I totally agree, to the point where I’m skeptical about people saying they’ve read something cover to cover.
Someone once recommended me to start at the back of each chapter and do the the problems and only read the chapter or even parts of the chapter for problems I couldn’t solve.
It comes with its own set of drawbacks but it does help with getting through text books where the author was paid by per letter.
It's not that hard. I try to spend 10 minutes a day reading some sort of technical book. Just set a timer and do it. I don't always get around to it. Here's a list of the various tech books I've read cover to cover over the last couple of decades: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5348644-neville-ridley...
Someone once recommended me to start at the back of each chapter and do the the problems and only read the chapter or even parts of the chapter for problems I couldn’t solve.
It comes with its own set of drawbacks but it does help with getting through text books where the author was paid by per letter.