12 Comments
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Franca Bollo's avatar

Totally agree. It’s not just audiobooks. It’s news videos, podcasts, and radio (remember that?). I don’t want to listen to the content, I want to read it at my own pace and with complete focus.

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Claudia Brose's avatar

same here! When a news article is only presented in the form of an audio or podcast I leave and skip it. They lose me.

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The Earthmonk's avatar

I can only listen to an audiobook while driving a gas powered vehicle. Also while painting, I find listening to an audiobook symbiotic with painting.

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Claudia Brose's avatar

This is interesting- listening to an audiobook is symbiotic with painting. Does it have to be certain topic audiobooks?

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The Earthmonk's avatar

Recently I’ve been reading/listening to nature books on Audible. For example I painted with a white-wash stain, 6” and 8” tongue and groove woodwork while listening to Zoe Schlanger’s “The Light Eaters”.

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Claudia Brose's avatar

that's so interesting!

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Emily Burnett's avatar

This gave me pause, in all the good ways. I like listening to stuff while I walk, but am trying to do less of it. And like you, I much prefer reading physical books -- tagging corners of pages, underlining, savoring. Thanks for giving me things to think about in my own quest to slow down and just BE. The part where you quoted about people in the airport zombie-scrolling...that's so real. It makes me so happy when I see someone observing people, reading a physical book, chatting.

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Claudia Brose's avatar

ha! me too! It makes me happy (and I smile inwardly) when I see people reading a physical book.

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Isaiah from 'Earn Out Loud''s avatar

I'm a HUGE proponent of focusing on one task at a time.

My wife and I sometimes debate about whether multitasking actually works. Studies-and now this article-says I'm right 😏 but I'll never tell her that. haha.

Great post!

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Claudia Brose's avatar

thanks! 😅

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Nicolle Sloane's avatar

I don’t do audiobooks—I just don’t like being read to. But even if I did, I completely agree with you: I could never wear headphones while walking. I go on walks to be in nature, hear the birds, and the wind, and just be alone with my thoughts.

And ha! That Amazon ad sounds like something straight out of the 1950s—what the heck!? Listening while doing housework? Hahaha!

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Claudia Brose's avatar

YES, exactly! THAT's how I enjoy my walks: to be in. nature, hear the birds, and the wind and be alone with my thoughts! That's it!

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