you through finding the sample or borrowing it via a library app — I enjoy hunting down the best way to listen.