It seems like at every conference I attend, every webinar/teleseminar I listen to, everywhere I turn, there are recommendations for books I absolutely MUST read.  With so many recommendations, how will I ever get to all of them?  After all, I’ve been reading the same book for the last six months – and it is a good book!  I just never seem to be in the mood anymore.  I used to love reading books. First it was actual books and then I used the Kindle.

But after looking at a computer all day, the last thing I really want to do is read!

Then last month, I tried an audio book.  I love it!  I’ve listened to two books in two weeks.  Woohoo!  I had been putting off audio books for a while.  I mean, I’ve listened to teleseminars and I didn’t think I would like listening to books being read to me.  I’d have to carry pen and paper with me so I could take notes, so it’s not like I could listen while I’m walking.  And then what if the reader talks really slow?  My mind would be wandering!  And I thought I could read faster than I could listen.

Boy, was I wrong…

I decided to give Audible.com a try.  I have an app on my phone and I can do a couple of really cool things!  If I hear something noteworthy, I don’t have to scramble for the pen and paper – I can create a bookmark on my phone.   When I create that bookmark, I have the option of typing in a note.  So let’s say it’s a website I need to check out, I bookmark it and type “website”.   So I can multi-task while I listen!

Hear something I want to hear again?  With the push of one button, I can rewind 30 seconds.  I can also rewind or fast forward, but I like the nice 30-second rewind.

If the reader is a slow-talker, I can speed him up.  So no mind wandering happening here!

So if you dread reading a book like me, then I highly recommend audio books.  And if you’re already listening to books, share what you’re using.