The Great Audiobook Debate: Weighing the Pros and Cons with an Open Mind

In my blog, I have reiterated time and time again how much I love reading and audiobooks in general (you can find proof over here, here, and here). It is no surprise that the reading community has divided opinions regarding audiobooks and whether they constitute real reading. In fact, I was having a discussion with a friend regarding this and she reiterated that listening to audiobooks is cheating and trying to get the easy way out.

Is it true? Let’s look into some of the arguments for and against audiobooks and regard them objectively!

Advantages of Listening to Audiobooks

Comprehension and Retention

This is a common argument: audiobooks lessen comprehension and retention of the materials consumed. While I get where they are coming from, let’s dissect this point a bit.

Humans have been reading for hundreds of years, whereas they have been listening for tens of thousands of years. In terms of our evolutionary biology, we are more equipped to listen to that reading. The onus lies on these modern-day customs and landscapes. With the advent of reading and education, we are paying attention to visual texts more, rendering our auditory capabilities dormant. While being more literate is a good thing, this shows that we have it within ourselves to polish up our listening skills in comparatively less time than it took to learn reading with proper comprehension.

From personal experience, starting slow is the key. Most audiobooks are narrated at a slower speed than normal conversational speed. So, 1x should not be too fast for you. And if that’s the case anyway, you can always slow it down according to your standards.

Lastly, it is not compulsory to speed-listen every audiobook you consume. While that can be a great asset in terms of time management, it is not mandatory. Just roll however you like it!

Attention and Focus

It might be said that audiobooks may demand less focused attention compared to traditional reading and listeners might be more prone to distractions or multitasking, potentially impacting their immersion in the content.

I get this one fully because I must admit, I remember my focus shifting to other stuff as I listened to audiobooks for the first few times. But, that gets better and more manageable with time. I’d say that it takes around 10 audiobooks for you to develop a certain retention and focus level. The more audiobooks you consume, the better your attention and focus levels become.

Personal Interpretation

Many readers might argue that traditional reading allows readers to form their own mental imagery and interpretations of the story, which might limit the reader’s ability to create a unique and personal mental landscape.

While this might be the case, I do not think it is that absolute. We do not need to look at it from a polarising point of view. Instead, we can take that as an opportunity for a shared imaginative experience between the narrator and the listener.

Audiobook narrators are talented individuals who bring a certain amount of skillset to the table. They choose their tones, accents, inflections and pacing carefully to bring the characters to life.

Language and Vocabulary Development

This is my favourite reason for consuming audiobooks (well, apart from the asynchronous act of multitasking. We all know that books, in general, help us upgrade our vocabulary. However, audiobooks provide another twist — helping us refine our pronunciation. This is especially true for people learning a new language. The intonation, effects and accents matter and not only do they help us refine our accents in our target language, but also help us understand the narrator in that particular language. One thing that I have personally noticed is that I do not need English subtitles for shows anymore! Behold audiobooks for being such a blessing!

More Inclusive

Audiobooks can be a game-changer for folks with conditions like dyslexia and ADHD. They offer an accessible and engaging way to consume content, levelling the playing field and making learning more enjoyable. It’s all about embracing technology’s positives while considering the balance with traditional reading experiences.

Disadvantages of Listening to Audiobooks

Lack of Physical Engagement

Critics argue that physical interaction with a book – turning pages, underlining, and highlighting – contributes to a deeper engagement with the material. This level of engagement might be lacking in audiobooks. While some people might not find this very much of a deal, for some, that is a significant issue! The tactile feeling can add a romantic aspect to the entire reading activity. So, who are we to criticise that?!

Reduced Critical Thinking

This is a hard argument from the anti-audiobook people. Since 100% of the audiobook is narrated, this may leave room for reduced critical thinking and personal interpretation. When something is ‘spoon-fed’ to you, your individualistic stroke onto the characters and situations in the book can get lost.

Lack of Accessibility

I agree with this wholeheartedly. Audiobooks are expensive! And whether we like it or not, we can all agree to this! Therefore, a lot of people might not have access to them. A more economical option would be getting them from the library for a while. For instance, nowadays, we have many libraries offering online memberships, where you can operate them from the comfort of your own home. All you need is a device and internet! Apart from that, you can also look into services like Audible, Storytel and Scribd, among many others!

Dependency on Technology

Going all-in on audiobooks might make us too addicted to screens and tech. That could mean missing out on the simple pleasure and perks of flipping through real books. By the way, my thoughts on whether Kindle counts as a screen? For me? Not really but let’s save that for another chat! 😉

So, here’s my take on the pros and cons of audiobooks. Even though it is no surprise that I love audiobooks, I hope I have been able to put forth each point objectively, so that you can decide for yourself what suits you!

In the end, the audiobook discussion boils down to personal preferences and the diverse ways we engage with literature. Embracing both traditional reading and audio experiences can enrich our literary journey.

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What’s your take on audiobooks?

Let me know in the comments below!