Audiobooks discussion
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Do You Think Listening to a Book is Cheating?
i agree i don't see it as cheating at all. i love to listen while i drive, it makes errands a whole lot more fun!
Some people are very attached to books as the delivery method, you can see this with the disdain ebooks are treated by some people. I'm a reader, I like the content, the delivery method isn't so important except for what I fancy at that moment or which is more convenient.
Due to injuries received while in combat, listening is the only way I can get through some books now. I do not consider it cheating at all, I find it necessary.
I don't consider it cheating, but I always feel like I am fibbing a little bit when I say "I read that" when I actually listened to it.
It just makes it possible for me to read more books. And, that's a great gift.
Scott - great so much is available for youHeidi - as long as unabridged no reason to feel that way
Barbara - agreed
My Thoughts....Would the person saying that listening to a book is not reading if they were blind?
I personally feel that listening to an audio book is no different than using any other tool of technology.
Scott- thank you for your service & sacrifice to our country. We're an active duty family ourselves.I don't think it's cheating but I do find myself frustrated that it leaves me trying to figure out how to spell something if I'm writing about the book after listening to it. I honestly think it can add a lot to the reading and allows me to get through some books I'd struggle to finish if reading the print version. Julie Andrew' autobiography is stunning on audio, includes small snippets of actual performance recordings of her early roles. Bill Bryon adds an amazing level of depth to his writings, I think. And I really enjoyed Eat, Pray, Love also narrated by the author. The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency by Andrew McCall Smith, narrated by Lisette Lecaw (I think, sorry if I misspelled her last name) is amazing & I would NEVER get the names or pronunciations right if reading in print.
As much as I have to concentrate when listening to an audiobook I'm going to say NO!I especially like listening to classics on audio since sometimes reading the language can be annoying.
As a teacher, I struggle with this. If my students listen to a book, I like for them to read along with it. However, that's because they are still learning to read.I always feel funny when I say that I "read" a book when I listened to the book. However, I wouldn't get near the reading done anymore if I didn't listen. I'm tired at night, and my eyes are tired, and I just can't physically read - or I fall asleep. And I love to read!
Liz --I would probably never have read (and enjoyed!) Dickens, Trollope, etc. without (unabridged) audiobooks.
I know what you mean about people scoffing at the mere IDEA of listening to an audiobook... *rolls her eyes* I get more out of books by listening to them than by reading them, as I tend to skim while read-reading. Plus, I feel so lazy (*cough* sometimes) just sitting around the house reading a book. With audiobooks, I can listen while cleaning or cooking... and that makes me feel much more productive.Plus, there are books I've really enjoyed that I KNOW I wouldn't have been able to get through (or pronounce words in) without the audio. The Count of Monte Cristo comes to mind. I never would have made it through all 1276 pages of that sucker (or been able to pronounce all those French words) if it hadn't been an audiobook! 35 discs/42 hours, baby! You can't tell me that doesn't count...
Hooray for you Sara! 35 discs/42 hours - I'm impressed, girlfriend! I remember listening to The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. It was something like 15 discs, and I thought I would listen to it and simultaneously get a lot done around the house. Instead I found myself sitting on the floor, mesmerized by the story and doing nothing but listening and staring at the wall for hours. So much for multi-tasking!
Hahaha... I've done that, too... :) Da Vinci Code was the last one... I own a paper copy of it, and I'd pause the audio and study the little crypto-whatevers and try to decode them... ;) The writing was just SO SO SO formulaic, but I couldn't put the dang thing down... or in audio-speak, I listened to all 13 discs it in two sittings (I started too late and had to sleep in the middle)... I don't want you to think I'm ALWAYS productive while listening. Sometimes I sit around a crochet or cross-stitch... I need SOMETHING to keep my hands busy, as I have a lot of energy. (Or I normally do... Apparently that energy is totally zapped when I'm pregnant... All I want to do is sleep lately...)
Yeah, Count of Monte Cristo was a road trip book... 24 hours each way from here to Las Vegas. (This summer — our first vacation since we got married 6 years ago...) It was the only long-enough book my husband and I could agree on... :) There are some slow parts, and we didn't listen the WHOLE way, so I had like 7 or so discs left when we got back, but I finished those quickly enough.
The only time I consider it different is when someone is looking for recommendations and asks if I've read a particular book. An audiobook narrator plays such a huge part in the experience that I'm never totally sure if I actually like the story or just the performance.
Sara ♥ wrote: "Hahaha... I've done that, too... :) Da Vinci Code was the last one... I own a paper copy of it, and I'd pause the audio and study the little crypto-whatevers and try to decode them... ;) The wri..."I did the same thing with the Da Vinci Code. I was finishing it at the end of a 6 hour road trip and just sat in the parking lot of the hotel for an hour just to hear the ending.
Steve - I agree with you completely. Some narrators absolutely make the reading experience more enjoyable (or sometimes worse). I usually qualify my audio recommendations by mentioning the effect of the narrator.
John wrote: "Liz --I would probably never have read (and enjoyed!) Dickens, Trollope, etc. without (unabridged) audiobooks."
So you know what I'm saying. I would have never been able to read "A Tale of Two Cities". It was a good story, but I would have pulled out my hair!
Several hundred pages of Victorian prose sitting in front of me - can you say: daunting?One of my first audiobooks was "House of the Seven Gables"; I read that with movies and TV modern readers need visual stimulation, so couldn't get into such a mood-centered book, but having it read to me with a great narrator (Nadia May?) was terrific!
It also depends on the reason for reading. When I read fiction, images are formed in my mind that are very relaxing to my brain. That's the main reason I read fiction. I get the same brain relaxation when I listen to a fiction book. So to me it isn't cheating in the least. Proceesing words with hearing is work for your mind just like processing with your eyes.Like the others, it is an excellent way to go through the old classics. They really come to life.
I travel with my job & have 2 small kids at home so "reading" audiobooks is the only way I can get my book fix!!! My librarian knows me by name & I find it makes me look forward to long trips on the road rather than dread it!
I am constantly in my car and rarely have time to sit still and read. If it wasn't for audio books, I'd only get to read about two books a year.I also really enjoy getting to hear the words when people speak in a different language. Some words while I'm reading a book are impossible to figure out how to pronounce (Gaelic anyone?!) but hearing a narrator pronounce them is very helpful.
So, no. Listening is not cheating. It's very enlightening! :-)
I know many folks are new so if you want to read more on this topic, we discussed it back in 2007. If you want to read what folks had to say back then, click here.
Recently, Lars Gutherie (http://www.lars4learning.com/whats_new) posted a short article on "The Case for Listening" on his website. Although Lars' article focuses on children, I think his perspective on the reading/thinking/visualizing process might add something to the discussion. Totally resonated with me.
Diane, the topic "listening to a Book is Cheating" have been up for discussion by so many snot faced self righteous members in others groups that, ... Well, just don't let it get to you too ... Thanks for the re-post Grumpus. Vow, that was just over 2 years ago! Now my audiobooks are beaming from a phone in my ear! Another 2 years? I can't imagine.
"Cheating" implies that there are rules or promises being broken. I never promised anyone that I would only ever read books and not listen to them being read. (And in fact, my father loved reading to me when I was a child, not only when I was too young to read but also when I was older, so that has always been an important part of my literary experience.)
As for rules, I'm not in a class that has a rule any written material has to be read and not listened to. Also when I listen to books I'm not trying to impress anyone who might be unimpressed if I listened to a book instead of reading it. So I'm not breaking any rules by listening to books.
If the "cheating" argument comes out of concern that listening to audiobooks might weaken a person's reading skills -- well, my audiobook listening has improved my reading skills. I used to gulp books when I read them and found it difficult to read carefully even when the language was beautiful. Audiobooks have to be taken in at the pace of the narrator, so I learned not to rush, and I was able to apply that to reading too. (I still sometimes gulp them, but I now make a conscious choice which reading mode to apply.)
Pronounciation, accents and a talented reader are some of the reasons I prefer audio to print--and listening engages my imagination just like reading. I've also found some genres lend themselves well to audio: biographies, nonfiction and anything with a strong or linear story line. On the other hand, writing that is structured unconventionaly is frustrating for me on audio.
According to the schools my daughter has attended, studies have show that reading aloud to your children improves their reading skills. At picture book age, my daughter followed along but as we advanced to chapter books, she just listened. She was always ahead of the class in reading even though she was a foster child with emotional problems and delays and was behind in almost everything else.I think that as long as kids read either to themselves or out loud to you in addition to listening to books on tape, it's a good good thing. It's 100 times better than t.v. It's as important to hear words pronounced out loud as to see them in print in order to understand what you are reading.
As for adults, an abridged book might be "cheating" if there is such a thing for a non-game, but listening to audiobooks has allowed me to make use of more time to read such as when I'm cleaning or working on a project or knitting.
Stephen King wholeheartedly supports audiobooks and says his family used to make home audiobooks before they were so readily available.
Great thread, everyone. I got hooked on audiobooks when I was in college because my room-mate was blind. At the time there were few unabridged recordings available (abridgements ARE cheating). I was able to have access to unabridged audiobooks from the library of congress. Now, unabridged books are more widely available, yet I still get some funny looks from people when I say I "read such-and-such as an audiobook". Keep faith alive everyone!
I find it easier to say "I listened to XYZ on audio", which seems to get around the block some folks have on the subject.
You're right, John, I should say that. I guess it's a semantic issue. "Reading" is regarded as an active exercise while "listening" more passive (which is far from the truth).
I love audiobooks and, as someone who works for the library, it's easy for me to pick a fresh one when I need one.I find them great for the bus to work, when I'm not awake enough to read,
or at home in the evenings, when I'm too tired.
My friend and I love curling up listening to a book rather than watching a DVD, as it's less passive: you have to be more involved with your imagination.
When I recommend audios to parents and teachers I often get that listening is not "real reading." I have to make the case for the potential to improve vocabulary, comprehension, visualization, imagination, etc. And who doesn't love being read to, especially with expressive characters.
It's my favourite way to meet new authors. Also, I do a lot of craft projects and love listening to a good story while creating. Dame Christie is my favourite. I do not feel guilty when I listen to a book, though I love reading, it's too great a distraction. I can multi-task, do dishes, laundry or go for a nice long walk. I only read an actual paper book if I have time for a nice soak in the tub or a long trip in the car, being chauffeured of course.
My mom is a believer in "audio books are cheating." Her and I often discuss what books we are currently reading. When I make a comment that I listened to a great book, she almost always makes a face. But, as a kid, I remember how much I loved being read to by her. And - since my commute to work is an hour each way, it's the perfect way to pass the time while I'm driving home. It's my after work stress reliever. Some days I can't wait to get in the car to hear what's going to happen next to the main characters.
I definitely don't feel that audio books are cheating. I loved being read to as a child, and also when I was young my family often listened to a radio program called "Mystery Theatre" on the radio, especially when traveling at night. And my grandparetns (and parents when they were children) always listened to "stories" on the radio, before the advent of television. Audio books are the next best thing to those times. The last several years I was working I drove lots of miles for my job, and audio books were a godsend to pass the time, and help me stay more alert. I love audio books!!!
If that's "cheating", then are visually impaired folks "illiterate"?
Great question, John. I think people often don't stop and think about how limiting our assumptions can be.
Some people draw lines in the sand over the most ridiculous things. Calling audiobooks cheating is as ridiculous as calling reading with your eyes cheating. Or braille, or communicating by sign language. Fortunately, I haven't actually encountered anyone personally with this loony notion that audiobooks are illegitimate. We should save our guilt for genuine shortcomings. I say listen to your hearts content! :0)
I used to feel guilty listening to a book. Now I get much more done as I can multitask & I have the privilege of books from other languages read to me with out stumbling over pronunciations.
My son and I will read a book first because I feel it is really important to see what the author wrote first. Then we often listen to it on audiobook before even seeing it as a movie. The one good example of this is the Tale of Despereaux. All three formats were excellent and a strong favorite.
In some cases it is actually better to listen to the audio than read the print and focus on the all the editing problems (i.e. Twilight).
The way I see it, authors write stories not books. The book is a device that houses the story so that it can be saved and shared with others. People are very busy these days, but they still want their stories. As with most things, the devices used to house our stories will change to fit our lifestyles. If an author writes a good story, I want that story. It could be in a book, on a tape, carved in stone, or told by a fire; it's the same story.
I work as a Documentation Specialist, where I look at the written word all day. Once I get home, I just want to put my feet up, grab my knitting, and listen to a good story. If I have to read more stuff on a page when I get home from work, I might tear my eyeballs out. lol
I work as a Documentation Specialist, where I look at the written word all day. Once I get home, I just want to put my feet up, grab my knitting, and listen to a good story. If I have to read more stuff on a page when I get home from work, I might tear my eyeballs out. lol
I love books, the feel, smell and how when I am reading it is my time to relax and have new adventures and meet new friends (in the books). However, my life has become much more hectic. I now work full time, take classes for my Master's degree and spend time with my family. I discovered audiobooks to help make my new years resolution to exercise more become more fun. I have had a chance to enjoy more books than I have in years since I returned to school and the work force. Without audio books I would be lucky to get one book every so many months, now I am reading books every day with my workout routine, and while driving too and from work. I do not think it is cheating, I wish I had thought to listen before.
Listening to an audio book is no more cheating than watching a movie instead of going to a play or musical. The same for books that are turned into a movie.
Vicki wrote: "Listening to an audio book is no more cheating than watching a movie instead of going to a play or musical. The same for books that are turned into a movie."Doesn't it seem like there are people in the world who are perpetually bitter that somewhere, at any given time, someone may be having fun.
I actually think it's different. I think live theater is a different art form than the movie and I think kids need to be exposed to both. If a movie uses the exact language of the play then it can be a similar experience but it is very rare that they do.
Kelly wrote: "I actually think it's different. I think live theater is a different art form than the movie and I think kids need to be exposed to both. If a movie uses the exact language of the play then it can ..."I guess I did not make my point clear. I was talking about a book being made into a play or movie or audio book. At least with an audio book you still have the original words.
The Story of the Trapp Family Singers and the Sound of Music (Movie or Play) are totally different. All are entertaining but different. I would rather listen to 10 hours of the authors words than see 2 or 3 hours of the parts of a book that someone decides to use as a movie or play. I do not read or listen to abridged books for the same reason.
I thought you were making a positive comparison. My bad. I forgot I read the Trapp family book. It definitely was very different and quite delicious but very different from the equally delicious movie.
I am listening to my first audio book - nelson mandela's long walk to freedom, and the first thing I have noticed is that it is full of African words and names, that I would have no idea how to pronounce if I was reading. I think it enhances the "reading" experience.
Audiobooks
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Earthly Pleasures (other topics)
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