Are Audiobooks “Cheating”? - The Book Debate That Won’t Die By Bookends

Let’s be honest—some readers turn their noses up at audiobooks. “It’s not real reading,” they say, as if listening to Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone while stuck in Dubai traffic is some kind of literary shortcut.

But in a world where everyone’s busier than ever, the way we consume stories is changing fast. At Bookends, where you’ll find everything from story books for kids to autobiographies and the best second hand books Dubai has to offer, we think it’s time to rethink what “real reading” actually means.

Audiobooks, Ebooks and the Joy of the Modern Reader

Audiobooks aren’t cheating—they’re convenient, immersive and for many people, the most accessible way to experience a book. Whether it’s a powerful autobiography told in the author’s own voice or a gripping comic book performed with a full cast, audio storytelling is just as valid as print.

Likewise, ebooks—often overlooked in this debate—make it possible to carry an entire bookstore in your pocket. You can highlight insights from Atomic Habits on your lunch break, or curl up with Harry Potter books without ever turning a physical page.

Of course, there’s still something special about a physical book. A trip to a cozy bookstore Abu Dhabi or local bookshop sparks the same excitement it always has. Flipping through the pages of a used copy you picked up from one of the best book stores in Dubai? That’s a feeling no screen can match.

Physical Books Aren’t Going Anywhere (Thankfully)

Despite the rise of digital and audio formats, many readers still crave the tactile magic of real books. That’s why second hand books Dubai readers love so much are flying off our shelves. There’s something about a well-loved paperback—its creases, scribbles, and past lives—that can’t be replicated.

You might start your search for a book store near me and end up spending hours at Bookends, lost in a stack of Harry Potter books or rediscovering story books for kids you loved years ago. Whether you’re browsing new titles or vintage finds, book stores in Dubai like ours are still the heart of the reading experience.

So… Does Listening Count?

Here’s the bottom line: if it sparks your imagination, expands your thinking or moves your heart—it counts. Audiobooks, ebooks or traditional paperbacks, they’re all part of the same story.

Reading Atomic Habits on your Kindle, listening to Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets while cooking dinner, or pulling a comic book off a shelf in your favorite bookstore—none of these are “less than.” They’re all valid, and they all make you a reader.

At Bookends, we celebrate reading in every form. Whether you’re browsing for second hand books Dubai readers love, discovering your next favorite title at a bookstore Abu Dhabi gem, or wandering through a neighborhood bookshop with your kids, we’re here for all the ways you fall in love with a book.

Because real reading isn’t about the format—it’s about the story, the spark, and the magic it brings.