Little Red Wagon Repairman
MFOMBSoPGA
Seems like a waste of energy. You could be multitasking while listening to the fella read the word stuffs.
With Audio Books Being In Existence For Some Time Why Do People Still Do Their Own Reeding When There's Someone Available To Do It For You?
- Thread starter Little Red Wagon Repairman
- Start date
1) You have to pay that someone who's gonna read for you ; Audiobooks are much mroe expensive than "normal" books
2) Sometimes, that someone is not available ; Once a book is published, it will take at least 3 monthes before and audio version is being published. Also not all books are being published in an audiobook version
3) Actively reading and passively listening are not the same thing. It does not sollicitates the same areas of the brain
To me, asking such a question is like asking "Now that music is being recorded why bothering going to concerts when you can have the music in your living room ?"
2) Sometimes, that someone is not available ; Once a book is published, it will take at least 3 monthes before and audio version is being published. Also not all books are being published in an audiobook version
3) Actively reading and passively listening are not the same thing. It does not sollicitates the same areas of the brain
To me, asking such a question is like asking "Now that music is being recorded why bothering going to concerts when you can have the music in your living room ?"
Little Red Wagon Repairman
MFOMBSoPGA
I didn’t know audio books cost more but to be honest I don’t own any of those either. I put movies into the shelves instead of books because they’re better. In Southern California it’s warm enough that we don’t use the fireplace so there is really little use for books.
Mr. Daystar
In a bell tower, watching you through cross hairs.
Some people prefer to just have a book in their hand, which is why a lot of people will read a paper book, as opposed to an ebook, on a Kindle. Also, people like my late Uncle, would never spend money on a book, with a perfectly good library in almost every city....I have 2, within a 10 minute drive.
Note: My Uncle wasn't cheap, just logical, and old school. If you told him you spent $100 on a pair of Nike's, he shit, but if you spent that on a pair of Floorshiems, that could be re-soled, and re-heeled, he was good. I bought a $5 paperback at a drug store once, to read at the hospital, while waiting for my Aunt, his sister to have heart surgery, and flipped when he saw I bought the book. I miss that old man.
Note: My Uncle wasn't cheap, just logical, and old school. If you told him you spent $100 on a pair of Nike's, he shit, but if you spent that on a pair of Floorshiems, that could be re-soled, and re-heeled, he was good. I bought a $5 paperback at a drug store once, to read at the hospital, while waiting for my Aunt, his sister to have heart surgery, and flipped when he saw I bought the book. I miss that old man.
I totally agree; audiobooks fit my lifestyle better. I've bought lots of self-help and comedy audiobooks over the yeras. Listening to a book while stuck in traffic, cooking or otherwise times where you mind could use the stimulation. I've been liberally using audible's "free return policy" to get my money's worth. In fact, it's usually cheaper to get an audiobook if you're using a subscription.
While it's true that someone has to be paid to read the book, a lot of authors read their own books, which cuts down on costs, and often gives a more "authentic" feel for the book when the author is a good performer. Sarah Knight's self-help books, like "Get Your Sh*t Together" and "Calm the F*ck down" really work well with her narration. Even more so when it's a celebrity author reading their own book. Trevor Noah and Kevin Hart's books are good examples.
That said, I can think of some reasons. The guys above have covered many of the good ones.
Like Johan said, a big one is that not all books are available in audio. But on the other hand, there are plenty of audiobooks that aren't available in physical book, since producing/publishing an audiobook can be cheaper.
Audiobooks can have chapter selection, but in general, being able to bookmark a favorite part in a book is easier.
Sometime books can be cheaper, old books in particular. There are lots of discount bookstores and I've even seen my library sell books for literally cents. But selection is of course hit & miss.
Superficially, some people will use books as décor, to show off to guests "Hey, I can read". Can't do that with audiobooks.
One more - some books work better with visuals. Self help books with diagrams and charts, but another one I personally can attest to it the Davinci Code with all the pictures of the artwork. Being able to see the art really changed how you perceived the story.
While it's true that someone has to be paid to read the book, a lot of authors read their own books, which cuts down on costs, and often gives a more "authentic" feel for the book when the author is a good performer. Sarah Knight's self-help books, like "Get Your Sh*t Together" and "Calm the F*ck down" really work well with her narration. Even more so when it's a celebrity author reading their own book. Trevor Noah and Kevin Hart's books are good examples.
That said, I can think of some reasons. The guys above have covered many of the good ones.
Like Johan said, a big one is that not all books are available in audio. But on the other hand, there are plenty of audiobooks that aren't available in physical book, since producing/publishing an audiobook can be cheaper.
Audiobooks can have chapter selection, but in general, being able to bookmark a favorite part in a book is easier.
Sometime books can be cheaper, old books in particular. There are lots of discount bookstores and I've even seen my library sell books for literally cents. But selection is of course hit & miss.
Superficially, some people will use books as décor, to show off to guests "Hey, I can read". Can't do that with audiobooks.
One more - some books work better with visuals. Self help books with diagrams and charts, but another one I personally can attest to it the Davinci Code with all the pictures of the artwork. Being able to see the art really changed how you perceived the story.
Mr. Daystar
In a bell tower, watching you through cross hairs.
The 2 libraries near me almost always have a section with books for sale, and as you said, dirt cheap. And I'm talking like brand new, some of them are. I bought a 5 or 6 volume set of scientific encyclopedia's. I was going to glue them together, and cut them in a way I could use them as a concealment for a small gun safe. These books looked like they were never opened. My best friend, who loves to read, and collects books almost had puppies when he saw what I had, and what I was going to do, and offered my like $20 bucks for the set, a huge profit margin. He was so bummed about what I wanted to do, I gave him the books free, under the condition he find me enough books to do what I had planned.....I'm still waiting, 15 years later, and a different house ago. Funny thing is, he read everyone, and they would have served very few peoples purpose....they were like something you would find in a classroom, or company, as a reference guide. The driest, most sleep inducing material ever published. I forgot the original price of the books, but it was like collage book expensive.
I guess I'm old fashioned. I can't stand listening to audiobooks. I've tried listening to a few books, and always find myself not following along or paying attention. I work a 13 hour shift and spend most of the time in solitude, so I thought listening to an audiobook could fill up a lot of the time, but I just couldn't get into it. I tried maybe a dozen books before I just gave up and instead listen to music.
I do love reading though. I love getting comfortable and opening up a book and diving into it. The smell and feel of the paper, the excitement as you turn the page, the cliffhangers as a chapter ends. I've found myself staying up late for "just one more chapter," which turns into three or four more. I've read all of Timothy Zahn's Star Wars novels and in a lot of places I can "hear" John Williams music, which to me, was pretty exciting in itself. One of my favorite novels, "House Of Leaves" by Mark Z. Danielewski would be impossible to translate into an audiobook, but I was so sucked in by the story I couldn't put it down.
I do love reading though. I love getting comfortable and opening up a book and diving into it. The smell and feel of the paper, the excitement as you turn the page, the cliffhangers as a chapter ends. I've found myself staying up late for "just one more chapter," which turns into three or four more. I've read all of Timothy Zahn's Star Wars novels and in a lot of places I can "hear" John Williams music, which to me, was pretty exciting in itself. One of my favorite novels, "House Of Leaves" by Mark Z. Danielewski would be impossible to translate into an audiobook, but I was so sucked in by the story I couldn't put it down.
Little Red Wagon Repairman
MFOMBSoPGA
I think the actual last time I read an entire book, not just pretending and claiming I read a book, required a nun to wield a set of rosary beads like a Sicilian Necktie. I don't like being punished so, when I became an adult and was smart enough to decide stuff for myself, I swore I would never read another book ever again. More better looking at stuff anyhow. If I had my way there would be an audio version of posts here so my head wouldn't hurt dealing with all the Wordy Wordsmiths and Mr NoUse4Paragraphs. Don't get me started on the nannies from across the pond that we never hired either.
Mr. Daystar
In a bell tower, watching you through cross hairs.
I can see however that books on tape would be a good way to learn a language, if you were a road driver or something. I know they have satellite radio now, but back in the old days, you could only get so far, before you had to search, or put in a cassette.
Dino, I don't know if you know this, but a "Sicilian neck tie", isn't a weapon, but the result of what is done to the victim, with a weapon.
Dino, I don't know if you know this, but a "Sicilian neck tie", isn't a weapon, but the result of what is done to the victim, with a weapon.
Little Red Wagon Repairman
MFOMBSoPGA
If what she was wielding wasn't a weapon I shoulda told her to go pack sand when she snarled at me about reading that last book I read. I was deceived! I was tricked! It was all just an illusion then! I can't unread that book now, can I? Such a bitter defeat to look back at and ponder upon.
Mr. Daystar
In a bell tower, watching you through cross hairs.
Sure you can unread it, all you have to do is increase your weed/whisky intake, and put something else in that space.
Little Red Wagon Repairman
MFOMBSoPGA
So .. if Dino bought Playboy back in the day - he OBVIOUSLY did NOT but it "for the articles!"
I didn't buy any Playboy magazines back in the day. I shoplifted them from Crown Books in Westwood Village.
When I learnt something I need to unlearnt I like to make running charges at a wall head first until I get relief being relieved from the fancy book lernin' stuffs.
Little Red Wagon Repairman
MFOMBSoPGA
Imagine how good that Political Biography would be if you had a real live actor person reading it while you sit passively on the couch twiddling your thumbs enjoying your afternoon. You even got your hands free now to hold a sandwich.
Little Red Wagon Repairman
MFOMBSoPGA
Watching most porn is boring enough but reading porn would be total bullshit.
Little Red Wagon Repairman
MFOMBSoPGA
Correct. Not even a single word from Penthouse Letters. Regular Penthouse is more better since it has dirty pictures.
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