Getting Into Audiobooks

One of the things all three of us have noticed over time is that a lot of readers have a question about audiobooks: Is it really reading if I’m only listening to it? Audiobooks are a format that tends to have its own stigma—that listening to a book instead of reading it with your eyeballs is somehow a lesser effort, one that takes something away. But we’re here to say that is patently untrue: for some readers, by audio is the optimal format, and there’s no reason to believe that listening to a story is any less of a concentrated effort than seeing it on the page. Audiobooks have their own history, including multiple types of awards like the Audie Awards, which are celebrated annually by the Audio Publishers Association. We don’t think about it much, but audiobooks actually add a new dimension, which is the voice of the narrator, to sometimes bring new depth to a story. On this episode we’re talking about our experiences with audiobooks and Audie Award winners, and why the format is so loved—and so stigmatized—by many. If you’re listening to this podcast, you’re already prepared to try an audiobook, so we’re also recommending some of our faves and suggestions for a good place to start listening to audiobooks.