How do you guys study Chess?

Chess books are all well and good (and from what I've been told they're quite good for improving your chess), but how does one even study chess from a book? It's not quite like studying history; I imagine one should have a board handy (I'd like to get a little flat, folding magnetic one to keep with me while studying), but that still tells nothing as to how to go about learning the material from the books.

Just wanted to know the strategies from the vets out there.

I use chess dot com's material: tactics trainer, chess mentor, videos, articles, computer analysis of my completed games, master game explorer, etc. 

Depends on your "learning type".  People are wired differently and usually tend to absorb information in 4 principal ways:

- By reading (annotated game books,  can be done on your own)

- By listening (needs coach / stronger players to yell / advise you)

 - By doing ( practicing tactics, slow serious games + going over one's games RIGHT AFTER to identify mistakes)

- By writing ( annotating your own games, sharing them with a stronger player for critique)

Some need to write stuff down and bury their heads in a book.  Others who are lazier tend to remarkably well by sponging information from others telling them what to do. Others get quite brilliant by practicing and learning from mistakes.

You'll be  efficient pursuing those exercises that suit your "learning" type.

Though the advice that you're very likely to dismiss / ignore (like  95% of the players out there who live in denial about it) is that your own games are the best chess lessons out there. Find a strong player at a local club or hire a coach, show him your game losses and  ask him how to eradicate all the bad habits / mistakes you are making.

In other words:

Step 1: Play a slow serious game.

Step 2 : Have a stronger player look at the game (preferably one you lost)

Step 3 : Get yelled at for all mistakes relevant to your current chess level (and the level you hope to climb up to in the near future).

Step 4 : NEVER make the same mistakes again ... Rinse and repeat :)

I've seen 1000-rated youngsters shoot up 500-600 rating points in a year by doing this alone and never touching a chess book.