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Here are 14 reasons to answer the question, why do people choose audiobooks over reading books:
Convenience:
One of the biggest appeals of audiobooks is simply their convenience. Audiobooks allow you to experience books while doing other tasks like driving, exercising, cooking, or cleaning. With print books, you need to devote your full attention and sit down to read. Audiobooks let you multitask and fit reading into small pockets of time in your busy day.
Commuting/Traveling:
Audiobooks are a great option for people who commute long distances or travel frequently. Listening to an audiobook can make drives, flights, or train rides feel shorter. Audiobooks allow you to make use of time that would normally be wasted sitting in transit. You can read our article on audiobooks for road trips here.
Absorption:
Some people find they absorb stories better when listening versus reading. Hearing the story unfold with all the dramatic pacing, voices, sound effects, and inflections of an audiobook can bring it more to life. Print books require more focus and attention to fully visualize the story in your mind. With audiobooks, you can just sit back and get immersed in the story.
Retention:
Related to absorption, some find audiobooks easier to remember and retain. Our brains are wired to respond strongly to the spoken word, so details may stick better when we hear them audibly. With print books, visual learners may struggle to retain all the details they read on the page.
Accessibility:
For those with visual impairments, reading disabilities, or conditions that make reading print difficult, audiobooks provide greater accessibility. Audiobooks open up the world of books to those who have challenges reading regular print. They make enjoying books possible for those who otherwise could not.
Portability:
Audiobooks are highly portable. You can load dozens of audiobook files onto your smartphone. It’s difficult to carry around more than one print book at a time. With audiobooks, you can bring your whole library with you wherever you go.
Multitasking:
In today’s busy world, many people like being able to multitask while enjoying books. As mentioned, audiobooks allow people to absorb content while exercising, commuting, doing chores, etc. For those who have difficulty sitting down to focus on print books, audiobooks deliver that content in a more multitasking-friendly format.
Eye Strain:
Some avid book lovers complain of eyestrain or headaches after long reading sessions with print books. Staring at screens all day can also contribute to tired eyes. Listening to audiobooks gives your eyes a break and provides an option to enjoy books without added eyestrain.
Cost:
Once you pay for an audiobook, you own it forever. With subscription programs like Audible, audiobooks can be quite affordable and cost effective compared to print books. Building an audiobook library over time often costs less than continually buying new print editions.
Learning Styles:
People have different learning styles and auditory learners learn more when hearing information. For them, audiobooks are simply a more effective way to experience books compared to visually reading print. Their brains process and absorb the content better when it’s delivered in audio form.
Effective for Dense Non-Fiction:
For dense, complex non-fiction books, audiobooks are sometimes more effective than print. It can be easier to stay focused on detailed academic or technical writing by listening to an audiobook read by an engaging narrator. The narration brings dry material to life in a way that’s harder to do when reading silently off a page.
Enjoyment:
Some readers simply find audiobooks more enjoyable than print books. It’s akin to being read a bedtime story as a child. For avid fiction readers, talented narrators can breathe new life into well-worn tales through vocal performance. The audio medium adds extra entertainment value.
Makes Reading Accessible to Kids:
Parents of young children or kids just learning to read often use audiobooks to foster literacy and instill a love of books. Following along while listening to a story helps kids improve vocabulary and fluency. It enables them to enjoy books above their reading level that they couldn’t manage on their own yet. Here is an article from Scholastic about the benefits.
Great for Bedtime:
Many people enjoy listening to audiobooks as they fall asleep at night. The narrative provides a calming distraction from racing thoughts. Some may find print books stimulating and disruptive to falling asleep. Audiobooks allow you to unwind at the end of the day while still experiencing the pleasure of books.
Book Clubs/Discussions:
Audiobooks provide another option for book clubs or discussions groups. Members can listen to the selected book at their convenience on their own time. This allows book discussions to include people who may have disabilities, time constraints, or other barriers to physically reading print editions of the book being discussed.
In summary, audiobooks provide a versatile and accessible way for anyone to fit more books into their life. The convenience, portability and multitasking abilities of audiobooks make them an increasingly popular alternative to reading print editions for many book lovers today. Audiobooks open up new opportunities to absorb books into daily routines and overcome many of the obstacles that can hinder reading print copies.
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Katy B. Rutland
My name is Katy, and storytelling is pretty much my jam. Snuggling up with a good book and escaping into a thrilling movie has been my addiction since I was a little kid. I studied English Lit in college which was literally heaven for a word nerd like me. Since graduating I've focused my passion and energy on writing my own novels and screenplays.