It really depends on the text, it doesn't have to be just a list of theorems and definitions. Some intuition can be conveyed through text, or geometry and visu

It really depends on the text, it doesn't have to be just a list of theorems and definitions. Some intuition can be conveyed through text, or geometry and visualization. A good explanation can make things click. I think you may be right about your own experience, that you get most of your intuition from exercises, but I'm confident this varies. Some people get much more than zilch from a good text, in addition to doing exercises. The real world is harder than a classroom, but we don't have to make classroom learning as hard as research. It's okay to start with help and increase the difficulty gradually. You don't have to do everything on your own!