Reading Vs Gaming

Book Reading versus Games, which is better?

If we could divide world on the basis of two preferences, I believe the whole world would cleave as book readers at one side and the gamers on the other.

While comparing the two, we must understand that each is like a huge thousand years old tree with hundreds of branches of its own unique style and quality. 

Books?

Book comes in various genres. It can be a novel, poetry, literature, historical fiction, thriller, mystery, children to young adult and adult fiction, classic, adventure, cookbooks, memoir, biography, self-help books to science fiction or fantasy and the list goes on. 

 

Games? 

And same is the case with games, before this virtual world became familiar out-door and indoor games were only known source of entertainment. While outdoor games are still great for your physical health, in-door games are proved to boost mental health; from sharpening your memory to creativity.

                            

 Both are the feelings!

Book. It may be a single word but it comes in multiple and multifaceted forms. From being academic to biographies, science-fiction, fiction, romance or mystery and so on. Meanwhile, for a non-reader there is only one definition of a book; which he has read through out his academic experience. But for a reader it is a part of his life, his routine and unavoidable aspect of his lifestyle. For him it is not just a story. It is a dream, another dimensional world, which he can drift into anytime, despite his surroundings. Through it,  he can dream while being awake. He can understand how it feels to be lonely while being loved himself. He can live trauma without even being himself. Similarly, he can be in love or see death. Ironically, all this in his private word, which is created by another and shared by millions.

On the other side, for a gamer it's a pretty much the same feeling too. They get completely lost into a world of their own. Playing a game and achieving targeted goals give them a sense of accomplishment. Other than all the benefits which we will discuss in detail later, games are a source of great entertainment as well as learning new skills, unconsciously, just like reading.

Why should you read books?

Reading is not only a source of immense entertainment but also of great knowledge and learning. Reading is like a mental exercise which strengthens your cognitive brain thus, improving your focus, boosting creativity, enhancing memory, building vocabulary and helping you distress and sleep better at night - all this while entertaining you! Isn't it great?

Additionally, it develops empathy. Because it allows you observe the same story from different view points by putting you in the shoes of multiple characters. So, you also start seeing your world with the same perspective and understanding your surroundings and people better. You become more mindful and less judgmental, as you can see the world through other people's eye, therefore, you understand the reason behind their behaviors and insecurities. Mind that, you should not become judgmental, as it helps you to reflect the other side, making you a more understanding and better person.

Why you should play games?

While benefits of reading seem too good to be true games come with qualities and plus points of their own. Games can be of various form, from physical to video game, but one criteria is common for all: they have rules and requires your focus and energy. Your invested energy can be mental or physical but it is the mandatory tool in order to play games. Otherwise, there is neither enjoyment nor gain from it. It's mere our time lost. Just as reading, games also take you to another world that can also be fictional or reality based. But while playing games, despite the fact you are cozily sitting in your chair, your mind is actively participating in that imaginary world. Unlike reading, where readers are just observers, gamers are the most essential part of the whole process. Because they make their own stories by taking decisions. 

But other than the common belief that gaming brings nothing and it is a mere addiction. Let me enlighten you with the fact that, to some extent, playing a video game can be more helpful to you than just reading a book. How? As reading provides us with great information and builds empathy in us, games provides us with more practical benefits; they help us develop soft skills like quick decision making, problem solving, teamwork, working under pressure and improves concentration. These are all those qualities which we are advised to develop to improve our professional skills.

Now what?

Meanwhile I hope now it has become clear to you more than ever that we can't draw any line between the most loved hobbies. Both sources of entertainment are packed with their distinct benefits and should not be compared with each other as each teaches us very important skills - that too unconsciously. Gaming teaches you more practical skills; alertness, problem solving, quick decision making, leadership, analytical perspective. Moreover emotional intelligence as you fight/play under the strict code of rules and great pressure. On the other hand, reading makes you more empathetic, provides exposure to multiple cultures, changes your perspective inclining towards more open minded opinions and help you align your thoughts properly. In the meantime, we can say that books allow us to become a silent observer soaking all the wisdom from certain context and games allow us to be an active participant; who shapes his surroundings based on his decisions and actions. 

Concluding our today's discussion, we can say that reading and gaming both have their distinguished side-products - benefits which we gain while entertaining ourselves - and the preference of any one can be influenced by our own personal interests. Otherwise these both are like completely two different food items that treat our specific taste buds while making us better version of ourselves, and too, facilely! 

So, pick the food of your taste and enjoy becoming better you. 

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What do you enjoy doing the most? Or do you like both? 

Let me know in the comments your views and the reason for your preference. So we can explore more reasons in case I have missed anything ;)