Hi Friends,
I have wanted to do this post for a while now, because it is something I am extremely passionate about. Is listening to audiobooks ‘reading’? I used to be the type of person that would hate on audiobook readers. I would think it was cheating, and not real reading. However, fast forward 10 years and 100% of my reading is done via audiobooks. Zero regrets. I completely understand people that cannot get behind audiobooks, and have to physically read. Just like anything else, audiobooks aren’t for everyone, and it does take some getting used to. I know that a lot of people believe that you aren’t truly ‘reading’ if you go the audiobook route. But I don’t think that’s really true.

I watched a lot of videos on this topic, and one of them put it very well. In the video, by EmmmaBooks, she posed a question – that if someone drives themself to work, but their co-worker takes the bus, did one of them cheat? Or take the easy way out? The person that drove themself isn’t going to call out their co-worker for taking the bus. They both got the same results, but took different paths to get there. In the debate of audiobooks versus physically reading, you are both consuming the same work, just in different forms.

I am a multi-tasker with serious ADD, which makes audiobooks perfect for me. I can accomplish other things while reading. Also, it is like TV in my head. Oh, the days of radio shows. Best-sellling author Stephen King even did a short video, declaring that “audiobooks are terrific”. They are especially great for people who have learning disabilities, that would otherwise struggle with reading. I am forunate enough to be able to read well, but I do still get frustrated when there isn’t an audiobook version available. Authors that only release physical books are missing out on sharing their work with a whole new dynamic of people.

In my opinion, the whole point of reading is to open your mind to a new world and a new group of people, to bring the story to life. You can do that regardless of whether you listen to the audiobook or read it in print. I would certainly never think less of the people who choose to listen to audiobooks, and I love the fact that all readers are different. but can still come together and share a love for books. I will always advocate for audiobooks, and if that makes me not a real reader, then so be it. Remember – you do you, and enjoy reading any way you please.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny