Audible.com books on tape
 

For the most part, my iPod listening habits are mostly limited to CDs, concerts, and the like, with the exception of a few very good podcasts/regular radio programs (This American Life most notably amongst them). I have also downloaded a few programs on guided meditation to help me learn/focus on the process of meditation a bit, but beyond that, have never really delved into the books-on-tape market.

A few months ago (after I purchased a membership and some points), This American Life decided to start releasing their own independent free podcasts and not limiting all of their shows to paid subscriptions on Audible.com. This has left me with a surplus of points, and yet a strange reluctance to actually buying audiobooks on tape.

I've got a few books I've been thinking about buying (right now, Wikinomics is probably the highest on the list) and I'm wondering if anyone has gotten accustomed to the books on tape format for actual publications. I feel like I'd zone out a lot listening to someone, depending on what else I were doing, but really can't judge for sure -- so I'm looking for recommendations or warnings. Either way is great.

Rob

Re: Audible.com books on tape
 

My quick thoughts on this topic:

1) I don't know if I could focus without having to physically hold the book and actively read. I could easily see getting on a subway and zoning out for 20 minutes then suddenly realizing I have no idea wtf is going on in the book. There's a strong association between listening to my ipod and relaxing.

2) There is some degree of a social coolness factor associated with having a physical book.

3) I would be a lot less inclined to listen to a couple minutes of the audiobook while I'm taking a crap than I would be to read the actual book.

Re: Audible.com books on tape
 

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2) There is some degree of a social coolness factor associated with having a physical book.



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Really? I must be the coolest person in the whole universe then.

Rob, I'm a big reader, and thus the thoughts of audio books grate with me a little. It seems like you're being spoon-fed in a way. That's just my little excuse for not having anything to recommend to you.

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2) There is some degree of a social coolness factor associated with having a physical book.



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Really? I must be the coolest person in the whole universe then.



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There's definitely some regional element to this. Damn New York City hipsters!

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2) There is some degree of a social coolness factor associated with having a physical book.



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Really? I must be the coolest person in the whole universe then.

Rob, I'm a big reader, and thus the thoughts of audio books grate with me a little. It seems like you're being spoon-fed in a way. That's just my little excuse for not having anything to recommend to you.

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Yeah, it's difficult because I expect a lot of the posts to be like yours/Evans, which is exactly how I feel about audiobooks right now, but I'm kinda hoping that someone who used to feel this way actually gave them a try (I'm guessing you haven't and I know Evan hasn't) and then found them to be great or whatever.

Rob

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2) There is some degree of a social coolness factor associated with having a physical book.



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Really? I must be the coolest person in the whole universe then.

Rob, I'm a big reader, and thus the thoughts of audio books grate with me a little. It seems like you're being spoon-fed in a way. That's just my little excuse for not having anything to recommend to you.

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Yeah, it's difficult because I expect a lot of the posts to be like yours/Evans, which is exactly how I feel about audiobooks right now, but I'm kinda hoping that someone who used to feel this way actually gave them a try (I'm guessing you haven't and I know Evan hasn't) and then found them to be great or whatever.

Rob

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Well, you're using points, so they're for the most part free. Why not dip your toe in yourself and then get back to us with a trip report? Maybe it could be interesting playing online while "reading" a book.

Re: Audible.com books on tape
 

My mom reads more books than anyone I know. Growing up we had several floor to ceiling bookshelves all filled with books, and boxes of books that would fit on the full shelves. My mom didnt take us to the park to play, she took us to the used bookstore or to the library. So needless to say, my mom LOVES books.

My mom found out about this ipod thingy and decided to get one so she could listen to some CDs at work. My mom isnt all that into music tho, and decided to give some books on tape a try. She was very hesitant about it, because like I said she LOVES books, and the thought of listening to one kinda seemed "dirty" to her, like it would cheapen the experience. That and she figured she wouldnt like it because she loves to read so much. And I think also maybe cuz she was a little worried she might like it, which would be bad because then she wouldnt read so much. But mostly yeah, cuz books are cool and audio books arent.

Anyway, she gave it a go, and now she absolutely loves it. She can listen to books at work, books in her car, books wherever she wants. She can listen to books places she cant read a book. Now along with a house full of bookshelves and books, shes got a hard drive crammed full of books on MP3.

So yeah, I say give it a shot. I've listened to a couple. And its really not bad. Its much easier to get into than I thought and my mind didnt really wander anymore than it will wander while im actually reading a book. I listened to the harry potter books when I took a long road trip, and I wont ever do a long drive down the highway again without a book on tape, it really makes the miles go by quicker.

According to my mom really the only downside is the person who reads the book. Some people can just ruin a book, and there are some books she wont get because they are read by a certain person. Also some books on tape are abridged so make sure you watch out for that.

Anyway, dont really know the point of my post as Im not providing much in the way of first hand experience, but there you go.

Re: Audible.com books on tape
 

Psychologists and education experts have shown that people's comprehension *vastly* improves by reading information as opposed to listening to it. This is why lectures are far less efficient means of learning that textbook reading or active learning. The same is true of fictional books. By reading the text, you engage more with both the language and the story, and you can go at your own pace. Listening to a book on CD will be either frustratingly slow or annoyingly fast (when you miss a story point and can't easily go back).

So yeah, I think audio books are for the supremely lazy and will never be as satisfying or illuminating as poring over the words themselves.

Re: Audible.com books on tape
 

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1) I don't know if I could focus without having to physically hold the book and actively read. I could easily see getting on a subway and zoning out for 20 minutes then suddenly realizing I have no idea wtf is going on in the book. There's a strong association between listening to my ipod and relaxing.

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I have this problem with podcasts

Re: Audible.com books on tape
 

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Psychologists and education experts have shown that people's comprehension *vastly* improves by reading information as opposed to listening to it.

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this is definitely true of most people but not everyone learns best by reading as opposed to listening. I learn way better by hearing a lecture than I do reading. also, I will often forget what someone looks like but recognize them by the sound of their voice rather than their face.

Re: Audible.com books on tape
 

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Psychologists and education experts have shown that people's comprehension *vastly* improves by reading information as opposed to listening to it.

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this is definitely true of most people but not everyone learns best by reading as opposed to listening. I learn way better by hearing a lecture than I do reading. also, I will often forget what someone looks like but recognize them by the sound of their voice rather than their face.

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same.

Re: Audible.com books on tape
 

I've had audible for a couple of years now. And I also read a ton. My experience has been that I can't listen to textbook-type things on tape, but that novels are fine. Great for when working out or driving or doing mindless work -- if you don't spend much time doing this, I wouldn't bother with it.

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My experience has been that I can't listen to textbook-type things on tape, but that novels are fine.

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I've only used books-on-tape for entertaining novels on long trips. (And I mean the actual "Books On Tape" company. Anybody else remember the instructions on 'smacking the tape smartly against the dashboard'?)

On the other hand, my father uses Audible CONSTANTLY. He reads hard books, too. Lots of physics non-fiction. I'm surprised he can do it, but otherwise he'd have a long commute w/ nothing but NPR.
-Sam

Re: Audible.com books on tape
 

Rob,

I've been using audible for a few months now and I like it. I still read normal books as well, but it allows me to get through more books than I did before.

I would just try a few books and see which ones are good for you. There is a tendency to lose focus on the audio, but I have gotten better at it over time. You just should pay attention to those situations in which you are able to focus and those in which you are not and to the types of books that you can focus on.

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I wont ever do a long drive down the highway or commute again without a book on tape

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I wont ever do a long drive down the highway or commute again without a book on tape

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Cracker Barrel restaurants rent a wide selection of best sellers. You can rent it at one location and turn it in at any other location during your trip. I can’t remember the cost but I think it works out to maybe 3 or 4 bucks a week and they prorate the rental.

Great deal IMO and I read/heard a lot of books I would have never gotten around to otherwise.

GS

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I don't think I could pay enough attention to a book on tape, but I love the teaching company's Lectures on Tape. I don't like them for topics I've worked a lot with on my own, but they are awesome as an introduction to stuff I don't know anything about. Can be pricy, though, and I'd probably only buy them on sale. Sales occur all the time.

Re: Audible.com books on tape
 

Around 700 B.C. a new technology was emerging and the older generation did not like it at all:

"It will ruin the brain, " they said.

"Memory will go to rot," they said.

A blind bard with neither the ability to read or write had composed in his head two novel length works of amazing complexity of form and content. So great was the acheivement that later poets turned to other genres: they did not think they could compete with his epics. Folks listened to the work and memorized it, word for word.

These same folks screamed foul when this new technology emerged: "it will ruin the brain;" "memory will go to rot;" "no one will hear the beauty of the words," they cried.

Re: Audible.com books on tape
 

Phil Gordon's Little Green Book: Lessons and Teachings in No Limit Texas Hold'em. Is the only book on tape, actually CD I've purchased. I listened to it like 15 times while driving. Recommended +++

Re: Audible.com books on tape
 

I love audible. I've listened to TONS of books. It is excellent in the car. I like to use it when I am lifting weights (for some reason I don't like it if I am running). If I get really into a book, I'll end up laying around the house finishing it.

I can't really surf the web or play poker while I listen, I don't comprehend what is being said.

If I am listening intently, I would say my comprehension is only slightly worse than if I were reading the book myself. More technical books are a little more difficult.


Best part: I can listen while doing mundane stuff that is normally very boring. Increased productivity!


Bottom line: its worth checking out at least.