Are audiobooks ‘cheating’?

After a day spent wading through seemingly endless reading as part of my degree, the prospect of unwinding by opening up a book becomes less appealing. Audiobooks are a great alternative in such instances. Some may even argue audiobooks provide a more immersive and enjoyable experience while listening to the dulcet tones of the likes of Stephen Fry can be a great tool for falling asleep. Likewise, when on the move or travelling, audiobooks o er convenience and multitasking opportunities that physical books can’t match. Admittedly, it is perhaps this convenience, combined with a degree of laziness and an inability to concentrate on one thing, that has led to me personally championing the audiobook.

Yet despite their various benefits, there are still those reading purists who roll their eyes at all the audiobook enthusiasts out there. In an age where reading has become almost competitive with the various challenges and platforms to share your reading experiences, many people consider listening to audiobooks as ‘cheating’. The die-hard readers bemoan the ease of audiobooks, full focus isn’t necessary, and a good narrator takes the work out of deciphering literary devices. For them, there is nothing quite like scrolling through a physical book, whether peeling back each page in delight or struggling through a book that they wish they hadn’t started but once started ‘must’ be finished. Perhaps it is this punishment they feel a multitasking audiobook listener avoids. A kind of jealousy towards the method of reading their traditionalism prevents them from trying.

In a way, audiobooks appear too good, too convenient, and too easy to be true, surely they can’t count, or the benefits be equal to sitting down and scrolling through a physical copy? Reading sticklers point towards memory, as one tends to focus more when reading, books can be better for taking in information. However, studies have found people remember more or less the same regardless of whether they have read or listened to a book. In terms of activating the brain, books and audiobooks are both le tools; they just activate erent parts. Audiobooks have also been shown to positively a ect how we perceive the world and our levels of empathy.

However, not all audiobooks are great. Unlike a physical book, a good audiobook depends on more than just the author’s work. All good audiobooks have one thing in common, a good narrator. Not every narrator has Simon Prebble’s sonorous tone, Rupert Degas’ expertise at accents, and Julia Whelan’s delivery of emotion. Anyone who has listened to a bad narrator can attest that it instantly ruins the audiobook. The idea of listening to a voice you simply find annoying or unengaging for what is usually at least 15 hours is a daunting one. Moreover, you know straight away. After the first few sentences, you get a sinking feeling as you realise that audiobook credit has been wasted, and you kick yourself for not taking the time to listen to the preview. A good narrator, though, can transport you, engage you, and immerse you in the tale, providing a sense of comfort you get when you know you’re in good hands.