Audio books also have one massive advantage over the printed page. Apart from enjoying some top notch voice performances that are out there these days*, you also get the feel of the language in your ears and brain. In English this may not be all that important for many of us, who speak it daily, but if one wants to learn some other language -- Italian, Greek, German, Turkish -- having that daily earful of the living language is absolutely crucial.

And if one listens to a story that he already knows and likes, not only does it stimulate his brain, by remembering how the story goes in English, while making mental notes, "oh, this word probably means something related to travelling .." and so on.. it also refreshes his enjoyment of the story itself, while nudging the brain to "Learn the new language already, damn you!"

Not to mention, that in some circumstances in a bus for instance, for many people - me included - reading a book would make me physically sick, from the page shaking along with the bus.

All in all, audiobooks have their massive benefits. I like 'em.

*Looking at You, new edition of Discworld!!