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Comment by vlaak | Hacker News Reader

I've listened to a lot of audiobooks over the last several years. I've switched probably 80% of my "reading" time to audio so I can get more content (while driving, cleaning, laundry, etc.).

In my case, retention is much lower for listened content compared to read content. So much so that I now only listen to things which I consider entertainment. For anything technical, or that I'd want to retain longer than a few weeks I read with an actual book.

I hesitate to speak for everyone on this, but I will say that a few friends I've spoken to about it have said they see the same lesser retention in audio content.

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One thing I've noticed is that when I'm listening to Audiobook and doing multitasking (working on computer, driving, etc.), the retention rate is usually very low. But if I am solely relaxing and listening to an Audiobook while not doing anything else then the retention rate tends to be much higher. The good thing with Audiobook is that the narrator can make the experience alive by his/her style of narrating which we would not get with merely reading the book.

I wonder what the retention rate would be if one tried to do laundry while reading a traditional book :)

I switched to 90+% audiobook after being an avid reader my whole life. I think my eyes have gotten worse, so physically reading because tiring quickly.

The secret for audiobooks, for me, is to listen to them while walking. Currently doing about 50 miles / week, which gets me through 1-2 audiobooks (1.5x, but I rewind and replay a LOT).

I notice my attention is crucial, and varies depending on interactions while walking. When by myself, not crossing streets (down by the walking areas of my town), I can retain a ton.

YMMV, but for me the sweet spot of information consumption is while walking, so audiobooks + exercise beat reading, hands down.

100% agreed - it even seems to happen to me if the text is older or takes a little more time to process. I listened to an audio copy of Candide while commuting by car and when I reached the end I remember being struck by the fact that I had no idea what had happened!

For me the reader makes a huge difference. I have listened to some audiobooks where I really liked the reader and retention was very good. But for a lot of them I agree that reading is better. Even more so for technical stuff where you often stop or even go back.

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