Some people prefer the tangible feel of a book but now audiobooks are becoming more popular and now with greater availability of audiobooks more people are preferring to listen to books instead.
For some people audiobooks are a preference but for some it's more a matter of accessibility and with more audiobooks being available this is a positive.
Personally audiobooks for me are more a case of accessibility though I am trying to get back into reading. I have dyslexia and Scotopic Sensitivity (aka Irlens Syndrome) so I find text on a white page hard to read. I also find it hard to concentrate and find written text hard to process so for me I do find audiobooks much easier compared to reading though I do miss reading.
Audiobook pro's and cons
Pro's
As I mentioned audiobooks are more accessible especially to those with visual impairments or have difficulty with written text.
Audiobooks are more portable as you can download them onto places like your phone. I know for me I find this helpful for when I'm travelling or in hospital.
I find just like with books you can get lost in listening to an audiobook and with audiobooks when you're listing to them through headphones you can shut out more from what's going on around you.
Audiobooks can be very relaxing and I find them a great low-key activity.
You don't have to find storage space for all your books (though I do love the look of rainbow stacked book shelves).
Con's
Not all books come in an audio format.
Sometimes the narration or the voice of the person reading of the book isn't that good and sometimes I find that can spoil the imagination of the book or it can be off-putting.
Cost, when I first started to access audiobooks to buy the CD's they where quite expensive and now cost wise it's the cost of audiobook subscription services
For those who are blind, partially sighted or have a print disability*
RNIB and Calibre do have a free audiobook library - RNIB link here, Calibre link here).
*Print disability may include conditions such as dyslexia, Irlens Syndrome/Scotopic Sensitivity or other conditions which makes reading text difficult such as M.E/CFS, MS, or a brain injury as a few examples.
