Are Audiobooks As Good As Physically Reading?

Posted on January 13, 2023 by Kylie Conner

The age-old question that always comes up when chatting about how you read: “Audiobooks don’t count as reading,” or “Audiobooks aren’t as good as reading a physical book.” We’ve heard it all before, so let’s dive into why we think audiobooks are as good and if not (dare we say) better than simply physically reading a book.

What are audiobooks and how do they compare to physical reading?

Audiobooks are digital audio recordings of books that can be streamed or downloaded and listened to on a variety of devices. Audiobooks are becoming increasingly popular, as they offer readers the convenience of being able to listen to their favorite books while doing other activities, such as commuting or exercising. But how do audiobooks compare to physically reading a book?

Audiobooks offer many advantages over physical books, including the ability and convenience to listen at your own pace and in any environment. Additionally, audiobooks help with increased engagement with the material, and they are generally more accessible and can be helpful for those who have difficulty reading due to vision impairment, dyslexia, etc.

What are the benefits of choosing to listen to an audiobook vs physically reading a book?

Audiobooks are a great way to learn new information and gain knowledge. They allow you to multitask, listen while doing other activities, and can be used in any setting. Audiobooks also help you engage with the material more deeply as your mind can focus on the content without being distracted by other visual elements. With audiobooks, you can easily access a wide range of topics and learn at your own pace. You can also find audiobooks that are specifically designed for language learning, which makes them an ideal choice for those who want to improve their foreign language skills. Audiobooks provide an engaging and convenient way to learn new information and expand your knowledge base.

While physically reading is a great way to get lost in a book and escape reality, it also has some drawbacks. Reading physical books can be time-consuming, expensive, and difficult to store or transport. Additionally, physical books may contain outdated information if they are not regularly updated. Furthermore, physical books are less interactive than digital formats such as e-books and audiobooks which often include multimedia elements and allow readers to interact with the text. Finally, physical books may require more effort for readers to take notes or highlight important passages.

How do audiobooks help with memory retention while reading?

Studies have shown that audiobooks can help with memory retention in a variety of ways. Research has demonstrated that people who listen to audiobooks are able to recall more information than those who read from a traditional book. Additionally, studies have found that people who listen to audiobooks retain information better over time compared to those who read books in the traditional way. This indicates that using audiobooks is an effective way of helping people remember more of what they read or heard.

Quick stats:

● 85% of what we learn is learned through listening
● Students can listen and comprehend 2 whole grades above their reading level
● Audio improves comprehension by 76%
● Listening increases reading accuracy by 52%

Via The Audio Publishers Association

Can audiobooks really replace physical reading?

With audiobooks, readers can enjoy their favorite books while on the go, without having to carry a physical copy of the book. But do audiobooks really replace or complement physical reading?

This question is one that has been debated by readers and authors alike. While some argue that audiobooks provide a convenient and immersive experience, others believe they cannot replace the feeling of flipping through pages and engaging with text on paper. At Audiobooks.com, we’re a little biased because we looove our audiobooks, but we would never claim that they could fully replace the experience of physically reading. Audiobooks are a great alternative reading option that can benefit a multitude of people from many walks of life and for those tried and true physical readers, audiobooks can help complement the reading experience as well.

The future of audiobooks – how are they changing?

We have no doubt that audiobooks and their popularity are only set to grow in the future. With the rise of streaming services and availability, audiobooks are now more accessible than ever before. As technology advances, so too does the way we listen to audiobooks. From voice-activated devices such as Alexa and Google Home to apps (like ours!) that allow you to customize your listening experience with speed control, bookmarks, and track navigation there are a variety of ways for listeners to get the most out of their audiobook listening experience. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more innovative ways for people to enjoy audiobooks in the future.

Looking for Book Recommendations?

• Here are the audiobooks our members have been loving, along with our staff picks that we’ve been championing.

• Looking to share your love of books? Our handy Book Clubbin’ questions make it super easy to start a book club. Or, Netflix n’ buddy-read with this year’s book-to-screen adaptations (just be prepared for the perennial debate: is the book better than the movie/show?).

• If you’re looking for something extra, we’ve got author and narrator interviews to give you a gleam inside their worlds.

• For the curious-minded, audiobooks can teach you a thing or two, from nature therapy to personal finance. It can even keep the little ones busy so you can steal some time back for yourself.

New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!

Book Clubbin’: 8 Discussion Questions for ‘It Ends With Us’ by Colleen Hoover

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Kylie Conner

It’s that time again! Our Book Clubbin’ feature is back to bring you some conversation sparking questions for your next book club meeting. Whether you and your friends have planned a full night to chat this month’s pick through, or you’ve got a virtual meeting in your calendar, these questions will keep the conversation going!

This time around we’ve chosen It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover. If you haven’t heard of Colleen Hoover yet, then chances are, you’re not as deep into #BookTok as we are over here (guilty!). Hoover’s titles have been blowing up on TikTok over the last year, and have also seen some time climbing the New York Times bestsellers list.

In It Ends With Us, we follow Lily, who didn’t have the easiest time growing up, but now she has moved out on her own and started her own business. Then, she meets the handsome neurosurgeon, Ryle, who seems too good to be true. Ryle’s fear of commitment worries Lily more and more as she continues to fall for him and in the meantime, she’s started reminiscing about Atlas—her first love and a link to her past.

If your book club has decided to see what all the hype is about and have chosen It Ends With Us for your next read, then you’re in luck! Keep reading for our discussion questions below. Beware— SPOILERS ahead.

—————CONTAINS SPOILERS!—————

1) What did you think about the format of Lily reading her letters to Ellen DeGeneres?

2) Lily grew up witnessing an abusive relationship, how do you think this affected her relationships in the future?

3) Why do you think Lily continued to help Atlas when they were kids despite the judgement from her family and friends?

4) How did Lily’s relationship with Atlas differ than her relationship with Ryle? How did each help her grow as a person?

5) After reconnecting with Atlas, why do you think Lily agrees to marry Ryle despite the anger he’s displayed?

6) Did Hoover portray Ryle in a way that made you empathize with him despite his actions?

7) What would you have done if you were in Lily’s situation? Do you agree with the decision she made?

8) Why do you think Hoover titled this book, It Ends With Us?

Looking for Book Recommendations?

• Here are the audiobooks our members have been loving, along with our staff picks that we’ve been championing.

• If you’re looking for something extra, we’ve got author and narrator interviews to give you a gleam inside their worlds.

• For the curious-minded, audiobooks can teach you a thing or two, from nature therapy to personal finance. It can even keep the little ones busy so you can steal some time back for yourself.

Top Free Audiobooks from October’s VIP Rewards

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Kylie Conner

Audiobooks.com members (including free trial members) enjoy the benefits of our VIP Rewards program, which allows you to make a selection from a specially curated list of free audiobooks every month.

To browse the current month’s selection and choose your free audiobook, simply tap into the VIP Rewards section in the Audiobooks.com app or after logging into the Audiobooks.com website.

All new VIP Rewards will become available on the first day of each month. But don’t feel rushed to listen to your free audiobook every month—you can download today and listen whenever, for as long as you’re a member.

If you’re an Audiobooks.com member and are looking to make your free selection for October, we’ve got you covered! Check out this month’s top three VIP downloads below or click here to see the full list.

Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins, narrated by Xe Sands

Publisher Summary:

A funny and bittersweet story of a woman who returns to her hometown after a decade’s absence hoping to resuscitate her relationship with her family, only to discover that her homecoming is not as welcome as she had imagined.

It’s been over a decade since Nora left her hometown of Scupper Island, Maine, and very seldom looked back. She’s carved out a successful life in Boston where no one knows her as the awkward girl with the delinquent sister and the dad who left, but a not-as-dramatic-as-it-sounds brush with death has her taking stock of her life. Inspired to reconnect with her prickly mother and snarky teenage niece, Nora returns home for the summer, where she’s forced to face the people she’s spent the last ten years trying to avoid, and where some revelations about her family could either heal her, or send her scrambling back to Boston on the next ferry.

Read more and sample the audio →

Victim Six by Gregg Olsen, narrated by Corey M. Snow

Publisher Summary:

The bodies are found in towns and cities around Puget Sound. The young women who are the victims had nothing in common-except the agony of their final moments. But somebody carefully chose them to stalk, capture, and torture . . . a depraved killer whose cunning is matched only by the depth of his bloodlust. But the dying has only just begun. And the next victim will be the most shocking of all…

Read more and sample the audio →

The Forgotten 500 by Gregory A. Freeman, narrated by Patrick Lawlor

Publisher Summary:

The astonishing, never-before-told story of the greatest rescue mission of World War II-when the OSS set out to recover more than 500 airmen trapped behind enemy lines…

During a bombing campaign, hundreds of American airmen were shot down in Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia. Local Serbian villagers risked their own lives to give refuge to the soldiers, and for months the airmen lived in hiding, waiting for rescue.

In 1944, Operation Halyard was born. The risks were incredible. The starving Americans in Yugoslavia had to construct a landing strip-without tools, without alerting the Germans, and without endangering the villagers. And the rescue planes had to make it through enemy airspace and back-without getting shot down themselves.

Classified for over half a century for political reasons, the full account of this unforgettable story of loyalty, self-sacrifice, and bravery is now being told for the first time. The Forgotten 500 is the breathtaking, behind-the-scenes look at the greatest escape of World War II.

Read more and sample the audio →

Looking for Book Recommendations?

• Here are the audiobooks our members have been loving, along with our staff picks that we’ve been championing.

• If you’re looking for something extra, we’ve got author and narrator interviews to give you a gleam inside their worlds.

• For the curious-minded, audiobooks can teach you a thing or two, from nature therapy to personal finance. It can even keep the little ones busy so you can steal some time back for yourself.

Top Free Audiobooks from September’s VIP Rewards

Posted on September 22, 2021 by Kylie Conner

Audiobooks.com members (including free trial members) enjoy the benefits of our VIP Rewards program, which allows you to make a selection from a specially curated list of free audiobooks every month.

To browse the current month’s selection and choose your free audiobook, simply tap into the VIP Rewards section in the Audiobooks.com app or after logging into the Audiobooks.com website.

If you’re an Audiobooks.com member and are looking to make your free selection for September, we’ve got you covered! Check out this month’s top three VIP downloads below or click here to see the full list.

Imposter by LJ Ross, narrated by Hugh Dancy

Publisher Summary:

After an elite criminal profiling unit is shut down amid a storm of scandal and mismanagement, only one person emerges unscathed. Forensic psychiatrist Doctor Alexander Gregory has a reputation for being able to step inside the darkest minds to uncover whatever secrets lie hidden there and, soon enough, he finds himself drawn into the murky world of murder investigation.

In the beautiful hills of County Mayo, Ireland, a killer is on the loose. Panic has a stranglehold on its rural community and the Garda are running out of time. Gregory has sworn to follow a quiet life but, when the call comes, can he refuse to help their desperate search for justice? Murder and mystery are peppered with dark humor in this fast-paced thriller set amidst the spectacular Irish landscape.

Read more and sample the audio →

Suttree by Cormac McCarthy, narrated by Richard Poe

Publisher Summary:

Four murders. Two detectives. One mystifying crime.

On Christmas Eve, DCI Mackenzie Jones is called to a shooting at a remote farmhouse. Ralph Mallender believes his father lies dead inside. When three more bodies are discovered, it’s clear a festive family gathering has turned into a gruesome tragedy.

At first it seems like an open and shut case: a murder-suicide committed by Ralph’s volatile brother Cameron. Then new evidence makes Mack suspect the man who reported the crime is in fact the perpetrator.

But Mack isn’t the only one with a stake in the case. Private investigator Atticus Priest has been hired to get Ralph acquitted. That means unearthing any weaknesses in Mack’s evidence.

Irascible, impatient, and unpredictable, Atticus has weaknesses of his own. Mack knows all about them because they share a past-both professionally and personally. This time round, however, they aren’t on the same side. And as Atticus picks at the loose ends of the case, everything starts to unravel in a way neither of them could ever have predicted…

Read more and sample the audio →

Deep in the Valley by Robyn Carr, narrated by Therese Plummer

Publisher Summary:

Nicole Cutty and Megan McDonald are both high school seniors in the small town of Emerson Bay, North Carolina. When they disappear from a beach party one warm summer night, police launch a massive search. No clues are found, and hope is almost lost until Megan miraculously surfaces after escaping from a bunker deep in the woods.

A year later, the bestselling account of her ordeal has turned Megan from local hero to national celebrity. It’s a triumphant, inspiring story, except for one inconvenient detail: Nicole is still missing. Nicole’s older sister Livia, a fellow in forensic pathology, expects that one day soon Nicole’s body will be found, and it will be up to someone like Livia to analyze the evidence and finally determine her sister’s fate. Instead, the first clue to Nicole’s disappearance comes from another body that shows up in Livia’s morgue that of a young man connected to Nicole’s past. Livia reaches out to Megan for help, hoping to learn more about the night the two were taken. Other girls have gone missing too, and Livia is increasingly certain the cases are connected.

But Megan knows more than she revealed in her blockbuster book. Flashes of memory are coming together, pointing to something darker and more monstrous than her chilling memoir describes. And the deeper she and Livia dig, the more they realize that sometimes true terror lies in finding exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Read more and sample the audio →

Looking for Book Recommendations?

• Here are the audiobooks our members have been loving, along with our staff picks that we’ve been championing.

• If you’re looking for something extra, we’ve got author and narrator interviews to give you a gleam inside their worlds.

• For the curious-minded, audiobooks can teach you a thing or two, from nature therapy to personal finance. It can even keep the little ones busy so you can steal some time back for yourself.

Back-to-School Gifting with Audiobooks.com

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Kylie Conner

Somehow another year has gone by and you know what that means…back-to-school season is upon us! Whether you’re in an area where school are open and kids are going back in, or they’re still at home learning remotely, we’ve got you hooked up for the perfect back-to-school gift for them (or yourself)!

By gifting one of our Audiobooks.com gift subscriptions, you’re giving that special someone access to over 250,000 titles. PLUS, when sending one of our gift subscriptions, you can include a book recommendation for them, so that way they have an idea of what audiobook they might put their first credit toward.

With 1, 3, 6, and 12-month prepaid subscriptions to Audiobooks.com, we’ve got you covered on finding the perfect gift. Click here to visit the Audiobooks.com gift center or check out some audiobooks we think would make great recommendations below.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey, narrated by Matthew McConaughey

From the Academy Award®–winning actor, an unconventional memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction.

Read more and sample the audio →

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, narrated by Bahni Turpin

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Read more and sample the audio →

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, narrated by Wil Wheaton

In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the OASIS, a vast virtual world where most of humanity spends their days.

When the eccentric creator of the OASIS dies, he leaves behind a series of fiendish puzzles, based on his obsession with the pop culture of decades past. Whoever is first to solve them will inherit his vast fortune—and control of the OASIS itself.

Then Wade cracks the first clue. Suddenly he’s beset by rivals who’ll kill to take this prize. The race is on—and the only way to survive is to win.

Read more and sample the audio →

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, narrated by Jennifer Beals, Judy Greer, Benjamin Bratt, Pablo Schrieber

A gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup.

The rise and fall of this legendary group is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable audiobook, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice.

Read more and sample the audio →

The Guest List by Lucy Foley, narrated by Jot Davies, Chloe Massey, Sarah Ovens, Rich Keeble, Aoife Mcmahon, Olivia Dowd

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.

But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes.

And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?

Read more and sample the audio →

Looking for Book Recommendations?

• Here are the audiobooks our members have been loving, along with our staff picks that we’ve been championing.

• If you’re looking for something extra, we’ve got author and narrator interviews to give you a gleam inside their worlds.

• For the curious-minded, audiobooks can teach you a thing or two, from nature therapy to personal finance. It can even keep the little ones busy so you can steal some time back for yourself.

Top Free Audiobooks from July’s VIP Rewards

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Kylie Conner

Audiobooks.com members (including free trial members) enjoy the benefits of our VIP Rewards program, which allows you to make a selection from a specially curated list of free audiobooks every month.

To browse the current month’s selection and choose your free audiobook, simply tap into the VIP Rewards section in the Audiobooks.com app or after logging into the Audiobooks.com website.

If you’re an Audiobooks.com member and are looking to make your free selection for July, we’ve got you covered! Check out this month’s top three VIP downloads below or click here to see the full list.

The Journey of Crazy Horse by Joseph Marshall, narrated by Joseph Marshall

Publisher Summary:

Most of the world remembers Crazy Horse as a peerless warrior who brought the U.S. Army to its knees at the Battle of Little Bighorn. But to his fellow Lakota Indians, he was a dutiful son and humble fighting man who-with valor, spirit, respect, and unparalleled leadership-fought for his people’s land, livelihood, and honor. In this fascinating biography, Joseph M. Marshall, himself a Lakota Indian, creates a vibrant portrait of the man, his times, and his legacy.

Thanks to firsthand research and his culture’s rich oral tradition (rarely shared outside the Native American community), Marshall reveals many aspects of Crazy Horse’s life, including details of the powerful vision that convinced him of his duty to help preserve the Lakota homeland-a vision that changed the course of Crazy Horse’s life and spurred him confidently into battle time and time again.

The Journey of Crazy Horse is the true story of how one man’s fight for his people’s survival roused his true genius as a strategist, commander, and trusted leader. And it is an unforgettable portrayal of a revered human being and a profound celebration of a culture, a community, and an enduring way of life

Read more and sample the audio →

A Wicked Snow by Gregg Olsen, narrated by Karen Peakes

Publisher Summary:

Hannah Griffin was a girl when tragedy struck. She still remembers the flames reflected against the newly fallen snow and the bodies the police dug up-one of them her mother’s. The killer was never found…

Twenty years later Hannah is a talented CSI investigating a case of child abuse when the past comes hurtling back. A killer with unfinished business is on the hunt. And an anonymous message turns Hannah’s blood cold:
Your Mom called…

Read more and sample the audio →

81 Days Below Zero by Toula Vlahou, Brian Murphy narrated by Richard Ferrone

Publisher Summary:

The untold story of Leon Crane, the only surviving crew member of a World War II B-24 crash on a remote mountain near the Arctic Circle, who managed to stay alive 81 days in sub-zero temperature by making peace with nature, and end his ordeal by walking along a river to safety.

Part World War II story, part Alaskan adventure story, part survival story, and even part inspirational story, this is what we call ‘a good read.’ This is the first full length retelling of Crane’ s incredible survivalist story. It has been noted in magazines and in story collections over the years: most notably, just after the war ended, Crane’s story was included in a book aptly titled, The 100 Best True Stories of World War II, and in the 1970s, the story was a part of John McPhee‘s hot-selling collection of Alaskan survival tales, Coming into the Country.

The author suggests that we think Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild ‘meets’ Alfred Lansing’s Endurance. I would suggest that we also think Dick Proenneke’s Alone in the Wilderness ‘meets’ Slavomir Rawicz’s The Long Walk. These meetings can go on and on; but there are some very impressive WWII survival stories that have become bestselling books– even with previously ‘untold’ and ‘unknown’ stories, like Crane’s

Read more and sample the audio →

Looking for Book Recommendations?

• Here are the audiobooks our members have been loving, along with our staff picks that we’ve been championing.

• If you’re looking for something extra, we’ve got author and narrator interviews to give you a gleam inside their worlds.

• For the curious-minded, audiobooks can teach you a thing or two, from nature therapy to personal finance. It can even keep the little ones busy so you can steal some time back for yourself.