I would say that listening to an audiobook is the same as reading a physical book, but there has been much discussion and debate regarding this topic in the past. Now, we have more and more Americans turning from just purely reading to listening to audiobooks as well. The popularity of audiobooks has led many to wonder about the benefits of listening versus the benefits of reading. For example, when we read we have the option to read faster or slower; to skim through parts we dislike; and to even sneak a peek at what’s going to happen in the next chapter. You can do this to an extent with audiobooks, but trust me, it’s much easier to skim a portion of a book when you’re looking at printed pages as opposed to listening to an audio version of your book. There are more differences between audiobooks and printed books than you might at first think. But here’s the question that I want to answer: do these differences matter? And if so, are they beneficial or harmful differences?
The first thing that I want to point out is that audiobooks are just plain practical. Not all of us have time to sit down and read a book in our busy day. Sometimes, there are occasions where we don’t have the option of reading a book – for example, in the car. I love to listen to a good audiobook when I’m in the car. Another great thing about audiobooks? They keep you focused. It’s way too easy to pick up a book and then set it down again when you’re getting bored. Audiobooks keep your attention captured. The reader draws out the story, keeping you on the edge of your seat. You get the full benefit of the literature – description is changed from blocks of text on an impersonal page to a fascinating image of the world you’ve been drawn into. So, I would say that YES, the differences between reading and listening DO matter, but that these differences are beneficial. I think, in many cases, it’s better and more convenient to listen to an audiobook then read a book. Not that I don’t enjoy reading a good book every now and then – I just find, that during busy days, or boring periods spent in the car, or even while I’m working or performing menial tasks, an audiobook colors my time with interesting tales and stories when I don’t have the time or means to read a book.
