Try to remember that while prison isn't pleasant by any stretch, life isn't like a tv series or movie either. As far as I can tell (from what I've read) some of the worst parts of the US prison system, are the mega-jails that you are sent to before sentencing.

I very, very much doubt that most people (even those that enjoy books etc) would prefer solitary confinement to some form of gen-pop. We are social creatures, and being completely alone, without being able to do anything about our situation (not by choice) is quite terrible when it stretches out over time.