Do you count audio books as "reading"?

[Jinx]

Denmark and I listened to an audio book this week as we traveled around (good god, it's great to be home). While listening, I came to the conclusion that you can't really count it as "reading" a book. It's more like watching TV than actually engaging your mind.

That being said, I understand how it's good for people who don't have time to read but want to experience a book, and it was also REALLY good for what we used it for (11 hours of travel time).

What do you think?

[Slothy]

Denmark and I listened to an audio book this week as we traveled around (good god, it's great to be home). While listening, I came to the conclusion that you can't really count it as "reading" a book. It's more like watching TV than actually engaging your mind.

More like radio really, and I'm not sure I'd say it doesn't engage your mind when you'd surely have to pay attention and 90% of the action still takes place in your imagination.

Still not reading, but not unengaging I'd guess. Never listened to one myself.

[Pike]

I don't see why it doesn't count as engaging your mind since you still have to visualize the characters and scenes and such, which is the entire point of reading to begin with.

I add audiobooks to my GoodReads for what it's worth. I don't listen to them much but Stephen Fry reading Hitchhiker's Guide is an A+ magical event that everybody needs to experience at least once in their lifetime.

[The Man]

I don't have the attention span to listen to audiobooks, but I don't see any reason they wouldn't be counted as reading.

[Ayen]

I consider it listening if you want to be literal about it, but I agree with Vivi and Pike about the engagement. They remind me of the old radio shows that used to tell stories before TV became a thing. Just longer.

[Jinx]

You guys have a point about engaging the mind.

I just meant you're not an active participant in the same way.

[Pike]

I don't feel like an active participant when I read either. Not since I stopped having to slowly sound out words to read when I was three or whatever. Whether it's a printed book or an audio book, it's words going directly into my mind either way.

Thinking about it the only entertainment media where I actually feel like an active participant would be video games. Or maybe choose your own adventure books I guess. xD

[Madame Adequate]

If you want to be an active participant in something, go play sports imo.

[Jinx]

I feel like an active participant in books! I understand what you mean, though, Pike.

[Calliope]

I don't think playaways/books on cd/audiobooks count as "reading", because you're not reading, you're listening. There is no doubt that it's still a "valid" means of consuming media, and there's no reason why you can't equate it with listening to a podcast, the radio, or good old fashioned storytelling. You still have to follow the plot, someone is just reading it aloud for you - which is pretty cool if it's the author, or a really good narrator!

[Shorty]

Whether it's a printed book or an audio book, it's words going directly into my mind either way.

This is my same reasoning. If I listen to an audiobook, I will say that I read it.

[Mirage]

I consider it to count as "consuming a literary work"

[Pant Leg Eater from the Bad World]

Not for me.

The difference between audio books and real books are huge to me. When I listen to audio books (super great for road trips) I can multitask and do all sorts of other things. But books. Real books. They engross me. When I am reading that is all I know. Now, I can eat and drink and pee and poop while I read. I mean, I have to sometimes when I get super into a book. But I don't stop and put any mental effort into these things. For me, reading takes my mind over completely and lets me experience whatever I am reading in a whole different fashion than listening to an audio book or watching a movie.

[Colonel Angus]

Reading a book, by definition, involves actually reading words off a page/screen.

If someone prefers listening to audio books than reading that's fine, but they're two completely different ways of taking in a medium.

[Pike]

Huh. I suppose I've just never had this super magical/super engrossing reading experience you all are talking about, then. And I've read a lot. Maybe it's not actually my thing. I dunno. I think I'll bow out of this thread now because I feel like you all are talking about something I haven't experienced so I can't really discuss it. Sorry