Reading Life #6: An ode to the audiobook walk
And 23 audiobook recommendations for your next listen
Since we're now in the year's second half, I took time to reflect on my reading from the first six months. I love this process, and it usually yields some interesting insights that help guide my reading choices for the rest of the year. I was pleasantly surprised to see that audiobooks accounted for a much more significant part of my reading than last year (I'm not alone!). Of the 50 books I have read to date in 2023, 16 of those have been audiobooks. So, about a third of my reading has been done through headphones.Â
As a music lover, I've never been a big audiobook person, preferring to listen to music when I have uninterrupted time with my headphones. When I lived in New York, I tried to listen to them on my commute, but I found it too difficult to concentrate while also being out and about in a bustling city. During the pandemic, I started dipping my toes in a bit more, but since I didn't have a commute anymore, it felt like there was no good time to listen to them. I cannot listen while doing other activities that require brain power. I tried listening while I walked in endless circles around the block after the workday, but it quickly became too monotonous.Â
Then, in 2022, I moved to Maine and became self-employed as a photographer. I knew I needed a way to move my body at the end of the day after hours spent sitting solo at my computer. Enter the audiobook walk.