Release of Marine Biology VSI audiobook
I am pleased to announce that the 2nd edition of my book Marine Biology—A Very Short Introduction, which was published in print form in March 2020, was released in July as an audiobook by HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books. Recorded Books is one of the world’s largest providers of digital content to the library, school, and retail markets.
Non-fiction audiobooks are popular
Contrary to what you might expect, there is a trend towards the release of serious non-fiction audiobooks (). As a scientist, and an avid reader of non-fiction, I think this is a positive development—it is great to see people wanting to learn more about the natural world, be it by listening or reading.
Audiobooks attract new markets
I believe that the release of my book in audiobook format will help bring the interesting and important subject of marine biology to new audiences. Surveys show that a preponderance of audiobook listeners are in their 20s or 30s and many do not regularly read printed books (). Audiobooks also appeal to people who are short of time—it allows them to multi-task—they can listen to an audiobook while exercising, cooking, doing the housework or driving to work. Furthermore, audiobooks are a benefit to people who have difficulty reading, such as those with vision loss and dyslexia.
Have a great listen
The audiobook version of Marine Biology—A Very Short Introduction is unabridged and 5.5 hours long. I recently downloaded a copy (https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/marine-biology-a-very-short-introduction/432233#) and had a listen. I am happy to say that I think you will find it a good experience. The book is narrated by Shaun Grindell, whose pace and tone are superb.
The print version of Marine Biology—A Very Short Introduction has 39 illustrations to accompany the text. A password-protected PDF containing the images from the book is made available with each purchase of the audiobook so, if you wish, you can refer to these as you listen to the audiobook.
I wrote Marine Biology—A Very Short Introduction to be accessible to a wide readership, including students and researchers new to the field , but also to intellectually curious readers among the general public who would like a balanced and engaging introduction to the subject. If you are interested in learning more about marine biology, and you prefer to listen rather than read, this is your chance. Have a great listen!
