Chess books or annotated games

I've always seen it recommended to play over annotated games as well as to read chess books for obvious reasons. While I enjoy doing both, my schedule is not permitting to do both and so it seems to me that I should try to pick one and focus on that (instead of doing half and half which feels scattered). I have started on the Yusupov series and am finishing the last of the U1500 books. He gives some of his games annotated within many chapters as many chess books do. Even in his introduction he says to play over annotated games and read books on chess to get better. 

So I guess my question is: isn't reading and playing over instructional chess books, in essence, doing both!? With a limited schedule such as mine, I try hard to play at least one game a week but in terms of adding chess knowledge and theory, I have to do what has the most bang for the buck and so it seems that instructional books are the most efficient?

Annotated games show what attack was used, but not how to attack etc.

If your goal is to make progress as a chess player, the nature of the book is not that important. What could make a difference is :

• do you find the content interesting / inspiring ?
• do you try to actively find moves by yourself ? (to exercise your "chess muscles")