Do people who actually listen to audiobooks get the same understanding and experience as people who read the book?
If you are listening to an audiobook and doing any other activity, your attention is split. Even when I am reading, my attention can wander, but I can easily just re-read the last few lines. But for people who are listening to an audiobook and driving somewhere, or doing chores..or even gaming..there is no way that you are actually getting the full experience when listening, are you?
Or do people listen to audiobooks and do nothing else? Just sit back and listen? That would make far more sense to me, and the only way I can understand someone following a story via audiobook.
Maybe it is just me! But if I am doing one thing, and listening to a show or podcast in the background, I can hear what is happening, but I don’t really take it in. It just sort of washes over me. I can’t even imagine how I would listen to a story with a range of characters. Following along with a complex story that might be tens of hours of listening seems utterly impossible.
by kittensyay
8 Comments
I mostly listen to audio books while I’m on my way home (train or bus). I just look out the window and do nothing else. When I catch myself not listening because I thought about something, I go a few minutes back.
I do enjoy audio books but I prefer reading. Audibooks never made me feel the intense emotions as books do (:
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As with all things, paying attention to a story told to you over thirty hours or whatever takes practice, like all other consumption of media does. You’re just not used to it.
But no, in my opinion it is not the same experience.
My mind isn’t so split that I can’t concentrate on what’s happening in the story. I’m not dedicating a significant amount of brain power to walking to work, vacuuming the apartment or chopping vegetables for lunch. I can follow a story perfectly fine while doing those things.
I wouldn’t listen while playing games or driving though.
>If you are listening to an audiobook and doing any other activity, your attention is split.
Do you stop breathing when you read? Some activities are automatic or brain dead. Going for a walk or washing dishes requires barely any thinking.
Unsurprisingly people are all different. I focus less while physically reading, my mind wants to skim as that’s how information is often digested now. Audiobooks force me to slow down and process, hear each word, the fact that I can do mindless other tasks like dishes, showers, walks, etc is a bonus.
For me it depends a lot on the narrator. I’ve switched from listening to audiobook to reading, because the narrator was ruining the experience for me.
And yes, sometimes I get distracted, but I just go back and re-listen to the part I missed.
Listen to the narrator of crime and punishment, absolutely, brilliant narration even if you’re not into Russian literature. Definitely depends on the right combination of book to narrator.
I can listen to an audiobook while driving long distance and get the same experience. I know because I’ve done it a lot. Cooking too. Or gardening.
Some other activities I only listen to books that I’ve already read.