Why Audiobooks Stay with Me Longer

 

It was during the COVID lockdown, a time when life felt like it had hit pause. With no school, no deadlines, and endless free time, I decided to dive into novels, something I had always wanted to do but never found the time for. I had a copy of Cheena Harayeko Manxe sitting on my desk, untouched for months, and I finally picked it up. At the same time, I discovered Naulo Suruwat, an audiobook from Saigrace Ko Stories. Since I had all the time in the world, I decided to finish both within a week reading Cheena Harayeko Manxe during the day and listening to Naulo Suruwat at night before bed. At that moment, I felt like I was truly absorbing both stories, convinced that I would remember them forever.

But four years later, something strange happened. In a casual discussion with friends, the topic of those novels came up. As they asked me about Cheena Harayeko Manxe, I paused, searching my mind for details. I knew I had read it, I remembered the emotions it stirred in me, but the events felt distant, blurred, almost as if they had faded away with time. Then, someone mentioned Naulo Suruwat, and without hesitation, the story came rushing back every scene, every twist, every character’s struggle. It was as if I had just listened to it yesterday. That was the moment I realized something shocking despite spending the same amount of time on both stories, the one I heard had stayed with me far longer than the one I had read.

Then I started thinking about my school days those long hours spent reading textbooks on history and geography, memorizing dates, events, places, and boundaries. I used to believe that the more I read and highlighted, the better I would remember, but looking back, I realize that wasn’t always true. The things that truly stuck with me weren’t the long paragraphs I had to read and memorize, but the lessons I heard whether it was a teacher’s explanation of historical events, a documentary on geography, or a class discussion about ancient civilizations and world maps. I found that listening to these subjects, whether in a classroom or through other mediums, made the information much more memorable. It made me realize that memory isn’t just about reading dry facts from a page but about how the material is presented and how it engages the mind.

Once when I was on a scout hiking, I thought of experimenting with scouts on what kind of learning way do they prefer and keep longer in mind. First, I asked them to read the knots and their use, and secondly, I played an audio on types of fire and the conditions they need to be used. Surprisingly, all the patrols of scouts were able to answer the fire questions, but they were not able to remember the knots.

This experience led me to question the common belief that reading physical books is the best way to retain information. Throughout school, I was taught that reading from a textbook and taking notes was the ultimate way to learn. Yet, I found that I often forgot details soon after an exam. On the other hand, when I listened to lectures or watched engaging discussions on a topic, I could recall the key points more easily. This suggests that memory retention isn’t just about reading it’s about how the brain processes information.

The broader implication of this is that learning styles differ from person to person, yet traditional education still prioritizes visual reading over auditory learning. In an era where audiobooks, podcasts, and digital storytelling are on the rise, it’s time to recognize that listening can be just as powerful if not more so than reading for some individuals. The popularity of platforms like Audible, Spotify, and YouTube storytelling channels proves that people crave spoken-word narratives, whether for entertainment, education, or self-improvement.

Some might argue that reading books encourages deeper focus and comprehension, and for many people, this may be true. But for me, and perhaps many others, the emotional connection that comes from a storyteller’s voice makes the experience more immersive and memorable. Storytelling isn’t just about words on a page; it’s about how those words are delivered, how they make us feel, and how they stay with us long after the story ends.

Maybe memory isn’t just about reading just the text. Maybe it’s about hearing, feeling, and experiencing the words as they unfold. While the world may continue to debate the superiority of books versus audiobooks, I know one thing for sure: when a story is spoken, I truly remember it.