I'm not saying is is a worse way to experience the content of the book, and I enjoy it myself, but it is a fundamentally different experience based on different senses and different mechanisms.

[–] Cipher22@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

As someone who had an almost decade-long gap between Wheel of Time books because my ADHD no longer permitted book reading at a certain point, I would respectfully disagree. Audio books have been a God Send in the last few years, discovering I can still enjoy past pleasures in full by exploiting myself in circumstances that are beneficial. Audio books have me back part of my life I had accepted as lost forever.

[–] adam_y@lemmy.world 12 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, you miaunderstand me.

You can still enjoy the content, but the process isn't reading that's all.

I enjoy them too. Audio books are great. Several members of my family are blind and it is a form we can enjoy.

Interestingly the fact that several people can enjoy an audiobook at once supports my argument that it is not reading... A somewhat solo pursuit unless someone reads aloud.

So, respectfully, I think you've got the wrong end of this stick.

But I do want to say that it gives me genuine pleasure that you've found a way to enjoy those stories.

[–] adam_y@lemmy.world 12 points 7 months ago

Would you say that someone reading printed out lyrics is listening to music?

Maybe if they were looking at a musical score? Is that listening to music?

I'd suggest it is a way of experience it. But it certainly isn't listening to it.

I think reading is the same.

Audio books are not worse, not lesser, but they are different and that's why I'd say they are not reading.