Stuck In Another Traffic Jam Listening To The Same Old Top 40?

Stuck In Another Traffic Jam Listening To The Same Old Top 40?
Give Audio Books a Listen!

In today's busy society, finding time to sit down and read a good book can often be a luxury. Our schedules are so over-filled with activities and events that enjoying some much-needed quite time still is typically not an option. So, what is a devoted book lover to do? Perhaps it is time to consider a purchasing an audio book.

At one time just a service for individuals with visual impairments; audio books have become a mainstream way to enjoy a good book. Most often they are in a CD or tape format, however, there are a number of titles that can also be downloaded from the computer in a digital form. According to the Audio Publishers' Association, in the year 2005, nearly three quarters (74%) of audio books were purchased on CD, while 16 percent were audiotapes and 9 percent digital downloads.

Audio books can come in a variety of options. For those who want to hear every word printed in the original book, unabridged audio books are available. Abridged versions give the book in a summary version, with some components of the original text edited out. In addition, books can be purchased with a full dramatic reading, complete with sound effects, music and an entire cast ensemble to represent each character in the book. Some audio book publishers even enlist the voices of Hollywood stars to add extra appeal to their selection.

The benefits of audio books are many. Not only can they be utilized in many areas that books cannot, they can provide the benefit of the written word to those who might otherwise be excluded (such as children and visually impaired individuals). Furthermore, the U.S. Library of Congress has a program that provides free audio books to the sight impaired.

Audio books are an excellent way to pass the time during a long car ride or while doing chores around the house. They provide the ability to multi-task while still allowing the reader to enjoy a novel by their favorite author.

Today, most new book titles are also available in an audio format. Books range from the latest fiction thriller to self-help and instructional information. They can be used as teaching tools and are an excellent way to aid children in learning to read and comprehend. In addition, because the listener has the benefit of hitting the rewind button, they can listen to areas of the book again for added understanding or take notes on certain sections they want to remember.

Author: Gary Carter

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