I find myself reading in two very different modes. In one mode, I'm trying to learn something specific typically to unblock me from another task. I might need to know details about a garbage collector or need to know how to write a small compiler. In other cases I'm getting exposed to something entirely new that I know nothing about (e.g lead scoring or purchasing) and need a crash course. It's hard to make general recommendations for this kind of reading. So much is up to the context of your particular topic.
In another mode, I'm trying to broaden my knowledge more generally. I can illuminate gaps in what I know and challenge biases that rarely get checked. In order for this to work, I have to free myself a bit from solving a particular problem. If my reading is a bit more aimless, I'm more likely to get a broader view.
The biggest mistake I made in my youth was avoiding contradiction and ambiguity. When I read something, I was focused on whether I agreed wit
