What I Think About Audible
I love reading. I read whenever I can, however the old I get and the bigger the kids get I realise my life is getting busier with each passing year. Life has a way of getting in the way of my reading, whether that’s fiction, Stephen King, George R Martin or any number of popular authors. Or non-fiction; anything to do with history, I especially love twentieth century history, most notably the two world wars.
This is the reason I got into listening to Audible.
Audible is one of the largest, if not the THE largest audiobook provider on the planet. I haven’t looked at the comparison figures between the major players in the audiobook arena, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
I discovered Audible years ago and created an account on a whim when I saw the number of books available on their website. According to Wikipedia there are 200,000 programs on Audible, with dozens of categories in fiction and non-fiction. There is something for everyone.
The Pricing
Audible is affordably priced. The monthly price is $14.95 which buys one credit. That credit can be used immediately or can be accumulated and used later. Non-members, however, can buy the same audiobook for a higher price, sometimes as much as $45.
Membership Features
Every month a free book is also available, chosen by Audibles editors. This month (May 2020) it is Bill Bryson’s The Short History of Nearly Everything and last month was Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. There is also the Kid’s Collection, Original Podcasts, and Audible Sleep. All free content.
Kid’s Collection
This area is full of titles we all grew up with; The Wind in the Willows, The Little Mermaid, Winnie-the-Pooh, Aladdin and so many more titles. While perusing this section I discovered nine of The Guardians of the Galaxy books were free, so I downloaded several for my children. And if they aren’t interested, then I’ll listen to them myself.
Original Podcasts
Are you into crime, comedy, history, educational or self-improvement? Maybe all of the above? Whatever flips your hair back, then this section is for you. There are loads of content which can be downloaded for free. Audible adds and rotates titles within this area on a constant basis, so there is always something to listen to in a multitude of genres.
Audible Sleep
If you are seeking audio tracks to “invite relaxation and sleep” then this area might be helpful. There are tracks voiced by Diddy (artist/philanthropist/entrepreneur), Nick Jonas (singer/songwriter/actor), and several other tracks by motivational speakers and entrepreneurs.
Daily Deals
If all the above isn’t enough, Audible offers a different title at a drastically reduced price every single day. The titles aren’t some obscure no-name authors but are some bestselling authors who have been around for decades. As I am writing this, I noticed Raymond E. Feist’s King of Ashes is available for $3.99 instead of $14.95. The offer ends at 23:59 and then is replaced with another title.
Pros
I think that the price of the membership is a fair price and something almost everyone can afford. For that monthly membership, Audible offers a great deal of free content which can be downloaded straight onto your device.
When you buy it, you own it. Even when you cancel your membership you keep the audiobook.
Any audiobook can be returned if it is not to your liking or if it wasn’t what you expected. I have only returned a couple of books since I joined Audible. My credit was returned instantly, and I was able to choose another title.
As a member, three extra credits can be purchased on top of your monthly subscription at a reduced price saving you money.
Audible has a massive library to choose from.
The downloadable app is free and easy to use.
Audible can be listened to on Amazon’s Alexa device
You don’t need a monthly membership to buy an audiobook, however, it will be cheaper with a membership.
The listening speed of the audiobook can be changed, anywhere from 0.5x of the normal speed to 3.5x. The fastest I have listened to an audiobook is 1.8x. This way I get through the book faster, but I can still understand the narrator.
WhisperSync for Voice is available if you already own the kindle version of the audiobook. The kindle app and Audible sync together the app will read it to you from where you left off on Audible, and vice versa.
Memberships can be placed on hold. If you want to keep your membership but finances are a little tight then you can “postpone” payments for several months, but there are restrictions so check your account settings for your geographical area.
Cons
For me, one of the main cons is the narrators. I have come across a few narrators that sound like they are falling asleep and find their monotone voice off-putting. Most narrators are very talented while a few narrators tend to put me to sleep. It can be hit or miss.
So far, there is no simple or direct way to listen to Audible on Google Home.
You a membership is cancelled then any unused credits are lost.
I love Audible and I can spend hours perusing the titles and adding to my wish list. I do so much more reading now that I have Audible and I recommend it to anyone who is willing to listen. Audible is definitely worth the money; it is affordable with loads of free content that comes with the monthly subscription.