Why Audiobook Walking Clubs Are Taking Off

Once the earbuds come out, everyone has an obvious conversation starter: “What are you listening to?” That question can feel especially refreshing in Washington, D.C., Dinegar says, where strangers often lead with what you do and where you live. Talking about a book comes with “no baggage” and “no pressure.”

An audiobook walk can be exercise, entertainment, alone time, family time, social time, or all of the above, depending on what someone needs that day.

Dr. Mariah Stump, a primary-care physician at Brown University Health who specializes in lifestyle medicine, sees such walks as a form of “social prescribing”—connecting people with community activities that support their health and well-being. They combine several things known to help people feel better: physical movement, time outdoors, and contact with other people.

The pace doesn’t need to leave anyone huffing and puffing. Walking at a speed that allows people to chit-chat still counts as physical activity, Stump says. “Five minutes a day can go a long way,” she says. “Any movement for your body is helpful.”