How Read is Fiction?

Often, writing or reading is a better use of time than alternative activities. For example, in 4 or 5 hours of reading, you might be able to finish a very meaningful book that talks about many deep and interesting topics, which in turn enhance your existence and your understanding of real life, although it might temporarily take you out of it for just a few hours in the process. On the other hand, alternatively if you were to have spent those hours watching the news, cooking something you've cooked 100 times before, taking a walk around the neighbourhood, or even talking to someone you care about, but on a topic you've discussed 100 times before, you might not even remember these hours by next week, have not been affected by the activity and forget the memory altogether in a few years. So which is more real?