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Why I Love Audio Books

By Donna Miller

I've always been an avid reader. I remember in primary school when we got to order from Scholastic Books, it was one of my favorite times of the year. My shortlist of 'must have' books was never short! My parents were always very supportive, the only stipulation was that I actually read all the books I ordered. I remember one year in particular my books must have made up half the total order placed for my entire class. That summer, as promised, I read them all.

These days I find myself with far less leisure time, and much of the reading I do is informational on a need-to-know basis or research.

I don't have much time to just sit and read. But this is why I love audio books, they allow for hands-free reading. I can plug into my mp3 player and read (listen) while I make lunch, while I'm sweeping the floor, or any number of other simple chores or tasks I do during the day. It's such an enjoyable and worthwhile way to piggy-back on those tasks that don't require a great deal of mental concentration.

For example, a couple of weeks ago I was installing an electric fence around our property. Because I also had to do a lot of clearing of overgrown plants as well it was going to take all day and wasn't something I was particularly looking forward to. So I decided to listen to a book I was really excited about, The Biology of Belief by Dr Bruce Lipton, at the same time. It was great! I barely noticed the time passing since I was focussing on, and really enjoying the book. At the end of the day I could look back and admire my handiwork and at the same time I was on a high from the amazing discoveries that the book was talking about.

I am certain that if I'd just done the work it would have taken me significantly longer. I would have procrastinated, taken more breaks and it would gave felt like drudgery. But instead I'd had a great time listening to a great book, and barely noticing that I was doing a chore at the same time.

Now I'm hooked on audiobooks. I'm still as busy as ever and still don't have time to "sit down and read". But I'm finding that I've got that enjoyment I get from reading back in my life again, thanks to audiobooks.

Donna Miller is a publisher and owner of the online discount bookstore, BookShop24-7.com, which sells ebooks, audio books, articles, software and more.

I have to admit I have never tried an audio book. It strikes me that they would be great for when I do cardio at the gym. It would help alleviate the boredom. Thanks for the idea.

Great idea June, it would definitely be a good place to listen to audiobooks. When I used to go to the gym, the rowing machine was may thing, and in front of all the rowing machines and stationary bikes they had TVs, often with the news. I prefer to avoid being subjected to all the bad news, I really believe in the power of thought and if that's what we are hearing and thinking all day long I believe that we will just be creating more of it. I'd much prefer to listen to something of my choosing, something positive.

Great intel Donna. I am still an avid reader, and have never tried an audio book. I think it would depend on the book. For fiction, I tend to think that an audio narrative may take away from your imagination - being replaced in part by the point of view of the "narrator". Imagination is important in fiction.

Hi James, that's a really valid point, and you're right the narrator does have a lot of influence over how you interpret the story. I was wary of the same thing in the beginning. One of the things I have always loved so much about fiction, especially sci-fi is that it stimulates my imagination, and I felt really protective, if that makes sense. I didn't want someone else to be manipulating my interpretation or perception of the story.

I only listened to non-fiction for quite some time for that very reason. But I have to say, The Lost Symbol audiobook completely changed my mind on listening to fiction audiobooks. Granted, it all comes down to the reader. I've had a couple books that I couldn't listen to at all because of the reader, but when you get a skilled voice actor - like the guy who reads The Lost Symbol - wow, is all I can say! So if you're at all in doubt, that's one book I would highly recommend trying in audiobook format.

This is one of many things that I haven't tried. I read every night and use the fiction as my time away from the internet struggle.
Thank you for sharing, Donna.
Best wishes.
Frederick

Hi Frederick, thanks for commenting. I too spend a lot of time on the internet, and reading non-fiction in order to learn things. Even though I loved fiction when I was younger, for a while I thought of fiction as an unnecessary luxury in these times of information overload. But I've come full circle again and embraced fiction as a valuable antidote to my left-brain information obsession.

Yes, particularly when it comes to consuming media, I think we're living in the Age of Conveniences.

So true! It's to the point where to be any more convenient I think we'd have to have a wireless download directly into our brains!

Whoa, very nice! I definitely could use one of those. I was quite amazed at the size, from the first photos I was thinking about the size of an iPod Touch but a bit bigger, different dimensions (wider), but then further down the page when they put it into context by showing it in people's hands - it's quite large, but no too big.

I'd better start saving up now, eh?

pcd2k Jan 28, 2010 00:05

The Biology of Belief sounds intriguing. My daughters make so much noise, though, I think I will need the old-fashioned paper version.

Brad Leon Jan 30, 2010 09:56

You've got a great site. I'm trying to eat healthier now and I can't wait to try "kale chips"

Thank you! I can't wait for the kale to start growing again, I've been craving kale chips! Every time I go to my blog I see those photos and ah, that's it I'm just craving them for the rest of the day. I also tried using swiss chard (another really super nutritious vegetable), they were a bit different, not quite as crisp and sweeter. I'd definitely do them again with no sweetener added. But they were nice too.

Enjoy those audio-books Donna, and of course enjoy New Zealand, still a great place despite stupid politiciams who want to rip our beauty apart.

Hi Peter, I do really love audio books. I have found the source of many of the audio books I had, so I've ordered a few more from them. They are all really good quality. Most are read by the authors too, well the non-fiction ones anyway.

Ah, sadly it's not just the politicians who are destroying the natural beauty of New Zealand. I'm in the middle of farm country here in the Waikato and it's so depressing seeing the poisons that these farmers dump on their land. Everyone I talk to who knows about NZ, the image in their mind is, it's beautiful. And it is, but for how long? I think a lot of people have bought the 'clean, green New Zealand' marketing pitch (good on you Tourism NZ, great job with the marketing), but if you really open your eyes... it's not that clean and green. It's relatively, clean but only because of the low population density. It's green because there is so much grass for livestock, but what you can't see the amount of poison that's used on those same pastures. Such a shame we don't live up to our self-defined reputation.

Exactly! Multi-tasking

Certainly came in handy. Reading while you worked. Could be useful for those with learning disabilities too.

Huttriver of New Zealand May 2, 2010 03:59

Hi Donna, I'm just joining in as a follower of your intels. I too enjoy listening to audio books. There was a time when our library wouldn't allow those with good eye-sight signing out privileges for audio books. That has now changed. I also use the AV books to lessen the fatigue of mundane work.
People tell me that NZ is very like BC in Canada. Have you heard that?

Hi larainerose! We sometimes get audio books from the library too. I find that they are so much easier on my eyes, especially because I do most of my reading at night. It's so good your library changed their policy! The thing is that if they allow fully-sighted people to check out the audio books, it just makes them more popular (in demand) meaning they can justify putting more resources towards purchasing audio books. So instead of taking away from those without good eyesight, it should actually benefit them in the long run.

I've never heard it said that NZ is like BC, but it is. I'm originally from the Pacific Northwest (USA) and it's very similar here. Green, lots of trees, mountains and sea. 4 seasons. In fact, there's a popular NZ song, "Four Seasons in One Day" which pretty much sums up the weather here certain times of the year.

I've got another website you might be interested in, with lots of photos of NZ: The New Zealand Site

I enjoyed the website of NZ you referred me to. One of the things I noticed was that mistletoe grows there in the Nelson Lake area.

If you’re in northern California, you may also spot some of the European mistletoe, Viscum alba, but these are unusual. They crept into the area on apple tree stock imported from Europe, but haven’t spread much beyond a small area in California.

The best-known modern medicinal use of mistletoe is as a cancer treatment agent. A large-scale study using mistletoe extract is currently underway to assess its usefulness in battling cancer. Researchers are assessing the value of the European mistletoe to battle cancer. The study is currently in its preliminary stages, but other studies conducted in Europe point to the promise of using this ancient herb as a cancer treatment. Wow! To think that it grows in your NZ!

Wow, that is amazing. It's pretty rare in NZ. I think it may be a protected plant. We did spot quite a bit of it in that are though. They have a pretty extensive restoration project going on in that area. I think it gets a lot of community support, which is great.

Like James, I'm averse to have a narrator take me away from the book. I always try to find "the author's" voice and "read" through that.

I find the narrator makes a big difference, it's crucial actually. I have listened to some really excellent ones, but if they are not, I can't listen - at least not to fiction. But many of the non-fiction books I listen to are read by the author, and I'm amazed that so many of them are really excellent at it. It's like they're talking right to you and you really do get that sense of "the author's voice" (literally), their personality comes through. I really love those books and often listen to them more than once. A few of the books I have truly sound like they are being 'read', it doesn't sound like the author is having a conversation with you, but like they are reading something they have never read before. Those are hard for me to get through. But all-in-all I've been really impressed with the majority of the books I've listened to.

Nothing is as satisfying as turning the page. I cannot listen to books, watch the movie, or read them online and be as satisfied. Give me the paper.

I really do understand that thing about the magic of paper too.

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