Audiobooks discussion
What do you do while listening to audiobooks?
This is not a criticism but several people have said they listen to them while driving......but not when they have to concentrate on something! Yikes! I listen to them driving myself but not sure that it is the best move as if the story is gripping I do drift off a bit - beats listening to heavy music on way to work etc though find I arrive alot calmer - I also listen to audio when I am painting pictures.
James, I went on a Revolutionary War binge for a long time, all on audiobooks. Read whatever I could get, including, I think, "1776". Histories, biographies, etc. But John Adams has to be my favorite. He's the guy who "don't get no respect" since, some 200+ years later, Thomas Jefferson Is still stealing all his thunder, now with his own radio show/podcast of "The Thomas Jefferson Hour", by Clay Jenkinson. You've heard of that? If not, run do not walk to your nearest listening device! It is currently based in North Dakota, of all places, but is really a fine program. I highly recommend it. However, I remain something of a closet federalist at heart, which is another reason I am such a fan of John Adams.
Susan, I too go to sleep listening either to an audiobook or some kind of Old Time Radio type of program.
Booksdingle wrote: "This is not a criticism but several people have said they listen to them while driving......but not when they have to concentrate on something! Yikes! I listen to them driving myself but not sure..."I can do it when driving a familiar route or straight highway driving. If I need to find my way or there is a lot of traffic or bad weather, I may have to turn audio off.
Martha wrote: "Susan, I too go to sleep listening either to an audiobook or some kind of Old Time Radio type of program."Hi Martha. I also love old radio drama. I'm devoted to the Paul Temple series. I'm not old enough to remember it in its original incarnation as it was broadcast in the UK back in the 1940s and 50s, but the BBC has re-digitalised it (what does that mean!), and a lot of the original series are available at Audible.co.uk.
I'd adore some old US series - and I'm guessing I might be able to download them from the Audible.com site. Any recommendations?
I only listen when driving on a long trip. City driving, not so much, because it's too much stop and go. This week I was in a car with a friend, and I literally had to wrestle her phone away from her so she would stop trying to take and make phone calls and texts while she was driving. Yikes!Booksdingle wrote: "This is not a criticism but several people have said they listen to them while driving......but not when they have to concentrate on something! Yikes! I listen to them driving myself but not sure..."
I do my art work, mostly. However, I've also done my housework, baking, and Yes, I'm one of those who can do my shopping while listening to my audio book. But, only if I've made a grocery list.
Wraymona wrote: "I do my art work, mostly. However, I've also done my housework, baking, and Yes, I'm one of those who can do my shopping while listening to my audio book. But, only if I've made a grocery list."It's the only thing that makes the supermarket bearable!
Lots of things. I drive, eat meals, cook, fold laundry, work out and groom while listening to audiobooks.
I'm jealous of those who can shop and do other things and pay attention to the story. I can do so while driving and walking but find it hard to pay attention while doing chores, etc. I've really enjoyed Wild as a companion audiobook while taking long walks!
I can't drive & read audiobooks anymore. Too dangerous for me. Need to focus 100% on driving. And my passengers better shut up if they want to live, LOL!
Robin wrote: "I can do it when driving a familiar route or straight highway driving. If I need to find my way or there is a lot of traffic or bad weather, I may have to turn audio off. "Exactly.
I listen to most of my audiobooks while I'm at work . Believe it or not it helps me to work faster. I also love to listen to my books when the kids are in school and I'm home alone cleaning.
I'm an assistant manager at a retail store. I pretty much do everything in the store. I listen to my books while I'm stocking, recovering the store and mostly when I open the store in the mornings .
All you need is a job in a bookstore!
I would love a job in a bookstore. It would be so much calmer and peaceful. Retail is to much sometimes. What do you do?
I would love a job in a bookstore. It would be so much calmer and peaceful. Retail is to much sometimes. What do you do?
I'm retired due to a disability. In my "past life" I had two different careers (not at the same time): teacher and paralegal.
Something new for when I listen: I have been getting my toddler into coloring, so I have a bunch of coloring books and crayons/colored pencils lying around. I missed listening to audiobooks (I usually listen at work, but had surgery this week), so today I'm coloring and listening (the baby is at daycare since I can't lift her right now). My husband thinks I'm crazy, but it's actually very relaxing :)
You know, there are "grownup" coloring books with intricate patterns and designs; fun to do with ink pens or colored pencils.
Thanks for the heads up. I ordered a couple from Amazon today :) I need to be doing something while listening to audiobooks, so maybe coloring in the evenings after the little one goes to bed will help me reach my goal of 100 audiobooks this year!
Jessica wrote: "Thanks for the heads up. I ordered a couple from Amazon today :) I need to be doing something while listening to audiobooks, so maybe coloring in the evenings after the little one goes to bed will..."Zentangles. Don't buy the kits, just borrow a book [example here: http://tinyurl.com/ou82u9v] (some are ebooks available online via the OverDrive system at public libraries) and do whatever works for you with your own paper and colored pencils/crayons, etc. I love fountain pens and have bought all sorts of different colors of ink, so my faux-tangles are a way for me to do something other than knitting when my wrists get tired, but still listen to audiobooks.
Martha - thanks for the idea of adult coloring books. Didn't even know they existed!! This is just what I need for down time at the end of a very stressful day!
!! Watching Tv :)!! I am so focus on just listening that I just watch the screen and know that I am not missing anything important.!!
Norma wrote: "Martha - thanks for the idea of adult coloring books. Didn't even know they existed!! This is just what I need for down time at the end of a very stressful day!"There are also Dover coloring books for adults (or older kids) with everything from abstract designs to fashions to animals to famous artworks, etc.
I usually knit if I'm not doing housework while listening but I have also done scrapbooking.
Robin wrote: "Norma wrote: "Martha - thanks for the idea of adult coloring books. Didn't even know they existed!! This is just what I need for down time at the end of a very stressful day!"There are also Dove..." I answered this long ago with gardening, housework, sewing and embroidery but adult coloring books sounds like a very fun thing to do and a great source of embroidery patterns too
I've been going through a bit of a rough patch personally, and I've also had the flu. So last night I treated myself to a lovely bath with a Lush bath bomb, candles, a hot toddy, and my audiobook. It was bliss.
Sounds like a good idea, with or without the flu!
Sarah wrote: "I've been going through a bit of a rough patch personally, and I've also had the flu. So last night I treated myself to a lovely bath with a Lush bath bomb, candles, a hot toddy, and my audiobook. ..."Great idea!
Joyce wrote: "I answered this long ago with gardening, housework, sewing and embroidery but adult coloring books sounds like a very fun thing to do and a great source of embroidery patterns too "I just looked up the Dover coloring books and they do look fun! Especially the fashions and "Great Scenes from" (Horror Stories? Shakespeare Plays? Count me in!). I'm going to have to order some.
Hi Just joined this group and not sure where to say hi,So Hi hello,
I am a Sign maker and spend a lot of time in front of a pc and love audiobooks,
i thought it was cheating at first to say i've read a book when all i did was listen,
anyway i just started the JL Bourne series Armageddon, not sure if its the book at the moment thats grabbing me or the narrator but I'm gripped.
I've got through quite a few audiobooks and some can be hard work, but so can books, i think its only when you reflect on what you've heard or read you can appreciate the characters you miss,
The ones i have enjoyed the most this year is 1, Ready player one,
( i loved this)
2, The Martian, i still think about his garden in a spaceship,
Thanks for reading.
I play videogames while I listen to audiobooks. League of Legends and Heartstone. Sometimes I need to pause the book or go back 5 minutes if my concentration starts to jumble but for the most part I can do both pretty well.
I either check my e-mail or, more likely, I just close my eyes and immerse myself in the story. If I have the book I will sometimes read along with the audio book.
I can only listen to audiobooks when I am doing activities that do not require an excessive amount of brainwork. So exercising, driving (if I'm careful) and cleaning are usually when I'm listening. Also, I HAVE to be listening to an audiobook as I fall asleep.
Audiobooks for me go with weight lifting, gym, running, and riding horses.
I do almost anything while listening. I struggle with anxiety so I self "medicate" with books!!! 2 minutes of listening to Hermione shouting at Ron and my heart rate slows right down. I cook, shop, drive, play games, walk, work everything! The one thing I can't do it lay in bed. I'll go to bed early planing on listening to a few chapters but fall asleep in mere minutes!! I blame my inconsiderate mother for reading me to sleep every night (how dare she!)
Oh yeah, audiobooks are my sleeping pills, but I bookmark to find my way back.
Pete, if you listen to books on your phone the Smart Audiobook Player app has a sleep timer. The audiobook stops 10 minutes after the phone's last jostle.
Well, living in one of the most populated cities in the world, Mexico City, I'v discovered that a 50 minute ride can turn pretty exciting if you have audiobooks. I started with CDs and now thank goodness to Audible and mp3 format. Cooking and cleaning are also great moments to "read".
J. wrote: "Pete, if you listen to books on your phone the Smart Audiobook Player app has a sleep timer. The audiobook stops 10 minutes after the phone's last jostle."I'll look that up for sure.
Thanks Chiva
Driving for me. Long commute equals good time for reading/listening.
I do everything ehile listening to audiobooks.I put them in my computer and Ipod/Ipad or Kindle so I can take it from room to room with me.Since I am no longer working,this is what I do most days.
I have an hour long commute one way to work. So I am able to get 2 hours per day of listening to my audiobooks!
For me commuting on the subway and long expressway drives (12 hours from home in NYC to my mom's place in Michigan) were my first exposure to audio-books. Later I found that Shakespeare plays presented as audio-books were MUCH more diverting than just music when working out on a treadmill or the Stair-Master.
Now I tend to listen to a book when my eyes are tired at end-of-day but I'm not quite ready for sleep.
Hi all I am new to the group and I started listening to Audios last year when I found I had no time to do my favorite hobby. Now I read a book every few days with my 3 hour a day commute. It has become such fun catching up on all I have missed and my brother whom I commute with has been loving it and really getting into it. It has brought us closer and we have something to bound over.
I listen while I am at work. I spend all day on the computer doing repetitive work which allows me to listen and concentrate on what I am doing.
I listen while driving these days, but I got hooked on audio books when I was training for marathons. Made the miles go faster :)
Audiobooks
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Only just seen this, Robin. Thanks for the advice - I'll take a look - but I'm now thinking maybe an iPod touch - won't get the battery life, but will be able to use Bluetooth fones, which is good.