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Show HN: Read while you listen to your Audiobooks (hushbook.app)

1 points by adityawastaken ↗ HN
I am a product manager, and in the last few months I got laid off, coupled with a disruptive job market. Due to this, I used to scroll short-form content a lot; I was a slave to it, and anything I picked to read had me going back to scrolling. This became a reading comprehension problem; my attention span was clearly in decline; I found that a lot of people were also not able to read without an assist like a physical book or an ebook, especially for readers with ADHD/Dyslexia - this problem was hard-hitting. So I built Hushbook- a read-along audiobook app that helps you read while you listen. It works with a tiny transcription engine that functions natively on-device and transcribes audiobooks in multiple languages. The app also has 20,000+ Audiobooks free to download. Last week, I also integrated the app to welcome ebooks and synchronize them with audiobooks. I see reading has taken a back seat due to a surge in short-form content; there is a need for a push to get going and start reading more books. Critical thinking has gone for a toss, and I want more people to start reading; this is a step forward.

4 comments

[ 3.9 ms ] story [ 20.2 ms ] thread
andsoitis
I think this misunderstands reading. Have you read a book this way? What did it feel like and what did you miss compared to reading in silence or to music?

Nevertheless, good luck with your idea and venture!

adityawastaken
Yes, reading this way helped me resume back the way i used to read. Audiobooks is the easiest way to get started but most of the time I used to get lost or sleep. With a read along it has helped me to stay focused. Thankyou for the kind words!
dlcarrier
I thought you meant reading one thing while listing to a different audiobook. (I sometimes do this, and read your post while listening to Stephen King's Under the Dome, but I have to pause to respond. I can listen and read, but not listen and write.)

Anyway, I know a few people who often switch between reading the text and listening to the audio of a book. If your application seamless supports both reading and listening, whether it's simultaneously or switching from just one to just the other, it could be pretty useful for those who like to read sometimes and listen other times.