I guess a lot of it depends on how you learn best. I like to go deep, but it has to be on my terms. Sucking in books never gives me a sense of accomplishment un

I guess a lot of it depends on how you learn best. I like to go deep, but it has to be on my terms. Sucking in books never gives me a sense of accomplishment unless I'm actively trying to 'rediscover' what is being taught for myself. I prefer to use reference material to open up lines of thought, then I go away and try to 'reinvent' it for myself, baby steps. I come back later to have the material nudge me in the right direction or get me over hurdles. Sometimes it's too hard and I'll drop material for something else, even if it's not as deep, or go without, rather than grind on, because I'd rather not know than 'know' and not truly understand. Fully-formed 'rational exposition' of a new topic or area of study is just a terrifying thing for me because I'm worried I'll be swept up in all that exposition and not prod the holes in my understanding, perhaps not even see them. Later on I then feel I have to remember 'what the author taught me' rather than unravelling of the topic itself. Visiting a complete exposition later, after a bit of folly, I feel much more confident in both myself and the material. It's very inefficient in terms of time, but then I can spend a lifetime learning and still know next to nothing anyway.