By Rohini Gopal
Ursuline Academy
Young people are choosing audiobooks over traditional books primarily for convenience, which allows them to multitask during busy schedules. Audiobooks seamlessly fit into packed daily routines.
Young adults can listen to an audiobook of their choice while commuting, doing chores, or working out. Adults of Generation X disagree with this because they prefer the tactile experience of reading physical books and traditional formats.
Still, according to a new report commissioned by digital management service Rakuten OverDrive, just 24% of Gen X and Baby Boomer book consumers will pick audiobooks as their book format of choice, compared to 48% of Millennials and Gen Z book lovers.
Books and audiobooks differ primarily in their format and sensory engagement. To compare the two, books engage the visual cortex and are ideal for studying while audiobooks activate the semantic processing areas in the brain.
In a blog from Psychology Today, journalist Cody Kommers, wrote that listening to a book is not the same as reading it for a few reasons.
“Reading is something you do, where listening is something that happens to you. Reading is an act of engagement. The words on the page aren’t going to read themselves which is something they literally do in an audiobook. If you’re not actively taking in written information, then you’re not going to make progress on the book. Audiobooks, on the other hand, make progress with or without your participation.”
Kommers said, “We would never think to listen to a math problem. We know that in order to understand it, we have to sit there and dissect it.”
Ursuline Academy librarian, Scarlett Sanchez-Torrealba said, “Audiobooks can also feel more accessible to some students, especially those who struggle to find time to sit down with a physical book.
“Additionally, some young readers may prefer the privacy that audiobooks provide. Since there is no visible book cover, they may feel more comfortable exploring topics or genres without worrying about what others might think about their reading choices.” This is shown throughout the school day when students are reading books and peering over one another’s shoulders to see what page the student is currently on.
