Readers Gotta Read

History of Audiobooks

Did you know audiobooks have been around since 1932?  The first recordings were originally made by The American Foundation for the Blind on vinyl records and held 15 minutes of reading. The original audience and consumer of audiobooks were for the visually impaired.

Audiobooks evolved over the decades – from vinyl to cassette tapes in the 1960s, then to CDs in the 1980s, and eventually digital formats in the 1990s. By then, the word “audiobook” had entered the mainstream vernacular.

Source: PBS – A Short History of the Audiobook

Why Audiobooks Are More Popular Than Ever

Audiobooks continue to gain momentum year over year as the audience increases, and the numbers prove it. In 2023, audiobooks generated $2 billion in revenue, a 9%  increase from the previous year.

According to the Audio Publishers Association’s Consumer Survey:

• 52% of adults have listened to an audiobook
• Consumption increased from 35% in 2023 to 38% in 2024
• Children’s books rank highly in usage
• Fiction is the top genre listened to
• Average listener finishes 6 audiobooks per year

Source: Edison Research – Audiobook Revenue and Listener Growth

Benefits of Listening to Audiobooks

Audiobooks offer some unique advantages that traditional books do not:

• Multi-tasking: Listen while cleaning, folding laundry or exercising.
• Travel Companion: Great for commutes or road trips.
• Budget-friendly: Many are free through the library system or included with Amazon Prime.
• Better retention: Great for auditory listeners who process complex information better when heard.
• Space-saving: No bookshelves required – and no heavy boxes when moving!

Where to Find and Listen to Audiobooks

If you’re wondering where to get audiobooks, here are some of the top sources:

Subscription Services:

Try Audible, Spotify, Scrib’d, Audiobooks.com and Amazon Prime. These services all offer various plans/pricing, and most offer free trials so you can test them before committing.

Free Library Apps:

Use Libby or Hoopla to borrow audiobooks for free with your local library card. 💡 Pro tip: Borrow early in the day – popular titles can hit their daily limit by afternoon.

Purchase Options:

You can also buy audiobooks through Google Play Books or Apple Books directly in their apps.

How to Listen to Audiobooks (A Beginner’s Guide)

New to audiobooks? It’s simple.

1. Download the app for the platform you’re using (Audible, Libby, etc.)
2. Find a book to borrow or buy.
3. Stream online using WiFi or download to listen offline.
4. Control playback with buttons to rewind, fast forward, pause/play, adjust speed and track your progress.

When I Listen Audiobooks

My first preference will always be traditional books, but there are a few times when audiobooks fit my life better – for both me and my sons.

Nonfiction

For complex nonfiction, I often retain more while listening. A great narrator makes a world of different – especially for topics that are dense or academic

Family enjoyment

As I mentioned in a prior post, my boys don’t get as much screen-time as many of their peers. Listening to audiobooks together as become one of our favorite family activities – especially in the summer. They’ll draw, crochet/knit or build while listening, keeping their hands busy while their minds are engaged.

Road trips

Audiobooks are a road trip essential! During a solo drive to Ohio last year, they kept me alert and entertained – a much better alternative than silence or scanning through radio stations.

Do Audiobooks “Count” as Reading?

Ah, the big question! I’ve tackled this topic in more detail in “Do Audiobooks Count as Reading“, but here’s the short answer: Yes, they do. Audiobooks engage the same parts of the brain as reading text – and they make stories more accessible for everyone.

Join the Conversation

Do you listen to audiobooks? Why or why not? Share your favorite audiobook titles, apps or narrators in the comments — I’d love to hear what you’re listening to!