In Defense of the Written Word
I really love to read…I can sit down and read a good book from cover to cover and barely notice the passing of time. It seems that lately I feel too busy to sit down and read, so I began to quench my reading thirst with audiobooks. So, when the Kindle was announced, I have to admit I was skeptical. I mean, why read a book when you can listen to one? That’s what I was thinking. I even wondered if all books would go to audio??
Recently, I’ve begun to rethink those feelings. In attempting to listen to Getting Things Done and Cluetrain Manifesto, I’ve realized that there are some books that are just better when you read them rather than listen. In a book like Getting Things Done, it takes multiple relistens to ‘get it’. However, it’s difficult to maneuver to the exact part that you’re interested in hearing again. The same is true for Cluetrain Manifesto. There are many parts that I’d like to share with others, but now I have to try and remember the chapter number and the time that I heard those parts. Not that easy!
With a device like the Kindle, I could download the books that I wish to read and have the text handy for when I need to revisit a particular line or remind myself of a certain topic. I had this capability when I used a Palm, but didn’t take advantage of it at the time. I don’t see myself buying the Kindle reader, but I do think I’ll be doing some eReading in the near future. Best case scenario is an eReader for my phone so I don’t need another device!
Bottom line for me is that I have learned that some books are great as audiobooks, but others are better when I read them with my own eyes.
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[...] February 23, 2008 Defending the written word http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/02/23/in-defense-of-the-written-word/ [...]
Michelle,
You’ve got it right…there is nothing like reading the printed word. I’m not sure that will ever go away; it’s a romance that I think is ingrained in human nature. If you even think about imaginings of our future ala science-fiction, you still see characters reading: pads on Star Trek is just one example.
By the way, if you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch, you already have the ability, albeit via a hack, to use your device as a book reader. When legitimate software becomes available for these products, it will become much more widespread on that platform. And with all the advancements in phone technology, I’m sure other phones won’t be far behind.
Michelle,
I am a huge fan of audio books. Like you said about being too busy to read, I know that if I pick up a book that’s all I’ll be doing until I’ve finished reading it. With the exception of summer vacation, I don’t have that kind of time on my hands. On the other hand, I have a 30 mile drive to work every day. I go through books on tape like water! I usually find downloading audiobooks more expensive than buying them used on ebay. Recently, however, I downloaded “A Whole New Mind” on audible for $6. It was awesome!