Controversial Bookish Topic: Are Audiobooks Actually Reading?

Controversial bookish topic time!

This particular topic is definitely something that has been more accepted within the bookish community as of the past year or so. However, I think it still can cause a heated discussion when brought up: are audiobooks actually reading?

Here are some arguments to why people think that audiobooks aren't reading:

• You aren't actually reading the book yourself; someone else is reading the book to you, and thus you're listening, not reading.
• What is considered "a book;" some people only physical books (and maybe ebooks) as "books," which doesn't include audiobooks.
• The pace at which you understand the material; in most cases, you can set the speed to which you're listening to an audiobook, but when you're reading a physical book - hard copy or ebook - it's easier to go back and reread something if you need to understand it better.
• The interpretation of the narration changes; when you read a physical book, the information goes through your eyes into your brain/mind, allowing for a direct interpretation by you. When you're listening to an audiobook, the narration is passing through someone else before it gets to you; the way the narrator says a line may influence your own interpretation.
• Even if an author is the narrator of their book, it was still published as a book first.
• Reading is something you do, and listening is something that happens to you.
• Reading material that is considered "tougher" should be read and not listened to.

Here are some arguments to why people think that audiobooks are reading:

• They can improve your understanding and vocab; hearing a new word being audibly spoken gives you a better understanding of what it means.
• You can imagine the story better.
• You can get a deeper meaning or understanding from hearing a book read out loud.
• You can get more emotional about a scene in the book.
• Humans have been telling stories orally for thousands of years

The reasoning for both sides of the argument make sense. Certain ways work better than others for retaining information; however, that usually isn't what reading is about. My side of this discussion is that audiobooks are actually reading. However, how much of the information you, as the reader, takes in depends on the situation. As the article "Are Audiobooks As Good For You As Reading? Here’s What Experts Say" states, if you're doing something else (like a household chore) while listening to an audiobook, you may not retain the information as well. However, there are situations where audiobooks are the only way someone can read a book.

Articles for the views that don't think audiobooks count as reading:

You’re Dumb and Wrong: Listening to audiobooks is not reading (I personally think this title of the series is harsh, but that's my opinion)
Why Listening to a Book Is Not the Same as Reading It

Articles for the views that do think audiobooks count as reading:

Are Audiobooks Good for the Brain?

Are Audiobooks As Good For You As Reading? Here’s What Experts Say (This one can fit under both, since it makes good arguments for both sides)