Look, years ago I did the same as you.
I bought RRTCM and flicked through it, took some pointers, then lost interest in magic for years.
I came back to it through Oz Pearlmans video, then went and bought Expert at the Card Table, Card Control and Expert Card Technique.
I’m 34 and an English teacher - and I gave up on Expert at the Card Table. It’s like reading Shakespearean instructions on how to build ikea furniture.
Card control was and still is way too advanced for where I am - it’s a collection of random sleights that I’m sure are really useful options to have once you have the basic ones down, but it’s like trying to learn to run before you can walk.
Expert Card Technique i see as more of a sequel to Royal Road. A must-have, but like card control (albeit to a lesser extent) it requires the basics from at least Royal Road masterEd to really get the most out of it.
Which brings me to Card College, that I finally picked up on
@RealityOne ’s advice a year or so ago and despite costing about as much as all the other books combined, is what I should’ve bought 20 years ago when I started and I might have become a great magician because of it! All the important info, non of the filler, clear and simple to follow.
I now have the first three volumes and they’re a joy to learn from. I occasionally dip into Expert Card Technique for alternative thoughts on similar topics, but if I had to do it all again I’d pick up all five volumes of card college and leave it at that until I had a sufficient base to need to explore the others.
I’m sure many will say to get them all, and they’re great to have, but if you want to learn then CC is the best way to start.