Expanding Options

When it comes to books, the world is changing. There are expanding options. We have not only traditional print books, but now audiobooks and ebooks. Which is best? I’ve been pondering this. In this article, I’ll explore each format.

Audiobooks

In recent years, I’ve come to love audiobooks. It’s my de facto favorite format. That’s because life is busy. Audiobooks are a convenient way to engage with a book while doing a physical activity like driving, housekeeping, or exercising. This convenience makes it easier to complete more books.

Sometimes, it feels like passively listening to rather than reading a book is cheating. But I really don’t care. My number one priority is accessing the material in the book. So I’m totally fine with audiobooks. I especially enjoy audiobooks when authors read aloud their own books. It adds a personal touch and another dimension to the text.

Oftentimes, when I review a book for Thoughts on the Good Life, I’ll listen to the audiobook once or twice, and then I’ll skim read the entire print book and highlight my favorite quotes. Then I have the printed text to refer to. That system works great for me.

I’ve been listening to audiobooks for at least 15 years. Recently, the number of available audiobook titles has exploded, so this is my preferred format these days. However, not all books are available in this format; it’s still a little hit-and-miss. Even so, audiobooks are easier to access then ever with smart phones and apps like Audible and Scribed. I have subscriptions to both. Audible is $15 per month and Scribed is $8 per month, and each comes with a monthly “free” audiobook. I’ve also borrowed many free audiobooks from libraries, but it’s less convenient and titles are limited. But you can’t beat the cost of the library, and if I had more time, I’d use this excellent service more.

eBooks

eBooks are convenient and usually less expensive than print books. Some are even free. For those reasons, I’ve been reading more ebooks in recent years.

I find ebooks convenient, because of their accessibility. You can download them at a moment’s notice and read them on your smart phone. You can take them anywhere, they use fewer natural resources, and they don’t clutter up your house. I also like ebooks, because they can include visual elements, while audiobooks can’t. My only complaint about ebooks is the long hours spent staring at text on an electronic screen. I’ve read quite a few quite a few ebooks with the Kindle app. I’ve also read some in a PDF format.

As someone who is currently writing an eBook, I appreciate that they are less expensive to publish and distribute. That’s great, because it kind of democratizes the book creation process. I do plan to offer the book as print-on-demand too.

Print Books

I still love print books. My household is full of them, especially since my husband and toddler son love print books too. It’s great to have the entire text at your fingertips in an analog, easy-to-read format.

I also just like to have print books around the house and work as references. I’m really into non-fiction books. I enjoy reading books from cover to cover. But I also find it convenient to be able to flip through the paper pages and quickly find whatever I’m looking for. I like to be able to mark up the pages with a highlighter too. This is where print books really shine, in my opinion.

Print books are also a great escape form technology. They’re wonderful for children who are learning to read. Plus anyone can read a print book without having an internet or cell phone connection. Also, in my experience, it’s easier to fall asleep at night after reading a print book, rather than an ebook or audiobook.

I try to limit the number of print books I bring into the house. But when I do buy them, I usually try to get them as inexpensively as possible. I’ve found many great books for a few dollars on eBay or at garage sales. Although sometimes I do pay retail for new books.

What’s Your Favorite?

Have you tried all these book formats? If so, do you have a clear favorite right now? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. Have a beautiful week! Thanks a million for reading Thoughts on the Good Life. I appreciate your interest.

Photo by Janko Ferlič on Unsplash

Next Week: 5 Ways to Increase Happiness Right Now – My Thoughts on the Good Life