Is serious reading worth it?

The answer you're seeking is not the answer to the question you're asking. This is a question that you should be asking yourself, because only you can decide for yourself if it's worth it. For me, becoming alienated from my peers for the sake of understanding the world better is completely worth it. But my answer is not the same as the next person's. So what you should be asking yourself is whether serious reading is worth it to you. If not, then maybe it's best that you keep up with the trivial gossip. It's more important to be happy and wrong than it is to be unhappy and right. If you can be happy and right at the same time, then more power to you.