Audiobooks got their start in the 1950s. After decades of slow growth, sales took off and reached $871 million in 2005. CDs were 74%, Cassettes were 16% and downloadable audiobooks online were 9%. They are becoming more and more popular day by day. Consumers are learning that audio versions are a convenient way to "read" books. They have discovered that:

1) Audiobooks are a great timesaver because you can mutitask - listen while doing other things. While you are working around the house or at the computer, commuting to and from work, walking the dog, cycling, jogging, exercising, and so on, you can listen to your favorite book. There are endless possibilities.

According to a recent survey, in the USA a person is driving an average of 1 hour and 13 minutes daily, which means over 440 hours a year for each driver, or 11 full-time work weeks. This is huge! Imagine how many books you could enjoy and how much you could learn during this time by simply having your MP3 player with audiobooks at hand.

2) If you love reading but are short on time, audiobooks can give you the opportunity to "read" many more books than you otherwise could. Audiobooks are a great way to fill the "dead" moments we all have in our lives.

3) Audiobooks are good for older, ill or recovering people and can be wonderful gifts for those in a nursing institution. They are gifts they will remember and enjoy time after time.

4) For blind people, disabled people or people with impaired vision, audiobooks are a godsend. Everyone should be able to experience the joy of "reading" a good book. In many cases, this is the only way for these disabled persons to do it.

Spoken books can help these people by improving their education, by helping them to develop new hobbies and habits, and greatly enriching their life, both personally and professionally.

5) Arguably, the most important, rewarding and enjoyable skill a child can ever acquire is the ability to read. It's easy to stimulate literacy in children with audiobooks. Children can "listen" to books while following the story in the paper book. Their vocabulary will improve and their communication skills improve even if they just listen. If you want to instill in your child the love of reading, audiobooks can be an excellent start.

There are many other benefits of using audiobooks... and even more for downloadable audiobooks found online on many websites. But even the few reasons above should be enough to convince you to enter the exciting world of spoken books. CDs and cassettes are available at physical bookstores and online ones. Downloadable audiobooks are, of course, only available online. Many online book stores offer several free titles.