Well, I've figured out that the main ways I learn things is by hearing. So, when I have to learn something from a book I'll read it outloud. When I was at university I used to make a tape of what I was learning (like anglo saxon) and play back what I'd read earlier. I was always reading aloud my notes for history etc, then as I read, writing down notes, then reading them, then after a while making those notes even shorter, reading them... then I could compress the information down to a few key words, which I'd look at, then I'd start "free associating" what I'd already learned over the previous sessions.

Right now I'm learning a foriegn language, and am using the Michel Thomas system, which is purely aural... all you have to do is listen, repeat, and slowly build up grammar and vocabulary that way. Google Michel Thomas and you'll see what I mean.

When I was learning Welsh I found this really kooky course in which the teacher read out the text to a background of Mozart. I'd listen and read first, then at bedtime I'd listen again and fall asleep. It actually really worked, so I've started listening to materials I'm learning at bed time with nice music in the background.

I'm not saying this would work for everyone, but it worked extremely well before I got really poorly, and now that I'm on meds it's working again. (When I was poorly I would start to learn something, then get lost and leave it uncompleted. That's improved now that I'm focussing more on how I learn.)

If you were an aural learner I think the above should work for you. If you're a visual learner than charts and graphs and pictures would help. (I know someone who learned history by drawing pictures of events with key words scattered throughout, and quite a few others who had different colours to represent themes etc.)

Hope this helps.