Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I buy audiobooks?

You can ease the stress of a long commute, road trip or air travel by listening to audiobooks on hundreds of different topics. You can up the pace of your exercise routine. You can alleviate the boredom associated with cooking, cleaning, gardening or walking the dog.

What is an audiobook?

Audiobooks are “talking books” available for all ages, in all genres: biographies and memoirs, business and how-to books, spirituality and religion, children’s literature, history, mystery and thrillers, and romance.

What’s the difference between “abridged” and “unabridged” audiobooks?

“Abridged” audiobooks are condensed versions of an original work. “Unabridged” audiobooks feature the complete text, with no condensation.

Which audiobook format is best for me?

Many older titles are available only on audiocassette. Portable audiocassette players remain a popular choice for audiobook listeners. Select a model that minimizes distortion—those annoying hissing sounds, deviations in tape speed and other anomalies. Amazon.com offers a wide variety of portable audiocassette players. The top sellers are manufactured by Sony. Some will record, while others have built-in radios and TV reception. Player Recommendations

CDs provide crisper sound and are more durable. You can also play them on your computer or DVD player. Buy a portable CD player with anti-skip protection. Player Recommendations

Downloadable audiobooks eliminate the need to carry audiocassettes or CDs with you. They are digital files, usually downloaded from the Internet, that can be stored on a special player (MP3), as well as your computer. The top- selling MP3 players on Amazon.com are Apple iPods, which can be used with both Windows and Mac operating systems. Player Recommendations

Where can I buy audiobooks?

Audible.com is the No. 1 choice if you're looking for audiobooks. For less than $20 a month, you can download any two audio books from the website’s online store (23,000 titles), and membership includes a free MP3 player. Prices are discounted up to 80%.

Booksfree.com has three audiobook rental plans. You can rent up to four titles at a time and an unlimited number per month. There are 2,000 titles in 109 categories available.

Amazon.com carries a huge selection of audio titles, with bestsellers priced 32% below retail. You can also buy and sell used audiobooks at a discount, as well as preorder new releases before they hit store shelves.

For the bargain hunter, there’s no better source for new and used audiobooks than eBay (ebay.com). It’s also a great resource for out-of-print and hard-to-find audiobooks. Books are sold via auction and at fixed prices.