I had something of a minority experience for people my age and younger with this in that I read the book first and saw the James Dean movie years later, on tv, and felt very much let down by it.

I also read the book first: not for a class of my own in high school, but there were copies floating around the school, so I just read one on my own time. I didn't feel very much let down by the film, but it didn't do much for me.

and in their first genuine conversation Lee tells him that yes, he went to university and studies philosophy in his spare time, but he's found that unless he performs the Asian stereotype, people literally do not listen to him and take in what he says.

I had forgotten that detail and am now reminded of the character played by Philip Ahn in Something to Sing About (1937).