cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/49253586
this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2026
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I don't understand why it's an either/or thing. I'd listen to audiobooks whether I'm in the car, or on a train. Even on a train, I've got hours to kill.
Yesterday I heard someone criticize a book as something to be listened to "while folding laundry," as if that's some crack against the book. What's wrong with listening to an audiobook while doing chores? It makes the chores go by quickly.
It could just be you're a better auditory processor than me, but I don't get much out of a book if in multitasking.
I do like reading legit novels on the train though, if the tracks are smooth enough
Even listening to an audiobook is a worse experience in a car though, because you're distracted from it, I would hope, by paying attention to traffic. And of course, there's also lots of other things you can do in a train that you can't in a car: read non-audio books, watch videos, play video games, take a nap, etc. Depending on what kind of work you do, it might even be possible to do some work and go home earlier. Even as a passenger, doing most of these things in a car is a good way of getting car sick.
The point is that almost always, the time spent on a train is of considerably higher quality than the time spent in a car.
I drive a LOT for my job, and I listen to a LOT of audiobooks, podcasts, comedy specials, etc. Also music.
And occasionally I find heavy traffic to be distracting from an audiobook, but 90% of the kind of driving where you'd need an audiobook is long distance highway driving, not rush hour traffic, so it isn't an issue. Besides, people listen to the radio all the time, so what's the difference?
I took a train instead of driving once, and I won't do that again. It essentially took the same amount of time, but it was so boring. I couldn't stop when I wanted, eat what I wanted (Amtrak food is terrible), etc. And it cost about the same as fuel costs for driving anyway.
Huh that's interesting, because when I'm taking the train I feel like I am already "stopped" because I'm just chilling doing whatever I want. Must be a personality types thing.