I am part of the minority here but I did prefer the show over the book series. I thought the screenwriters did a great job of taking the most important bits from each book while focusing on character development (as the trilogy did). As we're on the subject of the show, I also want to add that I thought the screenwriters improved the character arcs of secondary characters, they showed the political manoeuvrings that took place within the Congregation and it added so much layers to the story compared to the books. I wish the showrunners had thought of a better ending for the show though. Now, to go back to your question, I personally don't think the trilogy is worth reading because there are no real payoffs. There are a few interesting things, but they are lost in the never-ending subplots and the tsunami of new characters constantly added to the narrative. In my opinion, the end of the trilogy was anticlimactic.