Best Simon Jones Audiobooks

The best audiobooks narrated by Simon Jones — 9 titles spanning Non-Fiction, Sci-Fi, Literature & Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, averaging 3.93 ABR stars.

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Simon Jones is Arthur Dent — not just in spirit, but literally: he originated the role in the BBC radio dramatization of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and hearing him in those recordings is like watching a master work in his natural habitat. That dry, slightly baffled English everyman quality defines his narration across everything he touches. He's equally at home voicing Robert Harris's political thriller Imperium, where his measured, intelligent delivery suits the cool ambitions of Cicero's Rome, and Dan Ariely's behavioral economics books, where his understated wit makes academic material feel like good conversation. Jones doesn't do bombast — his strength is precision and a certain ironic distance that rewards attentive listeners. If you prefer narrators who trust the material rather than performing over it, Jones is your man.

Where to Start with Simon Jones

  1. 1
    Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions cover

    Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions

    by Dan Ariely

    Narrated by Simon Jones

    4.35 ABR Score (144.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.12 Goodreads (131.8K) ★ 4.48 Audible (12.7K)
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    Behavioral economist Dan Ariely reveals why we pay more for expensive placebos and splurge on lavish meals while clipping grocery coupons.

  2. 2
    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Primary Phase (Dramatized) cover

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Primary Phase (Dramatized)

    Hitchhiker's Guide BBC Radio Series • Book 1

    by Douglas Adams

    Narrated by Full Cast, Peter Jones, Susan Sheridan, Simon Jones, Geoffrey McGivern, Mark Wing-Davey, Stephen Moore

    4.20 ABR Score (6.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.5 Goodreads (2.7K) ★ 4.41 Audible (3.6K)
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    The original BBC radio production that started it all, featuring the full cast that defined these characters including Peter Jones as the incomparable voice of the Guide itself. This is Adams' absurdist universe in its purest form.

  3. 3
    Summary & Analysis of Cloud Cuckoo Land cover

    Summary & Analysis of Cloud Cuckoo Land

    by Benjamin Adams

    Narrated by Marin Ireland, Simon Jones

    4.13 ABR Score (9.5K ratings)
    ★ 3.55 Goodreads (38) ★ 4.58 Audible (9.4K)
  4. 4
    Imperium cover

    Imperium

    Cicero • Book 1

    by Robert Harris

    Narrated by Simon Jones

    4.10 ABR Score (45.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.14 Goodreads (41.9K) ★ 4.33 Audible (3.1K)
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    Simon Jones performs Cicero's courtroom speeches with such command that ancient history feels like a high-stakes political thriller you can't stop listening to.

  5. 5
    The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone - Especially Ourselves cover

    The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone - Especially Ourselves

    by Dan Ariely

    Narrated by Simon Jones

    4.00 ABR Score (18.1K ratings)
    ★ 3.93 Goodreads (16.9K) ★ 4.4 Audible (1.2K)
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    Ariely's experiments reveal why we rationalize cheating ourselves while condemning others, from golf scorecards to corporate fraud. Simon Jones keeps the academic insights accessible.

  6. 6
    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (The Original Albums) cover

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (The Original Albums)

    by Douglas Adams, Peter Jones, Simon Jones, Geoffrey McGivern, Mark Wing-Davey, Frank Middlemass, Stephen Greif, Cindy Oswin, Stephen Moore, Richard Vernon, Valentine Dyall, David Tate, Jim Broadbent, Bill Wallis, Roy Hudd, Geoffrey Perkins, Tim Souster, Paddy Kingsland

    Narrated by Full Cast, Peter Jones, Simon Jones, Geoffrey McGivern, Mark Wing-Davey

    3.81 ABR Score (169 ratings)
    ★ 4.49 Goodreads (81) ★ 4.65 Audible (88)
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    Arthur Dent learns his house and planet are both scheduled for demolition in this classic BBC production. The original radio cast creates an immersive experience that predates and surpasses most modern audio adaptations.

  7. 7
    Slaves of Obsession cover

    Slaves of Obsession

    William Monk • Book 11

    by Anne Perry

    Narrated by Simon Jones

    3.79 ABR Score (3.9K ratings)
    ★ 3.96 Goodreads (3.7K) ★ 4.17 Audible (211)
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    William Monk enters the American Civil War's chaos to solve a case involving gun smuggling, blackmail, and murder. Simon Jones navigates this complex international mystery where principles clash with investigative necessity.

  8. 8
    Last Orders cover

    Last Orders

    by Graham Swift, Unknown Author

    Narrated by Simon Prebble, Gigi Marceau Clarke, Jenny Sterlin, Ian Stewart, Gerard Doyle, Simon Jones, Domonick Hawksley

    3.60 ABR Score (15.2K ratings)
    ★ 3.67 Goodreads (15.1K) ★ 3.74 Audible (179)
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    Multiple narrators bring distinct voices to four working-class men on a road trip, turning what could be a simple premise into a layered meditation on memory, loyalty, and unspoken grief that justifies Swift's Booker Prize.

  9. 9
    Swordspoint cover

    Swordspoint

    The World of Riverside • Book 1

    by Ellen Kushner

    Narrated by Ellen Kushner, Dion Graham, Katherine Kellgren, Robert Fass, Nick Sullivan, Simon Jones

    3.35 ABR Score (12.5K ratings)
    ★ 3.8 Goodreads (11.1K) ★ 3.66 Audible (1.4K)
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    Political ambitions and passionate affairs drive this elegant fantasy of manners, filled with plot twists and wit, brought to life by a full cast including Ellen Kushner herself.

How We Rank Audiobooks

Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.

Unlike most book lists, we weight audiobook-specific factors: narrator performance, production quality, and how well a story translates to audio. A great book with a poor narration isn't a great audiobook.

We don't accept paid placements or prioritize new releases. These rankings reflect what listeners actually enjoy, not what's being promoted.

Rankings update periodically as new ratings come in and new titles are added to the collection.

Read our full ranking methodology →