I also follow this approach. I learn enough to know what I don't know (skimming books, only learning basic syntax). Then I pick a project and learn the rest by

I also follow this approach. I learn enough to know what I don't know (skimming books, only learning basic syntax). Then I pick a project and learn the rest by Googling for solutions to problems when I get stuck. I find that things don't really sink in until I've actually done the coding - 10 hours of reading books is less valuable than 2 hours of reading books + 8 hours of coding (at least in my experience).