Is Television Better Than Books ?

“A reader lives thousand lives before he dies; the man who never reads lives only one”

A good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and still remains your friend. A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy.

Learning is a significant process in human being life. It is self-evidence that human development can’t stand without a good learning. To reach that target, people always search the appropriate ways. Besides, the main important elements that help people to learn are books and experiences because of their unlimited benefits. Books play an important role in shaping our life as we learn so many things with the help of books. 

Some say television is better because it caters to the visual learner and leaves a prominent impact on them. However, I question, if you watch T.V as a substitute for books, all the images you create in your mind with your imagination are just, given to you. You will never be able to conjure them for yourself as well as you could. And you learn so much about writing just from reading it.

“Like Red Bull, a Book Gives You Wings”

In company of a book, you are never alone as it transcends you to a different world all together. It clears your doubts, notions and frames a different picture in different minds.  While reading I might paint a tree purple whereas you might paint it red. I agree TV provides a lot of information but to get information we might have to be awake at odd hours just to catch that program. If we are inquisitive about something, wouldn’t it be easy to grab a book on that subject and get the answer of it rather than waiting for hours or days for the same. 

How do we learn to recognize the alphabets or rhymes? Are we exposed to computers and television at the first step? Do we learn to read through Television or books? Can you carry Television with you every time?  No! because of its immobility it is difficult. Now some may argue about TV on Move through Mobiles but what about those who cannot afford Smart phone? A book costs Rs 100 or 200 and can be used and reused by many in comparison to thousands of rupees to buy a TV.

“I find television very educating…. ah!!!! Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book” because TV shows less education based programs and more masala like Big Boss, comedy nights with Kapil that not only distract our mind but also drifts us from our motto.

Milton puts it, “A good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose for a life beyond.”

The famous French writer, Voltaire, says, “The entire known world, excepting savage nations, is governed by books.” This is close to “except a living man there is nothing more wonderful than a book.”

Books (good ones) are “teachers” and “preachers” though silent ones. They are selfless and have advantage over oral teaching. Above all, they are ready to repeat their lesson as many times as you want.

Even the best TV shows get worse and worse, as they go on and on. TV shows are designed to fight against their own inevitable ends by their very nature. A book begins with a story to tell and ends once it’s through. Even if the story is epic enough, every author comes to you with a beginning, middle, and a reassuring end.

People nowadays are more used to watching television rather than reading books, forgetting the advantages of it. Reading books give us insights which pictures alone cannot provide. It is often said that, "a picture says a thousand words" but when people are watching pictures or movies, they don't use their imagination as much as they do while reading books.

TV is distracting when you are doing homework and books are part of your homework There is a much greater variety of books

TV can have rude and immature language but books can be easily monitored. Imagine a day without electricity or when the TV set refuse to respond…... How and what will you learn that day?

Books are educational. They can teach you new words. They also give you as much time as you like to take in what is on the page, but the T.V. Can’t stop for people to understand what is going on.

Let me ask you is there any TV show that can stand in comparison to APJ Abdul Kalam’s “wings of fire” or  Shiv khera’s “ You can win”  or William Shakespeare’s “ Juliet Ceaser”? the Answer would be a big NO!!

Television generally provides us with a good broad-brush overview of a topic, but is usually incapable of helping us to dig deeply into a particular topic. A book demands patience and effort, but rewards us with the depth that can only come from careful and intensive study and reflection.

I think I have expressed myself fully and would like to close it with a quote by George Washington:

“I conceive that knowledge of books is the basis on which all other knowledge rests.”