Reading or Listening--what's better?

[Matt]

I have a huge commute everyday so most of my reading time is listening to books on CD.

I am not sure what is better because there are so many advantages to both.

Personally, I love to listen to books because it does not allow me to cheat. I have to listen to every word and it makes it so I can't skip things like scene description (which I am usually remiss on)

Not to mention, they pronounce the name for me.

That being said, there is nothing that compares to those moments of my youth where I sat and read books for hours on end.

I was a sheltered and lonely child.

So what do you guys think?

[MonteGss]

I have recently begun listening to the DT series. I've only listened to one other book before that. Both of those books I had read before so I already knew the story. I like them both. I guess I prefer reading.
I wonder if my opinion would be the same if I listened to a new book instead of reading it first.

[Randall Flagg]

Should the poll options be:
Reading
Listening
Apples and oranges

The question was What's Better?

[Bethany]

I have a hard time processing verbal information at times so audio books and I are not the best of friends. I have found that once I have read a book I am able to listen and understand what is going on. So far the only books I've listened to have been written and read by Lewis Grizzard.

[Patrick]

Should the poll options be:
Reading
Listening
Apples and oranges

The question was What's Better?

Also, there should be a "different but equal" option, Matt. That'd get my vote.

[Patrick]

I am a member of audible.com and have moved away from cassettes and CDs. I download to my computer and iPod. I listen to a lot of audiobooks - it's a great way to pass the time during my commute. I also listen to audiobooks, rather than music, when I go running.

To state the obvious (to audiobook fans anyway), the audiobook experience depends on the book and reader combination. If a book is bad, it sucks whether you are looking at the page or listening to a voice. Also, just because someone is a good or great narrator, that doesn't mean they are perfect for every book - especially if it written in the first person.

Here are some of my impressions of a few books I've loved on audio..

I've got Lonesome Dove as read by Lee Horsley. I think he does a great job.

The actor Matt Dillon does an outstanding job reading On The Road by Jack Kerouac.

David Aaron Baker is the perfect reader for Koontz's Odd Thomas books. I can't, and don't want to, imagine anyone else reading them.

Ron Silver is great on Philip Roth's American Pastoral.

Bernadette Dunn is completely believable on Memoirs of a Geisha.

I'm convinced Paul Garcia really is Tender Branson in Chuck Palahniuk's Survivor.

Jeff Woodman reading Life of Pi is the boy.

George Guidall is a master, including performances on many of the Dark Tower books.

I could go on, but I won't. I would recommend checking out http://www.audible.com where you can read reviews of both the narrators and the books, and hear free soundbites.

For more in-depth discussion, I highly recommend http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/. This site, and the corresponding magazine they produce, is the most comprehensive place I've found to check out the audiobook industry.

[Hannah]

poll edited.

I voted reading. I am easily distracted, so audio books are a no-no. (although it would be nice to download something to my ipod to listen to while at work, while pretending to work.)

[Patrick]

Thanks for editing that, Hannah.


Audiobooks can take a little getting used to, but then you find you can get lost in 'em just as well as with the book in front of you. If you have a great book with the appropriate narrator, the experience is equal to or even surpasses having the written word in front of you. I've spent time aimlessly driving around near my destination because I wasn't ready to "put the book down." Likewise, I have sat in my car both in my driveway or in the parking lot at work for the same reason.

Personally, like Matt mentioned in his post above, I find that in some ways, audiobooks are more disciplined in that they ensure that I hear every word in a measured pace, as opposed to the times I read really fast and might not appreciate everything. They take longer to listen to than I would take reading the book myself, and quite honestly I consider that a compliment to the author that I am taking my time with his/her work, because God knows they spent a lot more writing it.

Just one listener's thoughts.

[Matt]

Sorry the poll was a fuck up, I was under pressure at work when I made it.

[sarah]

different but equal. I first like to read a book then on a re-read, i'll listen to it. Right now I'm listening to the wastelands and I love to hear Eddie's brooklyn accent. It's cracks me up much more than my own brooklyn voice in my head.


anyhoo...first comes the book then the audio, imo

[Hannah]

I'm going to have to try some audiobooks out after reading your endorsement, Patrick. I do have a pretty decently long drive to work (about 25-30 minutes) so I could get some serious "reading" done while driving to/from work.

[sarah]

oh my gosh, hannah you just totally gotta. check some out from your library so you can get started right away.

keep us posted

[ManOfWesternesse]

Well, I voted 'Reading', but now I gotta confess...
I've never listened to an Audiobook! - I'm a total luddite.

[Matt]

Its really quite fun for me but that's just because of that huge commute I have. If not for them, I would never have a chance to "read".

[Brice]

I prefer reading a book. I usually am reading several at the same time. Until a couple years ago I'd never listened to an uadiobook. Now, I've read a few and enjoyed them alot but, I think I'll always be partial to reading. I do like the few instances of SK reading his own stuff though. It's like he's sitting in the room telling you the story himself.


And I doubt I'd want to listen to one without having read the book first personally.

[John Blaze]

I have a hard time processing verbal information at times so audio books and I are not the best of friends.

this seems to be me too. i voted reading, matt.

[OchrisO]

I really enjoy some stuff in audio book format, but other stuff, sot so much. I greatly enjoy the audio versions of George R. R. Martin's books, and I tried several times to read some of the Shannara books by Terry Brookes unsuccessfuly, but I love them in audio format. I tried listening to The Dragonlance Chronicles in audio format, and couldn't stand it.

What I tend to do is read a book when I am home, and listen to an audio book while I am out on campus, at work, or driving.

[VolsToTheWall]

I voted for reading, but I've never actually listened to an audio book. I can also sometimes be easily distracted and have wandering thoughts, so that would be a problem. I would like to give audio books a try sometime. I can understand those of you with a long commute enjoying them, but I don't fall into that category, and usually when I'm on a long drive, I'm travelling with company, and usually with someone who wouldn't be interested in listening to an audio book.

[MonteGss]

Long drives to work suck. Roland and the ka-tet make mine better.

[Ruki]

i had to vote different but equal. listening to a story is a completely different experience from reading one, i love being able to do both. i usually try to listen to the audiobook as soon as i've finished reading a book, helps me catch all the little things i missed without having to spend extra time sitting still.

there's a cool interview with stephen king that talks about the advantages of audiobooks at the end of the audio version of bag of bones.

and the best audiobook i've ever listened to is hearts in atlantis read by william hurt and stephen king. it's really amazing, the way they read it makes the story even better than it was to start with.

[Matt]

I felt the same way about Frank Muller when he was reading books for SK

[tamez]

Its really quite fun for me but that's just because of that huge commute I have. If not for them, I would never have a chance to "read".

yep this is me
besides that, i'm dyslexic...
i don't let it stop me from reading
but, if i do that it takes me FOREVER to finish a book
which i don't mind but... i don't have that much time.
also, if you're listening to the book at home it frees
up your hands and eyes to do other things...
like... um, smoke and clean.
i listen to books on the way to work, on the walk with my dogs
going to sleep, washing dishes...
it makes everything more fun

also, if you say you have trouble processing
verbal information or you can't quite concentrate
well enough to get the story...
i've found that they are a very good exercize for
improving your concentration.
sure, i'll drift off and think about something else
but, i really want to know what's going on
so i force myself ...
it's great.

and listening to Stephen King read his own stories?
nothing beats that NOTHING

[Rjeso]

I gotta say, I've only listened to one audio book in my lifetime. I much prefer reading - I can go at my pace (faster than the audiobook readers go, sometimes their pace drives me up the wall), and it's much easier to go back and reread a passage again if I so desire. I like having a book in my hands, I like the smell of the ink, the crinkle of the glue as I open the book, etc. It's something that can't be replaced for me.

[Matt]

Oh yeah, nothing can ever replace that.

Audio books are like getting a really good burger to go but they will never be a t-bone.

But it does fill you up

[tamez]

I like having a book in my hands, I like the smell of the ink, the crinkle of the glue as I open the book, etc. It's something that can't be replaced for me.

I treasure books for their own value as well
but, i love having a nice new clean book
to look at that i haven't ruined by reading...
edit: no even that reading it "ruins" it.. i just like the book
to be pristine