Reading Goal

[KyBunnies]

Should audio books count toward a reading goal?

[issybird]

Originally Posted by KyBunnies

Should audio books count toward a reading goal?

Your goal, your call.

That said, I don't see why not. You've consumed the content and that's the main point, isn't it?

Just as an aside, for me it's all about the tense and the voice. I never say I'm reading a book I'm listening to, but once I'm done I count it as having been read.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by KyBunnies

Should audio books count toward a reading goal?

Yes, most definitely! Format doesn't matter.

[Catlady]

What would be the justification for NOT counting audiobooks?

[FizzyWater]

Some people (not me) feel that people will multitask when listening to an audiobook. I've seem some complain they couldn't have possibly absorbed everything. Others say "it's not fair" because reading (versus listening) means you *can't* multitask, so why should those who listen to audiobooks get credit for doing two things at once.

For me, it can actually go both ways. When I first started listening to audiobooks, I mostly listened to books I'd already read. I'd get distracted, and having already read the books allowed me to jump back in without necessarily having to back track too much. I was amazed, however, at how much sounded new to me - details I obviously skimmed when I was reading.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Some people (not me) feel that people will multitask when listening to an audiobook. I've seem some complain they couldn't have possibly absorbed everything. Others say "it's not fair" because reading (versus listening) means you *can't* multitask, so why should those who listen to audiobooks get credit for doing two things at once.

For me, it can actually go both ways. When I first started listening to audiobooks, I mostly listened to books I'd already read. I'd get distracted, and having already read the books allowed me to jump back in without necessarily having to back track too much. I was amazed, however, at how much sounded new to me - details I obviously skimmed when I was reading.

I multitask when reading text, too, although it's usually limited to listening to music or watching TV. Audiobooks give me a lot more scope for multitasking.

[sakura-panda]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Some people (not me) feel that people will multitask when listening to an audiobook. I've seem some complain they couldn't have possibly absorbed everything. Others say "it's not fair" because reading (versus listening) means you *can't* multitask, so why should those who listen to audiobooks get credit for doing two things at once.

For me, it can actually go both ways. When I first started listening to audiobooks, I mostly listened to books I'd already read. I'd get distracted, and having already read the books allowed me to jump back in without necessarily having to back track too much. I was amazed, however, at how much sounded new to me - details I obviously skimmed when I was reading.

It takes me 4 to 6 times longer to finish an audiobook than to read actual text. Not only that, but I have no problem skimming over parts of a text that don't interest me, which I can't do when I'm listening! Does that mean I shouldn't include books where I don't read Every Single Word? I might as well give up on my goal list if I did that!

[JSWolf]

I would include audiobooks.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by sakura-panda

I have no problem skimming over parts of a text that don't interest me, which I can't do when I'm listening!

Yeah that part can such....my mom was listening to the Left Behind series and couldn't skip over the endless proselytizing. Whereas I read them and skipped over all that.

Here's what's annoying....the teacher read a book to her 6th grade class, but she says to take a test for points the kids have to read it on their own. I find that ridiculous. She (my daughter) is now reading it aloud to me. Then she will take the test. Though I think the teacher read an abridged or sanitized edition, as the copy she is reading to me is a little different. (Indian in the Cupboard)

[Blossom]

Absolutely. I listen to audiobooks all the time. I don't miss any detail. For me there's no difference other than having a narrator make a boring book better. I don't multitask. My reading time is my time to relax and escape. I put my earbuds in and close my eyes then escape into the story.

Sent from my XT1528

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Absolutely. I listen to audiobooks all the time. I don't miss any detail.

I listen to audiobooks and miss details and I read ebooks and miss details. So, I don't see a difference

(that's why I reread, with rereading I often see things I've not seen the first time, or have forgotten )

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I listen to audiobooks and miss details and I read ebooks and miss details. So, I don't see a difference

(that's why I reread, with rereading I often see things I've not seen the first time, or have forgotten )

I am told I'm very detailed oriented. So I seldom miss anything reading or listening to a book. Remembering... well that's up to the author to make her book stick in my mind. My memories are like files on a old Celeron. One I access the file it may take a bit to get the data but it's all there. lol

Sent from my Nexus 7

[KyBunnies]

I usually listen to one book a day. But I listen while at work. I have no problem typing, filing or doing any number of other administrative task while listening. Everyone I work with knows that if they need something from me to tap my shoulder (or throw something at me) because I am absorbed in the book. My boss has even stated I get the most work completed because I am not busy talking to others, playing on my phone or other non-related work stuff.

I am counting the audio books I listen to as books I have read. I can remember details about the book. I ask because someone on a different site stated that audio books should not count toward a reading goal. I feel they should count.