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America's biggest new reading trend: obsessed with multitasking via audio books

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Re: America's biggest new reading trend: obsessed with multitasking via audio books

#51

Post by socalnate1 »

douche wrote: post #38
lucb1e wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wheel of Time! I'm in my second re-listen now, book 6 or so. It's such an elaborate and well thought-out world, and of course 14 books that read as a single big story postpones the post-book depression... Well, not quite indefinitely, especially if you read other things like The Martian in between (that's my favorite book btw), but it limits it to once a year and a half rather than every month and a half.

If only Robert Jordan had lived another decade or so... The Sanderson books weren't bad, it just struck me as kind of... rushed, especially the finale. I'm becoming increasingly worried about GRR Martin. It'll be sad if the only conclusion is the increasingly butchered TV series.

I totally disagree, I thought the Sanderson books brought the series back on track after several really bad books by Robert Jordan.

Re: America's biggest new reading trend: obsessed with multitasking via audio books

#52

Post by droopyEyelids »

resiros wrote: post #4

In my personal experience, I have always found it that the books I've listened are the first to fade from my memory. Second came books consumed as ebooks and last, old fashioned paper books. I believe that the act of touching the book, carrying with you everywhere, leaving it on the table, seems to make its content much more memorable for me than reading it as an ebook or listening to it. I find it that I still remem…

Agree about audio but ebooks stay the longest for me, as they lend themselves to note taking so well, are in a context that allows me to quickly switch to research mode, and encourage you to create your own index while reading.

Re: America's biggest new reading trend: obsessed with multitasking via audio books

#53

Post by DanBC »

Chaebixi wrote: post #19
inputcoffee wrote: post #7

I can only "listen" to an audio book when I am not multi-tasking. Otherwise I find myself zone out of the book, and miss a huge chunk of it, then rewind to the point I thought I missed and rewind too much. Realize I have heard it before and let myself zone out again etc. I realize how inefficient live lectures are and how much I must have missed through my life.

I think multi-tasking with an audiobook only works when the other task is one you can perform automatically (e.g. highway driving). If you're doing anything that requires any thought or decision making, then you might as well not bother with the book. Also, I think the kind of audiobook is important: 1. Fiction usually works best, since narratives and action are easy to follow. 2. Simple non-fiction is worse but stil…

> when the other task is one you can perform automatically (e.g. highway driving)

Fucking hell no, please do focus your attention on driving.

Re: America's biggest new reading trend: obsessed with multitasking via audio books

#54

Post by maxxxxx »

resiros wrote: post #4

In my personal experience, I have always found it that the books I've listened are the first to fade from my memory. Second came books consumed as ebooks and last, old fashioned paper books. I believe that the act of touching the book, carrying with you everywhere, leaving it on the table, seems to make its content much more memorable for me than reading it as an ebook or listening to it. I find it that I still remem…

To me it highly depends on the reader. With a good reader an audiobook can be totally immersive for me. It also depends on the material.

Re: America's biggest new reading trend: obsessed with multitasking via audio books

#55

Post by 49531 »

DanBC wrote: post #53
Chaebixi wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think multi-tasking with an audiobook only works when the other task is one you can perform automatically (e.g. highway driving). If you're doing anything that requires any thought or decision making, then you might as well not bother with the book. Also, I think the kind of audiobook is important: 1. Fiction usually works best, since narratives and action are easy to follow. 2. Simple non-fiction is worse but stil…

> when the other task is one you can perform automatically (e.g. highway driving) Fucking hell no, please do focus your attention on driving.

Listening to audio while driving is pretty ubiquitous. Audiobooks are no different than talk radio.

Re: America's biggest new reading trend: obsessed with multitasking via audio books

#56

Post by riffraff »

Chaebixi wrote: post #19
inputcoffee wrote: post #7

I can only "listen" to an audio book when I am not multi-tasking. Otherwise I find myself zone out of the book, and miss a huge chunk of it, then rewind to the point I thought I missed and rewind too much. Realize I have heard it before and let myself zone out again etc. I realize how inefficient live lectures are and how much I must have missed through my life.

I think multi-tasking with an audiobook only works when the other task is one you can perform automatically (e.g. highway driving). If you're doing anything that requires any thought or decision making, then you might as well not bother with the book. Also, I think the kind of audiobook is important: 1. Fiction usually works best, since narratives and action are easy to follow. 2. Simple non-fiction is worse but stil…

I agree low-attention multitasking is what works. Standing on the bus, running, kneading dough, ok. Listening to a book and trying to code, no chance.

I disagree on what kind work best, for me "divulgation-level" non-fiction is the one. Think Malcolm Gladwell.

Actual fiction can be complex because it requires attention on who is talking, where they are, whether you're in a time skip or flashbacks etc. Divulgation doesn't.

For example, I've recently listened to The World Until Yesterday[0] and Masters of Doom[1]. They are both reasonably light, they tend to hit the same concepts over and over, there are few "characters", and generally missing 30 seconds of narration has close to zero impact.

But also, I'm fairly sure reading skills is what counts the most. I'm not even sure it's a matter of "being best" as it is a matter of a reader just sounding better for a specific person.

[0] http://www.audible.com/pd/History/The-World-until-Yesterday-... [1] http://www.audible.com/pd/Bios-Memoirs/Masters-of-Doom-Audio...

Re: America's biggest new reading trend: obsessed with multitasking via audio books

#57

Post by pmoriarty »

inputcoffee wrote: post #7

I can only "listen" to an audio book when I am not multi-tasking. Otherwise I find myself zone out of the book, and miss a huge chunk of it, then rewind to the point I thought I missed and rewind too much. Realize I have heard it before and let myself zone out again etc. I realize how inefficient live lectures are and how much I must have missed through my life.

It really depends on what I'm doing. If I'm drawing or walking, for instance, I can do those things and focus on the book. If I'm trying to read something else or program, then it's always a matter of focusing on one or the other, and then it's like you say.

The rewinding bit is why rewinding, bookmarking, and navigation features of audio players are critical to me. I really hate bare-bones audio player interfaces that make it a chore to do any of those things.

Re: America's biggest new reading trend: obsessed with multitasking via audio books

#58

Post by riffraff »

twoquestions wrote: post #39
jpalomaki wrote: post #29

Audible subscription and wireless, noise canceling headphones. Listening a book while taking one hour walk from office to home is a pleasure. Noise canceling headphones are important for me as they cut down the traffic noise. Audible subscription makes buying easy and removes the "is this book worth this much" decision. One problem with the audiobooks is that you can't flip through the pages or search to recall somet…

> Listening a book while taking one hour walk from office to home is a pleasure. Have you had problems being disconnected from the world around you with such a setup? I'd like to take more walks instead of sitting more when I get home, but I'd be worried about being hit by a car or something I didn't hear.

I'm probably missing something here, but: sidewalks?

I've also been listening while walking around/using public transport for many years, you can usually just pause the thing when you're in a situation that requires more attention (e.g. crossing) but generally it's better than walking while reading. The problem is more that if many things are happening you tend to lose track of the book. But that's why apps have "go back 30 second" shortcuts.

Re: America's biggest new reading trend: obsessed with multitasking via audio books

#59

Post by ghostly_s »

twoquestions wrote: post #39
jpalomaki wrote: post #29

Audible subscription and wireless, noise canceling headphones. Listening a book while taking one hour walk from office to home is a pleasure. Noise canceling headphones are important for me as they cut down the traffic noise. Audible subscription makes buying easy and removes the "is this book worth this much" decision. One problem with the audiobooks is that you can't flip through the pages or search to recall somet…

> Listening a book while taking one hour walk from office to home is a pleasure. Have you had problems being disconnected from the world around you with such a setup? I'd like to take more walks instead of sitting more when I get home, but I'd be worried about being hit by a car or something I didn't hear.

I'm guessing you don't live in a place where people walk very often? Everyone has had headphones on while walking for the last ten years.

Re: America's biggest new reading trend: obsessed with multitasking via audio books

#60

Post by dyeje »

DanBC wrote: post #53
Chaebixi wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think multi-tasking with an audiobook only works when the other task is one you can perform automatically (e.g. highway driving). If you're doing anything that requires any thought or decision making, then you might as well not bother with the book. Also, I think the kind of audiobook is important: 1. Fiction usually works best, since narratives and action are easy to follow. 2. Simple non-fiction is worse but stil…

> when the other task is one you can perform automatically (e.g. highway driving) Fucking hell no, please do focus your attention on driving.

It's really no different from listening to the radio.
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