5 Audiobook Benefits to Consider for Your Readers

June 6, 2023

By Joe Yamulla -

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Audiobooks are making the world a better place. Don’t believe me? Research and data back it up. In this article, I’ll discuss that research and the positive impact of audiobooks — for both readers and self-published authors.

Table of Contents:
1. 1. Convenience
• The power of hands-free listening
• Hands-free listening is changing the game for multitaskers
2. Accessibility
3. Improved comprehension
4. Emotional connection
5. Ability to reach a larger audience

Thanks to audiobooks, we’re rethinking the fundamental ways we learn and process information. Audiobooks were once sold through government programs to assist people affected by blindness. Beyond that, audiobooks boost literacy skills and enhance our quality of life — particularly when it comes to emotional and physical health. You might be wondering — how exactly are audiobooks making such a profound difference? I’m here to break it down for you.

1. Convenience

Convenience is not always a good thing, but when it comes to audiobooks, it certainly is. As much as I wish things could be different, reading books is a luxury we cannot always enjoy. Authors are asking a lot more from a reader than paying the price of their physical book. They’re asking for their time — the most precious asset anyone can offer.

In an ideal world, there would be endless time in the day to sit down (preferably outside) with a good book. Alas, life is not ideal. There is work to do, children to care for, dogs to walk, and errands to run. Thanks to audiobooks, our fast-paced world is no longer deprived of the enriching opportunity to read.

The power of hands-free listening

Audiobooks turn readers into listeners. For some authors, it can be hard to accept this reality, but it does not matter how your content is consumed — what matters is people are consuming it. Independent authors need to seize every opportunity to build their audience and the audiobook market presents a tremendous benefit for both authors and readers. Hands-free listening changes the game. Hours that once were busy with tasks, chores, and errands are now a window for readers to enjoy books and discover up-and-coming authors.

Thanks to audiobooks, walking the dog can become an educational journey through the dangerous Oregon Trail in the 19th century. What once was a stressful commute through rush hour traffic is now a time of tranquility for you to get lost in a novel. The previously mundane — or even burdensome — has become a wonderful opportunity to explore the vast literary world.

Hands-free listening is changing the game for multitaskers

Of course, everyone’s brain works differently, and some multitask better than others. But for those who have no difficulties doing multiple things at once, audiobooks are an ideal option. Essential, albeit tedious, tasks like cooking and cleaning can become enjoyable acts of self-care. For years, avid readers with busy schedules have been longing for more free time to read.

For example, you no longer need to make the difficult decision: Read or go exercise? Now, the book-loving runner can do both! Being able to train your mind and body at the same time is a powerful concept. Listening to a book while working out is a tremendous way to boost both physical and mental health.

2. Accessibility

Audiobooks could be streamed, downloaded, or played on a CD. There is an audiobook format available for essentially every device and every person. This accessibility makes life a whole lot easier. But it serves a purpose far greater than that.

Audiobooks make reading accessible to the visually impaired and those with learning and reading disabilities. For example, those who suffer from dyslexia can find reading to be a draining task. Audiobooks allow them to find joy and value once again in reading. Dyslexic readers can either enjoy an audiobook solely by listening — or as a text-to-speech tool while focusing on the written word.

This is just one example of the tremendous benefit resulting from audiobooks. No matter the circumstance, by this point you should see a clear commonality — audiobooks are making the world a better place to read and learn.

3. Improved comprehension

Several studies — as pointed out by the United States Department of Education — show that “comprehension skills transcend modality.” In other words, the brain processes information the same, whether through reading or listening. Reading skills are crucial to intellectual growth and development, but we sometimes overlook the profound impact of auditory learning.

The Audio Publishers Association has shared its research demonstrating how audiobooks positively impact readers at every level. Several studies have shown that audiobooks enhance literacy skills such as fluency, vocabulary, language acquisition, pronunciation, phonemic awareness, and other skills that enhance reading comprehension. Furthermore, audiobook listening has been shown to boost critical thinking and active listening skills — particularly for young students.

I encourage you to check out more studies done by the Department of Education and Audio Publishers Association. But two things are clear — audiobooks are optimizing the ways that we read and the ways that we learn. Students who once might have struggled with reading comprehension now use audiobooks to increase reading accuracy, speed, and overall comprehension.

4. Emotional connection

There is a beautiful sense of intimacy that comes from listening to a good audiobook. In our hectic and stressful world, a gentle voice narrating a story feels both personal and comforting. It’s an opportunity for you to immerse yourself in another world, rest your eyes, and connect with your favorite book. Although listening is still an active process, the mind can surrender in a way it cannot when reading written text.

Reading is a fascinating concept when you stop and really think about it. Thanks to the complexities of our brains and the magic of our imaginations, words on a page become vivid worlds in our minds. Narration brings even more emotion and depth to this extraordinary process.

5. Ability to reach a larger audience

If you’re a self-published author who has yet to release an audiobook edition, I hope this inspires you to start the process. By publishing an audiobook, you’re profoundly expanding your potential audience and offering established readers a powerful new way to enjoy your content. Suddenly, your book becomes more versatile and relevant for those who may have never even considered it if it were strictly in print format. Plus, you will have another lucrative revenue option by selling on BookBaby Bookshop — where you earn 75 percent on every audiobook sale.

Audiobook benefits for readers are clear — and equally clear are the benefits for authors. If you are looking for more information about how to publish an audiobook, BookBaby is a great place to start.