don't feel you have to buy anything...
Darwin Ortiz (THE MAN!!) wrote an essay that was posted here
http://www.exomagic.com/forum/lounge/4426-darwin-ortiz-next-book-syndrome.html
give it a read!
As far as this article goes, I agree with Darwin's thoughts on books. However, I believe that stockpiling books isn't a bad choice bad. There are a few advantages of doing this. For one, you can use your literature as a reference, and it's more well rounded. This way, when someone asks if you have _____ book, you have it, and can look up certain things. For example, lets take the classic ace assembly. Learning many variants to the classic Vernon Slow Motion Aces is fantastic, expecially at a convention or a little inner circle meeting with the boys. Read up on say.... at least 5 versions of the ace assembly. That way, you have a more well rounded idea of how others think, yet you also demonstrate your knowledge on the subject. The guys will really buy into your studying. Vernon's Aces, Carpenter's Aces, Hitchcock Aces, Jazz Aces, Progressive Aces, Rollover Aces (only kidding), Backfire Assemblies......... And the list goes on.
That is one way to look at reading.
Even on stockpiling books, you still should read them.
From another point of view, I NEVER will read a book with deck in hand. I can guarantee that if you do this, it'll take you ten times longer to learn the trick than to read the article beforehand. What I do is I read through the book and on an index card, I write down tricks that interest me. For one thing, not all books will have things that interest your taste in magic, especially cards. One read, I check out my index, re read the trick, and then read it with deck in hand. This way, you get an idea of what is actually going on, along with when each move or sleight or patterline or beat needs to be taken to action. A great example of this would be Terry LaGerould's work.
One of the most common F-ed up tricks that I have come across is Dingle's Rollover Aces. And with numerous encounters, many people that have the book that I have chatted with, including myself, have messed up the shuffling sequence in that trick mainly because of ill-reading. (You'll see what I mean if you have the book).
Anyways, that is my opinion on books and how they should be read and cherished.