For the last few months I have been close to noncommunicative, making my home into a cave. I have been no fun. The reason? A nasty case of shingles. Luckily for me, I am married to a saint.
I am allergic to the vaccine for shingles, so there wasn’t much I could do. A whopping case of misery was my fate. Much of my head was affected including an eye, causing intense itching and pain. Reading was a not an option.
All the cohosts of Writers In The Storm blog were super supportive, and together they covered my responsibilities while keeping up with their own work. Jenny Hansen was the first one in the group to mention audiobooks and suggested one book in particular that had several elements in common with my work in progress. Olivia Hawker’s October in the Earthwas just that and gave me several things to ponder that will make The Hobo Code a better book.
Before listening to Jenny’s suggested audiobook, I listened to Skin Game by Jim Butcher. When I was younger and in need of escape I’d read through the Lord of the Rings trilogy. These days, I delve into Jim Butcher’s Dresden books instead.
Audiobooks for travel
Have you ever driven along a dreary, flat two-lane road or a country highway for hours at a time? Growing up in Illinois, that happened a lot. Driving past unending rows of corn on a straight country road can be hypnotizing and dangerous. Listening to audiobooks can keep the driver alert and less likely to become drowsy at the wheel.
Depending on where you live and work you might have a long car commute. In which case, having an audiobook to listen to can make the drive seem faster.
Before television there was radio. No moving pictures, just audio with our imagination to fill in an inner vision.
Back in the day people would gather close to the radio and listen to news, commercials, stories, serials, and music. Listening is more than hearing. You must pay attention to what you are hearing. It’s an active process that requires conscious effort—a learned skill that takes practice. Attending a play helps build listening skills, so do audiobooks.
I knew very little about the audiobook Jenny suggested, other than it had information in it about hobos. Beginning the audiobook, I wondered if I would be able to keep focused, listening to a long book and not nod off.
The writer did such a fine job with the narrative that I had no trouble finding myself within the story, as if I were there, watching the scenes. Now I have some major rewriting to do for The Hobo Code, but it will be a much better book. Thank you, Jenny and Olivia!
Children’s listening skills
The Audio Publishers Association suggests that audiobooks help “build and enhance vital literacy skills such as fluency, vocabulary, language acquisition, pronunciation, phonemic awareness, and comprehension—skills that often boost reading scores.”
Brain scans done at UC Berkeley showed that the stories stimulated the same cognitive and emotional areas, whether print books or audiobooks. Either way, you are still absorbing information. For people with dyslexia or other reading disabilities, audiobooks may be a useful tool to access literature.
Does listening to audiobooks count as reading? Is it cheating?
The answer to those questions come from your definition of reading. If reading is understanding what the story is about, then audiobooks do well. The ability to take printed text and associate letters with sounds is important in learning to read. But, understanding the content, thinking critically about the message or story, using imagination, and making connections is at the core of being a reader and why children learn to enjoy books.
Audiobooks may improve our health
Audiobooks may improve happiness and health. Some people find that listening to an audiobook before bed relaxes them, making falling asleep easier. Much like being read to before bedtime as a child. I used to tell my psychology students that reading to a child is the next best thing to a hug. I still feel that is true.
If you listen to a book instead of reading from an eBook you’re less likely to stare at a screen and be exposed to blue light before bedtime. Blue light can mess with your sleep-wake cycle and suppress melatonin production.
It’s also been shown that audiobooks help improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsiveness in the elderly population.
Final thoughts
I found listening to audiobooks a great way to immerse myself into a new world.
In this form of media listeners use the author and narrator/voice actor to help create mental pictures of characters and situations thereby creating a new world. Listening to a narrator’s voice, complete with intonations and occasional sound effects, can captivate the imagination.
It’s fantastic for anyone needing a mental break from daily stress and wonderful for those who, for whatever the reason, find themselves unable to read.
Do you enjoy listening to audiobooks? Do you have a favorite? Have you ever planned to purchase an audiobook but decide not to buy it because you disliked the voice actor?
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About Ellen
Author, speaker, and former teacher, Ellen L. Buikema has written non-fiction for parents, and The Adventures of Charlie Chameleon chapter book series with stories encouraging the development of empathy—sprinkling humor wherever possible. Her Works in Progress are The Hobo Code, YA historical fiction and The Crystal Key, MG Magical Realism/ Sci-Fi, a glaze of time travel.
18 comments on “How Audiobooks Can Benefit People of all Ages”
I love audio books. As a librarian with a long commute, audio books of children's and adult titles helped me to keep up with mew and classic books. I'm still hooked and recommend great narrators yo my friends!
Thank you for your column, and I understand that as a whole, it was an encouragement to try audiobooks, but ouch! As a life-long reader, whose house is sinking under the weight of thousands of books, I nevertheless take umbrage with your statement "But, understanding the content, thinking critically about the message or story, using imagination, and making connections is at the core of being a reader and why children learn to enjoy books." Maybe you didn't mean to imply that listening doesn't allow one to understand, think critically, use imagination, and make connections, (how I interpreted your sentence), but I can attest with no doubt at all that listening allows for all of the above. I speak both as an avid listener and as a mother who read to her children for YEARS--long after they were old enough to read for themselves (which they most certainly did, even while eagerly sharing reading time with me for different books). All of those skills can be honed while listening; I sometimes find myself noticing entirely different nuances while listening than I do while reading, and my children became expert literary analyists through their years of listening and discussing children's and YA lit. And a talented narrator like Julia Whelan can bring a work of art like Kristin Hannah's The Women to a whole new level of transcendence.
I am in agreement,listening does allow for getting the message, using imagination, and making connections. However, reading is still an important life skill and needs to be part of a child's learning.
When writing, it's good to try to remember to include all the senses so the readers/listeners have the best experience.
As a teacher, I tried my best to include as many sensory ways to learn as possible. Some students did best with listening, some visual, and many were full body learners, but that's a story for another day. 🙂
Ellen, I feel for you. I had a case of shingles years ago -- luckily in the middle of my back -- and was amazed at how painful it was. So glad you're getting better! It was so good to see you over last weekend!
I learned about audio books on some of my long drives, also. It makes time pass so quickly when you can be in the imagination of a story. I also often listen to them on my path to sleep.
Many of us have too much going on and can miss out on reading time.
Being unable to read for a while was like torture for me. The audiobooks were great. However, the first one I listened to had James Marsters as the voice actor and now I'm spoiled.😊
I don’t listen to audio books a lot but have enjoyed biographies and nonfiction. There are narrators I don’t like as much as others but typically it’s the content that loses me or engages me.
I love this. I haven't adjusted to listening to audiobooks yet, but I'm fascinated by how they are merging into how people read stories and helping people find more time for reading. Can't go wrong there!
Thank you for a wonderful article Ellen. I read print, ebook and audiobooks. I am always surprised when I hear that question, Are audiobooks cheating? And I'm not sure why anyone would consider it cheating. I'm old enough to remember listening to stories on the radio with my parents and it seems to have been forgotten that verbal storytelling is a very ancient art through most cultures.
I took the plunge and had a professional narrate all three books of The Sackville Hotel Trilogy. They sound wonderful, but the marketing is a quite a challenge. However your article has given me some ideas. Thank you.
I'm not an audiobook reader because I can't seem to keep focused with them--I think my brain treats them as background noise because of TRT.
However, I vehemently defend them as books. For many with disabilities and/or debilitating diseases or medical differences, it's the only way they can read a book.
Dear Ellen, I am so sorry to hear about your shingles. I am also highly allergic to the shingles vaccine after trying three times. It left me unable to walk or balance myself for close to a week. However, I was fortunate and used my considerable charm to persuade a pharmacist I've known for over 20 years to administer the chickenpox vaccine, called Varicella, to me in 3 doses over a year. I haven't had an outbreak since. I've been thinking about writing a blog about it. I also consulted with AI, and if you do have an outbreak, there's an antiviral medication by tablet called ACYCLOVIR.
I love audio books. As a librarian with a long commute, audio books of children's and adult titles helped me to keep up with mew and classic books. I'm still hooked and recommend great narrators yo my friends!
Beth, that's a great way to make the drive seem shorter while getting some work done at the same time. Awesome!
I hear you about the quality of the narrator, so important.
Thank you for your column, and I understand that as a whole, it was an encouragement to try audiobooks, but ouch! As a life-long reader, whose house is sinking under the weight of thousands of books, I nevertheless take umbrage with your statement "But, understanding the content, thinking critically about the message or story, using imagination, and making connections is at the core of being a reader and why children learn to enjoy books." Maybe you didn't mean to imply that listening doesn't allow one to understand, think critically, use imagination, and make connections, (how I interpreted your sentence), but I can attest with no doubt at all that listening allows for all of the above. I speak both as an avid listener and as a mother who read to her children for YEARS--long after they were old enough to read for themselves (which they most certainly did, even while eagerly sharing reading time with me for different books). All of those skills can be honed while listening; I sometimes find myself noticing entirely different nuances while listening than I do while reading, and my children became expert literary analyists through their years of listening and discussing children's and YA lit. And a talented narrator like Julia Whelan can bring a work of art like Kristin Hannah's The Women to a whole new level of transcendence.
Hi Meg!
I am in agreement,listening does allow for getting the message, using imagination, and making connections. However, reading is still an important life skill and needs to be part of a child's learning.
When writing, it's good to try to remember to include all the senses so the readers/listeners have the best experience.
As a teacher, I tried my best to include as many sensory ways to learn as possible. Some students did best with listening, some visual, and many were full body learners, but that's a story for another day. 🙂
Ellen, I feel for you. I had a case of shingles years ago -- luckily in the middle of my back -- and was amazed at how painful it was. So glad you're getting better! It was so good to see you over last weekend!
I learned about audio books on some of my long drives, also. It makes time pass so quickly when you can be in the imagination of a story. I also often listen to them on my path to sleep.
Great post! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Sally!
Audiobooks really help pass the time on the road, and helped me a lot when I was unable to read due to shingles.
I'm trying acupuncture to try and get over the last of the nerve damage. So far it's helping! I just wish I tried it sooner.
Absolutely, Lisa.
Many of us have too much going on and can miss out on reading time.
Being unable to read for a while was like torture for me. The audiobooks were great. However, the first one I listened to had James Marsters as the voice actor and now I'm spoiled.😊
I don’t listen to audio books a lot but have enjoyed biographies and nonfiction. There are narrators I don’t like as much as others but typically it’s the content that loses me or engages me.
There was a book that I lost along the way and planned to replace as an audiobook, but the voice actor was a bad fit for me. Didn't make the purchase.
I prefer reading but now and then I enjoy an audiobook.
I love this. I haven't adjusted to listening to audiobooks yet, but I'm fascinated by how they are merging into how people read stories and helping people find more time for reading. Can't go wrong there!
Thank you for a wonderful article Ellen. I read print, ebook and audiobooks. I am always surprised when I hear that question, Are audiobooks cheating? And I'm not sure why anyone would consider it cheating. I'm old enough to remember listening to stories on the radio with my parents and it seems to have been forgotten that verbal storytelling is a very ancient art through most cultures.
I took the plunge and had a professional narrate all three books of The Sackville Hotel Trilogy. They sound wonderful, but the marketing is a quite a challenge. However your article has given me some ideas. Thank you.
Hi Susan,
I included the "cheating" question because I found it curious, and do not agree with it either.
How did you end up finding your voice actor? I am amazed at the abilities some have to do a variety of voices and keep track of it all.
I'm happy to hear that this article is useful. Thank you!
I'm not an audiobook reader because I can't seem to keep focused with them--I think my brain treats them as background noise because of TRT.
However, I vehemently defend them as books. For many with disabilities and/or debilitating diseases or medical differences, it's the only way they can read a book.
Hi Denise,
Audiobooks are not for everyone. But they are super helpful for people for a variety of reasons, including differing abilities.
Thank you for your comment!
Dear Ellen, I am so sorry to hear about your shingles. I am also highly allergic to the shingles vaccine after trying three times. It left me unable to walk or balance myself for close to a week. However, I was fortunate and used my considerable charm to persuade a pharmacist I've known for over 20 years to administer the chickenpox vaccine, called Varicella, to me in 3 doses over a year. I haven't had an outbreak since. I've been thinking about writing a blog about it. I also consulted with AI, and if you do have an outbreak, there's an antiviral medication by tablet called ACYCLOVIR.
Thank you, Kate!
Antivirals were a game changer, but I needed two rounds of them. When it involves the eye things get interesting and not in a fun way.
I'm glad that you found someone willing to help you!
I've tried them recently and like them on occasion.
I am new to them too. Do you tend to listen to them on long drives? It's nice to be able to listen to audiobooks through the phone.