5 Answers
When I’m preparing citations I think about what the reader needs to find the source. Audiobooks require slightly different fields: author(s), year, exact title 'Zero to One', medium [audiobook], narrator if relevant, publisher of the audio edition, and URL or platform if streamed. If I quote the narration rather than the prose, I include a timestamp; for example a Chicago footnote might read: Peter Thiel and Blake Masters, 'Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future' (audiobook, Random House Audio, 2014), 00:22:10. If the quote matches the printed book and you prefer to cite page numbers, I’ll cite the print version for clarity. I tend to mention both versions if it’s a close textual analysis, which feels thorough and honest.
Quick, friendly approach: I normally start by checking the audiobook’s product page (Audible, publisher page, or my library’s catalog) to copy the exact metadata for 'Zero to One'. Then I decide which style I need and fill in the fields: Thiel, P., & Masters, B.; 2014; 'Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future'; [Audiobook]; narrator; audio publisher; platform or URL. For in-text quotes I add a timestamp like (Thiel & Masters, 2014, 00:08:12). A simple MLA example looks like: Thiel, Peter, and Blake Masters. 'Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future.' Narrated by [Narrator], Random House Audio, 2014. If you're ever unsure, ask the instructor whether they prefer the print citation, the audio citation, or both — that cleared up a lot of my grading worries in college. If you want, tell me the edition/platform and I’ll draft the exact citation for you.
I usually keep it simple and practical when I’m in a hurry: find the author(s), year, title, narrator, publisher, and platform, then slot them into whichever style your professor wants. For example, for a quick APA-style citation I’d write: Thiel, P., & Masters, B. (2014). 'Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future' [Audiobook]. Random House Audio. https://www.audible.com/xxxx. If I’m quoting a specific line I add a timestamp in the in-text citation like (Thiel & Masters, 2014, 00:15:43) so anyone can jump to the moment I quoted. MLA tends to want the narrator too: Thiel, Peter, and Blake Masters. 'Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future.' Narrated by [Narrator], Random House Audio, 2014. If your audiobook came from a library app or streaming service, include that URL or the platform name. I always double-check the audiobook’s front-matter or product page for the narrator and exact publisher name—little details get picky graders off your back.
I get the thrill of neat, checklist-ready citations, so here's a compact routine I use every time I cite an audiobook like 'Zero to One'. First, grab these fields: author(s), year, full title, bracketed medium [Audiobook], narrator, audio publisher, and the platform/URL if relevant. Then pick your style and plug them in.
Templates I depend on:
- MLA: Author(s). 'Title.' Narrated by Name, Publisher, Year, Platform/URL.
- APA: Author(s). (Year). 'Title' [Audiobook]. Publisher. URL
- Chicago (bibliography): Author(s). Year. 'Title.' Audiobook, narrated by Name. Publisher.
Practical tip: always include a timestamp for quoted material in the in-text citation (e.g., (Thiel & Masters, 2014, 00:30:45)). If you can’t find the narrator or publisher on the product page, check the library catalog record or the Audible details page. I keep a tiny citation template file I paste into each bibliography to avoid mistakes, and it saves me from scrambling the night before a deadline.
Okay — if you want to cite the 'Zero to One' audiobook in a paper, here's a full, practical way to do it that I've used myself when juggling citations and late-night listening notes.
Start by collecting the metadata from your audiobook source: author(s) (Peter Thiel; Blake Masters is usually credited), year of the edition you listened to, the exact title 'Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future', the format [audiobook], narrator name (if listed), the publisher of the audio edition (often Random House Audio or the imprint that released it), and the platform or URL if you streamed it (Audible, library link, etc.). You’ll need those bits for every citation style.
Concrete examples I use in papers (double-check your edition):
MLA 9: Thiel, Peter, and Blake Masters. 'Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future.' Narrated by [Narrator Name], Random House Audio, 2014. Audible, https://www.audible.com/xxxx.
APA 7: Thiel, P., & Masters, B. (2014). 'Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future' [Audiobook]. Random House Audio. https://www.audible.com/xxxx.
Chicago (notes): Peter Thiel and Blake Masters, 'Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future', audiobook narrated by [Narrator], Random House Audio, 2014, 00:12:34.
For in-text citations, I usually include timestamps for direct quotes (e.g., (Thiel & Masters, 2014, 00:10:22)) because audiobooks don’t have stable page numbers. If you’re quoting text that’s equally in the print edition, mention the print page if the grader prefers. Above all, check your instructor’s preferred style and the exact audiobook metadata — small edition differences matter. If you want, I can format a citation for the exact file you have.