There has been a dramatic rise of people choosing to listen to audiobooks over traditional books. Which is better? To answer this question, it is important to recognize all aspects of typical reading, including enjoyment, comprehension, and health benefits. 

First, enjoyment when reading is purely subjective and different amongst all people. However, listening to an audiobook can have different perks. For example, an audiobook can be more entertaining if the narrator can create and provide the different tones and emotions of the book. This makes “reading” a more lively experience. Conversely, a bad narrator can be monotone the whole time and not strengthen the words and characters well. 

Listening to audiobooks also allows for multitasking, which can be useful for people who find it difficult to concentrate while reading. Readers may enjoy the ability to utilize their imagination when reading a traditional book. One can also create the scene in her own mind, instead of having a narrator describe it. Erin Ha (9) firmly believes that “physical books keep [her] more engaged and help [her] imagine the story” herself.

The next matter to consider is reading comprehension. Depending on the type of learner one is, whether it be auditory or visual, he may retain the information better or worse than someone else. There are some advantages to either choice, including the ability to reread. When reading a traditional book, it is much easier for someone to mentally go back and read the page or sentence, but, while listening to an audiobook, it can be more difficult to go back to where you need to. Overall, comprehension of the book depends deeply on the individual person and their learning style.

Reading books can have a variety of benefits for the brain, but is there a difference between an audiobook and a traditional paper book? Dr. Kristen Willeumier states that though reading activates the brain’s ability to visually process information, and listening accesses the brain’s ability to process language, they both help the brain in many ways. Overall, reading a paper book and listening to a book stimulates the same parts of the brain, and therefore has generally the same positive impact on the brain. Further, reading and listening expands one’s knowledge, strengthens memory, and nourishes creativity and imagination. 

To conclude, reading a traditional book or listening to an audiobook can help the  brain thrive and can have benefits for everyone. However, people may enjoy, comprehend more easily, or benefit more by either one depending on a variety of factors.