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Audio books are professionally recorded versions of books, and they are used in the reading classroom for several reasons. First, audio books promote phonemic awareness as a way to introduce letters and sounds. Second, audio books bolster fluency or the ability to follow print. They also build reading comprehension or the ability to... more »
Listening to audio books can be a great way to pass the time, entertain yourself and learn something new. Audio books can make a long road trip more fun, or make your commute to and from work a more productive time. Books on CD can help you catch up on classic novels or self-help books you have always wanted to read but haven't had... more »
Every time you listen to a book on tape or CD, follow the narration in a History Channel documentary, or watch a foreign film that has been dubbed in English, you're experiencing the talents of individuals who have discovered how to make an income being heard and not seen. If friends have been telling you that you've got a great voice... more »
You absolutely love to read. If you could only get paid for it, you think, you’d end up a multi-millionaire. There is no guaranteeing the millionaire status, but there are many jobs out there that in which you will get paid to read books. So grab a bookmark and get ready to follow a few simple tips. more »
Finding extra time can read can be difficult for the modern person. Responsibilities like family, work and household duties makes it hard to find the time to open a book. However, with a little creativity, it is possible to make extra time for reading. more »
Some online stores offer you the chance to buy and download self-help books that cover a variety of subjects. As with any online audio purchase,... more »
Buying used audio books rather than new can save you money and allow you to buy more audio for every dollar spent. Many Web sites sell new and... more »
An audio book contains a recorded version of a print book. While audio books for the blind have existed for decades, the commercial audio book... more »
Self-help books can be a great way to get yourself through a difficult time or learn some new skills. It's easy to find and buy these books... more »
Whether its a long commute to work, a Saturday afternoon running errands or a road trip with the kids, an engrossing audio book can make the time... more »
An audiobook is a recording that is primarily spoken word. It is often based on a recording of commercial printed material. It is not necessarily an exact audio version of a book.
Spoken audio was available in school and public libraries and to a lesser extent in music shops. It was not until the 1980s that there began a concerted effort to attract book retailers. As publishers entered the field of spoken-word publishing, the transition to book retailers carrying audiobooks became commonplace on bookshelves rather than in separate displays.
Formats
Audiobooks are distributed on CDs, cassette tapes, downloadable digital formats (e.g., MP3 (.mp3), Windows Media Audio (.wma), and Advanced Audio Coding (.aac)).
In 2005 cassette-tape sales were 16% of the audiobook market, with CD sales accounting for 74% of the market and downloadable audio books accounting for approximately 9%. In the United States, a sales survey (performed by the Audio Publishers Association in the summer of 2006 for the year 2005) estimated the industry to be worth 871 million US dollars. Current industry estimates are around two billion US dollars at retail value per year. In recent years, the Internet has introduced another powerful means of delivery for audiobooks and many titles are now available on-line, as downloads and as audio streams.
Sometimes audiobook format is available simultaneously with book publication. There are 50,000 titles on cassette, CD or digital format.
Unabridged audiobooks are word for word readings of a book, while abridged audiobooks have text removed by the abridger. Abridgements may be wanted to reduce the cost. Audiobooks may come as fully dramatized versions of the printed book, sometimes calling upon a complete cast, music, and sound effects, though many consumers have indicated a preference for less music, multiple voices and sound effects. Each spring, the Audie Awards are given to the top nominees for performance and prod read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audiobook
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