I am a huge fan of Audible and listening to audio books. I believe that I get a lot more out of listening to a book than by reading it. I think I separate myself from the verbiage better and imagine the story that the author is trying to tell by listening vs reading. I have a theory that my preference has to do with the fact that my mother read to my brother and I a great deal when we were little. I have been wondering for a while if there were any research to support my theory. A Google search didn’t turn up much in support. What it did turn up was quite a few people whining about people who listen to books.

There seems to be a stigma associated with listening to a book instead of reading it. It’s as if you are cheating by listening instead of reading. I personally think this is idiotic. Listening to a digest or even an abridged version I can understand, but if I get the same information as I would by reading, why is it cheating when I use what I feel is best for me?

Interesting NY Times article on the topic: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/02/fashion/02cheat.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Interesting blog posting by Scott Esposito (listening ≠ reading): http://esposito.typepad.com/con_read/2005/05/listening_readi.html