I see that most of the good programmers have the habit of reading big books for learning about technology.

What does it really take to read technical books, apart from the real interest on the technology?

How can I improve my ability to read these books?

We have really BIG eyes.

All kidding aside, I'm one of the people who finds reading to be very difficult. If I'm working my way through a very large book, I try to read early in the morning, when I first wake up, when my mind is free of distractions. I find that I'm able to get engrossed much easier at that time of day and I retain more.

Then, there are books that are just so dry that they will be painful no matter the reading circumstances. I try to avoid them whenever possible, or find another book with the same information that is written in a different style. If reading a book is so painful that you can barely keep from putting it down, you are wasting your time because you probably won't retain much anyway.

Still, I much prefer getting information in smaller doses. My 'big books' are mostly for reference and aren't intended to be read cover to cover, unless you have an amazing attention span.

Additionally, though sort of digressing, I really enjoy it when people take time to write book reviews on their blog or personal web site. That helps me to find books that are best suited to me. So, if you love or hate a book, consider publishing a review. It will turn up to people who might be interested in whatever book you are discussing. 
