How to Read Textbooks

Here are the best and briefest tips for reading textbooks fast:

• Mindset is important. "The hardest part about learning from a textbook isn't grasping the material; it's staying motivated."
• Mindset. Generate the feeling that you really want to master the subject, from a personal interest. Put out of mind that you are preparing for a test. Some textbooks are friends, and some are foes. Be determined to get what you want out of it.
• Prepare. Do the reading before the lecture and tutorial. It won't make sense without it. Treat college like a job and have set reading hours in the library.
• Vocabulary. Learning the vocabulary - don't skip an undefined word.
• Understanding. Ask yourself, if uncertain, what does it really mean?
• Google for resources to fortify your understanding
• Read out loud anything you don't immediately grasp fully.
• Motivation. Do it every day.
• Motivation. Incentivize progress: plan something fun at the end of each chapter.
• Control your pacing. 
• Take notes only in a manner that will be organized for future reference, and don't take too many notes. Consider taking notes at the end of each section or chapter.
• Keep your breaks short. A good rule of thumb is 43 minutes study and 17 minutes rest and play.
• Notes. Nail concepts down by doing a few homework problems.

• Only write notes after finishing the section and then going back to write it all down.
• Re-read and review. After the lecture, go over the material and write a short summary and key questions. Check and confirm your understanding.
• Contemplate. Think about the concepts as you walk around and allow them to reveal themselves to you. 

5QRH - http://www.saddleback.edu/uploads/la/rl/powerpoints/revised%20sq5r%20version2.pdf
3QHR - http://www.studygs.net/texred2.htm

Rubber duck debugging - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_duck_debugging