[bbgm]

Good speaking, like good writing, is about narrative. They are delivered in different ways and each approach is powerful in its own right. A good speaker is often able to get ideas through to a broader audience more effectively than the written word, and definitely you can connect to your audience in ways you can't in writing.

It seems somewhat ridiculous to say one is better that the other. Both are important, both can be effective. Some are good at one or the other. A smaller number are good at both. Personally, while I love reading essays (including PG's), listening to a great speaker can be inspiring and present many ideas and points to ponder.