>>11088474(2/2)
This sounds intimidating, and it is, but it can be made a little less scary.
First, you're going to make mistakes. You will try problems that you won't be able to solve and you will write solutions that you will later realize are completely incorrect. I used to do this all the time and it doesn't matter. The important thing is just that you are as actively engaged in the material as this regimen will require, and you're taking the time to carefully write your solutions.
Second, math is a social activity. If you can, find others that also want to learn the material and do it with them. The more time you spend on it the better, and the more time you spend talking about the material the better. Don't bother doing problems separately. Do as many of them together as possible, even if there is clearly a better one among you who is doing all of the problems before everyone else. As long as everyone takes time to understand the solution and you take turns writing them up, there shouldn't be a problem.
You don't need to spend all of your time doing math. We all have other stuff to do, but if you're young and you have a summer to kill, I strongly recommend doing this. Every time I do this, especially with others, I leave the book with an excellent understanding of the material. The only reason I don't follow this for every book I read is because I have to teach and do a ton of other formalities for this damned university.
If you're less serious about math, as in if it's just a hobby or a minor for you, then go as you please. I still recommend doing at least 50% of the exercises + the ones you think are interesting.
As you discover how you learn and understand math, you can be more relaxed with how you read books, because you learn the shortcuts that you can take without damaging your understanding of the material. It's only as intimidating as I made it out to be the first couple of times. I promise.
