Audiobooks have been around for longer than most people think. A decade or two ago, they were available on cassettes and CDs. Today, audiobooks are more accessible than ever. Listening to your favorite books is as simple as purchasing an audiobook online and downloading it to a portable device of your choosing, whether it’s a smartphone, portable music player, tablet, or computer. In addition, some libraries offer audiobooks on loan, much in the way that physical books are taken out for a specified period of time. Only in this case, you don’t have to take anything out, but simply download an audiobook link or file and listen to it on your device.
Why listen to audiobooks?
One of the major benefits of audiobooks is that you can do other things while you listen. With a physical book, you need to stay mostly still in order to read. However, with an audiobook, you’re free to do other things. Some people find that audiobooks are a great way to get through unpleasant household tasks, such as cleaning the bathroom, washing the dishes, sweeping, or vacuuming. They’re also popular substitute for music in the car, especially for people who have a long commute or are driving long distances. Audiobooks help to pass time in the car, and all passengers can listen to the book at the same time. Finally, audiobooks can also be useful when you’re at the gym, indoor cycling, running, or doing another type of repetitive physical activity.
Where to find audiobooks?
Audiobooks can be purchased online. Membership websites such as Audible.com and Audiobooks.com offer monthly subscriptions. For a given monthly fee, you can earn credits which can be used to buy audiobooks at a discount. If you don’t want to purchase a membership, you can simply pay the stated price for the audiobooks you want.
Some libraries allow patrons to take out audiobooks, though this feature is fairly new and not available everywhere. Many libraries still have a physical collection of audiobooks on CD or cassette as opposed to digital downloads.
Unfortunately, not all books are available as audiobooks. You might have a difficult time finding obscure titles. In addition, nonfiction books—unless they are highly popular—are generally not available. For many people who enjoy audiobooks, lack of availability can be a disappointment. Of course, if you’re content with reading popular books and bestsellers, you shouldn’t have a problem.
How much do audiobooks cost?
You can get a subscription to a monthly audiobook service for approximately $15 per month. If you want to pay for your audiobooks individually, you might be surprised to find that although audiobooks do not come with printing costs, they are generally more expensive than physical books—including both paperbacks and hardcovers. Audiobooks may range in price from $25 to $40 per title, depending on its length.
How can I listen to audiobooks?
You can listen to audiobooks in a variety of ways. It helps to have a reliable device, such as a smartphone or portable music player, which you can download the books to. Headphones ensure that you can listen to the audiobook without having to disturb others. If you’re in a car, you may be able to listen to audiobooks on CDs. Or, you can connect your phone or other device through an auxiliary cable to listen to the audiobook.
