Is Listening to an Audiobook Similar To Reading It? The Internet Weighs In

When Prince Harry’s Spare came out, I kept bumping into snippets of his audiobook on my Tiktok. I have not listened to the whole of it to date, but the short videos of him narrating his book sounded …intimate.

The Benefits of Reading Apply to Audiobooks

I have read and listened to Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime, and there is something incredible about well-narrated audiobooks. To me, what really matters is the consumption of the story; the medium should not really matter; Trevor led me to this conclusion- the benefits of reading apply when listening to books as well.

But there is a Reddit user who has a dilemma…

They made a post on the “NoStupidQuestions” subreddit, wanting to know what they should say if they have listened to a book and not read it.

What Should I Tell My Book Club Members?

The original poster says they have ADHD and prefer to listen to books rather than read them.

So, they have joined two book clubs and attended their first.

They, however, are in a dilemma on what to say before giving their contribution. If they say they read a book …it would be dishonest. However, if they choose the truth and say they listened to it, it may sound like they are over-explaining everything.

Now, their problem is whether they should explain themselves or should they just jump into the conversation.

The Masses Weigh In

When you say you have watched the movie, there will always be people that will come at you saying the book is better. But this is not the same with listening to the audio, especially because many are read word for word. You shouldn’t even have to explain yourself even if the audio you listened to is an abridged version; what matters is that you consumed the information in the book.

It Shouldn’t Matter

One commenter said, “I’ve dealt with the same question, and I have decided it’s not a competition; you can say whatever the {heck} you want. If someone has a problem with it, tell them to get bent.”

Another chimed in, saying, “Yeah, I tend to specify that I didn’t read it; I listened to it. It’s not about superiority; it’s about specificity. I don’t think it’s ableist; if anything, saying you read it feels patronizing.”

Audiobooks Are Not Inferior

Another had something to say about people who think audiobooks are inferior, “It also just makes it feel like they value reading so highly above audibly learning that it makes them insecure to say they listened to it. Who cares if you read or listened to it? No one. But it comes across as “I need everyone to know I read even though I don’t read,” and that tends to be what people judge about it. The person who recorded it read it out loud, and you listened to them doing so.

It’s the Content That Matters

If they attended the lecture of the world’s most famous economist, would they say they read it too? Or if they watch an incredibly riveting documentary that makes groundbreaking connections in a highly specialized field, would they say they read it? There’s absolutely 0 shame in listening to things to learn or enjoy them, so say you listened to the audiobook.”

And lastly, “Say you listened to it, not overexplaining at all. Audiobooks are incredibly common; nobody’s going to be like, “huh???? You listened to it???? What does THAT mean?????”

I Don’t Work Here! Karen Wants Her To Serve Them in a Restaurant She Does Not Work At, “Don’t You Take an Oath or Something?

The original poster (OP) is a student who works as a waitress on the side. However, this story takes place at a restaurant where she DOES NOT work, even sometimes. She was there as a customer, but someone said no.

I Don’t Work Here! Karen Wants Her To Serve Them in a Restaurant She Does Not Work At, “Don’t You Take an Oath or Something?

She Went Back Home After Her Husband Chose to SHARE THE BED With His Friend and Asked Her to Sleep on the Floor

One Reddit user posted in the “Am I the ***hole” group on Reddit, asking whether she was wrong for cutting her vacation short and returning home after her husband asked her to sleep on the floor instead of the bed.

She Went Back Home After Her Husband Chose to SHARE THE BED With His Friend and Asked Her to Sleep on the Floor

They Were Invited to a BBQ but Then Showed Up to An Empty Grill Because The Hosts Thought They Were Bringing The Food

A Reddit user shared a story about how they were invited to a BBQ only to realize they were expected to bring food for the occasion. The hosts became annoyed when they didn’t bring food and refused to buy.

They Were Invited to a BBQ but Then Showed Up to An Empty Grill Because The Hosts Thought They Were Bringing The Food

Who Is In the Wrong, the Thief or the Food Owner? Office Lunch Thief Suffers Anaphylactic Shock and Ends up in Hospital

A Redditor posted in the “Am I the ***hole” subreddit to ask whether he was in the wrong for sending his coworker into an anaphylactic shock.

Office Lunch Thief Suffers Anaphylactic Shock and Ends up in Hospital: Who Is In the Wrong, the Thief or the Food Owner?

Entitled Much? Sister-In-Law Wants Her Daughter’s Disney Trip Paid For Because It “Takes A Village”

The family of the original poster (OP) had a tradition of going on fun trips on the kids’ 10th birthdays. OP’s parents had done it for the whole family, and now they want to continue doing it for their grandchildren.

Entitled Much? Sister-in-Law Wants Her Daughter’s Disney Trip Paid For Because It “Takes a Village”
This article was produced and syndicated by A Dime Saved.