As the ear bud has become ubiquitous, we all have become familiar with 3 of the 4 types of on the go listeners (and we ourselves are probably one). The first is the Type A listener. It’s not enough to have the music in their ears, they have to be sure that you know what their listening to, too. And in lieu of a giant boombox, the earbud is left to serve and share what wrinky dink sounds it can through the membrane of their ears and into the world outside.

Type B listener is similar, in that he/she wants to share their music, but they are far more confident of their own musical abilities to get the sounds across – so the headphones get turned down, while the live vocals get turned up. Because surely, “everyone in this bus/subway/train/mall/dorm/bathroom/museum/library loves the sounds of Rhianna’s vocals, but they get tired of hearing Rhianna being the only one to sing them.” Thanks type B!

Incidentally, Type B’s are the reason that the phrase “you should be on American Idol” has replaced “hey I like your singing.” Because in fact, when someone says “You should be on American Idol” what they mean is, “You should be in the early rounds where everyone laughs at how awful and full-bodied your singing voice is.” (Believe me, I’m an expert on getting “you should be on American Idoled.”

Type C is the most familiar type – the casual listener. Headphones in ear, they go about their day, soundtrack carrying them through the grocery store and commute, maybe a foot taps along here and there, maybe a head bop to the snare drum, if it’s a particularly good tune, the eyes might close for a minute.

It’s

Type D that we’re concerning ourselves with here – type D, the oft overlooked but increasingly present listener not of myTunes or iSongs, but of audiobooks. Believe it or not, a large (and growing larger) chunk of the people you see with headphones in aren’t listening to strings, bass and brass at all – their listening to vocals. Pure, unadulterated (and frequently unabridged) vocals. In 2008, when Amazon purchased Audible.com for $300 million dollars, it became clear to everyone that audiobooks are here to play. (like that? It’s like “here to stay,” but a mediocre pun instead!)

So now we come to the reason for this post – I’m not just drawing attention to audiobooks because they’re everywhere, I’m drawing attention to them because, like all writer’s, I need something.

When I heard about the APA (audio publishers association) hosting a “Get Caught Listening” video contest in honor of audiobooks (here comes the pitch!) I thought immediately of putting on my gladiator costume and doing a rap. I guess that’s not surprising because when you go ahead and buy a gladiator costume, you really find yourself looking for any excuse to wear it. And since my costume closet has grown pretty extensive, finding an astronaut costume and putting together a cowboy get-up came naturally, too. The question became – what would these guys be (audio) reading. See if you think I got the answers right:

You’ll also notice that I have chosen to bring out the big guns of my baby’s adorable face in an attempt to garner more views, likes and a chance at the $5000 prize, but at least I didn’t title the video “cute baby does cute thing.” That would have been pushing it.

So there you have it, I’m a confessed type D, and a finalist in a contest that is made for type D’s. So if you’re a type D, or have one in your life, do me the favor of sharing this video to help me win the prize. My next audiobook can’t buy itself.

This guest post was written by Joel Levinson

Joel Levinson is a finalist in the APA “Get Caught Listening” video contest, winner will be determined by “views” and “likes” recorded through June 21st.

While the title is catchy, it may be a bit misleading. This book offers valuable insight into the world of taking chances. Bill Treasurer, the author, is a former high Diving stuntman and leadership consultant who has seen the need for people to learn how to conquer their fears and go for what it is in life they truly want. Bill explains that we live in a time when there are endless opportunities. The problem is that we are also influenced by what others are doing and thinking about these same opportunities. If someone has had a bad experience, it is broadcast on the web and this will cause someone else to forgo any attempt at that particular opportunity. What they don’t tell you is that it may not have been something they were particularly adept at.

Right Risk - 10 Powerful Principles for Taking Giant Leaps with Your Life

Right Risk – 10 Powerful Principles for Taking Giant Leaps with Your Life will teach you how to gather your courage and try, when everyone around you is telling you that you will fail. He shows you how to ask the important questions. More importantly, he shows you how to seek those answers from within. It is not that you have to jump off bridges or do anything remotely as serious as that. But Bill explains that you do have to be willing to live a little less cautiously if you want to be successful in the business climate of the day.

Risks are all around us. Taking the right risks at the right time and for the right reasons are the driving principles of this book. The ten driving principles are taken from the author’s real life experiences and will guide readers through the entire process. It begins with how to recognize and evaluate risks and obstacles. Next it guides you through a process designed to help you overcome any fears you might have, the right way. Each chapter concludes with probing questions designed to keep you thinking in the right direction.

The book closes with an emphasis on the importance of being your authentic self. Being honest with yourself is truly the only way to really overcome internal fears. Kidding yourself about their own strengths and weaknesses is what leads most people to take risks that they are not equipped to handle. Right Risk will help you find a lot of insights into your own psyche and this will help you overcome your aversion to taking risks. It gives great advice on how to approach the risks that come up in your business, personal and family life. Not only is it a great read, Right Risk is a great life resource.

Choosing a career path is a major decision. Discovering your talents and natural abilities is a top priority for college students. What type of work are you passionate about? Many college students simply aren’t sure what type of career to choose. These students might find some guidance in a top-notch career advice book, several of which are discussed below.

What Color is Your Parachute? – This has been the world’s best selling job-hunting book for over three decades – more than 10 million copies have been sold. Will the author Richard N. Bolles help you discover which career is best for you? He might! The book helps you identify your passions.

What Color is Your Parachute?

After you choose the right career, check out Bolles’ great advice for getting a job. The author provides tips for finding your dream job without depending on ads, agencies, or online job postings.

College Majors Handbook with Real Career Paths and Payoffs: The Actual Jobs, Earnings, and Trends for Graduates of 60 College Majors – This practical guide, written by Neeta P. Fogg, is a great resource when making career choices. The book is based on a U.S. Census Bureau study of 150,000 college graduates. It provides extensive information about careers available to students with different majors. It shows the specific jobs actually obtained by graduates holding various degrees. You’ll learn which interests and abilities are best suited to each major. The book also covers job responsibilities and salaries

College Majors Handbook with Real Career Paths and Payoffs: The Actual Jobs, Earnings, and Trends for Graduates of 60 College Majors

The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success – The book’s author, Nicholas Lore, is a well-respected authority in this field. The book received high praise from a large number of readers. Be prepared to do some work; the book includes exercises and “things to do.” The exercises push you to think long and hard about your career options.

The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career For a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success

This book is one of the best at helping you accurately assess your strengths, talents, and natural skills. It’s an excellent resource to help you evaluate your life and your objectives. The book places an emphasis on finding a career that will lead to a lifetime of satisfaction and success. Yes, there is more to a job than money!

Have No Career Fear: a College Grad’s Guide to Snagging Work, Blazing a Career Path and Reaching Job Nirvana – This handy book is filled with advice from recent college graduates and professionals. Hilarious puns and jokes spice up the book and make for an enjoyable read. The book’s numerous tips help you find the right career while teaching you how to be more inventive, aggressive, and persistent when looking for a job.

Have No Career Fear : A College Grad's Guide to Snagging Work, Blazing a Career Path, and Reaching Job Nirvana

How to Get Any Job with Any College Major: A New look at Career Launch – This book challenges you to evaluate your values, beliefs, and skills. Hopefully you like a challenge! The author Donald Asher argues against the notion that only brainy graduates with specialized majors obtain high paying, visible jobs. He makes the assertion that liberal arts majors can also snag lucrative and fulfilling jobs.

The book teaches college graduate how to promote their skills and advises them about the skills that are most valued by employers. Asher teaches recent college graduates how to convince influential people to help them establish their careers. The book also provides detailed instructions such as how to make contact and get interviews.

Another great book, entitled Conversations: Find your niche! was reviewed last year on this blog. Check out that review here.

Obviously, choosing a career path is a major decision. These great career help books can help you make the right choice. It is certainly worth the time and effort to check them out.

This was a guest post written by Len Dreifort

Len Dreifort writes about jobs in nursing, as well as jobs in several other career fields, for Work Coach Cafe.

This is a guest post by Sam

Sam  is a blogger and recent college graduate who writes about college related social and academic issues. Being a college student is tough, but being involved in your school by joining a club or being a college athlete makes the college experience that more memorable.

College admissions have become more and more competitive. On top of that are tuition hikes and a faltering economy, which, altogether, makes higher education something almost impossible to grasp

However, if you participate in high school sports, you may well have a glimmer of hope. Many schools go about actively recruiting college athletes for their teams, granting full admission and scholarships.

Whether you play football or basketball, college recruiting might be your ticket to higher education and a chance to play professionally, but how do you go about getting the recruiter’s attention?

Stay On Your Game

The best way to gain the positive attention of a college sports recruiting official is to keep up with your current athletics. Make sure you maintain your training regimen. You should be in constant shape and fitness. After all, college coaches will not want to waste time trying to condition you.

Furthermore, be a good player on the field. Teamwork and heart are just as important as skill and athleticism. Winning games will gain you attention, but consistently trying your hardest and displaying proper sportsmanship is even more important.

In that same vein, remember the team you currently play for. As important as college is, you still wear your high school’s jersey and should be focused on doing well for your current team. Whoever you play for next year doesn’t matter if you can’t get your head around your current situation.

Use Your Resources

Make sure to research schools to figure out what teams work best for you. Recruiting is a two-way street. You should choose the college you want to play for.

The Internet has some great resources and information about specific colleges. Some websites also give you the opportunity to create a profile that college recruiters can look through.

Ask your current coach for help. He will have the connections and can help set up meetings with recruiters. Your coach will also help you sift through the more meaningless offers and inform your overall decision.

Visit the Campus

Visiting the campus is a great way to get a feel for the campus life, the academics, and the athletic facilities, which should all go into making your decision.

Try to set up a meeting with the coaches and recruiters. You can figure out how well you’ll work with the staff and also have a chance to leave an impact on them. If things progress well, you might even be able to meet the current team. Chemistry might be a little lacking, personalities can clash, all leading to a terrible team. If you get along well with the team, chances are you’ll do work well together on the field or court.

Keep Up Academically

It should go without saying that your grades are important. As great as you handle a ball or move on the field, if your GPA is less than satisfactory, colleges won’t even consider you. Keep your grades up and make sure to study for your SAT’s or ACT’s.

Many people believe that they are being eco-friendly when they purchase an eBook instead of a traditional paperback or hardback book. After all, aren’t you saving trees by purchasing the e-version? While it’s true that the book industry has a significant impact on our environment, the manufacture and production of the technology on which eBooks are read could be even more detrimental.

Think about it. The trend right now is to read your eBooks on an e-reader tablet, such as the Nook, Kindle, Sony Reader or the more multipurpose iPad. All of these devices consume power, require natural resources to manufacture such as plastic which is man-made but derived from oil… and cause the burning of fossil fuels in transport to where they are sold. Not to mention the fact that planned obsolescence is ingrained into the tech industry, meaning that as soon as the market has become saturated with one sort of e-reader, the companies that produce them devise a new one to make the old one obsolete. Therefore, the average consumer must buy a new product – contributing even more to the devices’ carbon footprint – to not fall “behind the times” in terms of technology.

Some people might argue that you do not have to purchase an e-Reader to read eBooks, and that’s true. People can read eBooks from their home computers. However, computers and laptops also have a huge impact on the environment. Again, we have an example of machines that are part of planned obsolescence by tech companies. Tons of obsolete computers end up in landfills. So computers and laptops also contribute to resource depletion, environmental pollution and ultimately, climate change.

While many of us would like to believe that the solution is to purchase and encourage the development of eco-friendly computers and devices, the truth is that as long as planned obsolescence remains in the tech industry, and the rate at which people use and discard these machines remains high, the production of laptops and devices like eReaders is simply unsustainable. The best we can do to use technology more sustainably is to hold on to our computers for as long as possible, share computers with family and friends or use public computers at our city or university library, and recycle our computers and devices when they become too outdated to be of any use.

Compare this to the book industry, in which the primary factors of environmental concern is that they are derived from paper, which requires the cutting down of trees, the energy expended during the manufacturing process and in the paper mills, the transfer of books to wholesale sellers, and the transport of books to individual retail bookstores (like your university’s student bookstore). For the average reader who reads 5-10 books a year, it’s usually a better bet to go with a traditional hardcover or paperback book after all, or better yet, buy used books or check out books from the library. Additionally many books have a longer lifespan than just a single reader, so this helps toad to their increased lifetime value as well as to decrease the lifetime environmental cost of each book.

This guest post was written by Mariana Ashley
 

Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031@gmail.com.