When you hear the term “audiobook,” what comes to your mind? Do you think of a small talking book that starts a narration when you press a button or a speaker that automatically works when you utter the command “Play?” If only fairy tales come true and sci-fi gadgets come to life, your imagination need not go a long way. However, if you let reality sink in, you need to keep your imaginative ideas in the innovations and creativity department for now, because there's neither a pixie dust of magic nor a for-geniuses-only prompt in audiobooks.

For the most part, audiobooks are not things that you touch, but recordings that you listen to. If you associate audiobooks with cassette tapes, CDs or MP3 files, you're really talking about the commonly used media packaging. With the exception of those in pre-loaded digital formats, audiobooks require the use of some device in order to work. Check them out in the following list and get a preview of other useful accessories as well.

• MP3 PLAYER. MP3 is a shortcut for a term known to techies as “MPEG-1 audio layer 3.” Don't think they're only good for playing music. If you want a break from all those rhythm and melody melodrama, get a prosaic break by playing audiobooks in the appropriate MP3 format, of course.

• CD PLAYER. If you love discs, you must have a compact disc player to breathe life to your choice of listening material. When audiobooks first started to come out, the CD format accounted for close to three quarters of the audiobook sales percentage. If your CD player is still functional, put it to good use and avoid generating junk. You really don't have to join the bandwagon penchant for higher-tech gadgets.

• CASETTE PLAYER. If you're a loving caretaker of things, chances are your cassette player is still alive. This old-fashioned gadget has seen better days before the advent of the CD player. You need not worry about not finding any audiobooks in the tape format though, because you'll find a robust collection of them if you visit the public library.

• HEADSET. Enjoy the content of your audiobook without disturbing the usual activities of the people around you. Headsets afford you some privacy for thinking and individual learning. Only you can hear what you're supposed to be listening to. Choose what style fits your preferences: the conventional headphone or the contemporary pair of inconspicuous earphones.

• BOOMBOX. If you want to broadcast the content of your audiobook and let other people join in the fun, get a boombox. You can turn one chaotic music party to a sober and didactic story-sharing and learning session with this accessory. An alternative to this is a set of speakers with a subwoofer.

• ARMBAND. This is the perfect accessory if you have an active lifestyle. An armband keeps your MP3 player securely fastened to your arm when you go jogging or engage in other forms of strenuous activities.

Take your pick from the list. Note that you don't need to get everything to start listening to your audiobook.