For whst it's worth here's my reading list of late:

   http://edge-loop.spaces.live.com/Lists/cns!8F028CC27525BEA1!1006/

I tend to read programming books in two passes. The first pass is just a traditional sequential read - away from the keyboard. On the second pass I work through it with my trusty csc.exe to hand. This works for me since I spend about 80 minutes a day traveling to and from work.