Through the many years books have been alive, yes, definitely alive that’s the word I meant to use, people have been reading them. Then suddenly in 1932, audio books came and stole their thunder. People began listening to books instead!

So here we decide, which is BETTER?

Before I talk about the winner we have some things to discuss, and maybe even change your mind.

Some people believe that audio is better; you can read and do chores all at once. People such as auditory learners imagine better with audio too. Soothing voices help you fall asleep faster. And you don’t have to worry about leaving drool stains all over your favorite book. You can even multitask with audio. Have you ever tried shopping while reading a physical book at the same time? Trust me I learned from experience, and I don’t recommend it.

You don’t even have to pay for some audiobooks. Do you have Spotify? There’s audiobooks there, so you can get your music and audiobooks at the same place, Libby and Hoopla are some other audiobook apps.

Some people say that audiobooks are good for people with ADHD–they provide a hands-free way to read, so they can still read while going on a run or doing a chore.

A lot of students are sporty and pick up many sports, so they can’t easily carry a book–audiobooks give them an opportunity to read. If you play sports and you often find yourself quietly trying to make a shot or… some other sports term, maybe you should listen to audiobooks while you do it. It’s a great way to read that book your friend recommended while also practicing your favorite sport.

You also have unlimited books that way, you can’t just carry a library around, but you have your phone. You can go on an app and listen to as many books as you want, without having to pick up a new book every time you finish one.

Some students said that they listen better with audiobooks. Sometimes if you don’t know how to pronounce a word, audiobooks can help. Others replied that audiobooks allow them to multitask.  When surveyed, students favoring audiobooks replied:

• “I like multitasking while hearing a story. I am a very auditory learner, and I take in information well when I hear it… However, I usually only like this when I’m listening to a book that I’ve previously read…”
• “I’m able to cook or clean while listening to audiobooks. “
• “…I think (it) just makes understanding what the book is saying easier…”
• “Because I can listen and get better with following along.”

Others believe that hardcopy books are best, they’ve existed since 500 BC. People can hold the book and picture what they want the characters to look like. Sometimes you find a book you want to read on audio, but then find out that the narrator has a boring voice.  Also people who don’t read sometimes put books on their bookshelf to look smarter; you can’t do that to audiobooks.

This type of reading is also linked to stronger test scores. If you struggle with tests or quizzes maybe it’s time to pick up a book. I’m not saying that’s always the case though. Sometimes you just need to study harder. But recently a study in an elementary school in Texas found that reading at least 2,000 minutes during the school year increased test scores a fair amount. They found that students gained over 60% in reading and almost 30% in math.

If you are actually holding a book then it offers you less distractions, some people even say that hardcopy books offer you better sleep. The blue light from your phone doesn’t help, so you might want to stick with normal books at night.

Ordinary books help you soak up the information better, you can go back, and reread, when you are listening to audiobooks you can’t always go back and ‘reread’, sometimes they even read too fast, or even too slow. Reading ordinary books allows you to go just the speed you want. Reading these types of books also helps you expand vocabulary. Some people listen to books and that’s fine, but you can’t always learn new words that way. If you’re reading a hardcopy then you can look up unfamiliar words with correct spelling, you can’t really do that with audio.

If you don’t have wifi, you can’t listen to an audiobook, but you can always read a physical book. Have you ever gone to a bookstore and just picked out books? It’s very soothing.

If you don’t like buying books there’s always a library. You can borrow as many books as you want– did I mention they’re free? Imagine that you are a fast reader and you love comic books, but you don’t like buying them because you finish them too fast. You could always go to your local library and see if they have any.

What if your phone dies while you’re listening to an audio book? Then you no longer have a book to read. If you have airpods or some other type of battery powered headphones, then they could die and you’re no longer able to read.

When asked about ordinary books people replied things like:

• “Ordinary books are better because when I physically read the book it makes me more connected to the story instead of listening to it.” 
• Another said that when they listen to audiobooks sometimes they can’t retain any information “…they (audiobooks) go in one ear and out the other.” 
• Another person said that they can picture the book better when reading it themself, and they could play it like a movie.
• “I really enjoy the smells of a physical book…”
• “I like to read it my way because some audio books are too fast or too slow, I like to go at the pace I want to go at.”

Someone believed that sometimes the voices of audiobook readers can be annoying. A lot of students said that they like reading at their own pace, or holding the physical copy in their hands.

Some other students replied they don’t like any books, so if you just don’t like reading in general, reading has been proven to increase vocabulary, creativity, and gives you more patience. Maybe you have a terrible memory, I get it– books help with memory. Reading also is a great source of inspiration. If you are having trouble with writing poems or essays, reading could give you some inspiration. Who knows, maybe you’ll gain a new interest.

So now here’s the BIG winner…

Ordinary books! 57% of of the responses preferred physical books! 

Thank you to the 102 students who filled out the Google form. Much appreciated.