Our score
Excellent
Listen free with a trial
Listen to The Measure freeNew to Audible? Start a free trial to listen: stream or download titles in the Audible appand cancel anytime.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support the site at no extra cost to you.
The Measure Audiobook by Nikki Erlick— narrated by Julia Whelan
Nikki Erlick's debut hands every adult on Earth a small wooden box containing a string that shows exactly how long they will live, then follows eight New Yorkers through the year that follows. Speculative fiction written in a realist register, built to be argued about, and one of the most reliable book club picks of the last few years.
Why the audiobook wins
Eight viewpoints in very short chapters is a structure that can turn to mush in audio. It does not here, mostly because Julia Whelan is one of the few narrators who can hand you a new character in half a sentence and leave you certain whose kitchen you are standing in. Eleven hours, eight lives, no rewinding.
Whelan is also the right fit for the material's biggest risk. The Measure is a novel of ideas written in plain prose, and a narrator who oversold it would tip the whole thing into sentiment. She underplays instead. The letters between two strangers, which are the best thing in the book, get read at conversational volume, and they are far more affecting for it.
This is a book people buy in order to argue about it, and the audiobook is a good way to arrive at the argument. Listen to the first hour, then try explaining to someone why you would or would not open the box.
Prefer to read it?
Audiobook questions
- Who narrates the The Measure audiobook?
- Julia Whelan narrates the audiobook edition of The Measure.
- How long is the The Measure audiobook?
- The audiobook runs 10 hr 57 min.
- Is the The Measure audiobook worth listening to?
- We scored The Measure 4.2 out of 5. Eight viewpoints in very short chapters is a structure that can turn to mush in audio. It does not here, mostly because Julia Whelan is one of the few narrators who can hand you a new character in half a sentence and leave you certain whose kitchen you are standing in. Eleven…
- Can I listen to The Measure free with an Audible trial?
- Eligible new Audible members can use a free-trial credit to listen in the Audible app. Eligibility and current offer terms are set by Audible.Listen to The Measure free with an Audible trial
We earn from qualifying Amazon purchases.
- Is The Measure on Kindle Unlimited?
- No. The Measure was not included with Kindle Unlimited when we last checked on September 1, 2026.
- How much does The Measure cost?
- On Amazon: Kindle $13.49. Prices as of September 11, 2026 at 3:46 AM EDT and may change.
