Some people are (luckier?) than others and seem to learn faster or easier. Whatever the reason for differences are, SarinMadge and SodaMoca5 are both correct it seems. As for myself on techincal subjects i have to either read carefully (if there's a book about it) then actually sit down and follow the text until i can make it work, or if there is no instruction text on the subject i have to dive in, muddy the water and break everything until i find out how it works. That's for techical problems. For entertainment with a side-dish of 'learning' i just lean back, speed read wherever i can and slow down for the entertaining parts. A majority of my acquaintances think i learn easily and fast; the fact is i have to work sometimes quite dilligently for every rung in the ladder i climb. i think most other AO'ers learn faster than i do.