diff --git a/ui/src/lib/components/AudioPlayer.svelte b/ui/src/lib/components/AudioPlayer.svelte
index a3cc036..a4b7f38 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/components/AudioPlayer.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/lib/components/AudioPlayer.svelte
@@ -71,8 +71,11 @@
 		voices?: Voice[];
 		/** Called when the server returns 402 (free daily limit reached). */
 		onProRequired?: () => void;
-	/** Visual style of the player card. 'standard' = inline card; 'float' = draggable overlay. */
-	playerStyle?: 'standard' | 'float';
+	/** Visual style of the player card.
+	 * 'standard' = full inline card with voice/chapter controls;
+	 * 'minimal'  = compact single-row bar (play + seek + time only);
+	 * 'float'    = draggable overlay anchored bottom-right. */
+	playerStyle?: 'standard' | 'minimal' | 'float';
 		/** Approximate word count for the chapter, used to show estimated listen time in the idle state. */
 		wordCount?: number;
 	}
@@ -1034,7 +1037,8 @@
 			</svg>
 		</button>
 
-		<!-- Track info -->
+		<!-- Track info (hidden in minimal style) -->
+		{#if playerStyle !== 'minimal'}
 		<div class="flex-1 min-w-0">
 			<p class="text-sm font-semibold text-(--color-text) leading-tight truncate">
 				{m.reader_play_narration()}
@@ -1091,9 +1095,10 @@
 				{/if}
 			</div>
 		</div>
+		{/if}
 
-		<!-- Chapters button (right side) -->
-		{#if chapters.length > 0}
+		<!-- Chapters button (right side, hidden in minimal style) -->
+		{#if chapters.length > 0 && playerStyle !== 'minimal'}
 			<button
 				type="button"
 				onclick={() => { showChapterPanel = !showChapterPanel; showVoicePanel = false; stopSample(); }}
@@ -1167,6 +1172,64 @@
 {:else}
 <!-- ── Non-idle states (loading / generating / ready / other-chapter-playing) ── -->
 {#if !(playerStyle === 'float' && audioStore.isCurrentChapter(slug, chapter) && audioStore.active)}
+
+{#if playerStyle === 'minimal' && audioStore.isCurrentChapter(slug, chapter) && audioStore.active}
+<!-- ── Minimal style: compact bar — seek + play/pause + skip + time ────────── -->
+<div class="px-3 py-2.5 flex items-center gap-2">
+	<!-- Skip back 15s -->
+	<button
+		type="button"
+		onclick={() => { audioStore.seekRequest = Math.max(0, audioStore.currentTime - 15); }}
+		class="flex-shrink-0 w-7 h-7 flex items-center justify-center rounded-full text-(--color-muted) hover:text-(--color-text) hover:bg-(--color-surface-3) transition-colors"
+		title="-15s"
+	>
+		<svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+			<path d="M11.99 5V1l-5 5 5 5V7c3.31 0 6 2.69 6 6s-2.69 6-6 6-6-2.69-6-6h-2c0 4.42 3.58 8 8 8s8-3.58 8-8-3.58-8-8-8z"/>
+		</svg>
+	</button>
+
+	<!-- Play/pause -->
+	<button
+		type="button"
+		onclick={() => { audioStore.toggleRequest++; }}
+		class="flex-shrink-0 w-8 h-8 rounded-full bg-(--color-brand) text-(--color-surface) flex items-center justify-center hover:bg-(--color-brand-dim) active:scale-95 transition-all"
+	>
+		{#if audioStore.isPlaying}
+			<svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M6 4h4v16H6V4zm8 0h4v16h-4V4z"/></svg>
+		{:else}
+			<svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5 ml-0.5" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path d="M8 5v14l11-7z"/></svg>
+		{/if}
+	</button>
+
+	<!-- Skip forward 30s -->
+	<button
+		type="button"
+		onclick={() => { audioStore.seekRequest = Math.min(audioStore.duration || 0, audioStore.currentTime + 30); }}
+		class="flex-shrink-0 w-7 h-7 flex items-center justify-center rounded-full text-(--color-muted) hover:text-(--color-text) hover:bg-(--color-surface-3) transition-colors"
+		title="+30s"
+	>
+		<svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+			<path d="M18 13c0 3.31-2.69 6-6 6s-6-2.69-6-6 2.69-6 6-6v4l5-5-5-5v4c-4.42 0-8 3.58-8 8s3.58 8 8 8 8-3.58 8-8h-2z"/>
+		</svg>
+	</button>
+
+	<!-- Seek bar -->
+	<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_click_events_have_key_events a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
+	<div
+		role="none"
+		class="flex-1 h-1.5 bg-(--color-surface-3) rounded-full overflow-hidden cursor-pointer"
+		onclick={seekFromBar}
+	>
+		<div class="h-full bg-(--color-brand) rounded-full transition-none" style="width: {playPct}%"></div>
+	</div>
+
+	<!-- Time -->
+	<span class="flex-shrink-0 text-[11px] tabular-nums text-(--color-muted)">
+		{formatTime(audioStore.currentTime)}<span class="opacity-40">/</span>{formatDuration(audioStore.duration)}
+	</span>
+</div>
+
+{:else}
 <div class="p-4">
 	<div class="flex items-center justify-end gap-2 mb-3">
 		<!-- Chapter picker button -->
@@ -1372,6 +1435,7 @@
 </div>
 {/if}
 {/if}
+{/if}
 
 <!-- ── Chapter picker overlay ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
      Rendered as a top-level sibling (outside all player containers) so that
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte
index e3c63e8..6dfa718 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/books/[slug]/chapters/[n]/+page.svelte
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
 	type LineSpacing = 'compact' | 'normal' | 'relaxed';
 	type ReadWidth   = 'narrow' | 'normal' | 'wide';
 	type ParaStyle   = 'spaced' | 'indented';
-	type PlayerStyle = 'standard' | 'float';
+	type PlayerStyle = 'standard' | 'minimal' | 'float';
 	/** Controls how many lines fit on a page by adjusting the container height offset. */
 	type PageLines   = 'less' | 'normal' | 'more';
 
@@ -596,27 +596,27 @@
 			</button>
 			{#if audioExpanded}
 				<div class="border border-t-0 border-(--color-border) rounded-b-lg overflow-hidden">
-					{#if audioStore.slug === data.book.slug && audioStore.chapter === data.chapter.number && audioStore.active}
-						<!-- Mini-player is already playing this chapter — don't duplicate controls -->
-						<div class="px-4 py-3 flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-(--color-muted)">
-							<svg class="w-4 h-4 text-(--color-brand) shrink-0" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
-								<path d="M12 3v10.55A4 4 0 1014 17V7h4V3h-6z"/>
-							</svg>
-							<span>Controls are in the player bar below.</span>
-						</div>
-					{:else}
-						<AudioPlayer
-							slug={data.book.slug}
-							chapter={data.chapter.number}
-							chapterTitle={cleanTitle}
-							bookTitle={data.book.title}
-							cover={data.book.cover}
-							nextChapter={data.next}
-							chapters={data.chapters}
-							voices={data.voices}
-							playerStyle={layout.playerStyle}
-							wordCount={wordCount}
-							onProRequired={() => { audioProRequired = true; }}
+			{#if audioStore.slug === data.book.slug && audioStore.chapter === data.chapter.number && audioStore.active && layout.playerStyle === 'standard'}
+					<!-- Mini-player is already playing this chapter — don't duplicate controls (standard/minimal mode) -->
+					<div class="px-4 py-3 flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-(--color-muted)">
+						<svg class="w-4 h-4 text-(--color-brand) shrink-0" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+							<path d="M12 3v10.55A4 4 0 1014 17V7h4V3h-6z"/>
+						</svg>
+						<span>Controls are in the player bar below.</span>
+					</div>
+				{:else}
+					<AudioPlayer
+						slug={data.book.slug}
+						chapter={data.chapter.number}
+						chapterTitle={cleanTitle}
+						bookTitle={data.book.title}
+						cover={data.book.cover}
+						nextChapter={data.next}
+						chapters={data.chapters}
+						voices={data.voices}
+						playerStyle={layout.playerStyle}
+						wordCount={wordCount}
+						onProRequired={() => { audioProRequired = true; }}
 						/>
 					{/if}
 				</div>
@@ -1169,7 +1169,7 @@
 				<div class="flex items-center gap-3 px-3 py-2.5">
 					<span class="text-xs text-(--color-muted) w-14 shrink-0">Style</span>
 					<div class="flex gap-1.5 flex-1">
-						{#each ([['standard', 'Standard'], ['float', 'Float']] as const) as [s, lbl]}
+						{#each ([['standard', 'Standard'], ['minimal', 'Minimal'], ['float', 'Float']] as const) as [s, lbl]}
 							<button
 								type="button"
 								onclick={() => setLayout('playerStyle', s)}
@@ -1182,6 +1182,17 @@
 						{/each}
 					</div>
 				</div>
+				<div class="px-3 pb-2.5">
+					<p class="text-[11px] text-(--color-muted)/70 leading-snug">
+						{#if layout.playerStyle === 'standard'}
+							Full panel with voice picker and chapter browser.
+						{:else if layout.playerStyle === 'minimal'}
+							Compact bar: play/pause, seek, and time only.
+						{:else}
+							Draggable overlay — stays visible while you read.
+						{/if}
+					</p>
+				</div>
 
 				<!-- Speed -->
 				<div class="flex items-center gap-3 px-3 py-2.5">