Iâve spent my entire life thinking audiobooks were a cop-out, a cheat version of reading. As someone who loves books, and an aspiring writer, I had always perceived them as something to be read, not listened to. You listen when your parents tell you bedtime stories as a kid. Once you develop the ability to read yourself, the training wheels are off and youâre on your own.
I was wrong, and I have to apologize.
This past September, I curiously started browsing through my stepsisterâs collection of books on Audible, and stumbled upon âDoctor Sleepâ by Stephen King. I knew there was a movie adaptation coming out soon, and being a devoted King fan, I had wanted to read the book for some time. As a broke college student, however, I didnât want to pay up for the paper version. With reluctance, I began listening to the audiobook.
Within a week, âDoctor Sleepâ replaced âPod Save Americaâ and âStuff You Missed in History Classâ as my dish-washing listen. I became emotionally involved in the story as Will Pattonâs creepy and convincing narration wrapped me up in the words.
Books are stories. Stories are comprised of words, and words are words, regardless of whether theyâre in visible or auditory form. It took me actually listening to an audiobook to stop me from scoffing at the idea, and now I feel stupid. But thatâs okay! Thatâs growth.
I think so many avid readers roll their eyes at the idea of an audiobook because they think itâs cheating or untraditional. But babes, oral tradition was around long before people began writing on cave walls!
Not to mention (but Iâll mention anyway), listening to books allows for multitasking. Most audiobooks span 10 to 20 hours — think of all the mindless activities you could get done in that time. Folding clothes, cleaning your room, baking a cheesecake — you do you girl! Then when youâre done, just press pause. Itâll be waiting for you when the next chore rolls around.
Also, audiobooks are inclusive of blind folks and people with reading disabilities. Could you imagine telling someone with cataracts âYouâre listening to âFifty Shadesâ on tape? Pick up a braille version, genius!â
Perhaps most importantly, itâs your life, do what you want. If you want to listen to books, do that. If you prefer to read them, thatâs great too. If youâre more of a movie gal, cheers. Maybe itâs more about the content than the medium.
So, I wholeheartedly apologize to audiobooks for the misplaced judgment. Iâm also sorry for you, if thou still thinks thy holiness art above books on tape.
Thou art missing out.