I learning philosophy from life experience more important than reading it out of a book?

I think the general consensus would be to suppose experience to hold more importance than reading.

Personally I don't know.

For example the reading of the book is an experience and the insight gained through the reading of a book can become a tremendous launching pad for newly conceived experiences.

Also too...it's important to realize that many of us misinterpret our experiences. And oddly enough reading a book can add greater understanding to previous experience. Aha!! I see what I did there, or then and now I know a different way to think about that.

Books are equally important in my view. Sometimes more so, given that many people find themselves in rather patterned lifestyles, and a good eye opening book can change all that.

Great question.

Well, it's vastly more efficient to learn from what others, thousands of others over hundreds of years, have discovered before us. Also, in order to know if something we personally discover is sound, we would have to test it and discuss it with others over a lifetime or five, to truly vet it. People pop up every day with odd new or not new ideas that they are the Christ or whatever. Doesn't make it valid.

We could learn to pack our own parachute too, by trial and error, but - I'd prefer a teacher!

Yes, you will have a much clearer understanding of the different theories, and how they apply to daily living.

you cannot know anything by merely reading it. you can only pretend to know, but it will not be your experience. thus, you will never truly know anything it until you yourself have experienced it firsthand