Comments on: Reading or Cheating?

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 15:34:54 +0000

I concur with your editorial! Although I LOVE the feel of a book in my hand, the reality hits that I will get MORE books read by listening instead of sitting and reading! It takes me much longer to sit and read a book. And then….there is the KNITTING you can accomplis if you listen to an audiobook!

By: Knitnana

Knitnana — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:39:36 +0000

Coming at this a bit differently, if it weren’t for audio books, I doubt I’d be “reading” much at all. I still love the feel of a book in my hands – adore the pleasure that reading (mostly technical stuff, for work, now) gives me. BUT. As a person with a visual impairment, I have serious limitations in the amount of actual reading I can do. As such, audio books allow me to enjoy fiction again while I reserve my limited visual stamina for “reading for necessity” (i.e. my paycheck!).

I had essentially given up all “reading for enjoyment.” And I felt guilty about the decision to use audio books (because it wasn’t “reading”), until a friend with visual disabilities pointed out that I work for an agency that supports and encourages the use of assistive devices for those individuals with disabilities, so what on earth was the difference with making my own choice to use a tape recorder (an assistive device) to be able “read?”

I think it’s terribly elitist of people to say you’re not “reading” if you’re listening to books on tape. Storytelling, oral history, etc., are huge components of our tradition (as mentioned in comments above, so I won’t belabour the point!).

Glad I finally “got it.”
Hope others will, too!

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:32:56 +0000

I read much more than I listen, but there are a few things that I love listening to, such as the Harry Potter books as read by Jim Dale. I haven’t “read” any of the Harry Potters! For me, there’s a place for both experiences. I can’t read while I drive – and audiobooks have proven to be the best way for me to stay alert while driving long distances.

By: limedragon :-: Harriet

limedragon :-: Harriet — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 11:52:33 +0000

Alas, I cannot use audiobooks at all. : )

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 22:22:57 +0000

I love both. I enjoy reading books the good old fashioned way when I am in a just sitting in a quiet area. But Kenny and I also listen to a lot of audio books on the way to school, one the trip back and forth between Washington and California and on our Ipods while boating.

By: Marguerite

Marguerite — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:54:11 +0000

I love listening to audio books while knitting and consider it a much better use of my attention than TV.

It never occured to me to feel guilty. And, now that I think about it, I consider the whole idea of audio books as cheating to be silly.

By: pixie girl

pixie girl — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 02:47:37 +0000

What about when most of the stories were passed dowm from generation to generation via oral histories? No scribes to write them down? I’m channeling Lorinda and Carrie K. Ok, speeding up to now. If I’m in the car, I can pay attention to the audiobook. At home, forget it. I simply cannot do it. I wish I could, but I cannot knit and listen without messing up my knitting or losing the thread of the story, and it really frosts me (insert an expletive there)! But I see no problem with it, and feel snarky to those who do. So there !

By: Carrie K

Carrie K — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 00:53:12 +0000

I was going to make Lorinda’s point – back in the day, books were scarce and one would read aloud to a whole group. There was probably a lot of backlash when someone wandered off, alone and selfish, to read on their own.

People are funny. It’s true, I’ve considered it cheating myself, but that’s just silly. A book is a book. What, reading a play is wrong? You have to hear/see it performed?

By: Batty

Batty — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 19:15:42 +0000

I love to read, but I can’t read when I’m driving. There are people who do this, but I think they’re irresponsible and likely to cause an accident. Same thing when I’m knitting: I could probably try, but accidents are likely to happen. Audio books are great, I love them. They’re not exactly the same as reading a book, but they have their own special function, which they are perfectly suited for. Nothing ‘cheaty’ about it.

By: lorinda

lorinda — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 15:40:27 +0000

There was a time when the average Joe or Jane didn’t have books, and most stories were shared as “audiobooks.”

It seems to me that the story is what’s critical, not the reading or hearing of it. They both use different skills, and it’s good to exercise both.