Is this REALLY reading a book?

[charlotte49er]

I'm talking to a woman and she tells me that she reads a book a week. I was impressed. I average about a book a month. (Sometimes more, sometimes less.)

Then she tells me that it's really easy to read at least a book a month. She just listens to them to and from work in her car.

Is that REALLY reading if all you do is listen to someone read to you? What are we kids having our parents read us a bedtime story?

I didn't want to get into an argument, but the more I thought about it, the more I came to the conclusion, that's not really reading a book

I'll put it to you all, is that really "reading" a book?

[Cat]

I love doing that! It's not really reading but it's still good fun.

[charlotte49er]

I'm not trying to sound like a snob. However, when I pointed out that she listens to a book as week, she corrected me and said that she "reads a book a week." (I hate when someone corrects who is wrong!)

[Jangler]

I did that with a Clancey book, didn't remember it a week later.

[Razzy]

I wouldn't say it's the same, especially if your driving. The distractions when your listening vs. reading, when all your attention is focused on the text, more or less ensures that you won't get as much from the book IMO. It will be much less memorable and many of the themes and symbols will probably go over your head.

[dimbee]

It's a proven fact that visually reading something and hearing the same thing read to you give different levels of memory retention. Reading it with your own eyes imprints it into your memory on a higher level than hearing it.

[dimbee]

BTW, where is Pie??

[Jangler]

Yeah, I can't even remember which book it was I listened to, but I still remember reading Red Storm Rising.

[Cat]

Last book I listened to was Anderson Coopers book. It's been a while but I remember it very well.

[Guild]

It isn't the same because the slightest distraction will ruin my ability to retain anything said by the reader. I wouldn't discount it, and it is better than not reading at all but there is definitely something to be said for actually reading it as opposed to anything else. Even if it's just while you take a crap everyone should be reading some book.

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

I usually listen to a book every other week at work on my zune. If it's something that really catches me, I run out and buy the actual hard copy and read it.

Works well for me.

[cookinbrak]

It's exactly the same, just like watching a movie means you read the book. Or if someone tells you about a book they read,then you read it, too.

When she says she reads a book a week, tell her that you have trouble finding Waldo sometimes, too.

[Zcustom]

Sure. and I had sex with Jenna Jameson last night

[Davidson Deac II]

The only books I listen to are technical ones. I enjoy reading a book for entertainment.