Let's be real: if you're anything like me, you have a stack of unopened physical books on your nightstand, and a 12-item audiobook queue on your phone that you've only finished two episodes of, because you kept checking your texts while listening to the latest thriller. For years, I wrote off both formats as "failures" of my reading habit: I told myself audiobooks "don't count" as real reading, and that I was "bad at reading" because I couldn't make it through more than 10 pages of a physical book a night before falling asleep.
Turns out, I had it backwards. The problem wasn't that I was bad at reading---it was that I was treating audiobooks and physical books as competing options, instead of complementary tools that work together to make reading easier, more fun, and way more memorable.
Combining the two formats isn't "cheating" at reading. It's a low-friction hack that lets you engage with books on days you have 10 minutes to sit down, and days you're stuck doing dishes or commuting. It reinforces what you learn so you actually remember it, and it takes the guilt out of "not reading enough" entirely. Below are the most actionable, tested methods to pair the two formats to build a reading habit that sticks.
Use audiobooks as a "pre-read" for dense non-fiction or hard-to-start books
If you've ever abandoned a physical copy of a non-fiction book because the jargon was too thick, or a classic novel because you couldn't keep track of 17 character names in the first 50 pages, this trick will change everything.
Before you even crack open the physical copy, listen to the first 2-3 chapters of the audiobook during your commute, workout, or while you fold laundry. You're not trying to absorb every detail here---you're just getting the lay of the land: the core argument of the non-fiction book, the tone of the author, the names of the main characters, the core conflict of the novel. By the time you pick up the physical copy, you're not starting cold: you already know what the book is about, so you can jump straight into the parts that interest you, instead of getting stuck on confusing opening passages.
I used this to finally finish The Name of the Wind , a fantasy epic I'd abandoned three times before because I couldn't follow the meandering first chapter. I listened to the first 5 chapters of the audiobook (the narration by Rupert Degas is chef's kiss, by the way) on a 2-hour road trip, and by the time I picked up the physical copy, I was so invested in the character of Kvothe that I finished the 650-page book in 7 days. For non-fiction, this works wonders for textbooks, self-help books, or even dense history tomes: listening to the audio first cuts down on the cognitive load of parsing complex text when you're tired at the end of the day.
Pair "dead time" audiobook listening with 10-minute at-home physical reading sessions to build daily consistency
The biggest reason most people fail to build a consistent reading habit is the myth that you need 30+ minutes of uninterrupted, quiet time to "properly" read a book. This method eliminates that pressure entirely by splitting your reading across two contexts that fit into even the busiest schedule.
Commit to listening to the audiobook version of whatever book you're currently reading during your "dead time": your 20-minute commute, your 30-minute walk, while you cook dinner, or while you fold laundry. Then, when you're at home relaxed---before bed, on your lunch break, or on the weekend---pick up the physical copy and read 10-20 pages of the same book, focusing on the sections you just listened to, or the next chunk of the story.
You're not "re-reading" the same content over and over: you're engaging with the book in two different formats, so even on days you don't have time to sit down with a physical book, you're still making progress. I did this with Project Hail Mary last year: I listened to one chapter on my walk to the gym every morning, then read that same chapter in the physical copy before bed. I finished the 500-page book in 3 weeks---a record for me---and I remembered almost every plot twist, something that never happens when I only read or only listen to a book.
Use quick audio jottings to make physical book note-taking way less intimidating
If you've ever abandoned a non-fiction book because you felt like you "should" be taking notes, but didn't want to break your flow by scribbling in the margins every 2 pages, this method is for you.
While you're listening to the audiobook, keep a small notebook or your phone's notes app open, and jot down quick, 1-2 word timestamps or key points that jump out at you. No full sentences, no deep analysis---just quick markers. If the author says "the biggest barrier to consistent exercise is not motivation, it's friction," jot down "friction > motivation, 22:10". If they mention a study that supports their point, write down "exercise friction study, 34:20".
Then, when you sit down with the physical copy, you can jump straight to those sections, re-read them, and expand your notes however you want: add examples, connect the point to your own life, write down action steps. You're not stopping your flow to take notes while you read---you're doing the low-effort, quick note-taking while you listen, and the deep, meaningful note-taking when you have the physical book in front of you. I used this for Deep Work by Cal Newport: I jotted down key points on my walks, then re-read the relevant chapters in the physical copy and added notes on how to apply the tips to my remote work schedule. I still reference those notes every week.
Pause the audiobook to cross-reference physical book extras for deeper comprehension
Audiobooks are great for following a narrative or core argument, but they're terrible for referencing small details: footnotes, maps, character family trees, data charts, or even a line of dialogue you want to re-read. This is where the physical copy comes in.
Whenever you're listening to the audiobook and hit a section that references a detail you can't keep track of---say, a history book mentions a battle you can't visualize, or a fantasy novel references a map of the world---pause the audio, pull out the physical copy, and flip to the relevant page. Re-read the section, look at the map or footnote, then go back to the audio. For fiction, this is perfect for complex worldbuilding or large casts of characters: if you forget who a minor character is, pause the audio, flip to the character list in the front of the physical book, then keep going.
This prevents you from zoning out or missing key details because you were too busy cooking or driving to rewind the audiobook, and it helps you build a deeper understanding of the book's world or argument. I did this while listening to The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan: whenever the author mentioned a historical region I couldn't place, I'd pause the audio, flip to the map in the back of the physical copy, and get my bearings before moving on. I retained way more of the book's content than I would have if I'd only listened to the audio.
Switch formats mid-book to avoid burnout
One of the biggest mistakes people make when pairing audiobooks and physical books is forcing themselves to stick to a rigid schedule: "I have to listen to 1 chapter a day, and read 1 chapter a day, no exceptions." That's a fast way to burn out on both the book and the habit.
The whole point of pairing the two formats is flexibility. If you're on a 3-day work trip and don't have time to pack your physical book, just listen to the audiobook. If you're on vacation and want to curl up with a physical copy on the beach, skip the audio for a few days. If you're struggling to get through a slow section of the physical book, switch to the audiobook for a few chapters to keep the momentum going, then switch back when the plot picks up.
There's no "right" way to do this. The goal is to keep engaging with the book, not check a box for how many chapters you read or listened to. I switch formats all the time: last month, I listened to the middle 100 pages of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo on my commute because I was too tired to read at night, then switched back to the physical copy for the final 50 pages when I had a lazy Sunday. I finished the book in 2 weeks, and loved every minute of it.
The bottom line
Pairing audiobooks and physical books isn't about being a "perfect" reader who checks every box. It's about meeting yourself where you are, on any given day. It takes the pressure off finding large blocks of quiet time to read, it makes dense or hard-to-start books way more accessible, and it reinforces what you learn so you actually remember it long after you finish the last page.
Start small this week: if you have a physical book you've been struggling to get into, listen to the first 2 chapters of the audiobook version before you pick it up. You might be shocked at how much easier it is to pick up the habit---and how much more you get out of every book you read.