I have a tendency to skip words or sometimes whole sentences when I’m reading, so if it’s an author I really like and don’t want to miss anything, I’ll listen to an audio version. And I totally agree with the third panel.
Sometimes even a ‘gripping’ audio book can be spoiled by having a reader whose talents lie elsewhere. Just because, say, a reader is chosen because he/she is a very well known actor, it does not follow their talent will translate to extended reading. The last one I bothered with was ruined when the male reader attempted to simulate the voice for each character, including the female voices. Gave me the shudders.
Sometimes my job takes all the concentration I’ve got. Other points in the process, my hands and eyes can be busy but I’ll have some brain left over. This is a terrific time to listen to radio or podcasts, and I’ve listened to a lot of radio and podcasts.
But in recent years, I’ve found that news, features and podcasts can go in cycles, which is a nice way of saying they repeat themselves. And, honestly, the production and editing values of a lot of podcasts can be a little too, um, expedient. I found myself drifting back to audiobooks. Especially since now they’re actually affordable compared to buying CD collections, and reliable compared to hoping the last guy to check out the audiobook from the library didn’t use that one disc really central to the plot as a coaster or putty knife.
The drift was a good one, and I’m listening to a lot of audiobooks. I’m very happy, a little smarter and a lot less stressed out. But I am learning I have to be selective. The one thing about audiobooks is that you can easily fall into the trap of believing — correctly, I suppose — that it doesn’t have to require the same focus as a printed book, so you can end up selecting books you otherwise might have been a little more careful about wasting your time on. In my case, that’s self-improvement books, or self-help, if you prefer. God knows I can use the guidance, but audio is NOT the way to listen to those. Except when it is, and by that I mean burning through them at 1.5x speed or higher. Which is remarkably easy to get used to. I even have a system: When I find myself running through the audio at 2x speed, it’s time to acknowledge that it’s time to cut my losses. Thank the book for whatever good it did me and then get rid of it. I was able to pick up that much before I thanked the Marie Kondo podcast and bailed.
M2MM almost 6 years ago
Self-help & self-improvement = Zzzzzzzzz :) Can’t argue with that!
Carl Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Audio books = commute
asrialfeeple almost 6 years ago
Same with the strips really. Some will grip you and some will sedate you.
jackianne1020 almost 6 years ago
I have a tendency to skip words or sometimes whole sentences when I’m reading, so if it’s an author I really like and don’t want to miss anything, I’ll listen to an audio version. And I totally agree with the third panel.
lagoulou almost 6 years ago
I prefer the smell and feel of paper…nothing like cracking the spine on a new book!
sandpiper almost 6 years ago
Sometimes even a ‘gripping’ audio book can be spoiled by having a reader whose talents lie elsewhere. Just because, say, a reader is chosen because he/she is a very well known actor, it does not follow their talent will translate to extended reading. The last one I bothered with was ruined when the male reader attempted to simulate the voice for each character, including the female voices. Gave me the shudders.
wellis1947 Premium Member almost 6 years ago
In other words, Marshall McLuhan not withstanding, the medium IS NOT the message! Or did I just confuse you youngsters?
Fido (aka Felix Rex) almost 6 years ago
The kid is right — it doesn’t what format, or even what thing is being analyzed. The good ones are good and the bad ones are bad.
whelan_jj almost 6 years ago
Ive never measured but I’m sure I can read a book over ten times as fast as having it read to me.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 6 years ago
PostsFrazz12 hrs ·
Sometimes my job takes all the concentration I’ve got. Other points in the process, my hands and eyes can be busy but I’ll have some brain left over. This is a terrific time to listen to radio or podcasts, and I’ve listened to a lot of radio and podcasts.
But in recent years, I’ve found that news, features and podcasts can go in cycles, which is a nice way of saying they repeat themselves. And, honestly, the production and editing values of a lot of podcasts can be a little too, um, expedient. I found myself drifting back to audiobooks. Especially since now they’re actually affordable compared to buying CD collections, and reliable compared to hoping the last guy to check out the audiobook from the library didn’t use that one disc really central to the plot as a coaster or putty knife.
The drift was a good one, and I’m listening to a lot of audiobooks. I’m very happy, a little smarter and a lot less stressed out. But I am learning I have to be selective. The one thing about audiobooks is that you can easily fall into the trap of believing — correctly, I suppose — that it doesn’t have to require the same focus as a printed book, so you can end up selecting books you otherwise might have been a little more careful about wasting your time on. In my case, that’s self-improvement books, or self-help, if you prefer. God knows I can use the guidance, but audio is NOT the way to listen to those. Except when it is, and by that I mean burning through them at 1.5x speed or higher. Which is remarkably easy to get used to. I even have a system: When I find myself running through the audio at 2x speed, it’s time to acknowledge that it’s time to cut my losses. Thank the book for whatever good it did me and then get rid of it. I was able to pick up that much before I thanked the Marie Kondo podcast and bailed.