The Benefits of LISTENING to Books w/ Sarah Mackenzie 

Finally I listened to a conversation that tells me I’m not stupid for listening and not reading. lol.

Currently reading The Hobbit to a 5, 7, 9, and 12 year old. We started doing evenings racked out in the living room by candle and kerosene lamp light, but as of late the preferred place is ON MY BED. That’s five of us (if my wife doesn’t join) on a bed, listening to Tolkien. I have a large green hardback with color pictures included - it’s one of my favorite things to do.

Omg! You finally have her on!!!! Love Sarah McKenzie!!!! She is a hero. God bless her.

It took about a year but I read the hobbit and lord of the rings with my daughter who is 4. We would read it while she feel asleep. Sure she didn't get all of the story but I was so shocked when she would come and remember characters or themes and bits that we read the week before. Now she has this love for the Lord of the Rings. I had a tear when we finished Return of the King because she was so proud of herself for reading it haha it was such a great moment of my future and my nostalgia coming together.

I’m nerding out as a Catholic homeschool mom watching this ❤

I’ve been listening to audiobooks for 20 years. I used to borrow CDs from the library. I also read a lot of books before doing audiobooks too. I love doing a chore or working on something with my hands while listening to an audiobook. I think I listened to 3-4 audiobooks while sewing my first dress. One of my absolute favorite things to do is to listen to a lecture, podcast or audiobook and work on my embroidery or crocheting. I listen better working on things with my hands. If I don’t, I can’t focus on what is being read. 🤷‍♀️

I need both. I like hearing it cause it makes me pay attention, but I constantly pause to think about what it just said and I want to take notes so I need it in print to help remember.

Thank you, Sarah! The Lord has lead us to homeschool recently and you have helped me immensely. Thank you for the gift of RAR 🙏❤

I love having an audio book or podcast that reads the Bible lol while following along in a physical copy.

That was just a wonderful video. My mom used to read to me when I was young because I had bad eye sight. But the old books she used on fairy tails had the most beautiful colored drawn pictures. An your video brought that memory back after 70 years !!!! Thank you 😍. I sent your video to my children & grandchildren!!🙏🙏🙏🙏 Hope they get the hint.😅

I'm almost strictly a nonfiction reader, and I comprehend and retain a lot more with a printed copy. That said, if I listen to the same book on audio I usually pick up a few different things than when I read it.

I love Sarah from Read Aloud Revival! This is a wonderful crossover♥️

I read The Lord of the Rings to my daughter. I think it was such a bonding experience. I’m sure she will have that memory when I’m gone and I hope she reads to her children. My daughter makes tiny clay figures while I’m reading.

This lady is so smart!

With you, Matt. I recall reading much more than listening as an audio. I would say that parents or older siblings reading to children is an essential relationship which goes well beyond the story or words being conveyed.

I find benefits from both, but my goodness the amount of content I've been able to ingest fully whole getting things done in the wood shop is unbelievable. I listen better when my hands are occupied. And I get projects done too. Win win.

Thank you for this! I love Sarah McKenzie ❤️

I love audiobooks, but listening is much easier with a great narrator, some are very boring

I love Sarah McKenzie! I listen to her podcast all of the time!❤

I give my kids coloring sheets while I read to them because I know myself I listen better when I'm engaged in some kinesthetic activity's

I listen with following along with the book. Put a highlighter in your hand and when you drift go back 10 seconds and listen again.

Justice for audio books!

I also liked picture books for longer because I liked to look at good art/pictures. My mother chose books that had more interesting art; not just cutesy, simplified modern stuff that wasn't artistically interesting at all (some was simple, but it was cute and whimsical, like Winnie the Pooh's original illustrations). We also didn't watch children's TV regularly, which I could imagine would change our perspective on what we wanted to be fed. I will also say, I didn't like when I had to step down from her reading aloud to us to read the I-can-read and other books because 1. they were less interesting stories to me, and 2. they were so cutesy simplistic, both in language and in depictions of human nature and life. I don't think I read too many of them before I didn't anymore- in fact that may have been something that put a bit of a damper on my interest in reading. I had never thought that being read aloud to so much could be the reason why I had a really good sense of language and grammar- I didn't really take grammar (we tried a few times), but apparently had absorbed most of the 'rules' purely by osmosis. ^.^ I found this out when I started learning Latin and other languages. I also, for whatever reason, had/have a really good grasp of spelling without studying spelling (other than if you count learning to read by doing phonics). I can imagine it is partly me (I have four siblings who are all pretty good with grammar and spelling, though), but it may also be partly how we were exposed to language!

Love RAR and Sarah Mackenzie ❤️

My work allows me to wear headphones, so it’s audiobooks and lectures all day, everyday.

Great guest! When will the full episode be available?

Coincidentally, I started reading The Hobbit to my son last night, and I took in so much more than if I was reading silently to myself.

If I listen an audiobook, I read the book. I don't distinguish in my own parlance, nor do I expect others to do so. I will distinguish if asked or if it's relevant, but just talking about books I'm reading, I will list audio and visual. I go back and forth between audio and visual reading, sometimes doing both at once when the option is available and I find both at once to be ideal for comprehension and retention.

I’m a visual learner so not auditory. I love to read as paper has soul.

Thank you!

Very interesting. Thank you.

Yes! Love her! You should have a convo with Autumn from The Commonplace! Classical Education/Mother Education would be great!

RAR and Pints is the combo this homeschooling mom never knew she needed!

I agree with Matt. I tried really hard to like audio books because it would have been so convenient to listen while doing other things. I can't focus. I always drift off, and there's just a droning audiobook voice somewhere in the distance I'm not paying attention to. I can listen to a podcast if there's an actual conversation going on between people, but I can't listen to a book. I'm kind of sad about that.

Understanding the power of the Mind's Eye .... 🧠👀 This makes me think of Aphantasia, where someone isn't able to see/form images in their mind. I think for a lot of people, some of the fun from reading, especially fiction, can be imagining the story in the mind, seeing all the details as one would think they should look. Does anyone here have Aphantasia, or think they know someone who does? It can be interesting conversation with your family and friends. "Hey, you know how people see stuff in their brain, you do also, right?...." 😮

This is fascinating! When will the full show be on Locals or RU-vid?

I have a rare condition called ocular motor apraxia. It’s a brain disorder that affects my eye muscles. I have no voluntary horizontal eye movement and I’m 10x more prone to eye strain. I almost exclusively listen to audiobooks however I’ve borrowed one of Trent Horns books from our chapel library (a bookshelf in the gathering hall that works on the honor system) and I’m trying to make my way through it. I should be done with it…before Fr. Silva retires.

WWZ on audiobook, you're there at the battles of yonkers, the five colleges or hope, the actors who voiced it did a phenomenal job, it wouldn't be the same reading it.

Is the full episode only on locals??

I can't listen to audiobooks. The monotone narration makes me without fail fall asleep. Or at the very least, just unfocus and drift away. At the same time, I love listening to lectures and podcasts. The lectures, in comparison to audiobooks (also in cases when the author reads their own book and holds the lecture or conversation about it), seem *very* different. More engaging, it's just the feeling that they're trying to explain something, to convey the message, they speak to the listener, rather than just read out loud to the wall. So when it comes to books, I very much prefer traditional reading. I also enjoy the silence and the focus reading provides.

Charlottes web was a favorite.

Just picked up another audio book today.

Jordan Peterson line is too funny, good video for someone like me who judges people who don’t actually read (I guess they are)

God bless audiobooks. There is no way I could get through the original 6 Dune books or confederacy with out it.

If I listen to a book, I won’t remember it. I can only really remember books if I read them on the page. I have ADHD so it could have something to do with that. Regardless of the subject or task I have to have things organized, written down to learn & any images help a lot as well. I know 💯 a visual learner. If anyone has the same issue & knows any tricks, please let me know. Matt’s friend is correct. I remember hearing in a documentary on PBS that our brains did not “evolve” to read & that’s not a natural process like we think it is. That’s likely the reason that so many people have reading issues, like dyslexia, etc.

I think it depends on the book. Something like the Hobbit could work just fine on audio book. Meanwhile the Silmarillion needs a physical copy, if only for the glossary of names.

I read every single word when I’m reading, nobody else does that? Is that why I’m so tired after I read?

Hi Hallo Howdy greet and bless

I can't listen to audiobooks. The monotone narration makes me without fail fail asleep. Or at the very least, just unfocus and drift away. At the same time, I love listening to lectures and podcasts. The lectures, in comparison to audiobooks (also in cases when the author reads their own book and holds the lecture or conversation about it), seem *very* different. More engaging, it's just the feeling that they're trying to explain something, to convey the message, they speak to the listener, rather than just read out loud to the wall. So when it comes to books, I very much prefer traditional reading. I also enjoy the silence and the focus reading provides.

I can't listen to books due to my ocd

Meanwhile, me: Ya'll skip connector words?!

I think audiobooks work better for fiction and anything that is a story. For a book on self help or ideas i don't think it works as well.

I don't understand people who can actually pay attention to an audio book.

Listening is great. Just don’t do the basket time stuff please-

I’m an audiobook person & I have it set 2x speed 🥲😭