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Should Audio Books be Counted as Read?
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Sue
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Dec 18, 2016 06:01AM
Since we are coming towards the end of the year, I wonder what people's thoughts are with including Audio books in my list of read books for the year. Since I didn't really read them, I feel like I would be cheating by listing them. These little unimportant questions are the ones that keep me up at night.
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I think they count, you still absorb the same information word for word and picture the scenes in your own interpretation. I would say that only unabridged books should count however, abridged audiobooks are edited like tv shows and films, leaving out a lot of the character building elements of the story.
I agree with Jack - unabridged only. I put an asterisk by the title because after a few years you can't remember if they were read or listened to. Sometimes I feel I remember the plot and details of audio more than print.
I count them. It actually takes longer to listen to an audiobook than to read the book! It's a different way of "reading" for sure, but still reading in my eyes.
Yes! And I used to think no...but then I consumed my first and changed my mind-the book is still getting into your brain, just in a different way. But I still can't bring myself to say I read it. To me, reading is what I do with my eyes. I still count audios toward my yearly book stats. Also agree re abridged books. In fact, I just returned an audiobook I downloaded via Scribd (Chernow's Alexander Hamilton) because I realized it was an abridged version.
I have never solely listened to an audiobook, I tend to jump back and forth between listening to an audiobook and reading a physical book. Though I have only listened to 3 audiobooks so far. I do think they count. I would personally never be able to do other things when listening to an audiobook. This is why I tend to listen when I go on long walks. If I am focussed on other things I miss the story line. So I am equally focused on hearing the book as I would be reading it.
In fact some suggest that it requires critical listening skills that many people lack, so in effect this is building a worthwhile skill in the process!!
I would count audiobooks in my yearly total but rarely listen to them.Even if I am walking or doing chores my mind wanders and I 'lose' half the story.
The only time I listened a lot was when I was bookkeeping from home. Typing out receipts, invoices and reconciliations can be pretty routine and boring but require a certain amount of concentration so I used audio books to keep the creative half of my brain occupied. Even so I still feel something is lacking from the 'reading' experience.
I agree with almost everything already stated.1. I used to think no until I started actually listening to them.
2. It does indeed take longer to listen to a book than to read it and I sometimes catch more from listening than I do from reading.
3. Sometimes I do a read/listen combo, and sometimes I have to refer to printed book to clarify certain words, see how something is spelled, etc.
4. I can only listen when my mind is clear. Since I do most my listening in the car, this sometimes mean I have to rewind because some awful person has done something stupid in traffic and I have to take time to swear at them.
5. Not only would I only count unabridged books, I won't even consider listening to unabridged books.
Yes, I count them. I always listen to the samples before I buy them though. A narrator can make or break a book for me. In some cases, I have enjoyed the audio far more than the printed version. But in all cases it's unabridged books only.
My favorite experience is the Audible with Whyspersync for voice for your iPhone or iPad through the Kindle or iTunes app! This way I can silently read if I want or I can listen and follow along with a great reader who does voices . The app allows you to underline favorite quotes, look up words or facts online , or translate words. You can take notes and anything like that which may help you in writing a good review later. I really love it when I read an English , Irish, Norwegian, French or Russian novel and the narrator has the accent ! It makes for a very exciting story ! I also love to escape to different countries that way !
Audiables with Whispersync is really the best way to go and most books have this technology right now. One problem I have is that I am a true bibliophile ! I spend to much on books . If I read a book I really like , I have to have the hard copy and I always buy a hard signed edition when I go to author readings !
Audiables does have a great book club along with Amazon Prime and I use it . My hard copy books I by from my local indie bookstore because I am very loyal to them !
Every year with Audiables you start with 12 free points for 12 books . Each month you can buy 3 points for less than 1 book . Now that is a deal ... TRY IT YOU MIGHT LIKE IT !
Dawn
They count if you want them to count!I don’t generally do audio for all the reasons above. Also, I do not have a long commute to work, so listening to various podcasts takes up most of my drive time. In the rare cases when I do have an audio book downloaded from the library, like Robin, I like to use it in conjunction with reading a physical copy.
And I also agree with Dawn that a good narrator can really make an audio book a fantastic experience, particularly when accents are involved.
Thomas wrote: "I agree with almost everything already stated.1. I used to think no until I started actually listening to them.
2. It does indeed take longer to listen to a book than to read it and I sometimes ca..."
Lol - and so true for me, too! ==> 4. I can only listen when my mind is clear. Since I do most my listening in the car, this sometimes mean I have to rewind because some awful person has done something stupid in traffic and I have to take time to swear at them.
