Everyone seems to have strong opinions on this topic. Some claim that physical books are the way to go and that audiobooks are taking away from the magic and tradition of reading. Others claim that in our day and age, none of us have time to sit down and read and that audiobooks are the best option. Some may even say that audiobooks don’t count as reading at all. I used to believe that. I would insist on only reading a physical book and I never allowed myself to listen to one because I didn’t believe it counted as reading. Sometimes I would go days, even weeks, without picking up a book because I was too busy. This is why this topic fascinates me so much. Everyone that I’ve talked to has a differing opinion and so I wanted to share my thoughts and possibly open up a fun discussion about all of this.
The first thing I did was create a pros and cons list for both physical books and audiobooks...
Physical Books
Pros | Cons |
You retain more information | You may be a slow reader |
They smell good | It can get expensive |
They are timeless | You can't take a ton of books everywhere with you |
You can collect them | Physical books can rip, break down, etc. |
You may pay more attention | You may run out of space |
You won't run out of power | You may not have time to sit down and read |
They can be comforting | It's something to hold |
They are pretty | You can strain your eyes |
Audiobooks
Pros | Cons |
Audiobooks can provide a more immersive experience | Your brain will have to process a lot of information |
It allows you to enjoy a book and still be productive | It's not the same feeling as reading a physical book (in my opinion) |
They are portable | You need access to power |
You don't have to hold anything | You may enjoy the experience of curling up and holding a book |
You can listen to an audiobook anywhere | You can lose focus and stop listening |
They are cheaper than a physical book | The tradition of physical books may be lost |
They can help you fall asleep | You may not like the readers voice |
You can get through a book faster | You may lose your reading skills |
It seems to me that when choosing between the two options, it all comes down to preference. But, does listening to an audiobook “count” as reading?
The Debate: What counts as reading?
An article I found on this very subject says that “Reading is a mental process. There are many definitions of reading. Reading is when someone looks into a written text and starts to absorb the information from the written linguistic message” (FZE). Another definition says that reading is “the skill or activity of getting information from books.” If this was the only definition, then one could reasonably conclude that listening would be a form of reading since many get information through listening to books. Others could say that you have to look at the text in order to read (regardless of the fact that there are many definitions for reading). The last definition I found says that “Reading is an act of communication in which information is transferred from a transmitter to a receiver” (Smith 1973:2). So really it comes down to what definition a person wants to stick with, but you can’t deny that there are several different definitions for reading.
There is also the fact that some may be unable to read due to a reading disorder. Does this then mean those who have a reading disorder have never read a book if they haven’t done it the traditional way? Personally, I believe, based on the definitions and my own opinion as well, that you can say that you’ve read a book as long as you were listening to the story and taking in the words you were hearing. Of course, not everyone will have the same opinion as me, and that’s okay, what I care about the most is encouraging the enjoyment of reading and whatever way people choose to do that does not matter to me.
As much as I love reading a physical book since that is the way I grew up, I find that audiobooks are not only incredibly useful but also enjoyable. I don’t hesitate now to listen to a book if I’m busy instead of not reading for days. I truly believe that reading should be enjoyable, and so if someone enjoys audiobooks more, whether that be because they’re incredibly busy and don’t have a moment to sit down, they process things better by listening, or they just overall enjoy the experience more, than that person should continue to enjoy their audiobooks without feeling like they aren’t truly reading. In the same way, if someone prefers reading physical books for their own reasons, that is also wonderful. What matters is that, in a society where many people aren’t reading, we should encourage everyone to read in the way that is best for them.
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Questions
Which form of reading do you prefer?
Do you think that listening to an audiobook qualifies as reading?
Did I miss anything in my pros and cons lists? What would you add?
Leave a comment below and let’s discuss!
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References
“Reading.” READING | Definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/reading.
FZE, Business Bliss. “Definition Purpose and Models of Reading.” UKEssays, UK Essays, 21 Mar. 2023, https://www.ukessays.com/essays/languages/definition-of-reading.php#:~:text=Reading%20is%20a%20mental%20process.%20There%20are%20many,written%20text%20in%20order%20to%20understand%20its%20contents.
“Reading Definition.” YourDictionary, https://www.yourdictionary.com/reading.
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