[jasonlotito]

> but I don't know a single person who engages with them in that solitary way,

We exist. You won't know because it's solitary. You have to ask, and I doubt you've asked people specifically if they "engage with them" in that way.

I also think it depends on what you are reading. I read for enjoyment using audio books. I read to learn using real books. If you equate the two and assume someone using audio books is using them for non-fiction to learn something, I really think you are out of touch.

[kamranjon]

I actually have asked many people, because it's something that's frequently on my mind (I had a bit of a revival with reading and do have some strong opinions about how it's helped me). Are you suggesting that you listen to audio books while sitting silently in a chair at your home? That's great! I just don't think that is true for the majority of people. The benefit by and large, as far as I can gather, for most people, is being able to consume something while doing something else. And like I said, that's fine - and I use it myself when exercising - but I just don't consider it reading - and think of it as a separate type of activity that doesn't require the level of engagement that reading a physical book does.