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Abridged or Unabridged?

EricNau

EricNau

Moderator emeritus
Original poster
Apr 27, 2005
10,733
292
San Francisco, CA
For all of you out there who listen to audiobooks, do you buy the abridged or unabridged version?

The unabridged versions seem outrageously expensive (costing $25-$50 per book). For that price I could just buy the book and pay someone to read it to me.

Naturally, I want the unabridged version so I can hear the entire book, but is it really worth the extra price?

I've only listened to one audiobook before, so I'm completely unfamiliar with this topic. ...Is there anything else I should know?
 
Depends on why are you listening to the book. If it's an informational, say a business or self-help type book...then the abridged is probably fine (because, if you want to learn more you can always, go check out the book...and usually the people selling you business audiobooks will be ever so kind enough to tell you what they've left out so that you go and buy the book too).

For fiction...depends why you read, if you're reading for style and mood, to get a real picture of the world, you have to go with the unabridged. While I was studying Spanish, I bought "La Historia de Dos Ciudades" by Carlos Dickens (abridged)...I had read it in high school and was looking forward to listening to the opening comparison (cause I figured they wouldn't cut that part out)...wrong. The first line was there, but then it cut straight to the action.

Also...always listen to the preview...can you listen to that voice for the next 5 hours, 12 hours, 20 hours??...that's a key as well.
 
Have you looked into Audible.com?

I've used them for over a year and pay £15 a month and can download 2 books a month. All the books I download are unabridged.
 
TheAnswer said:
While I was studying Spanish, I bought "La Historia de Dos Ciudades" by Carlos Dickens (abridged)...I had read it in high school and was looking forward to listening to the opening comparison (cause I figured they wouldn't cut that part out)...wrong. The first line was there, but then it cut straight to the action.
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Exactly what I'm afraid of.
bartelby said:
Have you looked into Audible.com?

I've used them for over a year and pay £15 a month and can download 2 books a month. All the books I download are unabridged.
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No, actually I hadn't. I assumed that Audible's prices would be the same on their website as on iTunes so I never bothered looking (and I had no idea they had monthly plans).

Looks like I can get 1 credit for $15/month or 2 credits for $23/month.

Thanks, both of you. :)
 
I buy the abridged version, but I've only bought audiobooks for the Left Behind series and when I listened to it, it made sense and I didn't feel like I was missing anything.
 
Cromulent said:
Unabridged.

I only listen to them on long car journeys so it makes sense to get the one with the longer playing time :).
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I listen to them as I go to sleep. I need something to distract my mind from thinking things over and over and over...
 
I don't listen to audiobooks, but I couldn't imagine willingly picking up and listening to an abirdged version. What you're listening to isn't the book that the author intended to write. Go unabridged.
 
it5five said:
I don't listen to audiobooks, but I couldn't imagine willingly picking up and listening to an abirdged version. What you're listening to isn't the book that the author intended to write. Go unabridged.
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Those were my exact feelings. I'm just in sticker shock!
 
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