Audio Books

Technology can take you far and impact every area of our lives.  It can even hit reading.  The audio book has given reading a whole new look.

Think that audio books just appeared in the last decade or so?  You could not be more wrong. Stories have been recorded for almost one hundred years.  Using the technology of the times, early stories from various ethnic groups were recorded.  Many of these were oral stories or memories from their observations of events and people.  

Over the years, the power of the voice as stories are told led to more and more people recording poems are stories that gave much more of an impact when heard rather than read.  Hearing the emotion behind a phrase can go right through a person’s soul.

Putting books in audio formatting is becoming much more popular.  What could possibly make this form of “reading” become so much in demand and pull many from the written word?

Travel – Many people have long commutes or have to travel long distances on a regular basis.  They could be truck drivers or accountants.  All too often it can be hard finding the right radio station.  In addition to that, many of them lament not being able to enjoy the latest bestseller.  Audio books give these travelers the chance to keep up with the latest romance, mystery, or self-help best seller.  You can even find many novels on the internet site of your local library that you can download and burn to disc for your enjoyment.

Busy Schedule – Everyone is on the run.  There is hardly a chance to breath and joy the latest book.  Who has the time to curl up and enjoy losing themselves in a fantasy world?  Audio books are great to listen to while exercises, traveling (as mentioned above), and while waiting on your child to come out of their piano lessons.

Physical Limitations – There are many people who have some physical limitation or handicap that prevents them from enjoying reading words from the pages of a book.  They could be blind, paralyzed, recovering from surgery, or any other numerous problems.  Audio books are a great way for them to enjoy religious texts, murder mysteries, or anything else they like and not let their limitations actually limit them.

Calling audio books “books” almost sounds crazy, but they are just books being read aloud for your enjoyment.  Don’t neglect the role audio books play in the reading world and the value they bring to the table.