My first audiobook

I’ve never quite been sold on audiobooks before. I was skeptical both before and after I solicited opinions on whether listening to an audiobook is the same as reading one. (The resounding response was that they’re not the same.)

Over the past sixteen months since I wrote that post, one thing has come up on several occasions and piqued my curiousity. In fact, I’d never even considered it until it was mentioned more recently. That thing? The advantage of having an authour read their work on the audiobook version. Hmmm. There is a certain appeal to that. You can get the emphasis on the parts they considered most important. You get the vibe of what’s going on straight from the source that bore the work. You can hear the ideas in literally the authour’s own words.

Somehow I’d never really contemplated that. I was intrigued.

Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of personal development work with a friend. It all started when she approached me saying, “you’re into the work of Gretchen Rubin, right?” ???????? The angels sang. I finally had someone to talk to about it.

Long story short, my rebel self had bought a copy of The Four Tendencies on pre-order, but had yet to crack the spine of the book (FROM WHEN I GOT IT IN SEPTEMBER 2017.) I’d done a lot of research and work online and listened to every episode of her podcast, but I hadn’t read the book. Hillary was midway through it and once she’d finished, she encouraged me to actually listen to it (with Gretchen reading it) instead of reading it myself.

I took her advice and put it in my library holds list. Now, maybe eight weeks later, it’s finally my turn to borrow it.

I downloaded the book immediately after I got the email and hit play as soon as Kevin had left for practice tonight.

Here were a few things I was afraid of beforehand.

• I wouldn’t be able to focus
• I’d be easily distracted
• I’d get annoyed by listening to the same person talking for so long

In reality, I haven’t felt a hint of any of those things. Not yet, anyway. And in a subject like this one, I have it a little more enjoyable to hear Gretchen speaking than I’d expected. Since I’m accustomed to listening to her, it’s been easier for me to adjust and I’m already looking forward to taking this book on the road with me during times when I wouldn’t normally be able to read – when I’m walking, running or at my desk at work.

Do you like listening to audiobooks? What are some of your favourites?