Verified answer

Generally I much prefer to sit down and read the book myself. It is often more vivid if I hear the words in my head, the descriptions and characters and so on. I think your brain is designed to be able to "create" the world the author is making internally so that you will give the characters images and voices.

There are circumstances in which I will listen to an audiobook. On a long driving trip for example. Or at work. I used to work a swing shift in a hospital business office. I was processing accounts, insurance payments and such, and I had an office area to myself. So I brought in a radio and the local NPR station would do book readings. It was easy to listen to, and I ended up listening to the readings of some books I would not have picked up on my own that I really enjoyed.

Reading the book always comes first for me, however listening to the audio book can have its merits. When I'm going on a road trip they can be nice to have. Or sometimes when the author does the reading it can make it a more unique experience or famous actors with very familiar voices.

Although I have noticed that some books can be confusing and hard to listen to the audio version (like a science fiction or fantasy book). Some books you just need to take your own time to read and enjoy.

I would prefer to listen, because I like to do that before going to bed... But I find that the reader reads too quickly and I can't put my imagination at work...

With reading, I can go as fast or slow as I'd like... but it hurts my neck... that's why I prefer the other method.

If it is an important work of literature / philosophy, then it is essential to read the words, at your own pace, go over and over lines that stick out, memorize your favorites, question others. But light fiction, narrative stories, and narrative non-fiction, are often best narrated by their authors on audio-book.

Hi there,

That depends, sometimes I love audio books, sometimes I prefer the actual book. But when cleaning or gardening, I always have my iPod with me, and listen to great novels on tape :)

Cheers

S

Id prefer to just read it. i like to be able to think in my own way of how the characters are thinking or saying something. i have a very good imagination. haha.

i like to read becuase it seems quicker and if there's a part of the book that I want to read again or like if I read a passage and want to read it again cause I didn't fully understand it, its easy to find the place.