Do you count audio books?

[Terfosaurus]

I used to read constantly. Then my MH nosedived and I struggled to concentrate on a book. The last couple of years I've fallen in love with reading again. I track my books on Goodreads.

But do audio books count? I've got a target of 50 books this year, I've read 49. I've listened to a few books at bedtime and fall asleep with them on so don't count them as I didn't hear the majority of the book. But then there's a couple that I've purposely listened to when I'm not going to sleep and have heard the whole thing.

I want to log them on Goodreads, but I feel like they don't count towards my target because I didn't technically read them. What would you do?

Or can I log them and GR not include them in my total? Maybe if I don't put the dates on them?

Well I certainly log them on GR. I get thru more audio books than actual books these days. Do whatever you want on GR, there are no rules as far as I'm aware.

90% of my books are audible these days. Deteriorating eye sight and arthritis in my neck that makes reading whilst sitting up painful puts me off real books. I just set the timer to 30 mins, so I don't have to rewind back too far if I do fall asleep.

Of course!! You’ve the same knowledge of the story as someone reading! Definitely log on Goodreads too!

Yes they count.

Oh I know there are no actual rules. But I feel like saying I read 50 books this year when I actually only listened to some is cheating in some way.

It probably only matters to me.

If you aren’t still learning to read then why would it not count?

the words in the book have entered your brain. Does it matter if it was through your eyes or ears? The same information has been transferred.

Yes I think you're all right, it's just me taking the "books I've read" very literally. I'll log the ones I listen to all of.

@thenightsky I set the timer for 60mins at night but purposely listen to things I don't need to listen to. Ie Stephen Fry reading HP. A combination of his house and my knowledge of the books mean I know what's happening.

I often find the less easily digestible classics easier to take in by listening to them than reading them TBH.

Absolutely.
I love audio books. I will often listen to one with headphones on when cooking, cleaning, hanging washing out, walking (if I'm alone, obviously) and I've listened to soooo many fantastic novels that I wouldn't have had the time or energy to physically read. I do read books too, but less and less now.

they absolutely do count. I now prefer audio books (and reading on a tablet) as I have poor eyesight and really struggle with printed books. Without audiobooks I would hardly”read” at all.
( we need a new word to express the consumption of an audio book instead of using “read”)

They also help pass the time very pleasantly when I am driving a 4 hour round trip to visit DD.

No, I don't think they 'count' – not with heavy/demanding works. I mean, if you listen to Great Expectations or Pride and Prejudice or Vanity Fair or Sons and Lovers, or any other classic, you don't take it all in. Your mind wanders and you miss too much.

That said, I love audiobooks with a passion. Laying in a hot bath while Stephen Fry reads Sherlock Holmes or P. G Wodehouse is my idea of heaven. I'm listening to the Narnia books atm, and also M. R. James' ghost stories.

Oh these aren't heavy, or demanding. I'd definitely need print versions for that!

Anyway. I've added it to GR, didn't put any dates on and made an audiobook shelf. Not putting the dates means GR hasn't included it towards my goal and I think I'm happy with that. There's a record that I listened to it, but it doesn't count as being "read".

Now I just need to finish some of the books I'm half way through

I had this discussion with DH who was of the opinion that books listened to do not count. I absolutely think they do and in fact for many classic novels (esp Dickens) I find listening a far more interactive experience, where the narrator's voice surrounds me with the prose and I can fully enter the world. I wonder if it's because I have a very weak mind's eye and listening helps me "see" the fictional world more easily. Plus my blind Grandma couldn't read books at all in the traditional sense but she certainly found joy in books on cassette tape in her old age. She could remember minute details that sometimes passed me by as I have a tendency to skim read sections when I am short of time.

Do audiobooks count as reading- yes.

I like non fiction on audio. I wouldn’t read it otherwise, I know that about myself.

There’s nothing morally superior about using your eyes vs using your ears.

Yea they count. I listened to the whole Wolf Hall trilogy on audible, which I would never have got round to reading as I don’t have the time! I love listing to audio books on long drives or when I’m doing the housework. I’ve always been an avid reader but mostly listen to books now.

Well I count them as reading. I love sticking my ear-phones in, and heading off for long dog walks.

Historically people always read out loud, nobody read in their head. There's a famous passage in St Augustine's Confessions where he describes Ambrose the Bishop of Milan reading in his head and how unusual it was. It wasn't until the modern era where people started reading more (newspapers and periodicals rather than the one or two books literate people would have access to) that reading in your head became the norm. Even so, reading aloud was still enjoyed, Dickens travelled the country (and America) performing his works. We still read out loud to our children and book festivals are full of authors and actors reading book extracts to an audience. Listening to a story is a more normal way of consuming it than looking at scribbles on a page. So yes, not only do audio books count but it could be argued they are the more authentic way to enjoy a story rather than reading using your eyes.

You have ingested the story, just like any other reading. I love audible and count them on Goodreads.

I definitely think they do. I started listening to one last year- it was The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook- and I liked it so much I stopped listening to the audiobook and bought a copy instead because I was getting through the audiobook too quickly. My plan was to read the book from the start because I was sure* *I'd missed some of the detail because I was only listening to it- but when the paper copy arrived I was really surprised because there was nothing on the page I couldn't remember. Ended up starting the paper copy exactly at the point I'd stopped the audiobook.

Absolutely

I'm not sure that's true. I walk a LOT while listening to audio books and I have a terrible memory but I often recall lines from books when I pass through the place where I was listening to them iyswim. One time I was overcome with a wave of sadness while walking along a road I rarely go down - until I realised that the last time I had been there I'd been listening to a very sad chapter!

It's the only way I can 'read' as I never get time on my own unless I'm cleaning or sorting clothes or the odd car journey without the DC in the car.

Your mind wanders; that doesn't mean that everyone else's mind does.

Tbh, I wouldn't consider any of those examples heavy or demanding. Austen in particular, I find a very light read.

My personal heavy reads would be someone like James Joyce or some genres of non-fiction writing.

I find that with a good narrator, I sometimes focus more when listening than when reading. For example, I'm tempted to skim read some of the descriptive passages in Dickens but enjoy listening to them if Martin Jarvis is the narrator.

I don’t think there’s a correct answer that applies to everyone. For me it depends on the book. I struggle to focus when listening to fiction and so end up missing chunks of the story and don’t retain much. I wouldn’t include those on my GR. However, I’ve listened to many non fiction books and felt that I’ve been able to absorb them properly. Not sure why that is. I include those on GR. Some people retain visual information better than auditory and vice versa.