World Cup Unites! And More Letters

Montecito resident Keith Yeager traded FIFA gear during an exchange with FIFA/Qatar football club staff, one local example of promoting international friendship and cooperation, at the Rosewood Miramar on June 25th.

The Qatar team was well hosted by Montecito, staying at the Rosewood Miramar hotel as their base camp, and training on Westmont’s Thorrington Field. Mr. Yeager gave the Qatar football club staff the official USA/FIFA jersey (purchases support FIFA’s youth outreach programs to promote life skills and responsible values), and was presented with an official Qatar/FIFA scarf. Qatar’s Sports Scientist Fabio Francioni enthused that all of Montecito had been friendly
and welcoming.

Deborah Dunn

Now Hear This! A Response to “Debunking the Allure of Audio Books”

Ms. Zampelli is a thoughtful writer, which is why I was disappointed to see her recent column discourage people from listening to audiobooks in favor of printed books.

Reading a printed book is a wonderful experience, but audiobooks should not be viewed as a lesser substitute. For many people, they are the difference between reading more books and reading none at all.

We don’t really need any scientific studies to know that listening to stories is the oldest form of literature. For tens of thousands of years, long before the invention of printing, or even writing, humans shared knowledge, history, and entertainment through the spoken word. Storytelling around campfires was humanity’s original library. Audiobooks are not a departure from that tradition; they are a modern extension of it.

Audiobooks allow us to make productive use of time that would otherwise be lost. Commuting, exercising, walking the dog, doing household chores, or waiting for an appointment can all become opportunities to enjoy a novel, learn history, or explore new ideas. Far from replacing reading, audiobooks often expand the amount of literature and non-fiction people consume.

They also make books more accessible. A smartphone can hold an entire library and accompany us almost everywhere. Audiobooks are especially valuable for people with busy schedules that leave little uninterrupted time for sitting down with a printed book.

Audiobooks also offer a degree of privacy. Whether someone is listening to a classic, a romance novel, a celebrity memoir, or a thriller, they can enjoy the book without feeling self-conscious about what others might think of their reading choices

Audiobooks are also remarkably affordable. Through Libby, the free phone app, our public library provides access to thousands of audiobooks at no cost to patrons. Many people are already carrying a library in their pocket and may not realize it.

None of this diminishes the pleasure of reading a printed book on the beach or in a favorite chair. But rather than discouraging audiobooks, we should celebrate them as another pathway to literature, learning, and lifelong reading.

I would encourage anyone who has never tried one to download Libby, borrow a book from the library, right from where you are currently sitting, and discover what you have been missing.  

Stephen Dougherty