Technology is Cyclical

I was all set to post on one of my favorite scenes. It offers very little to the advancement of the story, but I think it's such a great scene with a terrific line that whenever I see the movie, Roxanne, I have to keep watching it till I see this scene.

CD: Ten more seconds and I'm leaving.

Roxanne: What did you say?

CD: I said "ten more seconds and I'm leaving."

Roxanne: Oh.

CD: Wait, what did you think I said?

Roxanne: I thought you said "earn more sessions by sleeving."

CD: Well what the hell does that mean?

Roxanne: I don't know, that's why I came out.

Then I saw this article on the resurgence of Audible books in the WSJ. Can You Hear Me Now by Alexandra Alter is worth a read. Among the more prescient passages are these:

The digital revolution may have dealt a heavy blow to print, but it is boosting literacy in other unexpected ways by fueling the explosive growth of audio books.

And this:

Once a static niche for aficionados renting clunky cassettes or CDs for their commutes, audio books have gone mass-market. Sales have jumped by double digits in recent years. Shifts in digital technology have broadened the pool of potential listeners to include anyone with a smartphone.

At the same time, publishers are investing six-figure sums in splashy productions with dozens of narrators. Using the Netflix model, some audio book producers have even started experimenting with original works written exclusively as audio productions, ranging from full-cast dramatizations in the style of old school radio plays, complete with music and sound effects, to young adult novels, thrillers and multipart science fiction epics.

I know that this is true for me. I have read (listened to) more audible books in the past few years than before. This is a combination of having read Stephen King's On Writing, where in he wonders why writers don't spend every waking moment writing or reading, and because of my ever lengthening commute.

There might also be a genetic reason for my listening to books on tape. My paternal grandfather was a huge fan of books on tape. Whenever I got into his car he had a small little box full of cassettes that he would slip in and listen to as we drove. It was always there. I used to rent books on tape from the library and still recall sitting in the parking lot before high school listening to Dick Francis on tape. I think I heard Bolt for the first time that way.

At the moment I'm listening to the complete works of Sherlock Holmes on tape. Usually I listened to military histories or biographies, I branched out with Sherlock Holmes thanks to a recommendation from my brother. Personally I think it's genetic and I'm glad that it is.