[yesfitz]

The ability to picture the scene in your mind is not why listening to an audiobook is different from reading.

Put another way, reading involves:

1. Parsing and interpreting the words on the page.

2. Synthesizing the information in our heads (scenes, arguments, etc.)

3. Interpreting the synthesis (Does it work? Is there subtle or implied information in the synthesis? What comes next?)

My argument is that audiobooks drastically alter step 1.

Let's not denigrate any forms of media though. They all have their unique benefits. You can use your mind or not during the consumption of any of them.