Question - audio books vs reading

[Sawdamizer]

would you count listening to audio books the same as reading?

A woman that works for me listens to audio books daily, typically all day as she basically just scans documents for electronic retention. Everyone knows she listens to books because she tells everyone... but she also will tell you she reads a few books a week... 

I overheard this yesterday and it didn't really bother me, but was curious if you guys would consider it the same?

Its the same content, I guess... but its how you process it.

[mthor]

For myself, I don't. When I'm listening to a book, I'm usually doing something else at the same time, so it's not getting my full attention. I don't think it counts as really reading it unless one is fully engaged. 

 

[cyberbully]

For me, it's as simple as reading and hearing being separate things....Now your ability to retain dictates which is more fruitful to you.  Reading something for myself would indeed surpass listening to me simply because my attention span for listening is subpar at best.  If I read something, it's far easier for me to comprehend and recall what I've read at a much higher rate than listening.

It's mostly why when playing a game, I leave subs on because even if there is voice acting, I will better grasp the story or direction when I read them.  Conversely, I can't stand watching tv in english and use subs because I'm tempted to read, and subs often time go faster than the characters speak, depending on the situation.  My daughter keeps the CC on when she watches TV, and she says she gets what's going on better when she reads it, but it's a hindrance to me because my brain is set up to observe when "watching" TV, so I always feel like I may have missed a visual gag by waiting on the next set of subs to display.

LSS. reading is better for precision, listening for simple entertainment that's unimportant otherwise

[NaBarney]

I do all of my reading by listening to podcasts

[Vamped]

I think actually reading is more intensive. Plus I cant really get into audibles because there's a robot voice and I just zone right out of there so even if the content is good I'm not going to pay attention for long. I listened to this man narrate Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and the way he told it legit ... terrified me more than it would reading it by myself.  Even with that I was literally doing nothing but laying there listening to it. 

[Bouvre]

I think listening to the audio book can provide the same experience (so long as one is fully attentive),
but it feels misleading to say you "read the book." Just say you listened to it. 

[resurrected]

I have never listened to an audio book. Always preferred to read the book myself. 

However, I should get an audio book, read by some old British fart. Maybe I could go to sleep then.

[Poof]

I always wondered. Found this:

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

Which surprised me. I thought they would be different somehow

[Sawdamizer]

1 minute ago, Poof said:

I always wondered. Found this:

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

Which surprised me. I thought they would be different somehow

Thats kind of where I'm at... I do both, and I feel I retain the same.

[Codename: Jackass]

If I'm listening to something it's a lot easier to lose interest and miss stuff. If she's listening while working I doubt it's anything more than background noise.

I'd much rather read. I feel I'll absorb more information that way.

[new_disease]

I'd only count it if it has all of your attention. I'll admit i've done it a few times so I could multitask and get more things done at once while knocking out some books I've been meaning to get to. I played myself though because if you ask me what happened in The Gunslinger I wouldn't be able to tell you 

[Distortedreasoning]

if youre one of those people that can listen and learn then yeah i can see a case being made for them to being comparable.

there was a time before i got glasses that i started listening to class and learning that way since i couldnt see anything the teacher was writing on the overhead projector. i know its not reading but just trying to illustrate learning can still be done by just listening. and ultimately isnt that the point of reading? to gather knowledge. 

[ghostrek]

I prefer audio books over books but I read and listen to both

[Sawdamizer]

Now I'm not sure what to think.....

[scoobdog]

I think the answer wholly depends on why (and what) you're reading.  I mean the act of processing ocular processing activates a different part of your brain than one that processes aural processing.   Like mthor said, it might be easier to be distracted if you are listening and are distracted by something in your line of sight for various reasons.  But assuming you give it your full attentions and the point is to use books to educate yourself or to think critically, hearing it should be no different than reading it as far as intellectual stimulation.  If you're going to read Mary Trump's book, you will be no more intelligent  for reading it as opposed to listening to Meryl Streep read it to you.

[scoobdog]

10 minutes ago, ghostrek said:

I prefer audio books over books but I read and listen to both

Reading must be an adventure for you.

[katt_goddess]

I remember an argument that touches on this from years ago. The argument was that reading manga shouldn't count as reading a book because it's mostly pictures - it should only count as reading if you are a little kid. My counter was that if that's the case than audio books shouldn't count as reading a book because it's being verbally handed to you - it should only count as reading if you are blind. The person who brought up manga was a big believer in audio books. 

The real answer is whatever floats your boat in all honestly. I can see audio books being a thing if you have long commutes. I can't really see them as being 'reading' if you are running around doing other things though. Reading takes actual focus. It's an action in and of itself. Leave the tv on if you need mindless background noise. To read is to do. 

For myself, I need the physical that is 'book' to really get my read on. The weight of the book, the sound of the pages turning, the steady progression of where the bookmark is at every unfortunate stopping point, even the smell all contribute to the joy that is reading. 

Yes, I stopped at B&N on the way home from work today. ... Shut up.

[scoobdog]

54 minutes ago, katt_goddess said:

For myself, I need the physical that is 'book' to really get my read on. The weight of the book, the sound of the pages turning, the steady progression of where the bookmark is at every unfortunate stopping point, even the smell all contribute to the joy that is reading. 

I've never really gotten that, and that's strange since I'm a writer. 

[Still Me]

no...I don’t believe in audio books....that’s just like npr

[ghostrek]

19 hours ago, katt_goddess said:

I remember an argument that touches on this from years ago. The argument was that reading manga shouldn't count as reading a book because it's mostly pictures - it should only count as reading if you are a little kid. My counter was that if that's the case than audio books shouldn't count as reading a book because it's being verbally handed to you - it should only count as reading if you are blind. The person who brought up manga was a big believer in audio books. 

The real answer is whatever floats your boat in all honestly. I can see audio books being a thing if you have long commutes. I can't really see them as being 'reading' if you are running around doing other things though. Reading takes actual focus. It's an action in and of itself. Leave the tv on if you need mindless background noise. To read is to do. 

For myself, I need the physical that is 'book' to really get my read on. The weight of the book, the sound of the pages turning, the steady progression of where the bookmark is at every unfortunate stopping point, even the smell all contribute to the joy that is reading. 

Yes, I stopped at B&N on the way home from work today. ... Shut up.

i love book stores 

[katt_goddess]

18 hours ago, scoobdog said:

I've never really gotten that, and that's strange since I'm a writer. 

Physical books were a precious thing growing up because books were frivolous wastes of money. And they were one of the few things that I could rely on as being 'mine' even if only as temporary borrows through the book-mobile because I was the only one interested in reading. I was already reading before I went to kindergarten and would spend any time that wasn't my table's time at the sand box [ because the sand box was AWESOME, fight me ] sitting in the farthest corner carefully reading through all the hardcover kids books that were back there that no one else cared for. 

The sensory aspects of a physical book are a touchstone to a wealth of things for the individual reader.   

[scoobdog]

7 minutes ago, katt_goddess said:

Physical books were a precious thing growing up because books were frivolous wastes of money. And they were one of the few things that I could rely on as being 'mine' even if only as temporary borrows through the book-mobile because I was the only one interested in reading. I was already reading before I went to kindergarten and would spend any time that wasn't my table's time at the sand box [ because the sand box was AWESOME, fight me ] sitting in the farthest corner carefully reading through all the hardcover kids books that were back there that no one else cared for. 

The sensory aspects of a physical book are a touchstone to a wealth of things for the individual reader.   

The thought of a book being a frivolous waste of money is astounding, but I completely understand that.  I guess for me it's more of where that external fetish for the book as an object interacts with the book as a medium that is the most difficult to define.  Specifically, its about defining the book as a physical gateway rather than just as symbolic stand-in for one, and a lot of it has to do with my personal view of the individual word and its role as a shared conduit.  Oddly, this ties in with Sawdy's question about spoken word books and written books:  to me there is no distinction as a medium between the two, even if the endpoints on each side are drastically different.

[Raptorpat]

Audio books aren't reading, they're being read to.

[oolpmahC-iarumaS]

I do both. At least recently, if I buy a book it will offer the audio book for cheap. Its largely the same. I guess it depends on how you read. I know a few elitist who swear by reading but when I talk to them about books they hardly remember anything because they read way too fast and don't retain anything. I also know people who "listen" to books at 1.5x speed to get through it to seem cool. Doesn't make a huge difference in how you consume it in my experience. Though I am very willing to back track to the audio book when I get distracted and stop actively listening. Same thing happens with reading though. I'll suddenly realize I didnt really retain anything I just read.

[scoobdog]

3 minutes ago, Raptorpat said:

Audio books aren't reading, they're being read to.

“Read" from the middle English "Reden" or "to advise." Specifically, reading as an act is not exclusive to medium and refers to the appraisal of information as opposed to the delivery of information.  It's for this reason, the modern definition also includes reading as synonym for "appraising" a situation.

[Raptorpat]

shut up scoob

[katt_goddess]

53 minutes ago, scoobdog said:

The thought of a book being a frivolous waste of money is astounding, but I completely understand that.  I guess for me it's more of where that external fetish for the book as an object interacts with the book as a medium that is the most difficult to define.  Specifically, its about defining the book as a physical gateway rather than just as symbolic stand-in for one, and a lot of it has to do with my personal view of the individual word and its role as a shared conduit.  Oddly, this ties in with Sawdy's question about spoken word books and written books:  to me there is no distinction as a medium between the two, even if the endpoints on each side are drastically different.

How about, you can't really gauge how far you've gotten in a book if it's on audio. The movement of whatever is being used as a bookmark [ dog-earring is for savages   ] is a visual account of accomplishment. 'Track 6' tells my ass nothing other than I've apparently been coddled for 5 prior tracks. Finishing a physical book means 348 pages of fun processed. 

She says as she keeps picking up and putting down 'Peace Talks' because she knows that if she starts it, it will be devoured completely by tomorrow. It still has fresh box smell and everything. 

[scoobdog]

I mean, unless you're reading the end first, it hardly matters where you are in the book.

[oolpmahC-iarumaS]

12 minutes ago, katt_goddess said:

How about, you can't really gauge how far you've gotten in a book if it's on audio. The movement of whatever is being used as a bookmark [ dog-earring is for savages   ] is a visual account of accomplishment. 'Track 6' tells my ass nothing other than I've apparently been coddled for 5 prior tracks. Finishing a physical book means 348 pages of fun processed. 

She says as she keeps picking up and putting down 'Peace Talks' because she knows that if she starts it, it will be devoured completely by tomorrow. It still has fresh box smell and everything. 

Haha I am like super opposite of you. Truely I don't really care for reading, but I do love stories. There are some books I'd rather read for myself, and some books I'd rather listen to. (James Marsters voice IS Dresden to me. And Michael Kramer could read literally anything and I will listen. The only thing that kept me through the wheel of time which I stand by 60% of that series was not great Tangent, sorry.) I do all my reading on my kindle or my phone. I don't really care for owning a physical book and really hate book markers when I have a physical book. I don't think your preference is bad or lesser, I just don't put value in the same aspects of reading as you. But main point, I can look at exactly how much time remains and compare that to how much the book total has. Which tells me out of 13 hours of Peace Talks I have 2 left.

[katt_goddess]

28 minutes ago, scoobdog said:

I mean, unless you're reading the end first, it hardly matters where you are in the book.

Also @oolpmahC-iarumaS I think I would blast through this book in 5 hours flat if I just allowed myself to fall directly into it. It's why I keep putting it back down. If I wait until tomorrow after work, I might be able to pace myself enough to have some leftovers for Sunday. Plus I'm slated to go and get a walkthrough for a kitten-sitting gig in a couple of hours and don't want to be interrupted.  

[Seight]

23 hours ago, katt_goddess said:

I remember an argument that touches on this from years ago. The argument was that reading manga shouldn't count as reading a book because it's mostly pictures - it should only count as reading if you are a little kid. My counter was that if that's the case than audio books shouldn't count as reading a book because it's being verbally handed to you - it should only count as reading if you are blind. The person who brought up manga was a big believer in audio books. 

The real answer is whatever floats your boat in all honestly. I can see audio books being a thing if you have long commutes. I can't really see them as being 'reading' if you are running around doing other things though. Reading takes actual focus. It's an action in and of itself. Leave the tv on if you need mindless background noise. To read is to do. 

For myself, I need the physical that is 'book' to really get my read on. The weight of the book, the sound of the pages turning, the steady progression of where the bookmark is at every unfortunate stopping point, even the smell all contribute to the joy that is reading. 

Yes, I stopped at B&N on the way home from work today. ... Shut up.

You get a like half because I also like reading and half for posting Best Girl from R.O.D.