The Hot Take
People in reading communities, and granted, it’s a minority, need to stop saying audiobooks are cheating. And like I tell my kids, it’s okay to think it, but do you really need to say (or type) it out loud?
Why We’re Talking About It
There’s always that one person in a book community that has to say it. “Audiobooks are cheating.” (Including my own teenager…) It flies right out of their mouth, or off their keyboards, seemingly without a thought about how their words might affect others in that same community.
I invite you to think about what a person who chooses audiobooks, for whatever reason, might feel when they hear or read those words. Here’s a few that come to my mind:
- I’m not smart enough.
- I’m not a real reader.
- I don’t belong with other book lovers.
But are audiobooks actually less valuable? Let’s look at what they each offer…
The Breakdown
After some research I’ve compiled a list of pros and cons for each.
📖Traditional Books
| PROS | |
| Better for studying, technical books, and complex material | Requires dedicated time where your hands and eyes are available |
| Easier to highlight, annotate, and take notes | Takes up physical space |
| Easier to flip back and reread sections | Can be harder to access for some readers with disabilities or reading difficulties |
| Reader controls the pace | Not convenient during commuting, chores, or other daily tasks |
| Physical page location can help with memory | Buying large collections can become expensive |
| Creates a collectible, sentimental experience | Physical books can be damaged, lost, or difficult to transport |
🎧 Audiobooks
| PROS | |
| Similar comprehension to traditional reading for many narrative books | Can be easier to lose focus if multitasking |
| Makes books accessible to more readers | Harder to quickly go back and review sections |
| Allows people to enjoy books during busy parts of life | Not ideal for every type of book, especially technical or reference material |
| Narrators can add emotion, tone, and performance | Narrator style can affect enjoyment |
| Continues the long history of oral storytelling | Less visual/spatial memory connection |
| Portable and space-saving | Requires a device, battery, or subscription/access |
The main gripe by those that claim audiobooks as cheating, is that somehow your brain is not doing the same work. However, this is a false narrative. They are doing much of the same work, just through different pathways.
COMPREHENSION
When reading from a book your eyes have to: recognize letters > connect them into words > understand sentences > create meaning
When listening to an audiobook your ears have to: process sounds > recognize words > understand sentences > create meaning
Either way you slice it, both are doing the same thing: story comprehension. Both readers are:
- imagining the characters
- building the world in their mind
- understanding themes
- reacting emotionally
- forming opinions
Studies have shown that readers and listeners comprehend the same material at similar levels. They can both: summarize a plot, understand character motivations, recognize themes, and participate in discussions about the material.
RETENTION
Reading a book does have some advantages, such as: your eyes naturally jump back while reading if you miss something, and holding a physical copy helps with providing memory cues.
However, this has no bearing on whether two people, one reading and one listening, can have a conversation about the content of a book.
NARRATIVE VS. COMPLEX MATERIAL
Audiobooks shine when it comes to materials like: fiction, memoirs, biographies, and narrative nonfiction. Listening to a story hits something primal within us, as it was the only way to share stories for thousands of years.
When we listen to an audiobook, our brains pick up on humor, sarcasm, emotional scenes, accents, and dialogue better than reading the words, which can heighten the experience.
However, when it comes to academics and other forms of learning, printed books are the way to go (or reading and listening at the same time). With a physical book it is easier to stop and reread a section, highlight important information, and compare information side by side from different books.
Who’s The Reader
One of the points I think often gets lost in this discussion are the readers themselves. Who’s reading vs. who’s listening?
LEARNING PREFERENCES & DISABILITIES
One of the things I learned my first semester of college was that everyone has a learning style preference(s), and usually benefits from more than one. There are four: Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic (Hands-On). I am a Visual/Kinesthetic Learner. I like to see someone do the thing then try it myself, and that is how I learn best. This has held true my whole life.
Personal preference and how people best engage with information should also be considered in this debate. If someone prefers Reading/Writing and enjoys absorbing information through physical text, then let them read the book. If someone prefers listening and connects better through audio, then let them listen to the story instead.
The next thing to consider are learning and physical disabilities. Some of these make it very hard, and in some cases impossible, to read a book. Things like ADHD, Autism, and Dyslexia can make sitting down to read a book a highly frustrating and horrible experience. Where audiobooks would allow for stimming (such as hand movements, pacing, etc.) if needed.
Let me tell you a story…
I work with kids that have varying disabilities. One student was struggling very hard with copying sentences from the board. Their ability to process the words on the board and write them down was much slower than the other students in class.
This issue would often cause meltdowns for them. Eventually, I figured out that if I read the information to them, they were able to write it down at an efficient pace and could finish with the rest of the class.
I would never dream of telling this child that listening to an audiobook was cheating.
LIFESTYLE
Let’s face it. A single person with no kids, their own living space, and disposable income, lives a way different life than a single mom of four working one or more jobs to make ends meet. The former has a lot more room in their life to fill it with books, while the latter is struggling to get some time to themselves.
When I worked at a huge independent bookstore, I brought home books at least once a week. Who wouldn’t with a 50% discount? But now, as a mom of three, working full time, with little space and income, it’s a different story. I’ve traded my paperbacks for ebooks and audiobooks. Not because I love books less, but because this is how books fit into my life now.
Where It Works
Physical books are great when studying, or if you need or want to annotate things. Some people love to collect them just like any other collectible, especially if they are signed copies.
Audiobooks are great for commuting, cleaning, doing arts and crafts, and generally working with your hands in any capacity. Others prefer audio due to accessibility needs, learning style, or they love a good narration.
While I love all the forms that books come in, I most often choose audiobooks because I can live my life while listening. I can clean the dishes, fold laundry, knit, crochet, sew, draw, while I listen to a book that will keep my brain from ruminating on all the mistakes I made in life.
Where It Doesn’t
Owning shelves upon shelves of books doesn’t make you a better reader, or a more prolific one. It definitely shows that you love having them in physical form, and that’s okay. But there’s a point where certain BookTok videos border on “rich flexing”.
When it comes to listening to audiobooks while multitasking, it’s easy to miss things and I sometimes find myself backtracking the audio to listen again. Narration quality is also hit or miss, and this can affect your enjoyment, and even cause you to move on to a different book. Some books just work better visually. All my “how-to” books are either physical copies or ebooks.
The Other Side
Some individuals genuinely retain information better when they read a physical book. Here’s looking at all you Visual & Reading/Writing learners!
Others love to feel the pages, smell the paper and binding glue, highlight their favorite parts, or seeing their collection on their shelves (that’s how I feel about yarn).
When I’m able to swing it, I absolutely love to sit in my big fluffy chair with a blanket and a good book. But, in my current stage of life that is a luxury. I’m hoping when I reach my crone phase I can resurrect this type of ritual, lol.
Final Thoughts
Books, no matter their form, are meant to teach us, move us, entertain us, and most importantly, to connect us. Making statements like: “audiobooks are cheating” or “graphic novels don’t count”, is only divisive and serves no one but the people that say them.
I ask that people in the book community remember that readers come in all ages, shapes, sizes, lifestyles, abilities, and circumstances. Let’s not ostracize the very people who make up our community.
Let people choose the doorway that gets them into the story.
And yes, I’m making my teenager read this…
Sources & Further Reading
Time: Are Audiobooks As Good For You As Reading? Here’s What Experts Say
The Harvard Gazette: Audiobooks don’t really count as reading? Think again.
MuseiTup Publising: Audiobooks vs Reading: Do You Retain Less From Listening (2026)
Start the Conversation
Bring the opinions, but keep it classy. We love a good debate, but personal attacks belong in the DNF pile.
Do you prefer audiobooks, traditional books, or both? Why?
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