UltraRob

I've noticed a lot of people getting into audiobooks these days, and have several friends that have started to become hooked on them as well. People that would normally never take time to read are suddenly listening to audiobooks at work or in commutes as a way to pass the time.

Has anyone else noticed this phenomena going on? I mean, I know audiobooks have always been there, but I think I'm starting to sense a possible upswing in their popularity thanks to MP3 players and easy access.

Rob

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Rich Frohlich

It's a big trend...

audio books are more accessible now. more titles... more subjects...

Something that was a niche or curiosity - primarily used by the blind/sight impaired and reading disabled in the early 80s - is now very mainstream.

crazy man... crazy!

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Shonokin

Also for people like me and the Missus, when one has to commute a lot and do isolated work tasks and the gym, etc, audio entertainment is a great way to go. And not to be a complete crotchety old fart, but mainstream radio is nuthin' but a bunch of noise.

So the alternative is audiodrama and audiobooks. I've gotten to where listening to FM radio is almost unbearable and I yearn relentlessly for a good NTR or OTR or audiobook when I don't have one in the car.

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JoeRMedina

Apparently interest in audiobooks increased ever since Audible.com made their products available over iTunes in 2003. And I don't know how common this is, but in the San Francisco Bay Area, where people often have had hours-long commutes for several years, more folks listen to audiobooks, OTR, and even podcasts on their way to work.

I think National Public Radio has covered this more than once. Now that this has come up, I'm getting curious what their coverage has been like.

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Joe Medina

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Jack J Ward

I never listen to commercial radio... honestly I've been spoiled by CBC into no commercials. I can't believe the amount of commercials people listen to in the regular radio.
What I've found ironic lately is that instead of listening to live CBC in the car I'm listening to my ipod which often has podcast versions of the same CBC shows.. but so much better when its on my own schedule, and I don't have to sit in the car anymore when I've gotten home to finish listening to the last five minutes of a particularly good segment.

Many people listen to audio books.. but do they BUY them?That's the next question!
J

Janice

I had a subscription to Audible.com for 2 years. I collected enough books that I'm still listening to them, some 3 years later.

I haven't bought any through iTunes.

-Janice

UltraRob

I mostly listen to podcasts and audio drama, so I haven't quite gotten to the point of getting into audiobooks. (I read the good old fashioned way quite a bit still, though. )

However, one of my friends who I helped get into audiobooks to deal with his monotonous job (night shift baking bread) went from firesharing audiobooks to buying them from Audible just because Audible was more convenient and had a better selection. He just told me this morning in fact he's jumping to the next subscription level just because he goes through so many. (Which in part stimulating my idea to discuss this topic.)

Rob

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Paul Campbell

I had been listening to audiobooks on and off for about three years before March 2005, and the birth of the podcast novel. I now find it very difficult to commit the time to sitting down and only reading a book.

My problem with buying audiobooks, and the only reason I didn't listen to more before podcasts, is the price. Compared to the print edition of a novel they seem ridiculously over priced.

I did, and still try to, make it a point of having a print copy of any audiobook I listen to. I may have to wait some time before that print edition is published, but I still prefer to have that on my shelves, even if I may never actually read it.

I'm also approaching the end of producing my first audiobook. That has been an experience. When I switched over from Audacity to Ardour, that book was where I learnt the basics and how it differed. It was a bit of a time sink until I learnt how to do it efficiently. It has also allowed me to put out new content on the site on an almost weekly schedule. I'm already starting to think about what I could do next, and how I would do it differently.

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SupComTabz

I listen to free and I buy!

*points to my copy of Dr. Suess' 'Oh the Places You'll Go' * And Colbert's "I'm American..."

If they're not $$$ I'll buy.

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laura

I've certainly noticed colleagues talking about listening to audiobooks - particularly for long car journeys. I also know that a couple of people in my book group have mentioned listening to the audiobooks instead of reading the book. I wasn't sure if it was a general trend or because I was mixing more with an older age group or even if it was an American thing (Americans are certainly more likely to take long road trips!)