Good question.
I find some things a little hard to understand also when reading it in a text book, as I am an active and reflective learner.
there are different types of learners:
- Active & relfective leaners (by DOING it)
- Visual & verbal learners (pictures, diagrams, oral explanations etc)
- Sensing and intuitive learners (like to learn facts, good at attention to detail etc)
- Sequential and Global learners (learn step by step)
For me I found it very difficult to LEARN what I read and UNDERSTAND it. Before I started learning my commercial studies, I had to learn how to learn (excuse the pun).
My advice is find out what type of learner you are (you will also find this makes study alot easier) and then find out the methods that suite that particular learning style - then everything will fall into place.