How to Listen to Audiobooks
If you’ve ever wanted to read more but can’t find the time to sit down with a physical book, audiobooks are the answer. They let you turn commutes, chores, and workouts into reading time. The best part? You can start listening in less than five minutes with just a smartphone and a pair of earbuds. Here’s everything you need to know.
Why Audiobooks Count as Reading
Let’s clear up a common misconception right away: listening to an audiobook is not “cheating.” When you listen, your brain processes the same words, characters, and plot points as a print reader. A 2016 study from the Journal of Neuroscience found that listening to a story activates the same cognitive and emotional areas of the brain as reading the text on a page.
The difference is convenience. The average commuter in the U.S. spends about 27 minutes driving to work each way. That’s nearly an hour a day you could spend on books. Over a year, that adds up to roughly 200 hours of listening — enough to get through 30 to 40 novels, depending on length.
Choose Your Listening Platform
Before you can listen, you need an app. The major players are Audible, Spotify (which now includes audiobooks in its premium tier), Libby (free library audiobooks), and Apple Books. Each has a different model:
- Audible — Subscription-based; you get one or two credits per month, each redeemable for any audiobook regardless of price. The catalog is massive, and the app includes features like sleep timers and variable playback speed.
- Libby — Free, but requires a library card. Wait times for popular titles can stretch for weeks, and you’re limited to a 14- or 21-day loan period.
- Spotify — Included with Premium (up to 15 hours per month). Good for casual listeners who already have the app, but the catalog is more limited than Audible’s.
- Apple Books — Pay-per-title, no subscription. Useful if you want to own individual books without a recurring fee.
If you’re a heavy listener, Audible’s subscription model usually offers the best value per book. If you’re testing the waters, start with Libby — it costs nothing, and you can figure out your listening habits before spending money.
Get Comfortable with Playback Speed
New listeners often feel overwhelmed by the narrator’s pace. That’s normal. Most audiobook narrators read at about 150 words per minute, which can feel slow if you’re used to reading at 300 words per minute in print.
The fix is simple: speed it up. Most apps let you adjust playback speed in 0.05x increments. Start at 1.25x and see how it feels. Many experienced listeners settle at 1.5x or even 2x for non-fiction. The key is to find a speed where you still absorb the content without straining.
A concrete example: Michelle Obama’s Becoming is narrated by the author herself. At 1x speed, it runs 19 hours and 3 minutes. At 1.5x, it drops to under 13 hours. That’s a full workday of listening saved, with no loss in comprehension.
How to verify your speed setting works for you: After adjusting the speed, listen for five minutes to a passage you’ve already read or know well. If you can recall the sequence of events and specific details without rewinding, the speed is working. If you catch yourself zoning out or missing key transitions, drop the speed by 0.25x and test again. The right speed should feel slightly brisk — like a podcast you’re fully engaged with — not like a race.
Match the Book to the Format
Not every book works equally well as an audiobook. Here’s a quick guide:
- Memoirs and autobiographies — Almost always better in audio, especially when narrated by the author. Hearing their voice adds emotional weight you can’t get on the page.
- Thrillers and mysteries — Excellent in audio. The pacing keeps you engaged during commutes. Try Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl — the dual narration between the two main characters makes the alternating perspectives feel like a radio drama.
- Self-help and non-fiction — Good, but you may want to take notes. Consider listening to chapters twice if the material is dense.
- Complex fantasy or sci-fi — These can be challenging because of invented names and intricate world-building. If you go this route, choose a production with a full cast or a skilled single narrator. Andy Serkis’s narration of The Hobbit is a standout example — he voices every character distinctly, making it easy to follow.
Listen to this on Audible — Start your free trial and get two free audiobooks.
Build a Listening Routine
The biggest mistake new listeners make is treating audiobooks like background noise. If you’re not paying attention, you’ll miss plot points and have to rewind constantly.
Instead, pick one activity that’s automatic — something that doesn’t require active thinking — and reserve it for listening. Good options:
- Commuting (if you’re not driving in heavy traffic)
- Running or walking
- Doing dishes or folding laundry
- Meal prep
- Waiting in line or at appointments
A concrete example: Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime runs about 8 hours and 46 minutes. If you listen during a 30-minute commute each way, you’ll finish it in about nine workdays. That’s a full book every two weeks, just from time you’re already spending in the car.
The failure mode to watch for: You’ll know your routine is broken if you finish a chapter and realize you remember nothing from it. This usually happens when you pair listening with a task that demands real attention — like navigating unfamiliar roads, responding to work emails, or cooking a new recipe. The symptom is constant rewinding. The cause is choosing the wrong companion activity. The safer move is to switch to a task that’s truly automatic, like folding laundry or walking a familiar route, or to pause the book entirely until you can give it focus.
Use the Tools That Make Listening Easier
Modern audiobook apps include features that solve the most common complaints:
- Sleep timer — Set it for 15 or 30 minutes if you listen in bed. The app automatically stops so you don’t lose your place.
- Chapter markers — Jump between chapters easily if you want to re-listen to a section.
- Bookmarks and notes — Useful for non-fiction. You can mark a passage and return to it later without scrubbing through the audio.
- Car mode — Larger buttons and simplified controls for when you’re driving.
These tools are standard across Audible, Libby, and Apple Books. If you’re not using them, you’re making listening harder than it needs to be.
A quick verification step: After you set a sleep timer, play a few minutes of audio and confirm the timer icon is active in your app’s player screen. Then test it by setting the timer to 1 minute and letting it run — the audio should stop on its own and your place should be saved automatically. This takes less than two minutes and prevents the frustration of waking up hours later with no idea where you stopped.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Starting with a book you’re not excited about. If the first audiobook you pick is a dense history text you’ve been “meaning to read,” you’ll likely abandon it. Start with something you’re genuinely curious about — a memoir by a comedian you like, or a thriller with a hook that grabs you.
Listening while doing tasks that require focus. Driving in heavy traffic, doing complex work tasks, or reading along with a physical book are all situations where your attention gets split. You’ll end up rewinding constantly, which defeats the purpose.
Ignoring the narrator. A great book can be ruined by a bad narrator. Before you spend a credit, listen to the sample clip on the product page. If the narrator’s voice grates on you, find a different edition — many classics have multiple narrators available.
Binge-buying credits. It’s tempting to stockpile books when there’s a sale, but your listening time is finite. Buy one or two titles at a time and actually finish them before adding more to your library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do audiobooks count as reading for children?
Yes. Audiobooks help children build vocabulary and listening comprehension skills. They’re especially useful for kids who struggle with decoding but have strong language skills. Many educators recommend pairing audio with print for struggling readers.
Can I listen to audiobooks on a smart speaker?
Yes. Both Audible and Apple Books support playback on Amazon Echo and HomePod devices. You can start a book on your phone during your commute and continue it on your speaker when you get home.
How long does it take to listen to a typical audiobook?
The average audiobook runs 8 to 12 hours at normal speed. At 1.5x speed, that drops to roughly 5 to 8 hours. A 30-minute daily commute means you’ll finish a typical book in about two weeks.
What if I fall asleep while listening?
Use the sleep timer. It stops playback automatically after a set time, so you won’t lose your place. If you wake up and realize you missed a section, you can always rewind by a few minutes.
Are audiobooks more expensive than ebooks?
It depends on the platform. Audible’s subscription model works out to about $15 per credit, which is comparable to the price of a new ebook. Library audiobooks via Libby are free, but you’ll wait for popular titles.
The best way to get started is simply to pick a book and press play. You don’t need special equipment, a large budget, or a complicated setup. Just a phone, a pair of earbuds, and a willingness to turn your dead time into reading time. Within a week, you’ll have a routine. Within a month, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner.