I'm not sure what it's but all books suggested for all self learning seem to be not like books I am used to having as textbooks. I expect textbook to have lot o

I'm not sure what it's but all books suggested for all self learning seem to be not like books I am used to having as textbooks. I expect textbook to have lot of diagrams, colors (as dumb it sounds, pictures/colors help me remember things), tips, questions and answers in the back. But all recommended books seem to boring novel style books and everyone swearing by it. How can you learn math by reading novels?