Is Audible Worth It?

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Growing up I read at least two books a week. Library days and book fairs equaled pure happiness to me. As I got older the time I had to curl up with a good book decreased but every so often I would find myself submerged in a book or series. While it was nowhere near two books a week, my love of reading has remained the same.
With reading, I get to escape to fictional worlds, learn valuable education and find inspiration to ask myself the big questions. I started using audible at the end of last year, and it has been truly incredible. I know people often give listening to audible slack, “You’re not really reading.” but isn’t reading about taking in a new story, concept or idea? Audiobooks provide the same opportunity but in a much more convenient way.
Maybe the rest of the world knows something I don’t but reading a paperback book while washing dishes or driving isn’t something I recommend.

Is Audbile Worth It? 2 reasons it is! 

Convenient

I love using audible because it’s convenient, I can listen while I drive, do housework or even in the shower. Also, it’s right on my phone; I remember the Chilton dance episode of Gilmore Girls. (It’s in season one, and it’s one of my all-time favorite episodes- Rory’s Dance.) Dean comments that Rory’s bag is heavy and it’s because of all the books. I always loved the idea of always having a selection of books with me, with Audible I get that.
I drive a lot, for work, to see my guy and my family, it’s way more engaging than listening to local radio stations play Despacito for the 8000th time in an hour.

Audible Cares 

My other favorite thing is they hook subscribers up! I’ve heard people say the reason they haven’t gotten audible is that it’s expensive. I get it. When I buy physical books, they are almost always used and from online and rarely over $10. Audible balances their price point out with great price reductions and subscriber deals. Audible has two basic levels of monthly subscriptions. 1 credit (1 book) for $14.95 a month or 2 credits (2 books) for $22.94 a month. Credits do roll over. $14.95 may seem expensive for one book if you’re a savvy shopper but audible makes up for it with reduced rates for additional book purchases. They also have Daily Deals, which is fantastic, every day a new book goes on a 24-hour sale, and they typically range from $1 to $5. Since being a member, I’ve found at least one Daily Deal each month (if not more) that I want. In fact, so I was finding myself so interested in the daily deals that I recently reduced my subscription from two credits a month to one. I was stockpiling audiobooks. Haha!
They also offer full refunds for books you don’t enjoy. Here is the thing, that might seem like a risky business model.
“You mean you let people listen to an entire book and then you’ll give them their money/credit back if they don’t like it? What’s to stop them from just listening it and returning it?”
I’ll tell you what, I don’t know where Audible draws the line at this, but I don’t know why anyone would abuse this system. I feel like if people did just listen, return, repeat, audible would end up changing its policy. So if you do sign up don’t do that.
I have returned two books in the 11 months I’ve been a member. It was because they just weren’t a good fit for me and I didn’t finish them. There is something so great about a company, that doesn’t wash their hands of you after they get your money. They want you to actually enjoy the books you buy.

This brings me to my point, while some people are strictly physical book people, who refuse to ever own an audio or e-book, other people can get a lot out of the more digital version.

5 People Who Would Enjoy an Audible Membership

You Long Distance Partner

Make those rides, plane rides or drives more entertaining. As someone doing the long distance thing, I will tell you first hand having audible to entertain me during three-hour car rides is wonderful! To be honest, a part of me loves the long drives because I can typically finish one book between the way there and back.
If you are seeing someone out of town who loves reading, this small gift shows that you appreciate them making the journey and that you want it to be a comfortable journey.

The Commuter

When you have a far commute to your job, it can hack away a lot of your free time. Which means might also be cutting back on your reading time. I recommended Audible to my former editor who has to travel to different offices for work each day and often has one way commute times of two hours, and she is hooked.

That Out of Town College Student

When I was first in college is when my reading took a hit. I was constantly studying, working and socializing. If it wasn’t for class reading seemed like a hassle. On drives back home I just sang along to songs on my iPod. A few years ago I discovered the magic of audiobooks and my commute back home to see my family greatly improved. Whether you’re out of town student has to fly, drive or take the bus audible books are a great way to make the journey better.

The Stocker

My senior year of college I dated a guy who worked as an overnight stocker for a grocery company. He would listen to Ted talks and Pandora his entire shift. Audible is a great gift for someone who can use earbuds at their job.

The Bubble Bather

Every few weeks I love to deep clean the tub and run myself a piping hot bubble bath. While it is super relaxing it can also be a little boring. If you’re like me, you have no intention of bringing your laptop into the bathroom and reading a physical book can get frustrating to hold or even difficult to manage once you submerge your hands in the water. Audible is perfect for making your bubble bath even more relaxing. You can play it on your phone safely away from the water. You can listen to a steamy romance novel, self- health books and whatever is in your library. Additionally audible has free programming for its members including mindfulness and meditations that would really let you turn off your thoughts in the tub.

There are so many people who could benefit from audible. If you are ready to sign up you can do so here. Your first two books are FREE!

If you are looking for suggestions here are all the books I listened to in 2017.

The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae
She Means Business by Carrie Green
Around The Way Girl by Taraji P. Henderson
I Don’t Know What You Know Me From: Confessions of a Costar by Judy Greer
A Cast-Off Coven: Witchcraft Mystery Series Book 2 by Juliet Blackwell
A Killer Among Us by Charles Bosworth
Boss Bitch by Nicole Lapin
Secret Lesson by Don E. Weber and Charles Bosworth
Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty
Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
If At Birth You Don’t Succeed by Zach Anner
Yes Please Amy Poehler
Wrong by Jana Aston
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Right by Jana Aston
Rich Bitch by Nicole Lapin
Girl Walks Out of a Bar by Lisa F. Smith
Precious Victims by Charles Bosworth and Don Webber
The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim
Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs by Molly Harper
It Ended Badly: Thirteen of The Worst Breakups In History by Jennifer Wright 
Dead Run by Dan Schultz 
How To Get Run Over By A Truck by Katie McKenna 
Abducted by T.R. Ragan 
Women Rocking Business Online by Sage Lavine 
Does This Baby Make Me Look Straight by Dan Bucatinsky
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Trust by Jana Aston 
The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout 
You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero 
You Are A Badass At Making Money by Jen Sincero 

Now Tell Me: Do you use audible, an e-reader or do you keep it old school with physical books? What was the best book you read this year? What is your favorite book of all time?