This is not a topic of huge importance, but one that’s been buzzing around the back of my mind.
About a year ago, I got into audio books.I mean,I REALLY got into audio books. I work at a law library and part of my job is “filing,” or updating the pages of legal info binders for two hours a day during the school year and three a day in the summer. I used to listen to music while I filed, but soon learned audio books worked better for me. I’d have a chance to listen to and familiarize myself with books I’ve been meaning to read for ages while I worked. With this in mind, I’ve ordered so many audiobooks in the past year that the last two times my hubby went to the public library to pick up ones I’d ordered from other branches, the librarian would look at my record and say, “Oh, HER!"
Anyhow, I’m wondering if this is somehow “cheating,” like to have a book read to me somehow isn’t as legitimate as reading it myself, which I don’t always have time to do. I should add that in addition to working 40 hours a week that I’m also taking History classes towards a degree (hey, tuition is waived for all campus employees and half the credits I’d need have transferred nicely from my alma mater). Once, I had to do a paper on Ralph Ellison’s “The Invisible Man.” I got about a third of the way through the book and found it painfully difficult to read – as in “Holy crap, what ELSE could happen to this poor slob?” So I got the audio book from the public library and wrote my paper based on what I had heard and got an “A.” Was THAT cheating?
And for what its worth to the debate, I prefer to get the unabridged editions.
Personally, I just can’t get into them. WhenI tell people I don’t have as much time for reading as I’d like, they coo about how great audio books are for long car trips, etc. I know other people like them, and that’s fine for them. But for me part of the joy of reading is holding the book, feeling the paper, taking in the design and the typeface, being able to go back and reread a passage. Besides, I’m a fairly fast reader, so audio books would actually take me LONGER to get through.
Like everyone else said. As long as it is unabridged then go for it. Audio books are a big help for alot of people. They can be a god send for Dyslexic (spelling?) people who commonly mixup words when reading.
Personally I perfer the printed word. A book, or on a computer screen I don’t care. I tend to nod off, or my mind wanders when listening to a book, then I have to rewind and find where I stopped paying attention.
Just remember while using audio books is fine, watching the movie “based on the book by…” dosen’t count.
Yep, unabridged is OK. I don’t like them myself; I always wind up thinking, “get on with already, I’d be done with the book by now!” But I’m a fast reader, and I don’t do a lot of long trips. I do like to listen to lectures on tape in the car.
They’re great for the car, especially if you commute. I find I actually get through some books more quickly, because I’m not stopping to underline passages.
I’d venture to say that reading a book actually stimulates your mind more than just listening to one being read. Whether or not it is cheating is another matter. However, your mind’s critical functions that “synthesize” reality are not used to the same extent as you would when reading the actual text and having to fabricate all of the voices and images yourself.
We’re a family of readers. Recently we took a long trip (6 days driving out of a 10 day trip) and we found the books on CD great fun to listen to. We were entertained, the trip seemed to fly by, and when we got to our destination(s) we would actually sit in the car until we finished the chapter! We borrowed them from the library rather than buy them because in our day to day lives we appreciate the feel and smell of the books.
Thanks for al of the input! I too like a nice paerback in my hands, but like I said I only have so many free hours in the day and there are SO many books I’ve been meaning to read. I’m on an Agatha Christie kick right now and have just started “Death on the Nile.” I’ve yet to learn who drops like a fly.
Wolfian - I work for Case Western Reserve University (NOT a cheap place to go) in Cleveland, Ohio, but it seems every college in Ohio (that I know of, anyway) gives tuition waivers to full-time employees and their kids, plus husbands/wives can go for half price. Darn skippy I take advantage of it!
Another nice thing about working for Case - like the government, you’ve got GREAT job stability. You won’t get paid much, but you won’t be on the unemployment line anytime soon, either.
My husband never read books until he became a truck driver. Then he discovered audio books to pass the time, he now listens to an average of four a week. I don’t care if it’s cheating. He’s finally firguring out why I always carry a book with me all the time.
what is it meant by abridged versions? is it like a summary of a book? while that doesn’t sound like fun why would it be cheating? when i study in a hurry i sorta speed read, picking up keywords only; would that be cheating too?
My normal commute is about 100 miles round trip and listening to audiobooks spares me the angst and headaches caused by horrid DJ’s. In addition, getting stuck in a traffic jam isn’t quite as annoying since I have a book to absorb my attention rather than developing a severe case of road rage.
As for cheating? I wouldn’t say so. Although I too read faster than the tapes play, as long as it is the unabridged version, there is no new information nor is there any analysis that would bias your interpretations.
shijinn An abridged version generally removes non-essential scenes and details, including descriptions about the scenery or backstory on stock characters that do not contribute to the plot. For example, if they made an abridged version of Return of the Native there would only be about 10 pages left. For my listening pleasure, I will only listen to unabridged versions otherwise I can’t include the book on my “read” list
I used them all the time when I was studying for the exam to get my MA in English. (You just don’t know what endurance is, though, until you’ve read Joyce’s Ulysses on audio). I don’t think it’s cheating at all. In fact, since I tend to read fast and skip words, I’m more likely to read the whole book closely on audio than in print.