Kindle Audio Books

Some Thoughts On Audio Books

Kindle Audio Books It may come as a surprise to those who know my disdain (or more honestly, hatred) for e-books and e-reading devices that I actually like audio books. It really shouldn't be surprising, however, given that e-books and audio books are two very different things. Rather than go off on my usual anti-Kindle, anti-Nook rant I will confine this post to the positives of audio books.

First of all, one thing audio books don't do is rob authors of royalty payments. Since they actually cost more than the hardcover version, authors make more on audio books than any other format. These tend to sell fewer copies as a result, mainly being bought by libraries, but the author gets paid nonetheless.

Audio books are also great for those who, like me, have a long commute to work every day. Rather than spend 3 hours round-trip listening to talk radio idiots or the same old sports news, I can use the time to reduce my ever-growing reading list. Listening to books while I drive also tends to calm me, which I know will come as welcome news to those who have to share the highway with me. And for everyone working in the ubiquitous cubicle farms of corporate America, and audio book can stave off death by boredom in a way nothing else can.

If you're in doubt about purchasing a particular book, an audio book checked out from your local library can either confirm that it's worth a hardcover purchase, that you should wait on the paperback, or that you should pass altogether. But you have to be careful that the book just doesn't seem bad because the person reading the audio book isn't that good. This doesn't happen often, especially with audio books produced in the past 10 years or so, but it does happen.

Which brings me to the thing I love most about audio books. I had already read all of the Harry Potter books, Kerouac's On the Road, and The Great Gatsby before I ever listened to them on audio. But listening to Jim Dale, Matt Dillon, and Tim Robbins (respectively) read these great books added a whole new dimension to my experience of the books. And in the case of a 675-page book like Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, it was the only was to have any hope of finishing in a reasonable amount of time.

So if you've never done so, give audio books a try. They can be a very rewarding addition to your reading life.

By Bruno Somerset - I am a novelist & freelance writer living in Texas. I write mainly on arts and entertainment, politics and religion, with the occasional sports and humor piece thrown in to keep things interesting.

Can you read Kindle audio books?

Kindle has audio books, which read the book to you... I was wondering if you can read the book while it is being played out loud?

Get the answers...

Does Amazon have NON-KINDLE audio books?

I don't have/cannot afford a Kindle but I need to listen to (not read) some books. I know they have stuff like that available at public libraries, but I would like to purchase (or even possibly pay to rent) audio books from AMAZON only because I have a gift card for Amazon. --Public library is 100% out of the question --If Amazon is not possible, I still need audio books for the cheapest anywhere so any other recommendations would be helpful ONLY IF AMAZON IS NOT POSSIBLE. --If it makes a difference, the audio books I need are for my boyfriend and I to listen to together that are self-help or relationship advice to help save our increasingly deteriorating relationship. --If it is not some sort of audio/media, it will not help my situation. Thank you for helping--you could possibly be saving our 3 year relationship!

Get the answers...

Next page: Naxos Audio Books

Bookmark/Share This Page:

Recommended Audio Books

�Great Moments in History - A free audiobook by John G. Stockmyer

�Infected - A free audiobook by Scott Sigler

�Forever Fifteen Free Vampire Audiobook
More free AudioBooks

Kindle Audio Books News

The Gunslinger: The Dark Tower I (Unabridged) - Stephen King

7 Feb 2012 at 7:51am

The Gunslinger: The Dark Tower I (Unabridged) artwork

The Gunslinger: The Dark Tower I (Unabridged)
Stephen King
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Price: $5.95
Publish Date: June 24, 2003

Kill Shot: An American Assassin Thriller (Unabridged) - Vince Flynn

7 Feb 2012 at 7:51am

Kill Shot: An American Assassin Thriller (Unabridged) artwork

Kill Shot: An American Assassin Thriller (Unabridged)
Vince Flynn
Genre: Mystery
Price: $23.95
Publish Date: February 07, 2012

The Hunger Games (Unabridged) (Unabridged Fiction) - Suzanne Collins

7 Feb 2012 at 7:51am

The Hunger Games (Unabridged) (Unabridged Fiction) artwork

The Hunger Games (Unabridged) (Unabridged Fiction)
Suzanne Collins
Genre: Kids & Young Adults
Price: $23.95
Publish Date: October 01, 2008