in my opinion: you gave the only suitable answer. Find Real World Problems (to solve). I've learned that I always buy books when I don't need them (but I do want to learn about it..), and usually I don't read them (at that time). Or, if I do read them right after I buy them, it seems I don't fully understand them, or the books seems too difficult.

If for instance months later I get a project assigned where I need to apply for instance the knowlegde I couldn't grasp before... at the end of the project I feel immensly enlightened (of course after reading the book). Because:
* I really understand most parts of the book I bought months ago
* I truely feel I've evolved (because my code 'looks' better)
* All code I wrote before the project looks yukkie ;-) (but that's just my personal experience)

so arc_of_descent++ !

And to all you book loving junkies: start looking for problems! first try to solve them in a way that's not too difficult for you (to understand). And after that: try to improve your script ;-)