An audiobook is a recording of someone reading a book out loud, which you listen to instead of reading with your eyes. You might listen to an audiobook during a long car trip, while doing chores, or before bed with your eyes closed.

Audiobooks let you experience stories and learn new things while your hands and eyes are busy with other activities. Some people prefer audiobooks because they enjoy hearing different voices for each character, or because a skilled narrator can make the story come alive in ways that feel like a movie playing in your mind. Others find that listening helps them understand complicated ideas better than reading silently.

Modern audiobooks are usually digital files you download or stream, though they used to come on cassette tapes or CDs. Professional actors or the authors themselves often narrate audiobooks. A talented narrator might use different accents, adjust their tone for suspenseful moments, or add emotion that helps you connect with the characters.

Audiobooks aren't a shortcut or a lesser way to experience a book. They're simply a different format, like choosing between seeing a play on stage or on film.