How To Make Siri Read Me A Book From My IBooks?

I love using Siri to make my reading experience more hands-free, especially when I'm multitasking. To get Siri to read a book from your iBooks, first make sure the book is downloaded in the Apple Books app. Then, simply activate Siri by saying 'Hey Siri' or holding the side button, and say 'Read [book title] from Apple Books.' Siri will start reading the book aloud using the default voice. You can adjust the reading speed in the Accessibility settings under Spoken Content. It's a fantastic feature for when you're cooking, driving, or just relaxing with your eyes closed. The voice might sound a bit robotic, but it's clear and easy to follow. I use this all the time for my favorite novels like 'The Hobbit' or 'Pride and Prejudice.'

As someone who juggles reading with a busy schedule, I rely on Siri to turn my iBooks into impromptu audiobooks. Here’s how I do it: First, I download the book in Apple Books and open it to the page I want. Then, I activate Siri and say, 'Read this page.' Siri will start reading from the top of the current page. If you want continuous reading, enable 'Speak Screen' in Accessibility settings—swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen to activate it.

I’ve found this super useful for dense texts like 'Dune' or 'The Brothers Karamazov,' where I sometimes need to hear the words to grasp the complexity. The voice isn’t as expressive as a human narrator, but it’s accurate and efficient. For lighter reads like 'Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine,' it’s a fun way to revisit favorite passages. Just remember to keep your device unlocked and the app open for uninterrupted reading.

Getting Siri to narrate your iBooks is a game-changer for audiobook lovers who prefer their own library. Start by ensuring your desired book is in the Apple Books app—Siri can't read books from other platforms. Open the book and tap the screen to bring up the controls, then look for the 'Listen' button (it looks like a speech bubble). If you don't see it, go to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content and toggle on 'Screen Speaking.' Now, Siri can read any text you highlight.

For a more seamless experience, try saying, 'Hey Siri, read [book title] from Apple Books.' Siri will pick up where you left off. The voice can be customized in Accessibility settings—I prefer the more natural 'Samantha' voice for longer sessions. This feature is perfect for commuting or bedtime stories. I've used it for everything from 'The Martian' to 'The Midnight Library,' and it’s a great way to digest books without staring at a screen.

One tip: Siri reads in order, so if you skip ahead, you might need to manually adjust the starting point. Also, some formatting quirks (like footnotes) can disrupt the flow, but overall, it’s a handy tool. For poetry or dialogue-heavy books like 'Normal People,' the pacing might feel off, but it’s still a neat trick.