Audiobook listenership is growing. Since the first book recorded in 1932 for the visually impaired, audiobooks have grown to be the most accessible form of ‘reading’ we can insert anytime during our day.
But should you listen to audiobooks over old-fashioned reading? Does it matter in the first place?
While convenience and availability play a major part in your choice, research shows that there is no significant difference in comprehension between listening to a book and reading. Both readers and listeners take in and retain about an equal amount of vital information – proving that both forms still involve the same mental processes.
Audiobooks, however, are a more powerful storytelling tool than traditional books. While the narrator of the book has a tremendous impact on how enjoyable the experience would be, audiobooks help us connect and take comfort in the ingrained, ancient ritual of reading stories aloud.
They also offer companionship after a long day. You can catch up on your favorite books over a cup of tea even with your eyes closed.
Children, perhaps, have the most to gain from audiobooks. In a review on Audiobooks and Literacy by the National Literary Trust, they found evidence that audiobooks have the potential to support a child’s emotional intelligence. It can unlock a child’s love of reading and deepen their understanding of tone, pronunciation, accents, and dialects.
New to audiobooks? We recommend giving the Audible Plus free 30-day trial a go. It offers unlimited access to a catalogue with over 68,000 hours of content and 11,000+ titles of Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts that span genres, lengths and formats.
Shafeeka Hafeez
Shafeeka Hafeez grew up escaping into a world of books where she discovered a love for writing and a fascination with trees. When she’s not taking up a new marketing skill, or typing out a blog post, you can find her Googling the best therapy for abandoned cats.
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