Hey fellow readers! I’ve been contemplating something and wanted to get your take on it. Do you think reading a book while listening to its audiobook still counts as “reading”? Personally, I find it more convenient, and it allows me to absorb the content in a different and easy way rather than just reading

I’ve noticed that I pick up on details and nuances I might have missed when solely reading. What are your thoughts on this? Do you feel it’s a valid way to experience a book, or do you think it’s a different kind of engagement? Share your experiences and opinions—I’m curious to hear the diverse perspectives of this community!

  • Nephilimn@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Only book payper reed count, Noboby good as reading as me’s. Lissen talky book no count no reel no poynts

  • Plant-Nearby@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I do it when I can. I don’t read much faster than if I were to speak the words myself. It helps me keep focused.

    Audiobooks by themselves are still “reading a book” for the purpose of this argument. So yeah, immersive reading still counts as reading.

    There’s no way to “cheat” reading a book, nor is there a right or wrong or better or more or less valid way.

  • charismelia@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I really enjoy listening to the audiobook while reading, especially if there are a lot of non-English names and terms so I can hear the pronunciations. I listen to them at 2x speed while reading (it’s the fastest I can get without the audio being unintelligible to me). I can read faster silently if I count purely words per minute like when I read newspapers, etc., but I think it helps me retain story and characters better to be fully immersed.

  • imjusthumanmaybe@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    You mean reading + audiobook together? Yeah, it’s called immersive reading and known to improve experience of reading. I do this sometimes too when I have both, especially when Im feeling down or just tired. It helps me focus on the reading and to really get into the story. Even better if it’s a full cast audio. I can’t do audiobook on it’s own because I have shit attention span but immersive reading works for me.

  • BakeKnitCode@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    You know this is not a contest, right? You are not going to be disqualified for using illegal equipment. Do whatever works for you and call it whatever you want to call it. There’s no question in my mind that this is reading, but I also don’t think it matters whether it is or not.

  • iabyajyiv@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I do this. I love reading physical books, but I also want to learn the correct way to pronounce characters ’ names and just some English words in general. I’m not a native English speaker, so audiobooks help a lot.

  • TheNationalRazor1793@alien.top
    cake
    B
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I like to listen sometimes (especially the dramatic readings) I then try to find a movie based on the novel [I don’t stray past my readings to not spoil the plot] it helps me put a face to the words.

    And sometimes I just straight read through so it depends on how I’m feeling at the moment

  • Different_Tailor@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I think this would drive me insane. There’s no way I wouldn’t skip ahead.

    I love audio books but I can’t just sit down and listen to them. Audio books, for me, are for when I’m driving or maybe cooking. I need to be doing something but also doing something that doesn’t take a lot of brain power.

    I don’t know I would say this doesn’t “count as reading”

  • WastedWaffles@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I do it when I’m mentally tired but still want to find out what happens next in the book I’m reading. Great after a long day or after reading for hours on end and you want to switch the pace.

  • 8_Pixels@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    If you consume novels it counts. Audiobooks count, what you said counts, it all counts. Can we move past the gatekeeping BS of whether or not something counts as ‘real’ reading.

    • hurl9e9y9@alien.top
      cake
      B
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Listen, if you didn’t visually see words printed in a Real Paper Book, you didn’t even experience the story. E-readers, tablets, computers, phones, digital audiobooks, books on tape, books on CD, your mom reading a book to you out loud, hell even braille, are all subpar means through which you might not even be able to realize there was a story happening.

      Only light reflected off of literal ink perceived by your eyes while holding a stack of bound paper can be called Reading. Otherwise it’s just sparkling literacy.

      /s

  • j-bomb1@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Absolutely. I do this almost exclusively. I crank the audio speed up to 2.5, sometimes 3 and then it’s more on par with my actual reading speed. But it helps me focus more and not have my thoughts wonder as much since I’m using my ears and eyes to absorb the story.

  • Celodurismo@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    It’s good. It’s expensive, but I like to do it sometimes depending on the book. Hardest part is synching the audio to your reading speed or close enough so you don’t go insane.

  • VengeanceDolphin@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    If it works for you, great! Personally it would drive me crazy because I can read much faster than I can listen. This reminds me of grade school class readings and how I’d always read ahead because I was bored.