Expert Card Technique is a difficult read. Did you find Card College easier?
I find that the older books almost tedious to read. Card College is great (the best at what it does), but it does have a textbook feel to it. However, when you find a well written magic book it, you can't put it down. I love the Miracle Factory books on Benson and Gardner. I love Tommy Wonder's Books of Wonder. Anything by Stephen Minch, Richard Kauffman, Andi Gladwin and other modern authors are excellent. Books I've recently have read, are reading or have on my "up next" pile include Aretolgy of Vanni Bossi, Drawing Room Deceptions, CardShark, Lessons in Card Mastery, David Regal's Approaching Magic and Handsome Jack.