2.15.2016

Why I Love My Smart Phone

You know that useless piece of electronic junk that everyone carries around in their pocket or purse? You know what I'm talking about. Your cell phone, smart phone, a.k.a. mobile. I used to curse a lot whenever I tried to make a phone call with mine. I've heard you can make and receive phone calls with these devices, but only if you keep them fully charged. I never bothered to charge mine so the power bar was always in the red or nonexistent when the battery plummeted to absolute zero.

A year ago, my feelings for my smart phone changed. I charged it every day. I carried it around with me, even in the house. What led to such an amazing reversal? No, I didn't find I suddenly had more people to talk to. I discovered a secret, the true purpose of a smart phone. Because they fit neatly in your pocket and have a headphones jack, they are the perfect vehicle for listening to audio books. It's like they were made for our listening pleasure.

But, but audio books are expensive, you say. Get yourself the Overdrive app (it's free). Log into your library and start listening (for free), all from the comfy confines of your home. No more squinting at call numbers. No more crawling on the floor to see the books on the bottom shelf. No more fines as audio books are returned automagically when they're due.

Do you hate doing mundane tasks to keep your house running? With audio books plugged into your mobile phone, chore time is transformed into reading time. Fun time! Fight with Shelob while you load the dishwasher. (Just don't throw plates at her.) Dodge bludgers while restocking the linen closet. Imagine how much more reading time you'll have and how many more books you can plow through.

Now, if I can just figure out how to disable the phone part of my smart phone, I'll enter book nirvana. There's nothing more annoying than a ringtone when you're deep into an exciting story.

Have you discovered the many joys of audio books?

11 comments:

  1. So far I have avoided audio books, for much the same reason I don't see movies of books I love. I am afraid the the voices/images will clash with those in my head.

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  2. I love audio books, as an extension of the books I've read. Hearing Stephen Fry reading Harry Potter or Tony Rbinson reading Discworld or Richard Armitage reading Georgette Heyer is bliss! But I never thought of listening to them that way. My own phone is just a phone, a Nokia that lets me make calls, send texts and take photos; anything else is done on my iPad. And you can't carry THAT around the house! :-) I do sometimes play audiobook CDs while doing housework, but it's not much fun when you have to leave the room to do housework elsewhere.

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  3. Hi Jeff - I like the idea of it .. but I also like listening to the world around me, and to thinking as I toddle around doing things - so I've never quite reconciled having my ears taken over! I don't even use an ipod, or phone for listening to music or books on the train ... now I might in the car if I travelled distances - but rarely do and then I love seeing the countryside.

    Strange but true ... however the housework does get done! Cheers Hilary

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  4. I am the only person in the modern world without a device to listen to audio books on! I should listen to audio books as I work out, though. It would make the experience so much more pleasing.

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  5. My mom listens to audio books when she drives. I have yet to get into. When it comes to reading, I like quiet, so having someone read out loud isn't appealing.

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  6. I might get one of them smart phone things in the near future. It is a great use for the thing.

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  7. That is a great idea to use your smartphone to listen to audiobooks. I'm such a visual person that I haven't ventured into the realm of reading by listening.

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  8. I really need to start listening to audio books . . . and I do have a smart-phone, although it's kind of a dumb smart-phone, or that's my lack of tech. Hmm.

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  9. I have never been able to get into audio books because I can't seem to keep paying attention to the reader LOL. My mind starts wandering all over the place. I think it has something to do with my childishly short attention span.
    I do love my smartphone though! I admit I am addicted to it.

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  10. My daughter downloaded Overdrive app on my computer, I'll have to get it on my phone. I have yet to listen to an audio book, but all my kids love them!!!

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  11. Great idea. It'll probably take me a day and half to figure out how to download the library app, but I'll give it a shot!

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