5 ms·

As someone who grew up on printed editions I have trouble adjusting to digital editions. Now I have 3-4 boxes full of books which is a pain while shifting house

As someone who grew up on printed editions I have trouble adjusting to digital editions. Now I have 3-4 boxes full of books which is a pain while shifting houses. I tried ebooks but retention is an issue. So, taking notes has become a big priority. Recently started listening to audiobooks but a lot of times I find my mind starts drifting towards unrelated topics. Are there any tips which can help focus my mind?

BugsJustFindMe 9y ago
You might try increasing the narration speed. Many (most?) audiobooks are recorded at WPM comfortable for a narrator reading aloud for long periods of time but far slower than natural speech. Maybe your mind is wandering because the gap between words is too long for you to process aurally. Audiobook apps (like the Audible app, for instance) allow you to speed up playback without changing the pitch.
- JoshTriplett 9y ago
  Agreed. I regularly listen to audiobooks at anywhere from 1.2x to 1.6x, and find that much more satisfying.
- sago 9y ago
  Frustratingly (for me) Audible only supports faster reading speeds on its mobile app. Its webapp doesn't, neither does its Alexa skill, nor does iTunes (which is what it recommends if you download, since it can negotiate the DRM). Anything else requires ripping the DRM.
  - BugsJustFindMe 9y ago
    Many years ago I used to play Audible files on a 2nd generation iPod nano, and it supported speed adjustment for books too. That's still a mobile device, of course. But maybe it's an alternative? The only scenario I can think of where playing them in a mobile app is a problem is if you don't have a smartphone.
    - sago 9y ago
      > The only scenario I can think of where playing them in a mobile app is a problem is if you don't have a smartphone. What a thought! But yes, and in the context of partial sight / blindness, smart phones are not great for accessibility.
drhodes 9y ago
I like to play tetris on lower levels while listening to audiobooks, it keeps me focused for some reason. There was another game, which I can't find at the moment... an OpenGL demo of a car at night driving down an infinite highway in a low polygon city. That was great for audiobooks.
maxxxxx 9y ago
I love audiobooks but I can only stay focused while driving or walking. When I try them while sitting I either fall asleep or get distracted. It seems somehow they don't satisfy all senses.
dilap 9y ago
It depends on how strong your urge to drift is, but doing some small physical task can help. Some ideas: household chores like washing dishes or folding laundry, going for a walk, going for a drive, maybe knitting?...

BugsJustFindMe 9y ago

You might try increasing the narration speed. Many (most?) audiobooks are recorded at WPM comfortable for a narrator reading aloud for long periods of time but far slower than natural speech. Maybe your mind is wandering because the gap between words is too long for you to process aurally. Audiobook apps (like the Audible app, for instance) allow you to speed up playback without changing the pitch.

JoshTriplett 9y ago
Agreed. I regularly listen to audiobooks at anywhere from 1.2x to 1.6x, and find that much more satisfying.
sago 9y ago
Frustratingly (for me) Audible only supports faster reading speeds on its mobile app. Its webapp doesn't, neither does its Alexa skill, nor does iTunes (which is what it recommends if you download, since it can negotiate the DRM). Anything else requires ripping the DRM.
- BugsJustFindMe 9y ago
  Many years ago I used to play Audible files on a 2nd generation iPod nano, and it supported speed adjustment for books too. That's still a mobile device, of course. But maybe it's an alternative? The only scenario I can think of where playing them in a mobile app is a problem is if you don't have a smartphone.
  - sago 9y ago
    > The only scenario I can think of where playing them in a mobile app is a problem is if you don't have a smartphone. What a thought! But yes, and in the context of partial sight / blindness, smart phones are not great for accessibility.

drhodes 9y ago

I like to play tetris on lower levels while listening to audiobooks, it keeps me focused for some reason. There was another game, which I can't find at the moment... an OpenGL demo of a car at night driving down an infinite highway in a low polygon city. That was great for audiobooks.

maxxxxx 9y ago

I love audiobooks but I can only stay focused while driving or walking. When I try them while sitting I either fall asleep or get distracted. It seems somehow they don't satisfy all senses.

dilap 9y ago

It depends on how strong your urge to drift is, but doing some small physical task can help. Some ideas: household chores like washing dishes or folding laundry, going for a walk, going for a drive, maybe knitting?...