Audiobooks – Listening and Reading

Legendary US sit com “Friends” featured a sketch in which Chandler tries to quit smoking and plays a tape before bed time, persuading him to get rid of this bad habit. A problem arose: the tape was intended for women so we spent the next half hour screaming with laughter, following our crazed hero who was suddenly faced with his feminine side. And when Joey added a part to the tape where he persuades Chandler to make him sandwiches every day? Unforgettable…

Apart from its humour, this episode remained in the back of our heads as one of the first encounters with audiobooks, recordings of texts.

Listen to what I am reading

Audiobooks are made like songs by your favourite bands are. They are recorded in a studio and then released on CD`s, cassettes or are offered for downloading online. Often, even though not always, they are read by the author, and if the author does not have a pleasant voice, then a famous hot shot from the radio or film world jumps in. Such a recording, instead of chapters in the printed version, is divided into many smaller recordings, lasting up to several minutes so that the listener might continue “reading” as desired.

In practice, audiobooks are not that different from your average album. You simply place the desired book in your stereo or mobile player and press “play”. It is up to you and your listening concentration. As most people are used to absorbing information visually, as least as books go, often a period of adjustment to the new audio format is necessary.

I am listening to what I want

Recorded books follow the colourful variety of their printed counterparts when it comes to themes, therefore apart from various self-help texts, you can find world`s greatest fiction hits as audio editions. Apart from recording previously printed editions, certain companies, like the BBC for example, release only audio editions. Still, this is rare.

Audiobooks are not too common or popular, as far as Croatia goes, at least, but the situation is a bit different in the world. The world audiobook market is worth billions of dollars and versions that can simply be downloaded online are most popular versions. Such distribution format is most simple for the publishers, who do not have to worry about the quality of CD`s for instance, but for the listeners as well, especially today when almost every mobile phone has a build in MP3 player.

I am listening to you as an open book

Such form of releasing texts seemed unnecessary to many at first. Books in printed form have been around for centuries, and even the blind, who seem to be the ideal focus group for audiobooks, have their printed editions that are “read” with fingers. Still, the situation is not that simple. When a user posted a comment on a forum, stating he never takes the printed versions, but uses audiobooks exclusively, he was attacked by most of other users who defended the “sanctity” of the printed book. With this even the hard core audiophiles proved that the printed book will probably never be out of style. But when the same user explained he has a reading disorder, and that the audio editions are the only way to enjoy literature, mass apologising occurred.

The main purpose of audiobooks is not just to help people with special needs, but to enable “healthy” individuals to enjoy literature that is impossible to use as “ordinary” books. Audiobooks are listened to while driving, at work, at all the special places where most people listen to music.

Still, audiobooks are not for everyone. Many will find it hard to get used to listening to texts or simply do not like the voice of the person reading a certain edition.