It's recommended by psychologists that in order to retain information you should read the material three times.

Once to get an over picture
Twice to understand it
Thrice to remember

I'm also suggesting, as a prisoner of higher education for the past 4 years, that you get in the habbit of reading it atleast twice and on the second time you make brief notes for review purposes.

Also a lot of classes now seem to offer online content as well as reading material - It's always beneficial to find working models that visualize the material to create a deeper understanding of it.


Personally with all the time I spend double reading the material, making and re writing notes, reviewing notes, and taking online quizes on the material... I probably spend 6 - 8 hours studying per class.