Reading a textbook front to back like a novel fails to retain it
A novel is a linear narrative meant to be consumed front to back. Each sentence builds upon the last, filling in prerequisite knowledge for the continuation of the story. A textbook in some respects does the same but with the inclusion of specialized vocabulary, charts/graphs, definitions, lemmas, and constructs you have never seen. In order to understand, you must not be a passive reader but become an active investigator reconstructing the case from its principles.
Matt DiMaio Skimming a book's visual density predicts how it should be read Skimming for exposure will increase later comprehension Classical Pedagogy
Declarative Knowledge American "New Math" Reform