Get over your ivory library
The whole idea that “audiobooks are cheating” is unnecessary gatekeeping.
You connected with the story, absorbed the information, and experienced the emotions the book aimed to evoke. Reading isn’t about proving endurance. There’s no trophy after you finish enjoying a book “the right way”.
Humans have been sharing stories for thousands of years, long before books were around. Myths, histories, poems, lessons were passed down through spoken words. These oral traditions held our collective knowledge, values and memories from one generation to the next. People came together to enjoy theatre, where ancient Athenians learned about civics, politics and ethics through captivating performances.
Nobody was outside yelling, “Doesn’t count, mate. You didn’t read the script!”
Or at least I hope they didn’t.
Audiobooks make stories available to people who are driving, working, visually impaired, dyslexic, exhausted, or who take in spoken information better. Calling them “not real readers” doesn’t protect literature. It turns enjoying books into a purity contest.
There’s no cheating afoot. Get over yourself.
/rant