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In a conversation with my friend Tom, he mentioned something that stuck with me. He talked about books that are “good for the eyes” and books that are “good for the ears.” He was referring to books in print or on Kindle vs audiobooks. It sounded smart and clever, the kind of thing you’d say at a gathering of friends to sound sophisticated and spark new conversation.
I tucked the idea away but once I had that distinction in my head, I started to feel what he meant. Typically I’ll listen to an audiobook throughout the day while cooking, cleaning, or exercising. In the evenings, I’ll carve out an hour or two to read. After a few weeks, I started to understand.
Some books are better enjoyed when you could scan the actual words, stop on a dime, and snap back a paragraph or a sentence. Visualizing that static text allows you to hold onto a line, savoring it for just a half second longer to appreciate the turn of a phrase or furrow your brow at the choice of a word. Some books, like some meals, are just dramatically better when you aren’t multitasking and your full attention is devoted to to holding it with your hands and eyes.
Other books truly shine when read aloud, often by a professional who can find just the right emphasis and tone (far superior to that voice in your head). Their speech can carry the story and transport you more effectively to a mood, a space, and a moment. This happens despite your other senses being bombarded with other stimuli: focusing on the road, checking your HR on a jog, or chopping vegetables for a soup. The narrator can make it all feel more real, more soulful. Some books have the kind of writing whose real beauty is realized when the sounds of the words can play against each other inside your ear canal.
I’ve got a lot of friends who love books, but seem allergic to the idea of listening to one. One excuse I’ve heard is “I can read faster than someone can speak.” While that may be true (and ignoring there’s a feature to tweak playback speed), there’s more to the pleasure of a book than flipping past the last page. Still, if you insisted on the rate of absorption being a prime motivator, consider that there are lots more opportunities throughout your day for listening than for sitting idly.
If it’s your first time indulging in an audiobook or if you’re just looking for another great read, I’d highly recommend Matthew McConaughey’s Greenlights, which has been a chart-topper for weeks. He’s as professional as they get, and this memoir was meant to be performed by the man himself just for your ears.
NOTE: I’ve got a work perk that allows me to get a free audiobook each month. If you want to hop on the bandwagon without working at my job, check out this promo on Audible that’ll give you a 30-day trial and two free audiobooks. Pretty much a no brainer even if you choose not to renew beyond the trial.
