Five Advantages to Listening to Audiobooks
Recently I posted my review of Start With Why, by Simon Sinek, but I have a confession to make. . .
I didn’t actually read it.
I listened to it instead.
Most of the books I consume I read, and I read them in hard copy. I’m a little old-fashioned that way I guess. But, I’m beginning to realize that other ways of consuming content are starting to grow on me.
Start With Why is the first nonfiction book that I’ve listened all the way through on audio. Up to this point I’ve mostly stuck to fiction when picking audiobooks. However, as I listened to Start with Why I noticed some significant advantages to picking audio for nonfiction:
1. It’s fast — My audiobook app allows me to play audiobooks at accelerated speeds (I usually find myself listening at 1.5x speed), this means that I can consume more content more quickly, and the faster speeds also help keep my mind from wandering as I listen.
2. It adds more value to other activities — Mowing the yard? Listen to an audio book. Driving to work? Listen to an audio book. There are tons of activities that we execute regularly simply based on muscle memory and habit, listening to audiobooks is a great way to engage the more analytical part of your brain and add some extra value to those tasks.
3. It is great content — Michael Hyatt, one of my favorite bloggers, has often said that, with books, “you can get someone’s best thinking on a particular subject for just a few dollars.” And the same is true of audiobooks. I love podcasts, but the truth is that even with my favorite podcasts some episodes just aren’t that good. If you’re discerning with your book choices you’re bound to get some excellent information through audiobooks.
4. It is convenient — Audiobooks, like eBooks, allow you to carry a massive library around in your pocket. Many audiobook providers have apps for your smartphone or mp3 player that allow you to download new audiobooks with the tap of a button or swipe of the screen, and many also provide a subscription service.
5. It is low risk — One of the biggest costs of reading is the time it takes to consume the content. It takes focused time to read through a book, time that can’t be spent doing anything else, time that feels wasted if the book isn’t any good. This is where audiobooks are lower risk. If there is a book you’re curious about, but that you don’t know if you want to risk the time it takes to read it, the audio version is a great alternative so that you can try out the content while doing other things.
I loved listening to Start with Why on audiobook, and I just started Daring Greatly at the recommendation of a friend. If you’re curious, I listen to my audio books with the audible app from audible.com on my iPad.
