I agree its the best way to go for what you're doing -
   definitely. .I've found it _very very addictive_. As I'm not
   doing a pure-focus-on-physics at present as I did a few years
   ago, I have to be careful because I thoroughly enjoy it. What
   I'm focusing on now is consolidation of knowledge from different
   fields of human knowledge and trying to tie things together via
   metaphors (concrete to abstract and back again) that are
   functional for explanatory purposes for a variety of people.
   [mostly myself tongue emoticon ] It's one of the reasons I sound
   weird some times smile emoticon But if I was doing a
   physics-heavy study again (which I'll let myself do again one of
   these days), I'll be right back there. It's a wonderland and I
   remember when I'd read carefully and thoroughly, my brain would
   be clicking left and right, I'd be furiously taking notes once
   something 'click in' and made sense... and well.. it's
   invigorating.