Quote:
Originally Posted by acidzebra
So the author of a book can't omit details or paint them in a certain light? I don't follow your line of thinking here.
|
I think the answer to your question is already in kazbates's message:
Quote:
Originally Posted by kazbates
Although a book can be slanted towards the author's viewpoint, there tends to be a greater amount of statistics and facts presented which you can then verify.
|
As I said, for me the main thing is that when reading a book, you have time to think about what you are reading, wonder about discrepancies, check facts. You can also do that with a documentary, and I often do, afterwards. But while I watch it, I don't have time to think for myself. Or at least it feels that way. I think this may be the main problem: I feel I'm being force-fed conclusions, not led through a reasoning that I can question.
But the truth is, there are good documentaries that show you not just a conclusion or opinion, but how experts have come to that conclusion, and sometimes how they disagree on it. And there are not-so-good books that just shove opinions in your face without taking any pain to explain them. I like the first and dislike the second, but I gain something from both: questions. After all, questions are what makes life worth living
