Different subjects require an awareness of different types of content. The way you read a math textbook is not the same way you would read a psychology textbook.
Hard Sciences and Math:
Demands a strong, factual base with logical, planned, sequential development of facts and function... in other words... are you a math person?
Math: must understand theory behind numbers. Functions build on functions. Always keep paper and pencil handy and always work examples.
Hard Sciences: Logical perspective, material presented in order. This type of reading has high factual content and literal comprehension is very important.
Social Sciences and Humanities:
Tend to follow chronological and/or thematic development of ideas. They must be read sequentially, integrating and interpreting ideas as you go along.
Social Science: Concepts and generalizations are important very early.
Humanities: Contains ideas and speculations about how things are or should be.
