Do you prefer physical book, ebook or audiobook? - Page 2

CAFlanny · 06-01-2026, 02:27 PM

I prefer ebooks and audiobooks together. Most audiobooks tend to be slow, so I will turn up the speed to just below where it sounds too fast, usually 1.15x or 1.2x. Then I follow along in the ebook. I also listen to the audiobook in the car and then find my place in the ebook when I get home. I will occasionally read a pbook, if the ebook isn't available, but I only get these at the library. I don't buy pbooks anymore.

DNSB · 06-01-2026, 02:50 PM

At one time, I tried ListenBook on an iPhone which allowed up to 5X speed. At anything over 4X, I found it almost impossible to listen since the effect reminded me of an old fashioned auctioneer.

DiapDealer · 06-01-2026, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAFlanny

I prefer ebooks and audiobooks together. Most audiobooks tend to be slow, so I will turn up the speed to just below where it sounds too fast, usually 1.15x or 1.2x. Then I follow along in the ebook. I also listen to the audiobook in the car and then find my place in the ebook when I get home. I will occasionally read a pbook, if the ebook isn't available, but I only get these at the library. I don't buy pbooks anymore.

1.25x is my default. But I have been known to up that to 1.4-1.5 if the book is super long. It depends on the narrator, too. I've run into more than a few who read waaaay too slow for me to enjoy at normal speed.

Chinook1544 · 06-01-2026, 05:08 PM

For those of us who were playmates of Methuselah, and have not aged gracefully, ebooks are our sanity savior. As much as I used to adore print books, the ability to adjust ebook font sizes and boldness, to accommodate my failing eyesight, is an absolute game changer.

tomsem · 06-01-2026, 05:12 PM

ebook, with audiobooks far behind and books almost never (have to be special interest and not available as ebook).

I used to listen to audiobooks more but had long commutes to consume them. I am retired and seem to have fewer opportunities for long form audio. I must have a couple of hundred unread audiobooks and haven't finished more than a couple of them in 2 years. I can read faster even compared to audiobook sped up (I could do 2x with most narrators; 1x is often sleep inducing - narrators have to work to slow down as some portion of the audience would not be able to follow along otherwise).

That said, some audiobooks are wonderfully done and worth the time.

Karellen · 06-01-2026, 05:27 PM

A bit off topic, but the comments on speeding up playback of audiobooks. I do this with some tv shows that I am not enjoying, but still want to find out what happens at the end of the show.

It's not until I speed up the show, usually 1.3x or 1.4x (and I can still clearly understand what is being said) that I realise how slow paced the show is. I can watch a 42min episode in about 23min. But some shows can't go past 1.2x due to the fast talking nature of the actors.

Deskisamess · 06-01-2026, 06:49 PM

Ebooks hands down. The only print books we may buy are coffee table books, and occasional Bible study type book. I use speak screen on my iDevices to listen to lite fiction ebooks at times, usually when I'm sewing or cooking.

I'm not a fan of most audio books. There are some readers on Librivox that I like, so sometimes look for a classic if I'm in the mood to listen.

Kindles gave reading back to me. The ability to adjust font size and line spacing was miraculous for me.

Scoob · 06-01-2026, 11:02 PM

I buy all three types honestly. I tend to buy more audiobook and ebook than physical books now though. I might buy a audiobook or ebook because I may like it. I'll only buy a physical book if I know I'll like it as space on my library shelves is dwindling.

pdurrant · 06-02-2026, 07:59 AM

Ebooks. I've probably read a dozen paper books in the last 25 years, compared to circa 4000 ebooks.

I don't do audiobooks - just podcasts when I need sound only.

theducks · 06-02-2026, 12:17 PM

ebooks are so much lighter these days. On rare occasions, I hit the public Library (or my book storage) for older releases (when there has been a long dry spell).
Audiobooks have an added benefit: My headphones also cover my ears when running yard equipment and hunting Gophers.

Canis_lupus · 06-02-2026, 12:50 PM

ebooks only for me.

JBaby · 06-03-2026, 07:29 AM

I don’t have a preference on which I like more. I like both ebook and audiobook the same. I read more ebooks most days, but this month will mostly be all audio because the books I’m reading for Pride I only own them via audiobook. I prefer nonfiction in audio because so much of it is read by the author and I really enjoy that. I absolutely detest dead tree books.

DJUNGELSKOG · Yesterday, 01:40 PM

Ebooks = audiobooks > paper books.

06-01-2026, 05:12 PM	#20
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,216 Karma: 28000007 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPad Mini, Kindle Colorsoft, Kindle Scribe Colorsoft	ebook, with audiobooks far behind and books almost never (have to be special interest and not available as ebook). I used to listen to audiobooks more but had long commutes to consume them. I am retired and seem to have fewer opportunities for long form audio. I must have a couple of hundred unread audiobooks and haven't finished more than a couple of them in 2 years. I can read faster even compared to audiobook sped up (I could do 2x with most narrators; 1x is often sleep inducing - narrators have to work to slow down as some portion of the audience would not be able to follow along otherwise). That said, some audiobooks are wonderfully done and worth the time. Last edited by tomsem; 06-01-2026 at 05:15 PM.

06-02-2026, 07:59 AM	#24
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 75,665 Karma: 320245580 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Ebooks. I've probably read a dozen paper books in the last 25 years, compared to circa 4000 ebooks. I don't do audiobooks - just podcasts when I need sound only. Last edited by pdurrant; 06-02-2026 at 08:04 AM.

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06-01-2026, 02:27 PM	#16
CAFlanny Connoisseur Posts: 83 Karma: 2850802 Join Date: May 2021 Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Bigme B751C, Kobo Libra H2O	I prefer ebooks and audiobooks together. Most audiobooks tend to be slow, so I will turn up the speed to just below where it sounds too fast, usually 1.15x or 1.2x. Then I follow along in the ebook. I also listen to the audiobook in the car and then find my place in the ebook when I get home. I will occasionally read a pbook, if the ebook isn't available, but I only get these at the library. I don't buy pbooks anymore.

06-01-2026, 02:50 PM	#17
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 52,184 Karma: 180576670 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	At one time, I tried ListenBook on an iPhone which allowed up to 5X speed. At anything over 4X, I found it almost impossible to listen since the effect reminded me of an old fashioned auctioneer.

06-01-2026, 05:08 PM	#19
Chinook1544 Green Grass Newbie Posts: 26 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Far, Far Northern US Device: Kindle Paperwhite	For those of us who were playmates of Methuselah, and have not aged gracefully, ebooks are our sanity savior. As much as I used to adore print books, the ability to adjust ebook font sizes and boldness, to accommodate my failing eyesight, is an absolute game changer.

06-01-2026, 05:27 PM	#21
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,839 Karma: 9600930 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	A bit off topic, but the comments on speeding up playback of audiobooks. I do this with some tv shows that I am not enjoying, but still want to find out what happens at the end of the show. It's not until I speed up the show, usually 1.3x or 1.4x (and I can still clearly understand what is being said) that I realise how slow paced the show is. I can watch a 42min episode in about 23min. But some shows can't go past 1.2x due to the fast talking nature of the actors.

06-01-2026, 06:49 PM	#22
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,818 Karma: 46117477 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	Ebooks hands down. The only print books we may buy are coffee table books, and occasional Bible study type book. I use speak screen on my iDevices to listen to lite fiction ebooks at times, usually when I'm sewing or cooking. I'm not a fan of most audio books. There are some readers on Librivox that I like, so sometimes look for a classic if I'm in the mood to listen. Kindles gave reading back to me. The ability to adjust font size and line spacing was miraculous for me.

06-01-2026, 11:02 PM	#23
Scoob Groupie Posts: 173 Karma: 100 Join Date: Sep 2024 Location: USA Device: Voyage, K3, NST, Glow+ 2019, Glow 4, Sony Ereaders	I buy all three types honestly. I tend to buy more audiobook and ebook than physical books now though. I might buy a audiobook or ebook because I may like it. I'll only buy a physical book if I know I'll like it as space on my library shelves is dwindling.

06-02-2026, 12:17 PM	#25
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,797 Karma: 64144480 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	ebooks are so much lighter these days. On rare occasions, I hit the public Library (or my book storage) for older releases (when there has been a long dry spell). Audiobooks have an added benefit: My headphones also cover my ears when running yard equipment and hunting Gophers.

06-02-2026, 12:50 PM	#26
Canis_lupus Enthusiast Posts: 45 Karma: 21212 Join Date: Sep 2021 Device: K2, K3, Touch, K5B, Voyage, PW4, Oasis 1, 2 & 3, PW5	ebooks only for me.

06-03-2026, 07:29 AM	#27
JBaby Addict Posts: 261 Karma: 3755662 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Parsons, KS Device: 1st Gen Colorsoft SE, 2024 11” M4 iPad Pro & iPhone 15 Pro Max	I don’t have a preference on which I like more. I like both ebook and audiobook the same. I read more ebooks most days, but this month will mostly be all audio because the books I’m reading for Pride I only own them via audiobook. I prefer nonfiction in audio because so much of it is read by the author and I really enjoy that. I absolutely detest dead tree books.

Yesterday, 01:40 PM	#28
DJUNGELSKOG Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 585486 Join Date: Nov 2023 Location: Belgium / Vlaanderen Device: Kobo Libra 2 + Vivlio Light HD + (ancient) iPad Pro	Ebooks = audiobooks > paper books.

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