But how will you know what your own game is if you keep reading the books?
Chicken-Egg.
I have gained from the books as I start out as they give me an understanding of poker pshycology and gameplays at the table and at the same time get ideas on removing definate no-no plays that were regularly in my game which were costing me. I can play along the same thinking as the textbooks, or not. I decide this as I see others play and try and weigh up weaknesses.
I'd like to think that I'm able to vary my game enough not to get stereotyped and have some success, but only my bankroll will confirm this.
Also i tend to find a lot that some people read and understand the books perfectly but then when it comes to putting into practice it all goes pear shaped because other people do things that the books havent prepared them for and they then dont know what to do.
My best advice would be to play the game first and get as much experience as you can then when you appear to come across a stumbling bloke then pick up the books and look for advice.
You summed it up already. Experience. But I don't think that generally someone can come into the game without any knowledge of it and just play and play and become a champ (unless they are a fabled 'natural poker genius'). There has to be someone to advise and explain - for me the books and playing lots and lots and lots. I've only recently found a live game to play which is also helping in very different ways.
For other's it may be by starting out sitting at a table and playing live and asking lots of questions. I didn't have that option.
Do you think it is possible to start improving and winning at poker without knowledge and understanding of odds, risk, tells, etc... I agree you don't necessarily need books for that - a good mathematical mind or grounding in odds-based games is a massive yum-yum - but could it be done by sitting in front of internet games just playing and playing?