Audiobook vs Print vs eReader

Some people like bound books, some swear by their eReader, and some say that audio is the way to go. We however feel that their are places for each.

Audiobooks

Audiobooks are the best way to consume most types of fiction, and much of non-fiction. There is much to be said for sitting down with your favorite warm beverage to relax read a nice leather bound masterpiece. Alas, we can seldom find the time. Audiobooks are excellent tools to feed your mind on your way to work, while doing household chores, or even when exercising. However they are not merely tools of convenience; modern audiobooks, when well produced are works of performance art.

Printed Books

Printed Books are great when you want to savor every moment of a book. There is a visceral isolation unmatched in human experience when reading a great book. The characters you meet become a part of you forever. The way they speak, the nuances of appearance and personality that make us love or hate real people: these are ours to create when its just us and the letters flowing before our eyes. Audiobooks take a different approach, but not necessarily better or worse. We pick up much from the tone of voice that delivers words to our ears. With an audiobook we are listening to a storyteller. With a flick of their tone-of-voice, good storytellers can transform the world before our eyes.

eReaders

eReaders are relatively new to the market of words, they offer a balance between the intimate nature of print and the convenience of modern computing. Many people use them as references as their bookmarking features are becoming more and more useful. There is something to be said, for carrying everything you might need to read in the palm of your hand. What’s Best? I think the long term answer is that we will have all three for the foreseeable future. I doubt printed books are in any danger, too many bibliophiles love the feel of well printed art. Even less well printed books have their place. They are easy to take notes in and tab with post-it notes. The eReader is just to convenient to ignore, and I see them becoming as common as mobile phones (more likely all devices will start to funnel into a single personal device). Audiobooks are fun to listen to, and allow you to enrich your otherwise idle time washing dishes or driving to work.

There is no need to have a format war. We are loosing the young minds to apathy and ignorance; these different formats are just new weapons in the war to defend the clear thinking minds of men.