Has anyone ever given you a sideways glance after learning you listen to audiobooks?

If you've picked up on a sense of literary snobbery around reading with your ears, you're far from alone.

And yet, the audiobook is nothing new. Thomas Edison himself is thought to have recorded the first audiobook; he predicted this could be our literary future. Five years later, a US professor imagined a "whispering machine", that was essentially what we know as a Walkman today.

Dive into our history of the audiobook to check out the "whispering machine", "hearing tubes" and other 19th century sonic visions.

Then, revisit k.d. lang's groundbreaking career in her exclusive interview with The Music Show. Or, learn the tumultuous history of your humble cup of tea.

Until next week,

Annika Blau, RN digital editor

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