Travelers help fuel audiobook surge amid debate over what ‘counts’ as reading

From long drives to delayed flights to crowded commutes, more Americans are now reaching for headphones rather than hardcover books, and it’s sparked debate about whether their audiobooks should actually count as reading.

According to Edison Research, since 2016, the percentage of Americans who listen to audiobooks every day has increased from 3% to 8%; This is an increase of 167%. According to the Audio Publishers Association’s 2025 consumer survey, 51% of adults say they have listened to an audiobook at least once.

But traditionalists insist that reading requires having your eyes on a page. More than 40% of Americans believe listening to audiobooks is less rigorous and does not count as actual reading, 2025 The NPR-Ipsos poll found.

But others argue that the suggestion that audiobooks “don’t count” is dismissive.

“Of course ‘reading’ is about enjoying the art of storytelling, and audiobooks allow for that,” said Ali Smith, a Maryland-based dog trainer and audiobook listener.

While she wishes she had time to sit down and read a real book, audiobooks are a better fit for her busy life. “When I’m listening to stories about dragons and fairies and knights and gnolls, it’s not right to tell me that this isn’t reading,” Smith told Fox News Digital.

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Some experts agree with this view, while others argue that the distinction is not that simple.

Experts say that both reading in print and listening to audiobooks activate important language comprehension areas of the brain. (iStock)

“The part of the brain that we call the ‘letter box’ that processes printing is not that busy when you listen,” cognitive neuroscientist Nadine Gaab of the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Massachusetts said recently. Harvard Gazette. “But some people have been shown to visualize words when they listen to them, which activates the letterbox.”

Emily Levy, Ed.D., a literacy expert and founder of EBL Coaching serving New York and New Jersey, agrees that both listening and reading can activate the brain’s primary language comprehension systems.

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“When someone listens to an audiobook or reads printed text, the comprehension parts of the brain show similar activation,” Levy told Fox News Digital.

But he warns that calling the two experiences the same would be an oversimplification.

Experts say audiobooks can support comprehension, but reading in print is necessary to improve decoding and fluency skills. (Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Reading print also engages visual networks, including areas involved in decoding letters and recognizing word patterns; These are especially important skills for children learning to read. Audiobooks, on the other hand, rely on auditory processing systems.

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“If a child needs to improve decoding or reading fluency skills, listening to audiobooks is not going to work,” Levy said.

This nuance is often lost in online discussions, where opinions can be strong and deeply personal.

Zack Barnes, an associate professor of literacy at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, sees audiobooks as a legitimate form of reading.

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“When we listen to an audiobook, you’re still trying to make sense of the text that’s being read aloud to you,” Barnes said. “By listening to audiobooks, you are still performing a complex cognitive task.”

Audiobooks are becoming an increasingly popular way to pass the time on the go. (iStock)

Barnes added that audiobooks can serve as a gateway, motivating some listeners to pick up a physical book and build true reading endurance.

Others argue that context matters. Listening while driving or multitasking can divide attention and potentially affect retention of fine details.

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Bob Hutchins, PhD student and CEO of Human Voice Media, said traveling can be especially distracting. The researcher focused on how technology shapes psychology. But he argues that discussions about audiobooks tend to miss the bigger picture.

Some experts warn that listening while driving or flying can be distracting. (iStock)

“Instead, we should examine how each type of media affects cognition in the process of absorbing information,” Nashville-based Hutchins told Fox News Digital.

He notes that reading print allows one to control pacing, reread passages, and even remember where information appears on the page.

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“Sounds connect us to our past traditions of hearing a voice tell a story,” Hutchins said. “Printed materials direct our minds to analytical thinking.”

Research suggests that audiobooks can also work well for storytelling and basic information, while print books may offer advantages when dealing with more complex material. Psychology Today reported.

Research suggests that audiobooks may be better suited for storytelling rather than complex information. (iStock)

Experts therefore agree that the debate should shift from whether audiobooks “count” as reading to what listeners want to gain from the experience.

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Pressing play remains a practical choice for those on the go, like Smith, who says audiobooks have helped her maintain her “sanity” as she paces her home at 2 a.m. trying to put her baby to sleep, and she’s not ashamed of it.

“I’m proud of my audiobook being listened to!” he said.

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