Reading Foyer
Reading Tips

Audiobooks vs. print: does it count as 'reading'?

Short answer: yes. Longer answer: here's how we think about choosing a format for different kinds of books.

Reading Foyer EditorialMar 30, 20265 min read

This question comes up more than almost any other in our store, usually asked half-jokingly, half-seriously. Our honest answer: yes, it counts.

When print wins

Dense non-fiction, books with maps or footnotes, and anything you want to flip back through benefit from a physical page you can mark and revisit.

When audio wins

Character-driven fiction with strong narration can come alive in audio in a way the page can't replicate. It's also simply how many people fit reading into a commute or a chore.

The best format is the one that gets the book finished. Mix and match without guilt.

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Reading Foyer Editorial

Interviews, essays, and behind-the-scenes stories from the Reading Foyer team.