I tried a new thing this week: I listened to an audio book. It was a different experience. I read a lot, sometimes voraciously. When you read, you're just doing that- Your hands are full, eyes busy, mind can't wander, and you can't really do anything else. Reading is probably the closest to "being in the moment" as I get, which is funny because reading typically takes me somewhere else.
What I'm trying to say is there aren't many activities that require that kind of focus, seems like we're constantly doing three things at once. The audiobook was totally different than reading because I listened while I worked, my hands & eyes busy with something else. A very different experience than reading.
A friend tells me, "Paper books have sounded their deathknell, mark my words." If that is so, I'll have a hard time with that for a number of reasons. I like the feel of a book in my hands, as if holding it gives me a better connection to it's contents. Also, i guess I'm visually oriented; seeing the words is different than hearing them. I can retrieve information I've seen easier than that which I've heard. There are textbook pages I can visualize from when I was in college. I'm not so sure I'm a good listener. The fact that I can multi task while listening doesn't help matters. I can drink coffee, or munch salad while I read, but that's about it.
I'm trying to think of other things that keep one so wholly occupied as reading does. Sex, probably, though if it's unsatisfactory your mind might wander. Sports, though unless you're really hard core, you're thinking about other things as you're running, swimming, whatever - again, mind can wander. I dunno.
I don't dislike the audio book, it's just that it's a very different experience for me.
Sleepy time- getting up early to head to my mom's and help her get Thanksgiving dinner done. Yum!
Happy Thanksgiving, I hope you're able to spend it with someone special.
4 comments:
humm.
I agree that listening to an audio book is very different from reading.
I find it hard to believe that paper books are on their way out - unless your friend means that electronic books will take over (as opposed to audio books). Setting aside the possibility of a new audio book on Fredholm integral equations, some folks (I think) simply prefer to read the words and interpret the story their own way; though they may prefer to do it with an e-book.
I agree that reading brings you "in the moment" more so than many things but, like bad sex, reading is more passive than, for example, writing. I definitely get absorbed in what I'm doing when writing whether it is one of my silly blog posts, a computer program or a comment on someone else's post. :-) I zone out when I'm running too, but most team sports prevent that - so I'm "in the moment" when playing ultimate frisbee too.
Just some thoughts.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
Oh, great example! You're So right about writing vs reading- your brain is engaged more actively, less passively. I liked math homework for that reason, too, I think- I was fully engaged.
I think my friend was referring to paper in general, not just books. I've read a few e-books and like that better than audio. I'm ridiculously tactile, though, and the feel of a book is part of the experience for me. They smell good, even the old ones, and the pages make neat flippy noises as you thumb through them. Paper feels good to me, I'll miss it.
Thank you for " being in the moment" on my blog!
Have a happy Thanksgiving <3
I used to make frequent drives to northern California. My library branch stocks some audio books, so I'd check them out. I think I most enjoyed an Anne Tyler's "When We Were Grownups". Heard a few titles I would never have read otherwise, like the YA book I'm teaching right now: "Fat Kid Rules the World." I enjoyed the first volume of Edmund Morris' Teddy Roosevelt biography, but not enough stayed with me. Some books need to be seen.
I'll have to try one while driving. I figured out I can't just listen to an audio book without doing something else like chores or microscope work or walking (I tried, and fell asleep), I apparently need to keep some other part of my brain busy so I can listen. Yeah, I don't know what that means, either.
Richard, you've reminded me I need to read (or listen to) more biographies and less fiction. Suggestions welcome!
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