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I've been reading books for about 74 years now. I've also listened to a LOT of audiobooks as well as reading ebooks in the past 40 or 50 years. I began listening to audio literature on Caedmon records. I began reading ebooks before they were called ebooks.
A little while ago I browsed through a list of the 100 books you should read in your lifetime and I think I read maybe 1/3 of those books. Some I listened to. Most I read. In a number of cases I can't recall which I did. I both read and listened to several of them.
If it matters how I experienced them I can't tell it.
With lots of reading and listening behind me I can't really convince myself that reading and listening are the same thing. They are different although I don't think I can state what those differences are. It probably varies with each book and each narrator. But I can see no reason to think one is superior to the other.
Listening is probably, at times at least, a bit more focused. The narrator is driving and setting the pace. He's also read the book already and his knowledge of what's to come affects his phrasing and emphasis and probably gives me a little extra insight.
Reading myself let's me stop more easily to think about what's being said.
So both have their advantages. They're simply not the same experience.
My preference is for reading visually. I still do both but I read a LOT more than I listen. That's a personal preference and if I could only listen I'd be happy enough with that.
The argument about which is better can never be answered. The only answer ever is a personal one.
Barry
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