Does Listening Count As Reading?

Hi everyone, 

It’s amazing what can get people hot under the collar. I saw a debate online recently about whether listening to a book counts as reading - and wow, people had opinions. 

I don’t want any of you to shout at me, but, if you’re asking - which I know you weren’t - I think it counts. 

I love reading, but I also LOVE an audio book. I’ve recently listened to all the Jane Austen back catalogue (highly recommended if you’re a fan - was so soothing and I actually loved that I knew what was going to happen). In recent weeks I’ve also listened to The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson (mixed feelings), None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell (totally gripped), The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (abandoned - but may come back to to give it another try as usually I love her books). Perhaps my all time favourite audiobook is Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (coming out as a movie next year with Ryan Gosling).

Anyway, I digress. An audiobook is brilliant. In its own way. You can listen in the car, pop your headphones when you run, walk the dog, do the cleaning, or do the cooking. Yes, silence is important but a good book alongside a chore is one of my favourite ways to redeem the time. 

So, when the publishers said that they wanted there to be an audio copy of my book (if you’re new around here or been missing in action, my first book, The Purpose Pursuit comes out in 3 weeks 1 day), I was desperate to do it myself. 

But would they want an inexperienced Brummie to do it? Apparently, yes.

They said they’d love for me to do it, and that most people prefer non-fiction books to be read by the author (I think this is so true because I love Brene Brown but one of her books wasn’t read by her and I just didn’t love it as much from the get go). So, back in September I had the exciting first time experience of recording my own audiobook!  

I felt like quite the pro with my producer, editor and Laura in the little studio with me.

I had a soundproof booth and had to work hard to be as clear and paced as possible, learning the method for how to re-do sections without making editing difficult. I’m not going to lie - I did pretty well!

My mistake rate was low and I enjoyed the whole experience so much. 

It was interesting - I would be doing really well and then all of sudden my mistake rate would start to increase before our eyes - like I had temporarily forgotten how to speak - and it was so clear that my brain (and body) was trying to tell me that I needed to take a break.

This is a side point - but how often do we just keep going, soldiering on, thinking we are being so efficient when we probably are in the danger zone of mistakes and errors and just need to take a little break?

And so, in two days, the process was complete. The whole book, wrapped up and ready for your ears. So tiring, but so fun!

Therefore, if you prefer to listen to a book rather than read it, there’s zero judgment from me, and you can do just that with mine. You’ll also get a pdf with the audio with the necessary graphics and activities that need to be seen in order for it to work for you. 

As a gift to all of you subscribers, if you head over to the podcast this week, you can hear me reading the Introduction.

I thought you might like a taster before you buy, and so the lovely people over at DK/ Penguin have agreed that I could re-record the introduction to give you the chance to get the flavour of the book before you buy it. This is not the professional version of the audiobook, but I gave it a good go.

Hopefully it will whet your appetite and you’ll head straight over to the link to buy the book for you and a few friends (Christmas is coming don’t you know?)

Finally - I am running a fun competition this month over on socials. If you send us your proof of purchase, you can enter a prize draw for a Dishoom voucher, a White Company candle, and some Tony’s chocolate. What’s not to like about that?

With love,

Hannah x

P.S. The audio (and kindle, and hardback) versions are available for pre-order right now at this link: https://geni.us/ThePurposePursuit 

Out on 4th December - so soon now!

P.P.S. Laura recorded behind-the-scenes at the audiobook recording reel - if you’d like to see what happens at a recording studio - take a look here!