Hidden away in iTunes U.
The iTunes Store is a vast place. But don’t let the word “store” keep you away. Besides being an excellent source of free podcasts and video podcasts on a wide range of topics, the iTunes Store is also home of iTunes U.
The U stands for University. Wander through there with iTunes and you’ll see an amazing collection of lectures from major (and not so major) universities and other institutions of higher learning.
Now drill down to find the University of South Florida’s Lit2Go Audio files. These audio files, which are available as podcasts you can subscribe to or MP3s you can download singly, include recordings of public domain fiction and non-fiction from authors like Mark Twain, Lewis Carroll, Charlotte Bronte, Bram Stoker, H.G. Wells, Emily Bronte, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and so many more.
Okay, so the works aren’t read by their authors. And the readers aren’t incredible audio actors, like Jim Dale, who reads the Harry Potter books. But they are complete audio books of dozens of classic works. And they’re free.
As I type this, I’m downloading all chapters of Mark Twain’s classic novel, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. I’ll be loading it into my iPod. During Thanksgiving week, I fully expect to be trapped on an airplane for at least the 10 hours of total scheduled flight time. I’ll be prepared.
Know of any other sources of free audio books? Don’t keep it to yourself. Use the Comments link or form to share what you know.
On November 18, 2008 at 3:11 pm, 
On November 18, 2008 at 2:59 pm, 
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6 responses so far ↓
1 snax // Nov 17, 2007 at 5:05 pm
http://librivox.org/
Gutenberg lists/links to their work as well. Public domain material.
2 Partners in Grime // Nov 17, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Children’s story books on-line.
http://www.magickeys.com/books/
3 driverdan // Nov 17, 2007 at 8:27 pm
http://www.e-book.com.au/freebooks.htm#4
A long list of links to free books
4 Maria Langer // Nov 18, 2007 at 8:51 am
Thanks for the Librivox link. It looks like a really good source for audiobooks of public domain work.
The children’s books list is lost on me. I don’t have kids. But I’m sure someone here will find it useful. Thanks for sending it@
The e-book.com link is bad. It should be http://www.e-books.com.au/freebooks.htm#4
In all honesty that link appears to be a come-on to get you to visit sites that have low-cost books with a handful of free books. Not sure where these books come from — perhaps they’re self-published or vanity press? No titles I’ve ever heard of. But there may be some good content there for someone.
Be careful when buying books or other items online with prices that are too good to be true. They are. Either you’re not getting what you paid for or the site is phishing for your financial info.
5 K N // Dec 1, 2007 at 9:41 am
The Lit2Go link in itunes seems to pull up a webbrowser and take me to a login site. Seems like it’s just for USF students?
6 Maria Langer // Dec 1, 2007 at 9:58 am
That’s odd. It kept me in iTunes and let me subscribe to various podcasts. But I just checked it again and the behavior is different.
Here, try this URL: http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/usf.edu.1273192868
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