If you’ve ever been interested in audiobooks and want to find a more efficient way to absorb information, or if you simply don’t have the time to sit down and read a book traditionally, but haven’t yet found a method to transition from reading to listening, then continue reading. This article will explore ways to make the switch and discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of switching to audiobooks.
Transitioning from reading books to listening to audiobooks is an easy process. Begin by registering for an audiobook account with a popular company such as Audible, which I highly recommend. Download their app onto your phone and sign up for an account.
Choose the plan that suits your needs best; the monthly credit plan is a popular choice as it includes a free audiobook each month, along with access to all free audiobooks on Audible. The convenience of listening to audiobooks on your phone is best when you connect your phone to your car and enjoy audiobooks during long drives, thus saving you the time you would have spent sitting down to read at a desk.
Where is The Best Place to Get Audiobooks?
If you’re not into Audible, there are plenty of other apps and places where you can sign up to listen to audiobooks. Here are some alternatives you can explore below:
- Chirp Audiobooks – launched in 2019 by the well-known BookBub, offers discounted audiobooks through limited-time deals. It’s known for providing affordable options by collaborating with publishers and authors. Chirp fills a niche for budget-friendly audiobooks in digital literature.
- Apple Books – provides a range of audiobooks alongside its e-book collection. Users can easily purchase and access audiobooks through the Apple Books app, offering a convenient platform for on-the-go listening with a diverse selection of titles across many genres.
- Spotify – widely popular for its music streaming, has expanded into the audiobook space, providing users with an additional and convenient option for audiobook listening. I prefer the user-friendly design of the Spotify app, finding it easier to navigate compared to Audible.
- NOOK by Barnes & Noble – has an audiobook platform dedicated to audiobook enthusiasts. With a user-friendly interface, it offers a diverse collection of audiobooks across genres, providing a convenient and enjoyable experience. Users can access their audiobook library seamlessly through the app, making it a go-to destination for those who love to immerse in compelling audio stories. Keep in mind that details about the app may have evolved.
Can You Listen to Audio On a PDF?
In case you didn’t know, you have the option to listen to PDFs if you’re too busy to sit down and read the files. If you’ve got a PDF version of a book and prefer having it read to you, the feature is usually easy to find with a bit of exploration and it even has different voices and accents for you to choose from. This is especially handy for lengthy documents and you’re not in the move to sit down and read the content.
When Do You Listen to Audiobooks?
Switching to audiobooks becomes a breeze when you identify the ideal moments to listen to them. Recognizing opportune places and times opens up the possibility of absorbing valuable information while tackling chores and errands, ultimately saving you a massive amount of time. I make audiobooks a part of my daily routine, and below is a list of places and times for you to listen to audiobooks that can come in handy.
- Morning audiobook – Listening during your commute to work, proves to be a fantastic choice. The audio content acts as a brain stimulant, helping to shake off any lingering sleepiness kickstart your day, and keep you alert.
- Behind the wheel – I often opt for audiobooks as a more enriching alternative to music. It’s a valuable way to make the most of your time, turning those commutes into opportunities for learning. Given the significant amount of time many of us spend on the road in the modern era, it’s a productive way to listen to audiobooks.
- Cooking in the kitchen – For stay-at-home moms spending considerable time in the kitchen cooking and preparing meals, using headphones, and diving into an audiobook is a fantastic way to multitask. It enables you to efficiently juggle various responsibilities while making progress in your audiobook reading.
- Exercise – Listening to audiobooks while exercising can help us strive for both physical and mental well-being. Transforming your treadmill session into a stimulating experience, this approach not only keeps you physically active but also nourishes your mind, making the best use of your time.
- Bedtime audiobooks – I’ve shifted from reading before bedtime to listening to audiobooks. Taking in information before sleep has proven to enhance memory, and opting for a narrator with a soothing voice, perhaps even a monotonous voice, can contribute to a better night’s sleep.
What Equipment is Needed to Listen to Audiobooks?
Among the many devices for listening to audiobooks, the cellphone stands out as the top choice due to its compact nature and portability. Its versatility allows you to easily take it anywhere and even connect it to your car’s sound system to listen to. While you can use the phone’s speaker, opting for headphones, either wired or wireless, offers more privacy listening.
Tablets are an alternative, although less portable due to their size being bigger than the cellphone. The laptops are even less popular due to being bulkier and bigger. The desktop at last place because it is stationary making it very limited in where you can listen to your favorite audiobooks.
Is It Better to Listen to An Audiobook or Read?
The choice between reading books and listening to audiobooks depends on your limitations and goals. Reading enhances your skills as a reader and often improves your writing abilities by exposing you to different wordings and sentence structures. It’s also good for spelling improvement as you visually see how words are spelled out.
On the other hand, audiobooks can contribute to becoming a better listener and can aid in refining your speaking skills by exposing you to proper pronunciation. This is particularly helpful when learning a new language or addressing accent problems. Both approaches have their pros and cons, and the decision ultimately rests on what aligns best with your interest.
Before you commit to sticking with traditional physical books, allow me to make a case for switching to audiobooks. Reading physical books demands your undivided attention, and though it often leads to better retention of what you read, our fast-paced lifestyles can make dedicating time to daily reading a challenge.
Audiobooks offer a time-efficient alternative, especially when combined with tasks like driving daily, where listening doesn’t demand much effort. While multitasking might slightly impact focus, I’ve found that I am still able to retain a significant amount of information. This time efficiency is a key factor in driving the growing popularity of audiobooks.
Additionally, owning physical books takes up space and tends to be more costly than audiobooks, Platforms like Audible have a bunch of free audiobooks to listen to with their plan helping you save even more money. If you are still not convinced they even give a month free trial to test their platform out here. Ultimately, the choice is yours—perhaps you don’t need to give up physical books fully, but consider adding audiobooks as an extra learning tool in your repertoire.
Does Reading Improve Your Imagination?
Reading enhances your imagination. My mind takes a thrilling ride, especially when immersed in fantasy and science fiction books. For instance, if the tale involves pirates, I find myself vividly thinking about the life of a pirate, even though most of my reading or listening choices lean towards self-help books.
Interestingly, I can’t say I experience the same imaginative engagement when I listen to audiobooks. About half of my daydreams during audiobook sessions seem unrelated to the content, leading me to conclude that reading a physical book is more effective in stimulating and capturing the imagination than listening to audiobooks.
There’s a valid argument that audiobooks can be equally effective in stimulating the imagination as a physical book. A skilled narrator can use their voice modulation to convey emotions, setting the tone and drawing listeners into the narrative. The addition of sound effects with background music further enhances the immersive experience, helping to vividly imagine scenes.
In some cases, audiobook productions can even feature multiple voice actors, creating a perspective that makes listeners feel like they’re right in the middle of the story. Ultimately, the impact on imagination can depend on individual preferences and how they like to engage with their imagination.
If the imaginative aspect isn’t a top priority, especially for those who aren’t avid fans of fiction or don’t engage with it frequently—like myself—switching to audiobooks can be a better choice. Especially if your primary goal in this context is to efficiently absorb information.
Do Audiobooks Help Children Sleep?
Audiobooks do help children with sleep and can serve as a helpful tool. Instead of switching to audiobooks alone, you can bring your children with you. Parents can introduce audiobooks to children to make the process more convenient. Particularly useful on tired evenings filled with household chores, audiobooks can be a soothing companion in putting your children to sleep, creating an atmosphere that aids in inducing drowsiness.
Audiobooks can serve as an additional valuable at-home teaching tool. For busy parents who want to encourage their children to read more, introducing audiobooks is a practically good solution. Combining a physical book with its audiobook counterpart allows children to read along with the narrator, providing an effective learning tool. This approach is particularly beneficial for parents with hectic schedules who may find it challenging to dedicate time to reading to their children.
The Reading Trial Results Using Physical Books
Participation and Completion Rates for Reading Study
| Group | Total People | Finished the Trial | Didn’t Finish the Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| People Who Read | 496 | 369 (74.4%) | 127 (25.6%) |
| People Who Didn’t | 495 | 405 (81.8%) | 90 (18.18%) |
Sleep Improvement Rates for Reading Study
| Group | Total Finished | Felt Sleep Improved | Percentage Improved |
|---|---|---|---|
| People Who Read | 369 | 156 | 42% |
| People Who Didn’t | 405 | 112 | 28% |
The Improvement Difference between Reader and Non-Reader
| Comparison | Difference in Improvement |
|---|---|
| Reading vs. Not Reading | 14% more improvement |
| Certainty Range | 8% to 22% more improvement |
Are Audiobooks Good for the Elderly?
Audiobooks are an excellent solution for seniors facing declining eyesight as they age. Many seniors still have a love for reading their favorite books, but the burden of diminishing eyesight can make traditional reading challenging, especially with the often small font sizes in longer books.
The practicality of audiobooks becomes evident in this situation, offering an accessible and enjoyable alternative. Traditional printed books often are not made for seniors, with small fonts that can be a hindrance. Considering the limited availability of books specifically crafted for seniors on platforms like Amazon, audiobooks prove to be a great choice for older individuals who wish to continue enjoying the pleasures of literature despite visual challenges.
One of the significant advantages of audiobooks is that they can provide a practical solution for elderly individuals experiencing age-related hearing loss. By using headphones and adjusting the volume, seniors can easily customize their listening experience with minimal effort, enhancing the overall convenience of enjoying their favorite audiobooks.
Conclusion
If you’re still hesitant about switching to audiobooks, now could be the best moment to give it a try. You don’t have to fully abandon traditional reading; you can still read books when you can. Combining reading and audiobooks would likely yield the best results, considering each offers unique benefits. Including these two practices can provide a well-rounded approach, maximizing their advantages.
By AL Tran
Source:
- Finucane, E., Treweek, S., Newell, J., Das, K., Chapman, S., Wicks, P., Galvin, S., Healy, P., Biesty, L., Gillies, K., Noel-Storr, A., Gardner, H., & Devane, D. (2021). Does reading a book in bed make a difference to sleep in comparison to not reading a book in bed? The People’s Trial—An online, pragmatic, randomised trial. Trials, 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05831-3
- Aydın, Erkan, and Muhammed Tunagür. Effect of Audiobook Applications on Listening Skills and Attitudes of 6th Grade Students: A Mixed-Method Study. Vol. 43, no. 3, 2021, pp. 1–21, files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1340717.pdf.
- “Learning before Bedtime Could Improve Memory – New Study.” Loughborough University, www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2020/october/learning-before-bedtime-could-improve-memory/.
- National Institute on Aging. “Aging and Your Eyes.” National Institute on Aging, 28 July 2021, www.nia.nih.gov/health/vision-and-vision-loss/aging-and-your-eyes.
