Just realized I was wrong about audiobooks

Always thought audiobooks were cheating. Not real reading. But I drive 45 minutes each way to work in Phoenix traffic. Got sick of podcasts. Tried "Project Hail Mary" on a whim. Finished it in 4 days. Actually retained more than some books I read physical. The narrator added voices and emotion. Made the story stick. Anyone else find audiobooks work better for certain genres?

3 comments

3 Comments

ward.jamie1mo ago

Wait, are you saying I was wrong about audiobooks too?

hayden_craig951mo ago

Nah, I get where you're coming from but I have to disagree a little. Audiobooks are definitely reading, but they're a different experience compared to holding a book in your hands. For me, fiction with a lot of dialogue or atmospheric stuff works great in audio, but anything with dense info or tables just doesn't click the same way. Project Hail Mary is a solid pick though, the narrator really does carry that story hard. I still think physical books force me to slow down and think more, but that's just how my brain works.

taraross1mo agoTop Commenter

Right? That's exactly how I feel too. @hayden_craig95, you put it way better than I could. For me, a thriller or a fun memoir is perfect for audio because you can zone out a bit. But I tried listening to a book about the history of the Roman Empire and I kept having to rewind because my brain just drifted. Physical books definitely make me stop and chew on things more.