I’ve had an Audible subscription since April 2020 (it’s a steal in India for just 199 INR per month!), so I had accumulated a vast collection of audiobooks in my virtual library, but had never gone past listening a book or two (much like my physical library).

In the past few months, apart from reading “real” books, I’m trying to listen to audiobooks during my walks/runs. I’m not sure if I’m different than other listeners, but I’m having a hard time grokking audiobooks when I’m multitasking, especially if the book requires some constant level of attention and mental bandwidth.

I’ve been listening to Black Swan for the past couple of weeks and I’m guessing I’m digesting about 10% of the material (I do understand now why the author is a polarizing figure though), and will probably end up reading it again. Listening to something biographical like Can't Hurt Me was easier. I don’t feel it’s the physical setting that is the problem as well. Whenever I’m listening to podcasts while working in my office, I’m actively listening around the percentage range (but the podcasts I listen to are white noise for me when I’m working solo).

Going ahead, I’m just going to stick to such “easy on the ears” audiobooks, pick up physical copies of the more challenging books and increase time devoted to reading.