Original text - English - It beats burning them.

drcaio,

Contexto sempre ajuda, mas neste caso não faz muito sentido, parecem frases desconexas

O policial está interrogando uma PHD em Física, suspeita de ter assasinado os pais e os dois têm uma conversa filosófica onde a seguir entra o diálogo:
(moça) - Será que agentes de polícia ganhariam
minha confiança, tendo essa conversa?

(policial)- Eu não sei, só gosto de ler livros.

(moça)- It beats burning them.

(policial)- Não, mas você que é praticamente um gênio.

( detalhe: os dois estão exaustos de tanta conversa/interrogatório )

Você poderia transcrever o diálogo (todo) em inglês?

Would many police officers be able to
gain my trust by having this conversation?

I don't know, I just
like to read books.

It beats burning them.

No but you're the one
that's practically a genius.

Hi Guys,
Could you explain in different words the line in bold?

-Would many police officers be able to gain my trust by having this conversation?
- I don't know, I just like to read books.
- It beats burning them.
- No but you're the one that's practically a genius.

Thanks in advance

CC: Lein IanMegill2 kafetzou Tantine

A long time ago, the "authorities" (Popes, Governments, Churches, Police, etc..) used to burn books they didn't approve of, or books that criticized them. So reading books is much better than burning them!
"It beats..." is a kind of slangy way to say "It's much better than..."

Ian said it all - nothing left for me to add.

YES!!! THX!

I agree - and it seems to me the exact opposite of what the translation says at the moment!

it beats burning them = it is much better than burning them -> é (muito) melhor que queimá-los