By the Waters of Babylon by Stephen Vincent Benet (Audiobook)

In "By the Waters of Babylon," set in a post-apocalyptic future, a young man named John, who belongs to a primitive society, seeks to uncover the mysteries of the forbidden lands once inhabited by a powerful civilization known as the "gods." Despite warnings and taboos, he embarks on a journey to the Place of the Gods, where he discovers the remnants of the ancient world, including a skyscraper-filled city. Through his exploration, John confronts the truth about the gods and realizes that they were ordinary humans who destroyed themselves in a great catastrophe. He returns home with newfound knowledge, challenging his people's beliefs and revealing the fallibility of myths surrounding the gods.