Here's how he explains it:
* People are too busy for complex thought: Beatty believes that people are too rushed and overwhelmed with instant gratification to engage with complex ideas or challenging literature. They prefer quick and easy entertainment that doesn't require much effort.
* Books are divisive and lead to unhappiness: Beatty argues that books offer conflicting viewpoints and can trigger emotional responses, leading to arguments and societal unrest. He believes that a "happy" society needs to be homogenous and free from challenging ideas.
* Simplified language and entertainment are preferable: According to Beatty, society is moving towards a simplified language and entertainment that caters to the lowest common denominator. This means prioritizing easily digestible information and entertainment, leaving no room for the depth and complexity of literature.
Essentially, Beatty sees books as a relic of a slower, more contemplative past that is incompatible with the rapid pace of modern life. He believes that society has outgrown the need for complex thought and prefers a superficial and easily digestible existence.
However, it's important to remember that Beatty is a proponent of the book-burning regime in the novel. His arguments are meant to justify his actions and the suppression of knowledge. He presents a distorted view of society and the role of books, aiming to control the population through censorship and ignorance.