One or the other
Why do we think that reading a book for an hour is a better activity than watching a show for an hour? What makes reading inherently better than watching? Is it because we think that it requires more work from our brain? Why do we think more work for the brain is better? Don't we try to make everything easier for ourselves? Isn't easier always the better? Why in this case we made entertainment easier for ourselves but then turned our backs on it?
It seems like an eternal cycle of making things easier, then feeling bad for enjoying things that are easily achieved. Sure, reading a book is more challenging for the brain. But there are so many other challenges that our brains have to live through anyway. Why can't we have some shameless quickie?