Transparency Item: The “Viewpoints” section of the graphic consists of opinion-based articles. This is the author’s opinion and opinion.
Like many people, I have loved reading since I was a child.
This love started with my mother reading to me every night before bed. We shared quality time reading vast children’s book series such as the American Girl Doll series and The Baby-Sitters Club.
As I progressed to middle school, I became interested in other activities. I read less and less.
One day, my mom and I listened to an audiobook in the car on the way to swimming practice.
I was surprised by this useful trick. As I became increasingly frustrated with the required reading at school, I decided to use audiobooks to complete my reading assignments.
Soon, my mom started recommending books to listen to in our shared Audible library. I laughed at Tina Fey’s “Bossypants” and was inspired by Brené Brown’s “Rising Strong.”
One of the things I love about these audiobooks is that the author reads them aloud. I felt a strong connection to the stories told by the authors in their own voices.
Since then, I’ve been listening to audiobooks relatively consistently.
Audiobooks can be listened to while doing other activities such as walking or driving, while printed books require the reader to be still. According to Time Magazine, the opportunity cost of reading an audiobook is much less than reading a written book.
The familiarity of audiobooks has encouraged me to listen to academic books without sticking to my usual genres. This makes me a more diverse and informed listener.
While printed academic books suggest challenges, academic audiobooks feel like a low-pressure way to expand my horizons.
Audiobooks also expand access to literature. According to the National Literacy Trust, children who have difficulty reading print books can be introduced to literature through audiobooks.
However, just listening to audiobooks can have negative effects. According to Time magazine, audiobooks reduce comprehension and memory compared to printed books.
In fact, Time magazine reports that 10-15% of eye movements while reading are degenerative. This means that readers often quickly reread sections to try to understand them better. This is completely lost in audiobooks.
Audiobooks increase the possibility of daydreaming and multitasking. According to Time magazine, physical barriers such as highlighting or lack of annotations can reduce comprehension.
That being said, there is a time and a place for audiobooks.
Not all reading has to be close reading. The National Literacy Trust suggests that more research is needed into the benefits of audiobooks and simply reading for pleasure.
Written language is not going to disappear from our society any time soon. However, audiobook technology is useful in situations where you don’t need to focus so much on details.
Listening to audiobooks, like many technologies, requires a learning curve. Audiobooks reduce comprehension, but comprehension can change as the book’s use changes, according to the article “Are audiobooks as effective as reading?” In Time magazine.
For most of human history, stories were spread orally. According to the article “Are audiobooks as effective as reading?” Just as these skills translated for the task of reading, these skills transfer back to listening to audiobooks. There is a possibility. In Time magazine.
According to the National Literacy Trust’s article “Publishing research review on the benefits of audiobooks for literacy,” listening to books allows listeners to pick up on sarcasm and the intonation of a speaker, increasing interpersonal communication in the outside world. .
Hearing a human voice can evoke strong emotional reactions, especially when read by an author. According to the National Literacy Trust’s article “Research Reviews on the Benefits of Audiobooks for Literacy”, this suggests that audiobooks increase emotional intelligence.
In today’s social climate, the value of emotional intelligence is only increasing. The Harvard Business School article “Why Emotional Intelligence Matters in Leadership” argues that emotional intelligence is a necessary skill for leadership and that it is “the most powerful predictor of performance.” I claim that there is.
Leaders set the tone for the workspace. According to the Harvard Business School article “Why Emotional Intelligence Matters for Leadership,” emotional intelligence promotes calm demeanor, productive conflict resolution, and empathy.
Audiobooks, when used in the right way, offer many benefits to casual readers. Hopefully, Audiobooks can help you start reading again.
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Contact Caitlin Murray via email:
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