With the surge of audiobooks and people choosing to listen to their stories of choice rather than reading from the physical book, there is an argument of whether this counts as actually reading or not. 

Those who argue that audiobooks don’t count as reading say that it takes less effort and is less rigorous to listen to a book. While those who argue that audiobooks do count as reading say that the brain operates the same when reading print books and listening to audiobooks. With this take, I am inclined to adhere to the side that audiobooks absolutely do count as reading. 

How your brain processes both

I first found it interesting that people were having this argument because I would have multiple conversations with people who couldn’t focus and follow the story when listening to an audiobook. I’ve heard the same sentiment when it comes to reading print books too so I already gathered that the human brain was processing this kind of information similarly (if not the same). I figured choosing to listen to an audiobook or reading a print book was the same as if someone chose to write an essay by hand or type on a computer. It’s all about preference and what helps you learn and focus the best. 

Audiobooks activate many of the same areas in the brain as reading printed works. The temporal, parietal, and prefrontal cortexes are the parts of the brain activated when it comes to understanding meaning. These regions interpret word meanings and allow you to understand the information being received through reading print or listening to an audiobook. Both formats require your brain to create images in your head of the scene being laid out before you. You have to map out characters, concepts, scenes, and storylines all in your head which all leads back to you retaining the same information no matter the format. 

In an article with The Harvard Gazette, cognitive neuroscientist Nadine Gaab says, “If you’re a good reader as an adult, it does not matter whether you read it or you listen to an audiobook,” said Gaab. “We all start as listeners to audiobooks. As children, we were sitting in our parents’ laps while they read books to us. So, we all have been audiobook lovers at some point in our lives.” 

The differences 

There are some differences between audiobooks and printed texts however. I’d say the biggest difference is how the story is delivered. With platforms that offer audiobooks, you have choices like pacing control and which voice tells the story. You can choose just how fast you want to listen to the book and that can affect how you retain the information. Your choice of voice can also affect how you picture the story and the characters in your mind. You may have less choice of how you individually interpret the story because of how it is told, but that is a choice you can make yourself. 

Where to get your audiobooks 

There are tons of platforms now that you can purchase audiobooks from. Audible is one of the more famous ones with over 1 million titles to choose from. Platforms like Spotify, Google Play, and Apple Store offer audiobooks as well. Most platforms allow free trials so you can really see if listening to audiobooks gives you the same, better, or worse experience as reading a printed book. 

Go listen to audiobooks, or continue reading print! It’s all the same!

Whether you choose to listen to audiobooks or read printed books, you’re going to enjoy the same story. There are some differences between the two forms, but your brain is being used for both. Either way, using your brain to listen or read books is a great way to enhance your memory and expand your knowledge.

Is listening to audiobooks reading? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!