Books are Best (Proven By Science!)

consumption tier list:

looking at entire categories of ontological consumption aka media

the core metric is the below criteria x the value received for time and effort given.

go in w an open mind.

criteria:

1. depth possible
2. breadth available
3. accessibility
4. flow state possible
5. async/sync
6. energy minimum to consume
7. attention required
8. roi
   1. future earnings
   2. eudaemonia (human flourishing)
   3. good memory
   4. learning
   5. feeling of completion

contenders:

• books
• movies
• tv shows
• live concerts
• social media feeds
• news/podcasts/radio
• sitting and doing nothing (control)

• books
  • 1. yes -- deep topics of philosophy, history, sports, memoir... 250 pages on average per book. super deep dives.
  • 2. yes – walk through the sections of any library. every human ontology exists in books. in fact we created an entire ontology around lying and called it fiction
  • 3. library card/books online ~$10-20, can be an expensive hobby
  • 4. yes, if book is compelling and challenging
  • 5. async, you can read books from authors who died last millenia. insane value of voices from different languages/different cultures/the dead.
  • 6. non passive -- you must turn pages and comprehend words in head
  • 7. full attention – if half assed you're not really reading or even skimming (skimming well is a skill)
  • 8.
    • a. a good book can change your career opportunities ++ all college courses are foundationally built around the books assigned teamed up with the teacher
    • b. books (philosophy, classic) change lives consistently -- the intellectual life is honorable in and of itself, see the virgin mary or st augustine etc
    • c. yes, with services like ycb and readwise you can store your marginalia and highlights forever and connect them
    • d. see a and b
    • e. they call it closing a chapter on life for a reason...

• movies
  • 1. yes – art house movies exist – cinephiles perfect the form alongside their critics and actors
  • 2. yes -- not as much as books. a younger medium and much more costly to produce, so less space for creativity thats not bankrolled
  • 3. easier these days w streaming services -- but fragmented to get the best movies on each
  • 4. similar to books a storyline can be extremely compelling
  • 5. async, but less movies than books bc the art form is much younger. aka its harder to get movies outside of your time and place than books.
  • 6. can be consumed passively – story is on a plate, often  can be assessed deeper after by researching director
  • 7. second screen possible so not that much (how many times do you see people at phones out at movies)
  • 8.
    • a. i think movies have helped me at social situations like dates, but the ideas in them rarely spark new outcomes
    • b. a good movie can change your life -- usually on an emotional rather than intellectual level
    • c. no, the movie capture for later reflection is draconic – nflx just added moments feature and files are so heavy, or you have to bootleg record on your phone. it sucks.
    • d. documentaries are good i guess? but ive literally never seen a documentary that teaches me more than a book. especially in modern era with docs all being aliens on history channel style
    • e. letterboxd do be going off fr

• tv shows
  • (im bored so im gonna zoom through rest of these)
  • 1. not these days, all good shows are cancelled constantly it fkn sucks
  • 6/7. even less attention required than movies -- complete brain rot in many cases
  • 8.
    • b. a few golden eggs (hxh, breaking bad, the wire, etc.) amongst a sea of garbage (still much higher quality than social media). many tv shows treat viewers like idiots.
    • e. depends on if it gets cancelled or not...

• live concerts
  • 2. lotsa good stuff out there
  • 3. lower than the others, but kind of the point
  • 5. sync, but again, kind of the point
  • 7. usually pretty engaging but i have fallen asleep at shows that havent hooked me. i usually last 30m or so before i get bored, but if i love the show, its a visceral experience. high variability.
  • 8.
    • a. negative, very expensive hobby
    • c. very high, very memorable
    • d. not usually – too much reliance on stimulants

• social media feeds
  • 1. absolutely fucking not. single punchline 60 second content or drawn out 15 minute video with two minutes of utility (a day in my life videos)
  • 2. probably highest or competing with books for most breadth. a lot of people with cameras. demerits for the glut of internet comedians, im sick of all these comedians.
  • 3. always a tap away
  • 6/7. hyper passive brain rot, you know im right
  • 8.
    • b. unless you make content for social media, it is bad for your agency and dignity long term. the hours required, nothing gained.
    • c. i remember very little of what i consume. sub 10% perhaps? theres too much with no depth.
    • e. you are never done doom scrolling, there is no bottom

• podcasts/radio
  • 4. good while doing something else like chores or driving
  • 7. bad proxy for reading books, i hate when people say audiobooks are just as memorable as reading, its not. (audiobooks are great, but are so easy to zone out during, dont lie to yourself)
  • 8. 
    • a. less than books, but higher than anything else on list
    • d. some long form conversations are genuinely a waste of two+ hours, others can be life changing. rng.

• news
  • 1. nope. more focused on being omnipresent than research
  • 2. see above
  • 4. a bad one of fear, yes
  • 7. face.scared.exe (see 4)
  • 8.
    • a. sure if you trade stocks but by time its news its too late
    • b. absolutely fucking not no, every person i know who watches news constantly is miserable
    • e. 24 hour cycle so by definition, no

• sitting and doing nothing (control)
  • 1. very much so yes, if you let yourself get there
  • 2. echo chamber literally
  • 3. always available if you are willing to turn off distraction
  • 4. yes, but youll likely fall asleep, sustained attention is difficult
  • 7. high, its telling that its much higher than social media consumption. think about the ramifications of this
  • 8.
    • b. know thyself. nuff said
    • d. some lessons are only found in solitude
    • e. can go forever, will end up in recursive fever dream style hell at times

tier list:

s: books (best)

a: sitting and doing nothing, movies (best), live shows (best)

b: books (avg/worst)

c: tv shows (best), live shows (avg/worst), podcasts (best)

d: movies (avg, worst), news (best)

e: also sitting and doing nothing (its both amazing and awful), tv shows (avg, worst)

f: social media feeds, news (avg, worst), podcasts (avg/worst)