I got into audiobooks back when I was teaching high school Literature. Some students struggled with reading or focus, so I played stories aloud for them to follow along. That’s when I realized audiobooks are amazing—not just for accessibility but also for multitasking while enjoying a story. Plus, there’s something powerful about hearing a tale come to life through narration.

Multitasking

There’s plenty of research out there warning about the downsides of multitasking, but honestly, I see it as a positive in this case. A few years back, I decided to drive to our vacation spot while the rest of the family flew. To make the solo drive more enjoyable, I downloaded a couple of audiobooks—and it was a game-changer. I got to “get lost in a book” while still staying safe on the road. Now, I’m hooked. Whether I’m mowing the lawn or tackling chores around the house, audiobooks let me dive into a good story—fiction or nonfiction.

Accessibility

Sometimes my mind just isn’t focused enough to read words on a page—especially when the content’s a bit challenging. That’s when I turn to audiobooks and follow along, which really helps me make sense of the material. I first noticed how powerful this approach could be when I saw how much it helped my students who struggled with reading or had a reading disability. It’s like the narration bridges the gap between the words and their understanding.

Enrichment

There’s something special about hearing the author’s own voice bring a story to life. Listening to Mitch Albom read Tuesdays with Morrie or Matthew McConaughey narrate Greenlights adds this whole other layer of depth and emotion you just don’t get from the page. It’s like you’re getting a glimpse into how they truly meant the story to sound and feel. Sure, other narrators can do a fantastic job, but there’s nothing quite like hearing the author’s own voice and tone come through—it makes the story hit differently.

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