IS LISTENING TO BOOKS THE SAME AS READING?

Audiobooks: Are They "Cheating" or Just Plain Awesome?

"To listen or to read, that is the question!" (Shakespeare would probably have loved audiobooks, let's be real.) Join me as we explore this modern-day literary dilemma.

OK buckle up, booklovers, because we're about to dive into the wonderful world of audiobooks! 🎧

In today's busy world—juggling errands, chauffeuring kids, and navigating life's challenges—finding time to sit and read can feel

impossible. There's something truly special about holding a physical book and getting lost in its pages. As a passionate book collector, I cherish that experience. However, I also appreciate the convenience and accessibility of digital formats like Kindle Unlimited and audiobooks.

Enter audiobooks!

Since I discovered Audible back in 2019, I've realized that some stories just hit differently when you hear them. Plus, multitasking becomes a breeze – I can conquer my to-do list and get lost in a captivating tale. (Pretty sure reading while driving is illegal- 😉) But here's the thing: not everyone agrees on the whole "audiobooks vs. reading" debate. Some folks think it's cheating, that you're not reading if someone else is doing the work. (Insert eye roll, please.) Turns out, people have BIG FEELINGS about audiobooks. (Who knew?!) My research for this blog was a wild ride through the diverse opinions out there. 

Expert Opinions

In a 2018 Psychology Today article, Cody Kommers discussed the work of Daniel Willingham, a reading comprehension researcher and psychologist at the University of Virginia. Mr. Willingham argues that while both reading and listening are valuable, they are not the same. He suggests that challenging books require more focus from readers, and some passages may need to be revisited to fully grasp their meaning. This might mean that tougher material is better suited for traditional reading to ensure a deeper understanding of the author's message. (Thanks to Mr. Kommers for summarizing the New York Times article for those of us without a subscription!) 

Mr. Kommers makes an interesting point about the difference between reading and listening: "Reading is something you do, whereas listening is something that happens to you." He argues that reading requires active engagement, while audiobooks can progress with or without your full attention. However, a skilled narrator can make all the difference, adding depth and nuance to the story. I want to quote Mr. Kommers directly because he expresses this sentiment so well:

"The critical difference, for me, between reading and listening is that reading is something you do, whereas listening is something that happens to you. Reading is an act of engagement. The words on the page aren't going to read themselves, which is something 1 they do in an audiobook. If you're not actively taking in written information, then you're not going to make progress on the book. Audiobooks, on the other hand, make progress with or without your participation. You can tune out, your mind wandering around the subject at hand, and there will still be forward motion in  the story.”

I couldn't agree more! For me, convenience aside, I've encountered numerous books that I both read and listened to, and I found that the audiobook experience often enriched the story. Hearing the author's words brought to life by an impressive narrator can evoke a much deeper emotional response.

Not Everyone's a Fan

Sadly, This article caught my attention. Daily Egyptian with the rather harsh title, "You're Dumb and Wrong: Listening to Audiobooks is not Reading." The author, Jeremy Brown, compares listening to an audiobook to watching someone else play a video game – to quote:

“If you say listening to an audiobook is ‘reading’ – you may as well say watching

someone else play a video game is playing it. You are not the one in the driver’s seat –

you saw the action happen, but you didn’t actually do any of it, so don’t take credit.” 

(IMO that is apples and oranges.) He also claims that rewinding audiobooks is impractical, stating:

"Plus, you’re not going to rewind an audiobook. T

he rewind button only goes back 15 seconds, and who has that kind of time, right?”

"Well, Mr. Brown, I do rewind when needed, and I have plenty of time for it! Rewinding is easy with most audiobook apps, and a good narrator can effectively convey nuances like irony and tone. Perhaps Mr. Brown hasn't explored the full functionality of audiobook apps or experienced the talent of skilled narrators. No offense to Mr. Brown, but I won't quote any more of his... interesting article. You can check it out if you're curious, but let's just say he's not exactly an audiobook fan. And that's okay! We book lovers can enjoy stories in whatever way works best for us, no judgment here."

The Science of Storytelling

I’m excited to share insights from one of my favorite articles during my research, titled “Audiobooks or Reading? To Our Brains, It Doesn’t Matter,” by Jennifer Walter in Discovery Magazine. The article powerfully asserts that:

 “Stories stimulate the brain in the same way, regardless of whether they're read or heard.” 

I love that quote, Mrs. Walter!

"These color-coded maps of the brain show the semantic similarities during listening (top) and reading (bottom). (Credit: Fatma Deniz)"

This article presents visual scans of brain activity from a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience. Conducted by researchers at the Gallant Lab at the University of California, Berkeley, the study involved scanning the brains of participants who engaged in either reading or listening tasks. This article highlights a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, where researchers scanned the brains of participants engaged in either reading or listening tasks. The study found that stories stimulate the brain in the same way, regardless of whether they're read or heard. Words trigger similar brain activity with the same intensity, whether they are written or spoken. The article presents visual scans of brain activity, showing the semantic similarities between listening and reading.

I found this article fascinating! It’s worth a read, and I hope you’ll enjoy it too! 

Finding What Works for You

We all have our own unique way of connecting with stories. What matters most is finding what brings you joy, whether it's reading, listening, or something else entirely. Don't let anyone tell you there's a "right" way to experience a story! This is just my opinion, so do what works best for you.

Happy Reading OR Listening! Let me know your opinion in the comments.

https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/audiobooks-or-reading-to-our-brains-it-doesnt-matter