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

Post by DanBC » Fri, Apr 07, 2017, 10:43 PM UTC

abakker wrote: post #68

DanBC wrote: post #67

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It's not the "listening to audio" bit that's worrying, it's the "task is one you can perform automatically (e.g. highway driving)" which is scary.

Don't you ever drive somewhere and realize you have no idea memory of doing several of the steps involved in driving? I've been driving ~15 years, and can certainly say that at this point my daily vehicle operations are not all performed with full focus. I still check for traffic, and drive safely, but it is more automatic than just about anything else I do. Substitute in "riding a bike" for driving, and I bet you do…

Post by flor1s » Sat, Apr 08, 2017, 1:19 AM UTC

riffraff wrote: post #56

Chaebixi wrote: post #19

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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 doe…

Post by r00fus » Sat, Apr 08, 2017, 3:25 AM UTC

inputcoffee wrote: post #34

NoGravitas wrote: post #30

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I agree. I can listen to podcasts or audiobooks while doing dishes, but that's about the limit.

I wonder if that is because if you miss a part of the narrative, you can usually make out what is going on. It is rare when an author doesn't hang a lantern on an important plot device.

Post by SimonPStevens » Sat, Apr 08, 2017, 6:32 AM UTC

posterboy wrote: post #90

SimonPStevens wrote: post #89

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I've been an Audible subscriber for a few years and I listen to most audio books at between 2 and 2.25x speed. The Android app alows you to adjust it right up to 3x and in general it's still perfectly comprehendable at the individual word level even at that speed.

you have to be careful how you structure your sentences, or at least I should pay more attention. There is no way triple speed was comfortably understandable. 2 to 2.25 would be a lot already. 3x is probably a ludicrous maximum that no user should could complain about.

Post by anotheryou » Sat, Apr 08, 2017, 12:49 PM UTC