I try to do this with any technical book I read, and summarize things in an org-mode outline in Emacs while I read. It helps to have a bookstand (the BookGem is

I try to do this with any technical book I read, and summarize things in an org-mode outline in Emacs while I read. It helps to have a bookstand (the BookGem is nice). Combine this with advice from "How to Read a Book" and follow the guidelines from "Pragmatic Programmer" of at least one technical book every three months, and it makes for a wealth of handy notes and better retention. Another big helper (which works well when you're already in Emacs), is to type in and test code examples, and force yourself to solve/work all the exercises/problems given. A couple of last things to look up: the PQ4R strategy and SQ3R strategy. I've heard these are taught in England; I really wish they would teach it here in the states early in public school.