NF Audio Books

[Jamieva]

So anyone here a veteran of audio books/audible have any tips or tricks? I am new to this and going this route as I realized my reading list is getting longer and longer, and the ability to listen in the car etc will really help my time management. So far I really like the ability to go back and listen to a part I wasn't paying attention to etc. Do most of you that do this subscribe to Audible, or just buy them as you go? Also, any cheap options in this realm?

Thanks

 

[Zella]

Try your local library. I don't use audiobooks--can't retain anything that way--but the library I work at has a good selection in general, both on actual audiobook and through an app called Libby/Library2Go. Your library might use a different specific app, but I would be quite surprised if they didn't have their own version. You can also probably ILL specific ones you want that they don't have. Save some money that way.

 

[huskerblitz]

I have dozens of audible books mostly from Audible. I listen at night when my wife works. I love the options of having the Audible app. It has a sleep timer, you can custom set it, it's easy to go back to the start of a chapter, you can speed up or slow down the reading, etc. And it's easy to play in my car by just using an aux cable.

I never bought a book. Because I listen generally only at night it takes me a bit to get through a book (I never get abridged). So my credits always built up and I would get three or four at a time. The nice thing about that is some books that are really expensive I get for the $15/month. And if you're new (or renewing after not a break) you can get free credits (currently 3 credits). Sometime they will have specials where you can get two books for 1 credit, etc.

The only bad thing I can really think of is I don't always like the reader...some are just better than others.

 

[Jamieva]

Try your local library. I don't use audiobooks--can't retain anything that way--but the library I work at has a good selection in general, both on actual audiobook and through an app called Libby/Library2Go. Your library might use a different specific app, but I would be quite surprised if they didn't have their own version. You can also probably ILL specific ones you want that they don't have. Save some money that way.

Thanks for that. We have Libby so I am looking into the selection there now.

 

[Zella]

Thanks for that. We have Libby so I am looking into the selection there now.

You're welcome! Though I still buy a fair amount of books, I would be in the poorhouse without being able to check them out for free from my local library.

 

[Jamieva]

I have dozens of audible books mostly from Audible. I listen at night when my wife works. I love the options of having the Audible app. It has a sleep timer, you can custom set it, it's easy to go back to the start of a chapter, you can speed up or slow down the reading, etc. And it's easy to play in my car by just using an aux cable.

I never bought a book. Because I listen generally only at night it takes me a bit to get through a book (I never get abridged). So my credits always built up and I would get three or four at a time. The nice thing about that is some books that are really expensive I get for the $15/month. And if you're new (or renewing after not a break) you can get free credits (currently 3 credits). Sometime they will have specials where you can get two books for 1 credit, etc.

The only bad thing I can really think of is I don't always like the reader...some are just better than others.

Yes they offered me 2 for free to come back. I have read if you wait 6 months they will offer you free ones to come back. Rinse, repeat

 

[Harms88]

I have quiet a long list of audio books. The history ones I have are:

Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution. Makes a very compelling argument that Congress pushed Arnold into the British camp and his defection did more to unite and save the United States during the Revolution than perhaps anything else.

Shelby Foote's The Civil War Trilogy.

and

Masters of War: History's Greatest Strategic Thinkers.

I used to be subscribed. But honestly, I can get the ebooks for these books far cheaper than the audio books. For like the cost of 2 audiobooks, I can get upwards to 5 ebooks.

 

[Jamieva]

I have dozens of audible books mostly from Audible. I listen at night when my wife works. I love the options of having the Audible app. It has a sleep timer, you can custom set it, it's easy to go back to the start of a chapter, you can speed up or slow down the reading, etc. And it's easy to play in my car by just using an aux cable.

I never bought a book. Because I listen generally only at night it takes me a bit to get through a book (I never get abridged). So my credits always built up and I would get three or four at a time. The nice thing about that is some books that are really expensive I get for the $15/month. And if you're new (or renewing after not a break) you can get free credits (currently 3 credits). Sometime they will have specials where you can get two books for 1 credit, etc.

The only bad thing I can really think of is I don't always like the reader...some are just better than others.

Yes found that out this weekend. Finished Larry Daniel's book on the Army of Tennessee and decided to go to Peter Carmichael's latest book. 5 minutes in I cannot stand the guy reading it. Going to try to come back to it later.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Constantly listen to Audible books, carry the Kindle everywhere. First one was " Hearts Touched By Fire ", I think a free download at the time. HOURS of listening. Audible has changed a lot in the last few years. IMO out pricing themselves and membership fees keep going up. They also do this bizarre ' thing ' where some update will empty out your library and you have to download the whole thing again.

Like you said @Harms88 , ebooks are MUCH cheaper elsewhere than Audible. We quit the Audible membership ( again ) and so far nothing's been offered that's tempting enough to rejoin. Browsed the Agatha Christie collection for my mother, for Christmas? Almost swallowed my tongue. Title she was interested in was TWENTY SIX DOLLARS. The Scots in me got hives.

 

[huskerblitz]

Audible has changed a lot in the last few years. IMO out pricing themselves and membership fees keep going up. They also do this bizarre ' thing ' where some update will empty out your library and you have to download the whole thing again.

My monthly membership fee was pretty much the same for the 5 years or so. It never increased that I remember (either Audible or Netflix went up $1 a couple of years ago, I can't remember which).

And (luckily) I have never had to redownload anything from app updates. That may happen if you reinstall the app, but never heard of that happening due to updating the existing app.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

And (luckily) I have never had to redownload anything from app updates. That may happen if you reinstall the app, but never heard of that happening due to updating the existing app.

I regularly call the customer support line, asking what to do? I will say no one is as responsive, personable or helpful as whomever it is Amazon has on the job there. They call you! They'll fix problems, troubleshoot and not quit. Anyway, in my opinion they're familiar with tech-less wonders out here bumbling around in Kindles. It sounds like my generation Fire has a few issues. That thing where your library gets wiped out seems one. Easy answer would be get a new one- too cheap.

Our membership went from 12 to what is it now, 15? They also stopped allowing book returns. I habitually re-listen to favorites, if I'm halfway through a new one and decide it's not something I'm smitten by, they'll allow a swap, or did. Maybe only one in ten, if that many. That was great although you could see where it'd get abused. Stopping it seemed pretty harsh to those of us who really don't use it as a kinda free library.

 

[huskerblitz]

They still allow you to exchange titles. I just never have done that.