For this reason, here is my post about this initiative.
Both ways of consuming stories or knowledge have undeniable merit, but I believe that traditional reading offers valuable dimensions that the audio format cannot fully replicate.
Reading a book requires the active participation of our attention. There is no voice interpreting for us: in the silence of the page, each reader constructs their own inner voice, imagining the tones, the rhythms, the pauses. This space for personal creation is lost when someone else has already interpreted the text for us.
The Contemplative Rhythm
A physical or digital book allows us to stop, reread, advance slowly or quickly according to our need for understanding or our emotional state. We can reflect in the margins (literally or metaphorically), underline, and go back to connect ideas. The audiobook, by its linear nature, hinders this reflective exploration.
Reading develops specific neural connections related to the visual processing of language, symbolic decoding, and the mental construction of narrative structures. Although the audiobook stimulates auditory comprehension, reading involves a different kind of cognitive exercise that many studies link to improvements in concentration and long-term memory.
A book is also a physical object that creates a ritual space for self-discovery. The act of holding it, turning pages, perceiving the visual progression, marks a complete sensory experience that transcends the content.
I recognize the immense value of the audiobook: it democratizes access to literature, accompanies moments when visual reading is impossible (driving, doing homework), and offers a unique narrative experience when well-produced. For many people with visual impairments or dyslexia, it is an invaluable tool.
It's not so much about which format is "better" in absolute terms, but about recognizing what each one contributes. The traditional book offers a more introspective, active, and structured experience, while the audiobook provides accessibility and a different narrative experience.
Perhaps the most important reflection is that, in a world of rapid consumption and constant stimulation, deep reading—whether visual or auditory—remains an act of cultural resistance. But if I seek to develop my concentration skills, my critical thinking, and my intimate dialogue with the text, I still find the traditional book an irreplaceable companion.
Ideally, we should see both formats not as competitors, but as different gateways to the same garden, each with its own unique landscape.
In my case, I prefer books that offer lessons and reflections I can apply to daily life.
Of all the books I've read, Heart by Edmondo De Amicis is my favorite.
I also prefer novels and detective stories, and I've read many of those.
My favorite writer is Gabriel García Márquez.
Credits: I used DeepL Translate.
The images are my property.
