I used to think listening to books was not real reading. That I was gaming the system somehow and that real readers read .
Flash forward a few years, and I’m now an avid listener of audiobooks. Books, especially nonfiction, accompany me everywhere. My Audible library is my companion when I walk my dog, do house chores, and drive the car.
Thanks to the advent of audiobooks, I managed to read and absorb several books that were on my TBR list, from self-help books to heart-wrenching memoirs to personal finance advice.
And yes, I changed my mind. Listening to books is on the same level as reading books. I no longer discriminate between my children.
They are different formats, but at the end of the day, you consume mostly useful content, which is what matters.
On my podcast, “Read and Write with Natasha,” I talked with Becky Parker Geist, CEO of Pro Audio Voices, who joined me to discuss the booming audiobook industry.
We covered the technological advancements that have made audiobooks more accessible, their significant impact on multitaskers like myself, and the journey from tape to digital.
We also discussed how platforms like Amplify Audio Books empower authors by offering a non-exclusive distribution model, challenging traditional retail monopolies, and enhancing the author-listener connection.
We also delved into audiobook production and marketing hurdles, highlighting Pro Audio Voices' scholarship program for authors facing financial challenges.
If you are an avid audiobook listener like myself, you need to listen to this episode.
You can listen to the full interview here or you can watch it below.
Yes, listening to books counts as reading