Ebooks vs Print books vs Audio

[Papaphilly]

Does anyone think listening to audio books as good as reading? I do not see it as the same. Different skill set.

[melissa]

Kindle books are nice, especially since you don't have to add pounds to your suitcase when travelling, but a paper book is still my favorite.

Personally, I can't listen to audiobooks. I tried it with Lauren Wolk's Wolf Hollow, and I don't know if it was the narrator or the story or just me, but I couldn't finish. I've heard people listen to them driving to work, but I feel I'd get distracted. Does anyone else have that problem?

[Kellyn]

I can't pay attention to audiobooks while I'm driving because my mind wanders and next thing I know it's been ten minutes since I was paying attention to the book and I have no idea what's going on. I attribute this to a habit of daydreaming while driving that is years old and therefore hard to break. Maybe if audiobooks were a thing when I started driving, then I could do it. It's like the brain's attention needs to be divided when you're doing something from motor memory.

For example, I love audiobooks for tasks like cleaning or doing yard work. When I worked in biomedical research, I went through so many audiobooks because adding micro-liters of clear liquid from one clear tube to micro-liters of clear liquid in another clear tube is just tedious enough that I could listen to an audiobook without getting distracted. If I had to do something that required thinking (like doing math), I would just pause the book. The audiobooks did not distract me from the work so I would not make mistakes. I became kind of fascinated with how the brain could divide attention like that, actually. I think listening to an audiobook while doing the monotonous lab work actually helped me focus on it.

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

I started listening to audiobooks while driving when I worked as a therapist for children in group homes. I had a 45 minute drive and the books required enough concentration that I didn’t bring my work home with me as much. Music didn’t help at all. Since then I have continued to listen in the car and it works for me.

Oddly enough, I have a more difficult time paying attention when I’m doing other tasks, especially if there is any background noise. I am pretty easily distracted. However, I love listening while doing puzzles, painting, and other quiet activities.

[Robynne]

Since I am partially deaf and I have to read subtitles when watching movies on Netflix, there is no way that I will submit myself to listening to pod casts or audio books so I dont do either. The smell of books does not do anything for me. Books are just a tool to either obtain information or to be entertained. So it was no trouble to switch to ebooks back in 2012 after my husband gave me an e-reader for Xmas. I have read nothing but ebooks ever since!!

[Anna]

i am attracted to the smell and touch of the paper in the book.

[Swati]

I personally have always been a big supporter of printed books only. Always used to believe the magic of books is in the feel and the aroma. I have loads of books and also believe in collecting and displaying them. However, there is only a certain amount of space that I have in my tiny apartment. Hence, bought a kindle recently and boy was I wrong all these years. I understand I do not get the look and feel of a real book in the kindle but my reading has increased so much. I am now loving the kindle and also reading more and more.

[Marie]

I love my kindle as I can tote around loads of books that are right at my fingertips. I still like having my print books though, but the kindle is what I use mainly. :)

[Mark]

I read purely on my Kindle nowadays. I don't have anything against print books, I understand why people prefer them. But I enjoy the ability to carry many books around me at once, take notes and highlight without ruining the book. I also like being able to change font size/type to make it more comfortable.

I find it difficult to focus and recall info from audiobooks so I don't listen to them often.

[The Picky Bookworm]

I love my kindle because I can take it anywhere. I don't, however, read much on it at my house. I prefer print books for that. I listen to audiobooks at work, because I can't just sit and read all day, much as I would love to.

[Blue]

parchment forever!

[Tammy]

I prefer print books. I will read from my kindle since my son gave it to me for Christmas.

[Shelly]

I have a kindle that is loaded with books, and yes its handy to take anywhere and also if you have the audio function I think this is great for lying on a beach or bedtime reading.
but for me I think there's something exciting about the smell and feel of a paper book
I have friends who never used to read as they "hadn't got the attention span for a book" but now they have a kindle they are avid readers and that can only be a good thing.
At the end of the day there are forms and against all formats and I think its personal choice.

[Greta Loves Books]

Print books!

[幽灵]

Frankly, I just love to read, whether it's ebooks or paperback books. I don't really care much except for the story within. To me, it's the plot that matters the most so yeah, both of them will do fine for me so long the story keeps me on edge.

[Kirsten]

I do all 3! I love Kindles for many reasons. You don't have to pack a whole load of books for a trip. You can adjust the font size and appearance.

Audiobooks - I suffer from sinus headaches/migraines so I listen to audiobooks at this time since I don't need glasses.

Physical books - There's something comforting about a real book. And you don't need the internet or a recharger.

[Leena]

im a complete ebook fan. I use my phone for both the kindle app and Scribd and I'm very active on both. I've just come across the epub.pub site for romances that I use extensively. So at any given time I'm reading 3 books at a time.

I've tried audio books and I'm a little uncomfortable with them especially the romance ones. The passionate scenes get ughh! maybe I need to try a hard-core thrillers with bullets whizzing by :)

I've given up physical books completely. I just love the adjustable font size feature on the e reader.

[Leon]

This reminded me of a blog post I wrote in February: Paper or eBook

I went back and added a survey.

Leon

[Kat]

I work with young children on literacy skills, and if you'd asked me before March of last year I would've said print only, as it gutted me to walk into classrooms and see kids' faces buried in iPads for reading time. I could only think back to my childhood and the joy of holding actual books in my hands. I still love that feeling. However, when the pandemic shifted everything to online learning and shut down our local library, I was forced to start getting reading material online. Boy, did that create a monster. Suddenly I could highlight and take notes and read at night without fussing with a book light. It really did spoil me. I'll still always love a print book (preferably large print), but I'd say I read e-books about half of the time now. I haven't tried audio-books yet, but I'm sure that will come eventually.

[Leena]

I agreee Kat , e books have spoilt me too. I love the we can increase font size and change the background colour to suit our eyes. And its so much easier to lug around 100 books at any time. Clean up time is also zero. :)

[Kat]

Definitely, Leena. Each year, that increased font size is more and more helpful, and my muscles certainly appreciate having less to carry as well. :)

[Zara]

For me i love print books because you develop a sort of connection with them. we can pet real books lol ☺️

[Khushboo]

Audio: perfect NO [not my type]
E-books: Good :)
Printed books: Fantastic >~< :)
Free books : HEAVEN!!! ;)

[dev]

The form of book that I like the most is print books, because it feels good to be able to touch the pages and smell the scent of the paper lol, but I also like the practicality of ebooks, and it reduces paper usage too!
Personally I use audiobooks as a complement, especially when I am finding a hard time to read, so I will read either a printed book or an ebook alongside the audiobook

[Mike]

I read print books if I'm reading at home.If I'm travelling I read Ebooks because its less weight on your bag.I don't like audiobooks because they are to slow and sometimes you forget what's going on so you have to listen to the previous chapter.

[Anna]

I love all three.

Audio books are great at night time. I can have a bedtime story and drop off but it doesn't matter because I can pick up on it the following night.

Print books are special - to be cherished.

Kindles are wonderful as they are so convenient. If I'm going on holiday, I don't want to pack paperbacks as they are heavy and take up room, so my Kindle is like taking a little library around with me.

Horses for courses. Aren't we lucky?

[Reading]

Print books first but if they're hard to come by, I'll get the e-book.

[BLynne]

I read print books and do some audio books. Due to issue with my eyes I really can't read for very long on any electronic device. Which is fine with me. I like having my old books in my hands and reading them. Plus I just like the smell of old books.

[Mariia]

Ebooks are the most comfortable , as you can buy online. Paper book you feel the most, it's a presence of a book in your hands. About audio books for me - Victor Frankl, Dale Carnegie ( philosophers) .

[Verónica]

I only can read (comfortably) print books with natural light, so I read those during the day. I read e-books late in the day or at night. I listen to audiobooks in my car, while waiting or doing chores.

I find better to read deeper novels or more difficult non-fiction subjects on print, I like to move around easily between pages and make notes. I leave the lighter less complicated books for audio.

[Laura]

I love print books. And I love buying them and then stuffing my bookshelves with them, and then having to buy more bookshelves to hold all my books.

Audiobooks come in second, but weirdly I can't just sit still and listen to an audiobook like I can sit still and read a print book. I have to be washing dishes, driving, folding laundry, etc. Is anyone else like this??

eBooks are last. I have read them before and I totally get why so many readers love the format as it's so convenient! And actually when I was a new mom, I read a lot of books on my phone or Kindle while I was nursing my newborn. But right now, I'm all about print and/or audio.

[Lee]

I prefer certain genres as audiobooks, such as urban fantasy but romance & crime I still prefer to read actual books. This all started when I began listening to podcasts & driving a lot for work, then I discovered Stephen Fry's narration of the 'Harry Potter' and 'Sherlock Holmes' series. Once I realised could drive and 'read' simultaneously I began reading more than ever before! I listen whilst gardening, walking or driving (I even indulge in a sneaky listen at work sometimes). Using audible I can sample the books (the narrators voice can make or break a book, the characters really come to life) if you don't like them you can return the book. I tend to buy and keep all my favourite books, only now I have 2 different types of libraries and one is with me at all times captured in my phone. Life is good.

[Liza]

I was a hardcore print books person for all my life. After I read Fahrenheit 451 I used to have a fear that I would age into a world without physical books anymore. the plot twist is that I got a Kobo in May and I. LOVE. IT. I read so much better now. I can read more, and I seem to retain information better. I find that strange since I did see a few studies saying there is a marginal difference in retention/comprehension between reading on paper and on ereaders due to haptic feedback. But I can't attest to that. I also love that I don't have to worry about damaging books by bringing them anywhere, and it's much lighter.

[R.S.]

I've got shelves and boxes full of print books. My problem with them is when I go to reread them I can;t find some of the ones in the series etc... E-Books makes that easy. By the pool = Paperback for sure. Kindle App on an iPad is my favorite E-Book reader.

Audio Books are PERFECT for long car dies.

[Hadassah]

when it comes to ebooks and printed books, I like both because it all depends on what books I have on my shelf, if I don't own a book, I'll check out the ebook on Libby. when it comes to audio books, it depends on who the narrator is for example, I like Jim Dale and Lorelei King.