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That lady at the library book swap changed my mind about audiobooks counting as reading
She said she 'reads' 50 books a year through Libby while driving for Uber in Boston, and I realized I was just being snobby about the format.
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beth_reed1mo ago
Yeah, the "different doorway" thing is super real. It's funny how once you notice it, you start seeing gatekeeping everywhere about how you're supposed to enjoy things. Like, I've got a buddy who's super into metal but thinks you have to listen to it on vinyl or it doesn't count, which is just as silly. We're all just trying to get that same feeling of getting lost in a story or a song, and the delivery method is just the vehicle.
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parker1831mo ago
Did you ever hear about that study showing audiobooks activate the same parts of the brain as reading print? I think it was some neuroscientist who did an MRI thing on people listening vs reading. Honestly, it makes total sense to me now. Your brain is still processing the story, the characters, the plot twists, just through a different doorway. That Uber driver is definitely reading in my book, no pun intended.
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josephmartin1mo ago
Flip it around though, doesn't that mean someone who only reads print is actually missing out on the brain benefits of listening, since their brain isn't getting practice with that doorway?
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