One of the great benefits of being
able to record sound is to make books available for listening. With the
advent of audio recordings, many people were able to hear literary
classics read aloud, and to experience them for the first time.
Audio books are, of course,
books read aloud and recorded to be listened to on some kind of player.
As sound technology has changed, audio books have changed, as well. No
longer are they available only on volumes consisting of 14 or 15
vinyl LPs. Now, books are available on audio cassette or CD.
Talking books are books
created for the use of the visually impaired. They are produced in a
variety of formats, and some need a special player to be used. Many
visually impaired people are able to receive players free, and these
machines enable them to play their talking books independently, without
the help of a sighted person. CD technology has revolutionized the
talking book industry, since data can be compressed to fit much more
information on a single disc. Many talking book players will also play
music CDs, so the visually impaired person has a multi-use machine.
Audio books, of course, can
also be used by visually impaired people, but are most popular with
travelers and busy individuals. Thousands of titles are available in
hundreds of categories. The traveler just pops in the cassette or CD
and listens as the book is read. Audio books are popular on long
commutes and on trains or airplanes - anywhere people can listen to a
personal music player.
Many audio books also feature famous
actors reading the books. Some are even read in the format of a play,
in which different actors take the parts of the characters in the
book. They may also feature sound effects or music to help enhance the
listening experience. Some book clubs have started offering audio
books as part of their subscription service. Libraries also have audio
books available and they may also be purchased online or at any book
store.
Those who feel they do not have time to indulge in the pleasure of a good book may find audio books to be the next best thing.
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