---
title: Why the Book Is Always Better Than the Movie | The Sales Blog
description: The book is always better than movie. There’s a reason that this is true. If you read the book first, you’ve already created the picture in your mind. Your pictures are the right pictures. Now some big shot Hollywood director comes along and shares his vision of what the pictures look like, and it’s nothing […]
image: https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen-Shot-2014-04-03-at-8_50_16-PM.png
---

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# Why the Book Is Always Better Than the Movie

![Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/ai-blog-profile-crop.jpg)

Post by [Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/author/anthony-iannarino)   
 April 3, 2014

The [book](http://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Wilsons-War-Extraordinary-Congress/dp/0802143415) is always better than movie. There’s a reason that this is true. If you read the book first, you’ve already created the picture in your mind. Your pictures are the right pictures. Now some big shot Hollywood director comes along and shares his vision of what the pictures look like, and it’s nothing like your pictures. He gets it all wrong.

The director leaves out some of the [scenes that you loved](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Bombadil). He takes some artistic liberties and changes things to make the picture flow. He even adds characters that don’t appear anywhere in the book. Even your friends say that the movie isn’t as good as the book.

Related: [The Importance Of Developing Your Own Perspective](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/the-importance-of-developing-your-own-perspective)

But your friends wouldn’t like your movie any better than you would like theirs. Your picture is not only different than the director’s picture, it’s different than your friend’s picture too. What you see in your mind, even though you are reading the same text, is uniquely your own, isn’t it?

We can’t see the mental images we conjure up in someone else’s mind. Even when we have words that communicate some meaning, the way we interpret those words can be unique. What is “a long time?” What does “fast” mean? What does “better quality” mean? What does “expensive” mean?

The more work you do to understand and see someone else’s pictures, the greater likelihood that you can help them achieve their vision - this is a tenant of [modern sales](https://www.thesalesblog.com/modern-sales-insights-pack). The quicker you are to believe that you know what someone else means without grasping their real vision, the more likely you are to disappoint them with the picture that you present.

#### Questions

What book have you read that you loved way more than the movie?

Why is your picture different than someone else’s?

How do you uncover your prospect’s pictures?

What do you do to ensure you understand what that picture looks like?

 

###### Tags:

[Sales](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/sales) [2014](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/2014)

Post by [Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/author/anthony-iannarino)  on April 3, 2014

 Written and edited by human brains and human hands.

![Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/ai-blog-profile-crop.jpg)

Anthony Iannarino is an American writer. He has published daily at [thesalesblog.com](https://www.thesalesblog.com) for more than 14 years, amassing over 5,300 articles and making this platform a destination for salespeople and sales leaders. Anthony is also the author of four best-selling books documenting modern sales methodologies and a fifth book for sales leaders seeking revenue growth. His latest book for an even wider audience is titled, The Negativity Fast: Proven Techniques to Increase Positivity, Reduce Fear, and Boost Success.

Anthony speaks to sales organizations worldwide, delivering cutting-edge sales strategies and tactics that work in this ever-evolving B2B landscape. He also provides workshops and seminars.

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