To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it’s about, but the inner music the words make.
Truman Capote, McCall’s, November 1967
I tried out a handful of audiobooks, but I could never get into them. In contrast to podcasts (and YouTube Videos turned into podcasts by downloading the videos and converting them into mp3s), I just find it hard to hear something that was written to be read, not spoken. But after reading (not listening to 😉 ) a rather long but worthwhile Quillette article about audiobooks — yeah, I can see its uses. At least for the unabridged version of fiction books.
And if I were to commute every day by car, I might consider it.
Although I would likely check myself into a mental hospital first. I mean, I walk to work every day, which takes about 45 minutes in total, but it’s time I walk, i.e., exercise — given my walking speed. Sitting in a car for that time? Dafuq?
But yeah, perhaps it’s a way to get some “reading” done. Personally, when it comes to listening, I stick to podcasts/vidcasts-turned-mp3s. If they are good, it’s like listening to a person who speaks to you (para-social interaction is a thing). Or listening in on a conversation.
But for books, I much like my castrated iPad mini, which portable enough to have it with me where ever I go.
But yeah, audiobooks might work for some (you can find some on YouTube, BTW, like this one).
