[Aquinasfan]

uh... is it better to read Goosebumps or play video games?

There is nothing intrinsically good or evil about reading or playing video games. The merits of a book or game are determined by its content.

[PurVirgo]

This is true. However, video games and television are passive forms of entertainment (generally speaking of course) A book captivates your mind, allows for expansion of creativity and imagination. But of course, that's probably a little too liberal for your blood, all that artsy-fartsy stuff. Note that I am not speaking solely of Harry Potter. There are thousands upon thousands of literary works of much greater calibre out there. But you have to start small to become truly well read.