Physics education research, electronic materials, and the musings of Christopher Moore, Ph.D.

I am trying to learn some physics and I'm finding it an interesting and partially successful process. I'm finding that the process of learning is just as important as the content.

The issue is - how to do it? I get some textbooks, read them, do some problems. But when I get stuck I have no-one to turn to except perhaps places like this . There is no-one to explain things.

Is there any advice on what approach I should take. Are there recommendations about what books are really helpful - "for dummies" or "demysified" or "Schaum's Easy Outlines" etc.