How to listen to just about any Amazon ebook (even when it’s not on Audible)
I have found several ways to listen to an Amazon ebook (that’s not on Audible). I believe the best #FREE way is to listen to your book on an Echo device.
Say, “Alexa, read my book.” That’s it. If you are already reading an ebook, she’ll select that one. ‘Resuming your most recent book, Aye, I am a Fairy.’
If you want to switch stories, say, “Alexa, read my book, One Arctic Summer,” (or whatever title you want). She’ll reply, ‘Getting your book from your Kindle Library.’
Note: my favorite part of listening with this method is I can tell her to go forward or back if I missed something or want to skip forward. ‘Alexa, go back ten seconds’ or ‘Alexa, go forward thirty minutes.’
This method works on my Echo Dot, Echo Show, Kindle Fire, the Alexa app on my phone, and my come-with-me-everywhere buddy, my Echo Owl frames. Oh, and Alexa picks up from where she left off, synching with whichever device I was using. I don’t have to touch anything to get it to start, pause, or stop reading, either. That’s particularly handy when pulling weeds with muddy gloves (wearing Echo Owl sunglasses with built-in speakers) or answering the door when the Echo device is across the room.
Here’s the word direct from Amazon on How to with Kindle Fire
How to listen to a book on your PC
You can use the free Kindle App on your computer to hear a non-Audible Amazon eBook. 1) Open the Kindle App. It’s free to download if you don’t already have it.
2) Go to Library and search for your book title. Open it. From the Tools Folder, select ‘Start Text-to-Speech’ or use the shortcut Ctrl+T. This way of listening is like hearing a male robot. I don’t like the guy’s voice on the Kindle Text to Speech as well as Alexa’s.
Give it a try!
If you already have the books in your library, give it a try. If not, search ABB Chill Out on Amazon and see loads of The Authors’ Billboard titles. Now you can LISTEN or read!
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Dani Haviland, formerly of Connecticut, Arizona, and Alaska, recently semi-retired from selling tractor parts, tools, and roses. She moved to a more temperate climate in western Oregon to pursue her passions: writing, gardening, and photography.
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Wow!! Dani this is really good to know. I’ll start using ABB Chill out as a keyword from now on. And I’ll get my Echo to share my audible books from now on too. Sometimes, when I’m in the kitchen, it would be a treat to listen to a book rather than the TV.
xo