All About Audiobooking: a guide from a compulsive multitasker

hello hello,

in my last ‘tea time talk‘ post, i mentioned a few tips that help me get the most out of my reading time (its not like i’m obsessed with reading or smthing). and one of the tips that really have helped me lately was audiobook-ing

so i thought i’d share some tips and tricks i discovered (from trial and error) over the past couple years on audiobooks.

anyone wanna come @ me for claiming audiobooks count as reading, let’s go (ง’̀-‘́)ง

Benefits of Using Audiobooks

1. books are legit being read to you – basic principles of math state that “audiobooking = more books read” (don’t ask me to show my work)!!

and think about it this way, you can close your eyes and daydream while simultaneously //reading// a book. how fricken epic is that?? (the answer is, very)

2. narrators can make a book come alive – recently I just finished an audiobook that was so fantastically engrossing that i felt like i had been transported into that sci-fi world.

what i found really amazing was that when i went back to the ebook to reread a scene, the text itself made the book seem so dry in comparison to the audiobook

i rest my case

3. multitasking – let your INNER multitaskers come and take over your life (speaking from experience here). imagine all the possibilities that audiobooking opens up for you, like you can be repainting the walls of your room while completing a book!!!

are there even any disadvantages at this point??!!?

4. they help people with disabilities – idk why some people are so upset about audiobooks being considered real ‘reading’
dont be mean (!!!) audiobooks have been found to be very helpful to people with print and learning disabilities as well as visually impaired people, so its fricken awesome

Disadvantages of Using Audiobooks

 

don’t worry friends, i am a fair goose, and so i shall even expose to you the small, tiny setbacks that come with audiobooking

1. you can be easily distracted – this is a fair point. not everyone can be 100% checked in while they are listening to an audiobook and that usually leads to glossing over large, very important parts of the book,,,,,which just leads to a lot of confusion later on

2. it can take a daunting amount of time – no joke, i was looking through brandson sanderson audiobooks and one of his books is 45 HOURS long
45 HOURS
who has that kind of time??!

(most audiobooks are generally around 8 – 13 hours)

3. don’t know where to start – see friends, this was a valid excuse before i wrote this post but now, i will help you navigate (as best as i can) so you too will be able to get more reading done

How to Avoid Getting Distracted

 

• my first piece of advice would be to start really simple.

if you can’t listen to audiobooks in the complete silence and serenity of your bedroom, then listen while doing menial tasks like getting ready in the morning, drawing, during commute hours, working out, during an existential crisis etc.

• set a speed that keeps you engaged

what i found amazing is that if the speed is too slow, i actually am more likely to lose interest in the book. as of now, i have found a comfort in listening on 2x speed but before i would listen comfortably at 1.5x

whatever the speed is, make sure you set it to something that keeps you engaged rather than grow bored

• be interested in the book

i shouldn’t have to say this, but if you weren’t too interested in the book beforehand, you probably shouldn’t start there. listen to books you want to read

• rewind if you have to

this still happens to me sometimes. I’ll be so engrossed in something i’m doing or maybe i’ll just doze off a bit into dreamland, but nevertheless, sometimes you lose your concentration and need a quick rewind to help you get back on track.

no shame in that.

Where to Start

• reread a fav
  if you’re worried that audiobooking isn’t for you, then maybe it’ll be best to try it out with a well known fav. that way, you’ll be engaged enough in the storyline, since you’re familiar with it, but also get to see how listening, instead of reading works for you

 

• public domain – classics
  the great thing about classics is that they aren’t privately owned and so they are free to all readers!

 

• subscription services
  i literally know next to nothing about audiobook subscription services bc i have never used them. but i do know a lot of companies offer a free month trial period and free samples to hear the voices of the narrators before purchasing

 

• library
  i’m really fortunate to have access to a library that offers audiobooks. so far this has been working for me, so check with your library to see what they offer in the way of audiobooks

 

• develop tastes in audiobooks & fav narrators
  this will naturally come with time, but if you hear a voice that you find particularly engaging, check out their other works and see if they narrate any other books you are interested in

Recommendations

 

Oh good, we’ve finally reached my favourite part!!

If you know me, you know i can’t stop myself from recommending books to everyone i know. so without you asking, here are some books that i found had exceptional audio narrators

(some even have a full cast of voices)

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

okay i think i talked enough for a single week.

I hope this post was informative in some way and that you benefited.

what is your favourite format of reading? do you audiobook? what are some of your favourite audiobooks? if you have any additional tips or info please do share ❤

have a great weekend y’all,