Oral traditions are how we evolved to tell stories; books allowed for greater distribution, accuracy, and depth; digital audiobooks are a synthesis of both forms.
Listening is easier than reading not because it's an inferior method (comprehension is about the same for both), but because we evolved to listen, not read. Still, like you're careful to point out, we have to listen properly. Moot point anyway bc we spend 12 years in school learning to read properly. On top of that, you can listen while driving, working, etc.
Audiobooks are a revolution on scale with the printing press. I'll die on this hill.
I have grown to absolutely love audiobooks. I never thought of using them as a way to re-read something. That’s a great idea. Also, I know for some, paying for audiobooks can feel frivolous for those on a strict budget. There’s an app called, Libby, that is essentially a library with free audiobooks. You just put in your library card number and you then have access to that library. You can check out the audio books and you then have two weeks to listen and return it. If what you want is not available you can put it on hold.
It can be a bummer if your library simply doesn’t have what you are looking for, but as far as free options go, it’s pretty good. And more importantly, legal haha.
Lastly, I will recommend the audiobook “Jayber Crow” by Wendell Berry. The writing is incredible in true Wendell Berry fashion and the narration is perfect, that I cannot remember the narrators name.
I agree! Let them (whoever they are) malign. I love audio books. And Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Anna Karenina is one of the best audio books I’ve listened to ever. I’m glad to see it praised! I too have listened to it twice. Her performance is - I don’t know what word to use here. She inhabits each character flawlessly. She fills the book with life. She made me appreciate the complexity of Tolstoy.
Just a quick audiobook recommendation: “Karain” by Joseph Conrad. I think a lot of people struggle to read Conrad, as his use is language is sometimes overwhelmingly complex - yet still beautiful. Listening to the words makes it much more digestible.
Strong second on Napoleon A Life. And Tolstoy, generally. I think the first audiobook I ever re-read was a soporific, almost chant like Gods of Pegana (still on YouTube but I guess it must have been a librivox or something when I first heard it). The first audiobook I liked as more than a mysticising sleep aid was Stephen Fry reading Falen’s translation of Eugene Onegin. After piously attempting Nabokov’s translation on paper I was ready to write it off (and drown myself), but Fry has both a frothier translation to work with and a suitably oily performance to make it shine. Or at least make it funny, no idea what I think of it til I read it a few more times.
Some audiobook performances leave strong imprints on me. Keith Szarabajka‘s performance of Tibetan Peach Pie irreparably damaged my own speech cadence. Then others are like looking through glass. Until I looked it up on Audible I couldn’t remember if I’d read The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break or listened to it but of course I’ve never owned a paper copy.
I would also add The Count of Monte Cristo as a recommendation. I am not sure which translation I listened to, but the reader had a vast array of wonderful accents and voices. We often use librivox as a source for audio versions of classical works. An additional benefit is that children who are not yet able to read can listen to complex, long works (our youngest listened his way through the entire elementary Mensa reading list before he was five). Thanks for the recommendations :)
I once listened to Les Miserables, only to discover to my horror that it was an abridged version. Do you have a version you would recommend for Les Mis?
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy narrated by Andy Serkis are MASTERPIECES. My family listens to these every a year. It is a frustrating endeavor to listen to any other narrator after listening to Andy Serkis and his outstanding portrayal of each character.
I read extremely slowly—150 to 200 words per minute, which is approximately 15 to 20 pages and hour—and am consequently a frequent user of audiobooks. I have to say that I, too, am puzzled by the cultural protestation against the medium as being “too easy”.
I want to second the recommendation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in Simon Armitage's translation. If you saw the 2021 film and have any curiosity about the original poem, this is it. And it makes for a wonderfully weird Christmas story, as well.
Other favorite audiobooks:
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe narrated by Michael York
I listen to audiobooks while driving and at night when I am having trouble sleeping. I generally only listen to books I’ve already actually read though, so if I fall asleep it’s no big deal.
You’ve rejuvenated my thirst for audio. Simultaneously you’ve boosted my resolve to savor one on one conversations and chew my food more thoroughly and thoughtfully. Quite a punch. Bravo.
Pride and Prejudice and The Lord of the Rings are also excellent audiobooks. I’m going to check out that audiobook of Anna Karenina, it’s one of my favorite books ever. Anyone have a recommendation for an audiobook of War and Peace?
I highly recommend War and Peace narrated by Neville Jason (it comes in two parts). Impeccable narration and excellent pronunciation of both the French and Russian required.
I should say I really like Rob Inglis as narrator for Lord of the Rings, he sings the songs very well. Do you know the narrator you had for Pride and Prejudice?
I’ll check the Neville Jason one out! I’ve been trying to read W&P since I loved Anna Karenina so much, but so far it’s been a lot harder to get into, and I’m thinking an audiobook might help!
I love Rob Inglis for LOTR. I also would like to listen to the new on by Andy Serkis. The snippets I’ve heard of that one are great. The Pride and Prejudice one I have is narrated by Rosamund Pike, and she does a great job with it.
Oral traditions are how we evolved to tell stories; books allowed for greater distribution, accuracy, and depth; digital audiobooks are a synthesis of both forms.
Listening is easier than reading not because it's an inferior method (comprehension is about the same for both), but because we evolved to listen, not read. Still, like you're careful to point out, we have to listen properly. Moot point anyway bc we spend 12 years in school learning to read properly. On top of that, you can listen while driving, working, etc.
Audiobooks are a revolution on scale with the printing press. I'll die on this hill.
I have grown to absolutely love audiobooks. I never thought of using them as a way to re-read something. That’s a great idea. Also, I know for some, paying for audiobooks can feel frivolous for those on a strict budget. There’s an app called, Libby, that is essentially a library with free audiobooks. You just put in your library card number and you then have access to that library. You can check out the audio books and you then have two weeks to listen and return it. If what you want is not available you can put it on hold.
It can be a bummer if your library simply doesn’t have what you are looking for, but as far as free options go, it’s pretty good. And more importantly, legal haha.
Lastly, I will recommend the audiobook “Jayber Crow” by Wendell Berry. The writing is incredible in true Wendell Berry fashion and the narration is perfect, that I cannot remember the narrators name.
I agree! Let them (whoever they are) malign. I love audio books. And Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Anna Karenina is one of the best audio books I’ve listened to ever. I’m glad to see it praised! I too have listened to it twice. Her performance is - I don’t know what word to use here. She inhabits each character flawlessly. She fills the book with life. She made me appreciate the complexity of Tolstoy.
Just a quick audiobook recommendation: “Karain” by Joseph Conrad. I think a lot of people struggle to read Conrad, as his use is language is sometimes overwhelmingly complex - yet still beautiful. Listening to the words makes it much more digestible.
https://youtu.be/Cp9GT76NPaE?si=9Kjdb1JUnhAoSSoM
thank you for that!
There are a few langauges that i understand well but can't read. Audiobooks opened up the world of those langauges for me.
Strong second on Napoleon A Life. And Tolstoy, generally. I think the first audiobook I ever re-read was a soporific, almost chant like Gods of Pegana (still on YouTube but I guess it must have been a librivox or something when I first heard it). The first audiobook I liked as more than a mysticising sleep aid was Stephen Fry reading Falen’s translation of Eugene Onegin. After piously attempting Nabokov’s translation on paper I was ready to write it off (and drown myself), but Fry has both a frothier translation to work with and a suitably oily performance to make it shine. Or at least make it funny, no idea what I think of it til I read it a few more times.
Some audiobook performances leave strong imprints on me. Keith Szarabajka‘s performance of Tibetan Peach Pie irreparably damaged my own speech cadence. Then others are like looking through glass. Until I looked it up on Audible I couldn’t remember if I’d read The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break or listened to it but of course I’ve never owned a paper copy.
Ian McKellen narrating The Odyssey...downloading audible to listen to it now :)
Instantly added Heretics to the top of my audiobook list for this month. Curious if you have read Ben Hur and know of a good audio book version?
I have not read it, sorry
you can get a copy for free here:
https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/lew-wallace/ben-hur
It was published 143 years ago this weekend. Still one of the best books I have ever read and I think should be read by everyone.
I would also add The Count of Monte Cristo as a recommendation. I am not sure which translation I listened to, but the reader had a vast array of wonderful accents and voices. We often use librivox as a source for audio versions of classical works. An additional benefit is that children who are not yet able to read can listen to complex, long works (our youngest listened his way through the entire elementary Mensa reading list before he was five). Thanks for the recommendations :)
Ah I listened to the one narrated by Bill Homewood and highly recommend it also.
I once listened to Les Miserables, only to discover to my horror that it was an abridged version. Do you have a version you would recommend for Les Mis?
Bill Homewood also narrated Les Mis unabridged, and I would absolutely select him for a listen, but I have not listened to it!
https://www.audible.com/pd/Les-Miserables-Audiobook/B00W8VVOKY
Thanks so much :)
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy narrated by Andy Serkis are MASTERPIECES. My family listens to these every a year. It is a frustrating endeavor to listen to any other narrator after listening to Andy Serkis and his outstanding portrayal of each character.
Moby-Dick narrated by Frank Muller is one of my favorite works of art in any genre. You can tell he gets the book at a deep level.
I read extremely slowly—150 to 200 words per minute, which is approximately 15 to 20 pages and hour—and am consequently a frequent user of audiobooks. I have to say that I, too, am puzzled by the cultural protestation against the medium as being “too easy”.
I want to second the recommendation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in Simon Armitage's translation. If you saw the 2021 film and have any curiosity about the original poem, this is it. And it makes for a wonderfully weird Christmas story, as well.
Other favorite audiobooks:
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe narrated by Michael York
Kitchen Confidential narrated by Anthony Bourdain
One Blade of Grass by Henry Shukman
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
I listen to audiobooks while driving and at night when I am having trouble sleeping. I generally only listen to books I’ve already actually read though, so if I fall asleep it’s no big deal.
You’ve rejuvenated my thirst for audio. Simultaneously you’ve boosted my resolve to savor one on one conversations and chew my food more thoroughly and thoughtfully. Quite a punch. Bravo.
Pride and Prejudice and The Lord of the Rings are also excellent audiobooks. I’m going to check out that audiobook of Anna Karenina, it’s one of my favorite books ever. Anyone have a recommendation for an audiobook of War and Peace?
I highly recommend War and Peace narrated by Neville Jason (it comes in two parts). Impeccable narration and excellent pronunciation of both the French and Russian required.
I should say I really like Rob Inglis as narrator for Lord of the Rings, he sings the songs very well. Do you know the narrator you had for Pride and Prejudice?
I’ll check the Neville Jason one out! I’ve been trying to read W&P since I loved Anna Karenina so much, but so far it’s been a lot harder to get into, and I’m thinking an audiobook might help!
I love Rob Inglis for LOTR. I also would like to listen to the new on by Andy Serkis. The snippets I’ve heard of that one are great. The Pride and Prejudice one I have is narrated by Rosamund Pike, and she does a great job with it.