An audio book is any recording of the text in a book, which is why they're sometimes called "talking books". Most people listen to books on tape or CD, or in a digital format like MP3.
Audio books have made significant gains in popularity as they are rebranded as a lifestyle tool for busy professionals who want to keep their minds active.
It's generally agreed that Dylan Thomas' performance of "A Child's Christmas in Wales" was the first commercially available audio book, produced in 1955. The National Library Service predates that release, though, as they've offered a "Talking Book Service" since 1931.
Top 5 Fiction Bestsellers
- The 5th Horseman by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
- The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
- S Is for Silence by Sue Grafton
- The Camel Club by David Baldacci
- Mary, Mary by James Patterson
CD Audio Books
Compact disc is one of two dominant media types in the industry, along with books on tape.
Most CD audiobooks have tracks at regular intervals, which makes it easy to keep your place in the narration. All you need to do is remember the track number.
Almost all CD audio book afficionadoes end up devoted to MP3-CDs. MP3 CDs use a different kind of file to save information so that long books (20 or 30 hours run time) can fit on one disc.
Most all CD players sold these days (in car, portable, etc), are MP3-compatible.
Most CD audiobooks have tracks at regular intervals, which makes it easy to keep your place in the narration. All you need to do is remember the track number.
Almost all CD audio book afficionadoes end up devoted to MP3-CDs. MP3 CDs use a different kind of file to save information so that long books (20 or 30 hours run time) can fit on one disc.
Most all CD players sold these days (in car, portable, etc), are MP3-compatible.
Audio books on CD are good for you if
- You intend to listen in the car or have a long commute
- You want a broad choice of titles
- You want a broad choice of sources-- books on CD are available at most local libraries, book stores, or online
- You don't want to spend much time with setup or sync'ing technological devices
Downloading Audio Books
Audio books accessed by direct download is the fastest growing trend in the industry.
The main force driving its popularity is the convenience factor--especially for people already comfortable with downloading computer programs and music from the internet. Downloading audio books is the same process of transferring files onto your computer which can be transferred to an MP3 player or burned to a disc.
The major source of friction slowing download growth is technological. Hiccups during the downloading process which are tedious and inconvenient to fix are common. So are mismatches between your MP3 player and your Digital Rights Managed audio files.
The main force driving its popularity is the convenience factor--especially for people already comfortable with downloading computer programs and music from the internet. Downloading audio books is the same process of transferring files onto your computer which can be transferred to an MP3 player or burned to a disc.
The major source of friction slowing download growth is technological. Hiccups during the downloading process which are tedious and inconvenient to fix are common. So are mismatches between your MP3 player and your Digital Rights Managed audio files.
Find out more
- Downloading Audio Books
- The basics on this emerging media type
- Download Free Books on Tape
- Simply Audiobooks is offering a free book for download every month, to promote their audio book services.
Books on Tape
The term "books on tape" is a misnomer that makes me laugh on a regular basis.People will frequently talk about "downloading a book on tape" or listening to a "book on tape" in the car... when you know they don't have a tape deck.
However, for those who do have a tape deck in their car, or a ghetto blaster in their office, and have a long-standing fondness for audio books, the cassette format is still reasonably popular.
Books on Tape: Pros and Cons
- It's easy to keep your place in between listens
- Cassettes are sturdy and tend to last
- Lots of used & secondhand books on tape to choose from, which makes them relatively inexpensive
- BUT tape players are sharply decreasing in popularity
- new books aren't always produced on cassette
- books on tape tend to be bulkier than books on CD and are definitely larger than books saved on an MP3 player
Audio Book News & Reviews
It can be overwhelming trying to find an audio book you'll enjoy. These sources can narrow the field and give you more information before you try a title.
- AudioFile Magazine Reviews
- AudioFile Magazine is devoted to all things audiobook.
- Podcast Audio Books Reviews
- Currently just a couple of reviews (mostly James Patterson), but soon to expand considerably.
- Audio Column Reviews
- Very brief, plot-focused reviews, often omitting any commentary about the narrator's performance.
- Simply Audio Books Blog
- Blogging about life, the universe and audiobooks.
- Hearing Books
- All audio book reviews-- though they're a bit focused on one particular company.
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