Books have been around for thousands of years, entertaining and educating generations of humanity. It’s only recently that, through advancements in technology, it has a proper rival: the big screen and its movies.
There’s a lot of debate going on about which medium is better. But while both sides have enthusiastic arguments, there’s still far to go before we can arrive at a definite answer. In this post, however, we’ll be focusing more on the entertainment aspect of both mediums and whether one reigns over the other.
Books Vs. Movies
Everyone has their preferences when it comes to consuming entertainment. Some people find comfort within the pages of literature while others prefer the moving pictures of cinema.
There’s a variety of reasons why people choose one over the other. And in this era where cinema takes heavy inspiration from books and vice versa, the ongoing debate about which medium is king has become much fiercer.
Books are boring. Movies are for the lazy. There are plenty of arguments that support one or the other. The simple fact is that while both are popular forms of storytelling, they are extremely different from one another. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, enumerated below.
| Books | Movies |
| Much more vivid experience as readers create mental images of the story that are affected by their own experiences and preferences. | More time-consuming but gives readers the ability to process the story at their own pace. |
| Being imagination-based, the experience can vary between readers due to different interpretations. | A shorter format means less commitment and less time consumed. But it may also lead to less depth and no self-paced viewing. |
| Being imagination-based, experience can vary between readers due to different interpretations. | Being image-based, some elements of the story are collectively perceived the same way, though there is still space for different interpretations. |
| Requires focused attention | More suitable for multitasking |
| More mentally stimulating and encourages critical thinking | As most movies are collectively watched, it fosters discussion among viewers. |
| Generally more detail-packed but can cause bloat and overcomplication in the storytelling. | Visuals and sound carry most of the story, though the condensed narrative can sometimes result in a lack of or inconsistent details. |
Are Books Better than Movies?
If you scour the internet, you’ll probably find more discussions in favor of books instead of movies. Of course, it still depends a lot on who you ask, how they view this argument, and what evidence they use to support their claims.
But why do books seem to have more supporters? Its history aside, there are plenty of studies that find reading books to be more beneficial than watching movies.
For one thing, strong reading skills early on have been shown to mean higher intelligence later in life. Regular reading boosts your brainpower just like how regular jogging can improve your cardiovascular strength and slows down the effects of aging on the mind—including neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Reading also makes a person more empathetic. It helps you understand thoughts and emotions better through the stories you read.
So yes, it looks like books have a slight advantage when it comes to the benefits you’ll reap in consuming them instead of movies. However, that doesn’t mean movies are out of the game as they also have plenty to offer, especially entertainment-wise.
Are Movies Better Than Books?
First off, movies aren’t the brain-dead form of entertainment that some people seem to portray them as. While the majority of them are commercial productions, many talented screenwriters and directors have elevated a few into art.
There’s a reason why cinema, which is only just past a hundred years old, is rapidly gaining ground against literature, a medium that has been around for thousands of years.
Over 90% of the information we process is visual. And as opposed to text, we can process images 60,000 times faster than text. Naturally, this makes movies much easier for us to consume and make sense of.
Watching movies is also less work. Imagination still has its part but there’s no need to figure out what a character or setting looks like when both are already in front of you. It’s also much quicker to consume—something everyone will appreciate in this fast-paced world where time is finite.
Conclusion
The debate over books and movies is far from over. Both mediums are in constant development, and both sides of the debate still find new ways to claim one is better than the other.
There’s a clear, positive effect from this though. Both literature and cinema are forcing each other to evolve, giving everyone more choices and a much better quality of entertainment.
Which medium do you prefer more? Share it in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 7 Effective Reading Strategies for Struggling Readers
- How to Enjoy Reading: 8 Tips for a Better Reading Experience
- American Reading Habits: What, How Much, and How Often the U.S. Reads
- 25 Fun Reading Goals to Challenge You This Year
Cole Salao
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
