Does passive listening require effort?

Many people don't read because they don't have the time, while many more lament that they don't have the attention to listen to audiobooks (or podcasts) in their copious free time.

I'm not so sure if you need a special attention span to consume much of anything. I mean, no ever complains they don't have the energy to watch a movie. But, for some reason, listening to someone tell a story or read you a book requires a different caliber of surveillance?

I'm not buying it.

Passive listing doesn't require extra effort. Just the intent to listen, attentively.