Kind of a silly question.... reading vs. listening

Starmusica · June 2012

So I was discussing this with an IRL friend and figured I'd ask. Since commuting by car, instead of train, I have less time to actually read, so I've been listening to audiobooks. I read my book at home and listen to the audio from whatever point I left off. My friend said this doesn't count as reading (I am doing a 2012 challenge on good reads). Is this cheating? Should I give up?

AND- for you Game of Thrones fans- the audio books are FANTASTIC. The narrator is AWESOME. I love it.

msuprincess04 · June 2012

I vote doesn't count. Mostly because, if you are anything like me, you don't retain even a 10th of what you would have had you read the actual book and were forced to think about what they looked like, sounded like, intonation and such. I listen to mindless pop-culture books while on long road trips, because the one time I listened to a classic, I couldn't remember anything about it a week later.

LesPaul · June 2012

I don't think it's cheating. You're just as engaged in the story (or maybe more) via audiobook.

chelseamb11 · June 2012

I think it counts. The end result is you knowing the full story. You're still taking the time and absorbing each word, it's just audibly instead of visually.

pirategal03 · June 2012

I think it counts if you want it to count. Reading goals are personal. It's silly for someone to tell you you didn't really read something.

[Deleted User] · June 2012

Of course it counts. You're still taking in the book, just in a different way. That's like saying a deaf person isn't really watching a movie because they are reading the words instead of hearing the characters speak them or the music in the background.

I wish I could do audiobooks. But, I am too easily distracted.

RamonaFlowers · June 2012

I think it counts if you're capable of absorbing the book that way. Audio probably wouldn't count for me, because chances are, I wouldn't be absorbing the words. In school, whenever the teachers read something aloud, if I didn't have the text in front of me as well, I just couldn't retain it for the life of me.

acaponi87 · June 2012

Totally counts.

achiduck · June 2012

I think as long as you've gotten as much out of the audio version as you would have gotten from actually laying eyes on the text it totally counts.

LP11509 · June 2012

Well for me personally, it definitely wouldn't count :-P But for the general population of people who can hear/understand the audiobooks, then I say it counts.

[Deleted User] · June 2012

Also, I think that saying it doesn't count because you don't absorb as much as reading isn't accurate. I know several people who read super fast and end up skimming or missing details. But they still count that as reading and put it towarsd their "read books" total. So who is to say that people get more out of reading than listening?

KateJ10 · June 2012

It counts IMO. You are getting the story of a book, just in another form. I have a hard time listening to audiobooks though, I don't think I pay attention as well as when I read them myself.

raynes · June 2012

I vote it counts, but we're a big audiobook house. I just don't let Derek say he's read a book if he only listened to it. We have a 2-book-a-month Audible subscription and it's awesome.

Starqueg · June 2012

I love audiobooks. I thought I would hate them, but they come in handy at times when I can't read. I listen to them at the gym and during car trips. I've never been able to read while working out, I don't know how so many people can prop a magazine in front of them on the elliptical and read it.

Starmusica · June 2012

ahh so didn't intend a p&r- as soon as I posted, I got a call and then that call turned into a meeting. fun times!

Thanks guys- these were my points. TOTALLY counts.

FWIW- I am VERY visual myself and I find it even easier to visualize since the tone of the words are taken care of for me....

Birdie1483 · June 2012

For those who say it doesn't count, would you also say it doesn't count when someone with a learning disability has to take a test orally versus the standard way? I think it's kind of the same, even though it's not. Just because your eyes didn't read the text, doesn't mean you don't still know the information.

If you're reading to strengthen your cognative skills, etc then I could see the benefit of reading versus listening. However, if you're reading just for the pleasure of learning a story, then I think audiobooks are just fine.

BubbsNBubbs · June 2012

FWIW...I think it counts. But more importantly....I also LOVE the Game of Thrones audiobooks. But I also have mad lady chub for Tyrion Lannister. So there's that.....

Kind of a silly question.... reading vs. listening

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