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Humans have told, savoured, and delighted in stories since the beginning of time, and the emergence of the audio book, inevitable in our technological times, has brought forward this storytelling tradition and given it a modern twist. But audiobooks and ebooks are becoming far more than today’s interpretation of an ancient practice – they are rapidly turning into the reading method of choice for many around the globe. Here are some of the main reasons why.

Convenience

Few would argue that the scent of a new hardcover or the feel of a beloved antique book can be a sensory delight, but our society prizes and demands convenience, and the audiobook is certainly convenient. A recorded book, whether downloaded on a computer or purchased on CD, requires very little storage space – only a tiny part of a hard drive or a slim fraction of a bookcase. You can download and enjoy a book immediately without leaving your couch, changing out of your pyjamas, or putting down your bowl of New York Super Fudge Chunk. And, thanks to portable, virtually weightless MP3 players, a book can be effortlessly taken and experienced anywhere.

Meet Many Needs

Before talking books, countless people were denied the opportunities that books provided, except when helped by others. They have opened up a world of language, stories, and dreams to those in need.

The Advantages

•Visually impaired people can take part in current book culture and listen to the latest best seller, a trendy self-help book, a language course, or a classic novel. The palpable void that narrated books fill for the visually challenged has led to ever-growing programming that distributes and provides books free of charge for this segment of our society. •Illiteracy can be fought with recorded books, stories, information, empowerment, and knowledge to those who cannot read; they can be a tool for the non-reader, as well. Listening to a book while following along in the printed version of a work can stimulate learning, especially for those who are both audio and visual learners.

•Learning a new language is made much simpler with narrated books. The student can hear, mimic, and surround himself with the language, and not depending on the impersonal practicality of printed pronunciation guides. •Listening skills are enhanced as are comprehension skills. Teaching a child (or adult) with recorded words develops added, valuable, transferable skill sets. •Reluctant readers can be drawn into the fantastic and wonderful world of words with abridged audiobooks. While books can be intimidating to some, the spoken word can warm the written word, open doors, and create possibilities.

Audiobooks Can Go Where Printed Books Can’t!

In our hectic times, multitasking has become way of life and a skill to be nurtured and valued. While reading a book is a luxury that many deny themselves, a digital book, which fits so nicely with multitasking, is an allowable treat. They can be enjoyed when jogging, cleaning, and travelling, working… the list of possibilities is endless, and this fact is borne out if you read many of the posts in any of the audiobooks forum sites.

Affordable

With the growing availability of cost-free public domain, people from all walks of society have access to a vast collection of works. The accessibility of the required listening hardware at public libraries means that a free library card can offer a nearly endless supply of recorded books for the patron. For those who prefer the selection available in the private domain, pricing is still very reasonable – typically, a for-profit audiobook costs slightly less than a paperback version of the work on average.

Good for Our Planet

Many who choose digital books over the printed word are making a consciously green choice for our planet. Books and other printed materials are a drain on our supply of natural resources and put harmful processing chemicals into our air, water, and soil supplies. Also, their carbon footprint is large; thanks to the great distances books are transported for sale and distribution. Comparatively, they are also an earth-friendly choice, as they are less costly to our environment and are less likely to end up in landfills.

Talking Books Provide Experiences

Of course, reading an unforgettable book is a salient experience, but for those that love to read audio books offer a different type of sensory experience for the listener. Imagine sitting and listening to Dylan Thomas read A Child’s Christmas in Wales, or to J.R.R. Tolkien read from The Lord of the Rings. Experiencing the voice combined with the content can be poignant and exhilarating indeed, and transports the reader beyond his own imagination into the presence, personality, and imagination of another person.

Because of the recorded word, these experiences can belong to each of us. As audiobooks become ever more popular, we will see more and more works available in this format. A recent search on Amazon.com revealed over 668,000 books now available (obviously, something for everyone). With the advantages – both practical and emotional – that digital books offer, even the die-hard reader will succumb eventually to the wonderful experience that is audio books.