Books that I read for pleasure, I tend to read all the way through. Fiction, or Malcolm Gladwell type stuff. Everything else (technical books, what it sounds

Books that I read for pleasure, I tend to read all the way through. Fiction, or Malcolm Gladwell type stuff. Everything else (technical books, what it sounds like you're talking about above...) I read until I find something useful and applicable. At that point, I ditch the book and try some stuff out. If that "stuff" works out, I follow the thread. If not, I either return to the book or pick up another one.