Why Are Audiobooks Controversial in the Book Community?

Do audiobooks count as reading books? Let's settle this HEATED bookish debate once and for all! Today you'll be able to see all the arguments in favor and in against this statement, which I captured thanks to asking more than 1000 readers!

I hope that with this information you have enough to make the decision for yourself! Let me know what you think!

* February book club pick: Empire of Silence

[whoopy]

Definitely in the camp that an audiobook counts as reading. For the monthly book club I attend, I pretty much only use audiobooks because that's what I have time for, with a 45 minute drive to work. I am able to fully discuss and understand the book with the readers that had a physical copy with ease. The semantics of reading vs listening just feels like arguing for the sake of arguing about it.

Also, the video format of you politely arguing with yourself was a fun and pleasant watch. Love it 😁

[JungleOfMeat]

No it isnt. But its not a bad thing. You are listening to an audiobook. You're still absorbing the book you're just not physically reading it. If i listened to an audiobook id just say "i listened to that book through audiobook" simple as that

[Seven-of-Nine]

The difference between books and audiobooks is that with an audiobook you need to like not only book itself but also voice actor

[joeystett]

I need audiobooks because i'm dyslexic pretty badly, and I love huge chunky fantasy/science fiction stories. I can't even imagine trying to finish one of these, let alone a series. It takes me multiple minutes to make sure I read a page correctly. I love audiobooks and i'm beyond grateful for them, I always have one on.

[ultrasrifat]

We all are right. No one ia wrong. Just do whatever you enjoy

[misternegative]

I don’t think of listening to books as reading because it’s listening. It doesn’t make it not count as a book that you’ve finished. Reading and listening are two different skills. You still get the same story and that’s fine, but I think of reading as… reading letters and words. I do both pretty equally, normally finish an audiobook or two a week and a physical book a week. I love both. There’s no issue with listening to me, I just don’t see how it’s reading.

[kathleenwheeler]

Scientific studies have shown that the same part of your brain is engaged whether listening to a book or reading a book.

[MrTugwit]

If you're listening to a book (and not doing something else at the same time) it's easier to visualize what's going on in the book, than if you're reading it. I wonder how many authors dictate books with voice recognition software, or record what they say and hire someone to type it up? I suspect prolific writers like Brandon Sanderson do that. And it surely counts as "writing" the book 😄

[ShakiLis]

Listen to audiobook is not the same as reading a book. Because you are not reading at your own speed and reading word by word. Also, it doesn’t take away the fact that people who only do audiobooks are still bookworms or bookdragon whatever book fans wants to call themselves.I listen to true crime podcast does that considering me reading a book? No, because someone is telling me the story. I watch gamers play their games does that consider that I played it? Nope! Audiobook is someone telling you the story. And yes, I do listen to audiobooks not against it. Also, sometimes I listen and follow along. But hey is my opinion! 😊 Looking forward to more videos !

[wendyfairfull]

I’m so glad you brought up accessibility. ❤
I have severe nerve damage in my face, and as much as I love to hold a real book it’s just not feasible. I can’t spend very much time with the lights on bright enough to read.
Audiobooks have been a lifesaver for me.

[tabaluke]

Im actually of two minds about this, on the one hand I don't care how someone consumes a story, never have -maybe due to having listened to audiobooks myself all my life 😅
On the other hand, depending on my mood i can get annoyed when people say they've read a book when they've listened to the audiobook but thats a me problem, because I can also get annoyed when people are being pedantic.

Then there's audiobooks that are abridged in which case you really did not consume the (original) book. I actually listened to an abridged version of one of my favorite series and i plan on reading reading the actual ~1000 page books some day.

Bottom line: I dont care whether you listened to the book or read the actual letters as long as we can talk about the content😊

[rossstm]

I think the medium in which you consume a book is completely irrelevant. This debate has very much been about the pedantic debate about the specific meaning of reading. People who try to gatekeep what qualifies and disqualifies someone as a reader is entirely missing the point that we are all falling in love with the same stories, same authors, same characters. we need to start ignoring this weird kind of reading elitism and come together as community to celebrate WHAT we are consuming, not how we are consuming it.

[salindrab]

I can't concentrate when I only listen to the spoken word. When I try I either fall asleep pretty quickly or my minds starts to wander soon enough and I won't register the spoken words anymore. When I realise that after a while I have already missed too much and don't get the connection and content anymore. So for me the only way is reading a printed book. Listening to audios is a real nuisance for me. That's is why I also never listen to podcasts, I need something visual to keep my focus and concentration.

[sablestar]

Another point. What group is behind the audiobooks Vs. reading study? Who paid for the study? Was it Audible? Other audiobook companies? That matters?

[ciannacoleman]

My parents instilled bibliophilia in us from a young age, they used all the forms of reading to ensure we were well rounded (reading to us, audiobooks, silent solo reading, and reading aloud). Unless the goal is increasing your visual/aloud reading skills audios 100% count. I would also argue that audios are even essential even for people without reading disabilities, I would have very little reading time if I wasn't using audio while driving at work.

[Tetsujin-]

Reading: I form images in my head reading the words.
Audio: I form images in my head listening to the narrator.
I'm 100% sure both "ISA's" are adorable.
This was amazing . You put a lot of thought into the content provided and it shows.
BOSE: I have the Sennheiser HD 4.40. I love them.

[randomCDN]

If grandma reads a book to a child, who read it? child or grandma? Both consumed the content but only one read it. When you read you imagine everything, even the voice and sounds. So reading is reading and listening is listening, two DIFFERENT methods of consuming content.

Don't get me wrong, both great.

[ridingwilding]

I have three children. When they were young it frustrated them that their reading levels would limit what books they could “consume”, also each child has vastly different reading interests so depending on the reading time with me wouldn’t necessarily work. They had access to a large library of audiobooks and spent hours listening to books while also doing others activities. They did also regularly have physical books they would enjoy reading. As a result all three of our children tested exceptionally well on vocabulary levels as well as reading and listening comprehension levels were also tested as very high.
They are still avid readers as adults. One also entered the world of Indy publishing and really enjoying that as well.

[zuzanaochmanova]

Amazing video! Wish my arguments in my own head were just like this. :D For me listening to audiobook and reading does count the same and the main reason is that you will devour the same content. You can even talk with each other about the story, about the writing and stylization, the hidden messages between the lines (which you would not be able to do if someone only watched the move - even if it would be very very loyal to the book adaptation). Very good points on both fronts however! I agree that the comprehension is a bit different with both formats and me personally need a bit more effort to completely get and enjoy audiobook compared to physical book.

[apollobrooke]

I like doing both at the same time since some names in fantasy books are harder to pronounce so I will listen as I read along and I love doing this. This is how I got through The Greenbone Saga series since I really wanted to know the pronunciation of all the names and cities 😊