I'm wondering if there is any way of finding out how much is trimmed from an abridged audiobook versus its printed version? I've never seen this information anywhere.

Thanks.

Here is what Audible has on their website:

Q. What is the difference between abridged and unabridged books?

A. An abridged book is usually a shortened version of the book. It is condensed and contracted by using fewer words, yet retaining the sense of the book. An unabridged book is the opposite. It usually contains the original content, and it is not condensed or shortened.

Q. Why aren't more audiobooks available in an unabridged version?

A.Most audiobook publishers still publish far more abridged than unabridged titles. Keep in mind that it is much more expensive for them to produce a 15 to 20-hour production and to manufacture and package the necessary number of cassettes than it is to do a six-hour version. Therefore, they generally produce unabridged versions only of the books that they know will command a $50 to $75 price at traditional retailers.

Note: You might be interested to know that publishers do not abridge a book without a great deal of care. In most cases, the abridgement cannot be released without the author's approval of the abridged manuscript. Audible offers unabridged titles whenever we have the opportunity.

It looks like they haven't updated this recently since they are referring to cassettes here.  So it would seem it is an entirely arbitrary process by each publisher.

I personally won't buy an abridged audio, don't like them.

Thank you.

I just ordered (knowingly) an abridged cassette version of one of the Spenser novels of Robert B Parkers.  It is one, yes, one cassette long.  I try for the unabridged if the book is under 400 pages.  Otherwise, you end up with almost nothing, IMHO.