Is Audio Really The Future Of The Book?

[Grumpus, Hearing aide]

I thought I had a folder for Audiobook news, but was unable to locate it. So, here is a new one where we can share news items related to audiobooks

http://daily.jstor.org/the-future-of-...

[Jenn]

I wouldn't really say so. Ebooks haven't replaced print books, and I don't see audio replacing them both. They'll probably all just co-exist like they do now, with one of the other being more popular at any given time.

And to whoever calls audio 'a lazy man's way of reading', >:P

[Margaret]

Thank you, Grumpus. Interesting article. I first tried audiobooks in the late 1990s when temporarily inoperable cataracts made reading too difficult. Barbara Rosenblatt, Simon Preble, George Guidall, and other narrators soon convinced me that they could make a good story even better.
At my excellent public library one now waits longer for a newish e-book or audio than for the paper version.

[Mara]

I love AUDIOBOOKS!!!!! I can play on my computer while I listen to a book or listen while I make dinner, or just tidying up my apt.

[Jennifer]

Audiobooks have transformed my reading experience. Quite simply, I would not be reading for pleasure without them, and I find myself increasingly using text-to-speech (not the same thing, I know!) in my professional life.

[Ryan]

I still read, but the best thing about audiobooks is being able to multitask. While reading a book, you cannot do anything else. But with audiobooks, you can listen while cleaning or working. I have a job where I can listen to audiobooks while I work. If I got caught reading an actual book at work, I'd get fired! Haha.

[Jody]

The majority of books I have read this year have been audio. You can listen while driving, doing chores, etc. I even listen while the family is watching some TV I don't care for, allowing me to be with them but not tortured by bad TV!

[Leslie D.]

I have Chronic Migraine disease, and audiobooks are my sanity/lifeline, etc. sometimes!!!

[Margo]

Poor you Leslie, that's nasty. I believe, and hope, that there'll always be a place for printed books. Like Leslie however, audio keeps me sane (mostly !). I became severely dyslexic 12 years ago and would have a much lower quality of life without the recent surge in popularity. Whispersyn is the icing on the cake:-)

[Robin P]

My husband said there was something on NPR today about audiobooks. I assume it was coverage of the book Grumpus links to above. I wonder if there will be an audiobook of it!

[Chrissie]

Leslie wrote: "I have Chronic Migraine disease, and audiobooks are my sanity/lifeline, etc. sometimes!!!"

I am sorry to hear of you illness!

Audiobooks are wonderful for those of us who have poor vision, like me.

[Specs]

Terrible Leslie, and what a good thing audiobooks are!

Audiobooks & vision: a few weeks ago I had my eyes checked and the we talked about giving your eyes a rest.
The optometrist said that a lot of people, after walking/running/standing all day, put their feet up and think that is normal - but after using their eyes all day they expect the eyes to keep on functioning all evening long without giving them a rest.

I told him I used audiobooks a lot and often give my eyes a rest, closing them (and not reading in bed but listening). He was the opinion a lot more people should do this :)

[Jeanie]

Rx: audiobooks... I can follow those doctor's orders!

[Linda]

Great article, Grumpus. Thanks for sharing :)

[[deleted user]]

I love both, I love reading and I love being able to listen while I do other things. I still though prefer a good old fashioned book to hold and press flowers in and smell though.

[Mirkat]

I like that the article closes with the idea that audiobooks are, in a way, coming full circle to the oral tradition. At one time, there was lamenting and hand-wringing about print culture displacing the oral tradition. But I really think they can (and do) happily co-exist. I do a lot of running, and I listen to audiobooks if I'm running alone. Often, I also download the ebook or pick up a print copy from my library, because there are times I want to review something I just listened to. And I still enjoy reading books in text form when I have the time to sit down and do so.

[Jennifer]

Indeed. I always obtain the companion e-book and follow along with that.

[Terrence]

If it's the future, I hope they get more international authors on board, specifically narrations for Japanese books.

A few light novels released this past year, but that seems to be a one off since even later books in those series haven't gotten audiobook announcements. I feel like Audible should have at least one Ryu Murakami book too.

[Chrissie]

Terrence wrote: "If it's the future, I hope they get more international authors on board..."

I certainly agree with you. Spanish, German, Italian, French and Portuguese too!!!!!! I have been unable to get a single audiobook by Günter Grass, Herta Müller...... Shouldn't Nobel Prize authors, etc, etc be turned into audiobooks too?!