Why you should read audiobooks

And where to get them!

Let’s get this out of the way first: audiobooks are reading.

If you disagree, this is neither the post nor the substack for you.

I will not hear your ableist or wrong opinions, thanks.

Now that that’s out of the way, we can get into it.

Welcome to part one of this three-part series about audiobooks!

In this part, I’ll be talking about why you should start reading audiobooks, and where to find them.

Part two will be out next week, and I’m going to be giving you some tips on how to get into audiobooks and what to do while reading them.

How to start listening to audiobooks

Part three will be out on the 8th of October and I’ll be sharing my favourite audiobook recommendations.

My favourite audiobooks!

I’ll link parts two and three to this post once they go live. In the meantime don’t forget to subscribe to be notified instantly when parts two and three drop.

My journey with audiobooks

I never thought I would be a champion for audiobooks. I never had any particularly strong opinions about them, but I wasn’t actively listening to them when I restarted my reading journey.

That all changed a few months before the pandemic, when I decided to finally give audiobooks a try.

I won’t lie to you and say I was hooked instantly. It took a while to get into them, but once I got the hang of it audiobooks became my everything.

I now read more audiobooks a year than I do physical books, and I support the accessibility of stories in all forms.

A snapshot from my reading tracker. Audiobooks and ALCs (advanced listening copies) make up 45% of my reading

Why should you listen to audiobooks?

1. Audiobooks help reduce negative thinking and lower anxiety

I don’t know about you, but there’s constant noise in my brain. The only time I can get it to properly shut up is when I’m engaged with an audiobook. It keeps my brain from wandering into negative and anxiety-riddled thoughts.

I get very anxious on planes and in cars, and audiobooks help calm me down. I also get incredibly motion sick, so listening to an audiobook in the car or on a plane is really two benefits in one - I can read and I can stay calm.

2. They help you sleep better

I sleep like a rock most nights, and I directly attribute that to the fact that I listen to audiobooks before bed. Listening to audiobooks allows me to step away from the screens, and I’m not subjected to blue light (something that is known to disrupt sleep) before bed.

Of course, this isn’t always the case. I do not advise listening to horror audiobooks before bed. They will keep you up at night.

3. You can multitask

Have you been putting off doing chores because it’s a boring adult activity? Not anymore.

I love doing chores because it gives me an excuse to listen to my audiobook. My hands are occupied, but my mind is free to engage in amazing stories. Laundry, dishes, mowing the lawn, sweeping, you name it, I’ll do it as long as I can read.

4. Audiobooks make reading accessible

Not a big reader? Struggling with your attention span?

Do you have eye issues like I do, or do you just find reading physically hard and mentally draining?

Audiobooks.

They make the world of imagination accessible. Studies even show that they increase reading comprehension and help build literacy skills.

5. They give books more life

A good narrator can have a profound impact on a story. I’m sure there are books I’ve given 5 stars solely because of how good the narration was. It turns reading into this full immersion experience.

You can even combine the two. I know loads of people who listen to the audiobook while having the physical book in front of them.

I don’t think I can fully put into words how much I love audiobooks.

Reading has always been my biggest passion, and audiobooks are the reason I can continue to read what I love without worrying too much about my declining eyesight.

If you haven’t started listening to audiobooks, take this as your sign to get on the hype train.

Where to get audiobooks?

This is probably the most important part of this post, but it’s also an excuse for me to scream about LibroFM.

I try to limit my support of Bezos because I’m fundamentally against oligarchy (pick up The Everything War) and he really doesn’t need my money.

I would rather my money go to Independent bookstores and small businesses. And my favourite one to support is LibroFM.

A screenshot from LibroFM

Why support LibroFM?

• You get to keep your audiobooks forever (you can download the files, unlike other platforms where you lose access if you stop paying)

• LibroFM lets you support independent and indie bookstores

• Your membership credits never expire

• Over 500 000 audiobooks to choose from

• For a full breakdown of LibroFM vs Audible check out this post

If that isn’t enough to convince you, there are some other alternatives such as Everand and Libby. I know Spotify also has audiobooks, but it’s only available in certain regions.

I highly suggesting giving LibroFM a go though!

Let’s chat!

💬 Are you an audiobook fan? Where do you listen to audiobooks?

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