How I Listen to Kindle Books Without Audiobooks (Thanks to Siri)

There’s something about having a book read to you that feels both intimate and practical. While I still love to sit down and physically read—especially in bed, where it’s become my nightly ritual—I also enjoy listening to books throughout my day, particularly while I’m working.

As someone who juggles a few different roles—private chef, writer, podcaster, and someone managing a chronic illness—I’ve found that I sometimes need to give my eyes a break without giving up my books. But here’s the thing: I don’t always want to spring for an audiobook version, especially when I’ve already bought the Kindle copy. And frankly, not every book even has an audio version.

That’s where one of my favorite underused iPhone features comes in: Speak Screen, a built-in part of the accessibility settings.

It’s simple, it’s free, and it works beautifully.

Once enabled, I just swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen while I’m in the Kindle app, and Siri starts reading the text aloud. No extra app. No fuss. Just the voice of the page, right in my ears through my headphones.

Now let me be clear: I don’t use Kindle’s built-in voice feature. I’ve tried it, and the voice is stiff—mechanical, robotic, hard to connect with. Siri, on the other hand, sounds more natural and human. It’s still a digital assistant, but the rhythm, pacing, and intonation feel more like a person. That makes all the difference when you’re trying to lose yourself in a novel or follow the flow of a good nonfiction narrative.

One of the small joys I’ve discovered is that I can change the Siri voice depending on what I’m reading. If it’s a female author or a story told from a woman’s perspective, I’ll often switch to one of the female Siri voices—it just feels right, more aligned with the tone and voice of the writing. Same goes for male voices. It’s a subtle tweak, but it makes the listening experience richer and more personal.

This setup has become part of my daily rhythm. I’ll often be chopping vegetables or searing chicken while Siri reads to me from a novel or memoir. It’s my way of multitasking without sacrificing my love for books. I work with my hands and feed my mind at the same time.

At night, though, the screen readers go off. I still prefer to read in bed with my Kindle in hand, flipping pages until sleep takes over. But during the day? Letting Siri take the reins gives me a whole new way to stay connected to literature.

How to Set Up Speak Screen on iPhone (So Siri Can Read to You):

1: Go to Settings on your iPhone.

2: Scroll down and tap Accessibility.

3: Under Vision, tap Spoken Content.

4: Turn on Speak Screen.

5: Tap Voices to choose a Siri voice you like (male or female, different accents, etc.). You can preview and download new voices here.

How to Use It:

1: Open the Kindle app and go to your book.

2: Swipe down from the very top of the screen with two fingers. (It may take a coupke tries before younperfect the motion)

3: A small control panel will appear and Siri will begin reading the screen aloud.

4: Use the panel to adjust speed, pause, or skip sections.

That’s it. No audiobook subscription, no fancy tech. Just you, your books, and Siri—helping you read hands-free while you take on the rest of your day.