Read the table of contents. You will likely see the
same topics
appear in an upper level book as in a beginner book. If you're having difficulty
with a concept, review it in a beginner level book.
Read the preface. You can get insight into the Author's intentions,
emphasis, and arrangement of the textbook.
Skim the assigned chapter before attending class and again after.
Look for diagrams that will help you to picture the concept.
Find that main idea for each section. This may very well be
expressed as a formula.
Find the problems showing how to apply the concepts.
Try to do the example problems in the text.
Glance ahead in the book to see how something new will be
applied later.
Get an overall picture. Since these subjects tend to build
concept upon concept, you need to see how to add newly learned material into the larger
context of the topic, textbook, and subject.