There is nothing better than curling up with a good book and getting lost in its dog-eared pages … from the comfort of a couch, readers can travel to distant lands, get swept away in a passionate romance or be entranced in a captivating mystery. But what if you still like a good story but dislike reading or simply can’t find the time to do so? Consider audible books.
Audible (or “talking”) books are simply voice recordings of someone reading a book. The concept is nothing new; however, over the years, recordings have progressed from audiocassettes to CDs to electronic MP3 files. Choose your book, slide your player into a shirt pocket and slip in your earplugs.
Sound quality with MP3 files is exceptional, but that is not the only benefit. Digital files cannot be scratched or broken (as with CDs) or damaged (as with cassette tapes). In addition, MP3 files are less cumbersome than a collection of CDs or tapes and do not weigh nearly as much. Less weight proves to be a good thing if you are taking a few of theses stories with you on a long flight … and listening to a story will not require you to turn on the light above on overnight flights (which could become disturbing for neighbouring passengers trying to sleep). Why not take an audio book to listen to at the gym or on a long walk outside on a warm summer’s day?
While print books are now being published with larger type, seniors with declining eyesight can still struggle to read. Audible books prove to be an excellent alternative. MP3 files can resume playing from where one stops them, so there is little worry about ever losing your place when you put a book down. And the time to listen to a book is comparative with that of reading a book … usually.
Should you be a quick reader, you could get easily bored with a slower recording (although two voices are often used, which provides variety). Another drawback is that one cannot easily share or sell recordings. Such recordings do not and cannot contain pictures or illustrations (which can help describe a process or break up lengthy pages of text). Audible books do not have tables of content which can help prepare a reader for what to expect or, in the case of reference material, where to find information.
But overall, audible books provide convenience and practicality for a user. You can find more information about audible books by clicking the website link below:
article by Rick Lauber is a published freelance writer whose work has been featured in numerous newspapers and magazines. When not writing, Rick enjoys visiting his favourite second-hand CD stores, taking long walks and playing pool. rlauber@canada.com.
