Audiobooks vs Reading: Which is better?

Do you enjoy listening to audiobooks? Maybe you supplement your traditional reading with audiobooks. But which is better for your comprehension? This video looks into the recent research and studies that have examined how comprehension is impacted when listening to audiobook versus reading.

Audiobooks make "reading" more convenient. You can listen during your commute, while doing chores, as you start to fall asleep. But in some situations, your comprehension can suffer as a result of audiobooks. Note-taking can also become a problem when listening to audiobooks.

This quick video is presented by Paul Nowak, Founder & CEO of Iris Reading, the largest provider of speed-reading & memory courses. His speed-reading and memorization programs have been taught to students & professionals at companies that include: Google, LinkedIn, HSBC. The speed reading and memory courses have also been provided to military & government agencies that include: NASA, Army, Navy. Universities that have provided Iris Reading courses in speed-reading and memory techniques include: Harvard, Stanford, The University of Chicago, among many others. Iris Reading courses are provided, but also in-person in over 100 cities across the globe.

#audiobook #reading #books

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[ndujamz]

I prefer reading, after I finish reading a book, I then go and then listen to the same audiobook. This helps me to get the better understanding.

[jpbaxter]

I love reading. I love the stories and the way they're told. There's always an adventure in a book! When my children were little, we would get audio books for road trips. When I was working 60 hours a week I no longer had time to read, so I started listening to audio books on my commute. Later, for 7 years I had a job where I could listen to audio books. I found that if I did not listen to something, my mind would wander from my work and my quality suffered. I started listening to classics, educational, informative, histories, fiction of all sorts... almost anything, as long as I liked the writing style and the narrator was tolerable. I learned SO MUCH!! Now, my husband and I listen to audio books at night instead of falling asleep with the tv on. It' s fun to share the literary experience. I notice that if I miss something in a book or podcast, and repeat it, I usually have to listen 3-4 times to pick up the specific or the key. However, for expanding knowledge, for the experience of the adventure inside a book, audio works fine for my purpose.
Also, as I get older, my ADD is worse, and reading articles becomes tedious. I'd much prefer a quick 20 seconds of someone telling me vs the minute it takes me to read. Eye strain is another factor.

[extremelucky]

I read a summary of a book, then listen to the Audio version of it while exercise or drive. As I listen to a book, I take point form summary of important messages on my phone and review it after I finish it. This helps maximize my comprehension, even better than reading a physical book.

[icns]

Paul, thank you very much for your video.
I am in IT and I listen to A LOT of podcasts on my 5.5 Mile uphill walks. The road is very quiet, almost zero vehicular traffic, in a very oxygen rich environment...my focus is incredible. I sometimes pause and use my audio note taker app when there is something I particularly want to record. So podcasts and audiobooks works great for me. I would never be able to catch up with all the content I have to in my profession if I just did reading alone...no way!!

[rachelrenee]

I do both; during the day I listen to the book I’m reading and if I get a chance to relax I like to read it myself.

[frankcastellanos]

Books are better for learning grammar and spelling, audiobooks are better for listening English skill and pronunciation, both are good for knowledge and culture.

[deepatterson]

I had a bible study teacher forbid me from listening to the bible on audio book. I like reading physical books sometimes as long as the book doesn't have over 1000 pages. In my experience audio books are twice as better, especially with a great narrator. I noticed listening to a book twice with a great narrator benefits me more.

[MarttiSuomivuori]

I do both. A lot depends on the reader. A while ago I listened to Stephen Fry reading Myths. It is great! One book I had to quit because the lady reader sounded so negative. My memory is better when I use vision. As if details go in better while reading but a general form of the idea is easier to get by listening.

[BISMARK]

It also depends on whos doing the reading in an Audio book. I could listen to anything read by say Richard Burton. What a voice and a great speaker of the written word.

[simcha]

Thank you for the video! Some very good points. I would suggest that the best answer for you is not your purpose but what works for you. This becomes extremely individual. I think some of us with adhd actually do better with audio due to the fact that we can do other things which settles down our mind and can absorb the material vs reading where our mind distracts us from the reading and comprehension task on hand. This may also be another helpful hint to aid in the diagnosis of adhd. Just a thought 💭. Don’t know this to be true. Would love to know what you think.

[brianbrady]

I still enjoy reading a good novel but at night I would like to listen to audiobooks and fall asleep I think either way you get the perspective of the author

[dio]

When listening to audio books I have noticed that when I repeated the tasks I did while listening to the book I would have relapses of the audio in my head. I have tested this with many things. I can even remember the audio through images, for example if a character in a book says something while I see an image of the character when I see the character far later I can recall the audio I forgot.
This may have something to do with visual learning as I am a visual learner.

[playez]

I like audiobooks as I read the book. Does anyone else do that !

[odelyalevy]

Reading Vs listening is different activities of the brain.
Listening also won’t make me faster reader because audio is one word at a time.
Listening is the lazy approach of a receiving mode. Flow of data is coming to me without any efforts of the brain. On reading the flow is going out from me. I need to activate the brain to read.
Basically, I don’t need to listen to a story in order to say to myself, I finished one more book. I’m getting stories access to me from people, and Internet all day long.
It is the activity in engaging with the reading that makes all the difference. Thank you for sharing Paul. Excellent video as usual. 👍🌟💎

[bdina]

I’ve listened to 350 audiobooks is one year I highly doubt I could read as many books in a year .

[Sithdog-zt]

Books, the feel, the smell of the library and the total emersion in a good story, until poor vision becomes a problem, at that point it's so good to lean back with a cup of coffee and let someone read to me while I watch the story unfold behind my eyes. Book or Audio is of no difference. It's the story, always the story.

[jameseckersley]

Being able to drive and listen to a book is great. Then I get home and sit In a comfy chair and carry it on with my eyes closed. Rather than looking at a page, I'm just imagining what's going on. Much easier to get lost in the story in my opinion.

[bYzrEel]

I prefer reading, you reduce more stress and diseases along the way and it builds concentration compared to audiobooks(which are cool to listen to as well)

[FaizanIyzdi]

Wonderful analysis, helped me to decide what is better for me because I was thinking i may go audio books for my work purpose but i am clear about my choice... thank you very much

[tothetable]

Nice video. I use books ebooks and audiobooks. I've found a time and place for all of them and consider them as a group similar to a toolbox. If my focus is on study I prefer using books. I dont stop there but tend to review materials in either an ebook or audio format. This makes reviewing possible during times when I wouldn't be able to hold a book and so adds to my studies. (I've also recorded notes that I've kept and review those from my phone). When it comes to leisure reading these days I use ebooks and audiobooks and take advantage of apps like Libby. If I feel like I'm doing a combo of leisure and study I tend towards an ebook. This is because I'm on the go and an ebook is usually a better choice.