Audible certainly makes it easier for subscribers to listen to audiobooks. We are gradually moving our general collection of Jim Weiss Audiobooks to Audible. You can still purchase these audiobooks as CDs and MP3s from our online store. Most of these audiobooks can also be purchased through other vendors in both CD format.
The Story of the World audiobooks are not moving to Audible at this time. However, you can purchase the CDs or MP3s from our online store, and you can get the CDs from other vendors.
Why do we not put The Story of the World audiobooks on Audible?
We have a few reasons.
Audible/Amazon's terms and conditions remove too much control from the publisher re: content and pricing. Putting our books on Audible would contractually limit our ability to offer our summer-sale deep discounts. These sales benefit all of our customers, those who do and those who do not subscribe to Audible.
Additionally, in late 2020, Audible began actively promoting “exchanging” titles, essentially making Audible a lending library rather than a bookstore. Audible keeps the membership fees regardless, but authors lose the sale, and the revenue. That's not in the interests of publishers or authors, who feed their families and employ their staff with what they earn by writing and publishing books.
We keep our ears open, and look forward to the day when Audible's contract terms and conditions benefit us and all our customers.