Audio Books

[Richard]

Didn't want this to get hidden in another thread. People who go to sea, I've found, are great readers, both on yachts and commercial craft. There's so much down time reading is a great way to get away while you're getting away. I don't care how large the craft they all get small after a while.

The big problem with books is they take up space, and they have weight. I knew a weight fanatic down on the Rio Dulce. He had a 35 or 40 foot trimaran and was so concerned with weight he used to rip the covers off the books he had onboard to keep the weight down. He also cut half of the handles off his toothbrushes, too, so now you can see he has a compulsive disorder.

Books on tape and on CDs are a better alternative, but they, too, take up space and that's always at a premium aboard despite the size of the vessel. It just becomes a bit more critical the smaller your craft is. And the nice things about audio books is that they help pass those long dark watches in the middle of the night when you can't have a light on for reading.

I recently discovered Audible.com. What's great about them is you can download their books to your Ipod and the problem of space is conquered. You have access to thousands of titles in dozens and dozens of categories...Fiction, history, business, nonfiction, mysteries, you name it.

And you can save money over, like Itunes downloads which I've used several times. The other day I downloaded nearly $90 worth of books for a little over $30.

Anyone use this or other downloadable sources for audio books/

[Mike Malone]

I love books on CD and you can now download books to MP3 players. Still nothing beats just sitting in the cockpit and reading a book the old fashion way. Most marinas I've been through have great book exchanges. This year I have run into some that do have books on tape or CD. I try and never have more than 5 on board at a time.

Cheers
~~_/)~~

[Richard]

I certainly agree that sitting in the cockpit, in the shade of the dodger, is the best way of reading a book, but in the depths of the mid watch, trying to read that book under a red bulb so you don't kill your night vision, audio books help while away the hours.