The best way to study chess books is with TWO boards, one full sized and one smaller.
Use the full sized board to play over the analysis and follow the lines out to the end. Use the smaller board to hold the game position that you are analyzing, so that you can quickly and accurately reset the analysis board back to the game position after you reach the end of a variation.
Treat yourself to real a board. I've promised myself a good quality staunton set when I make 1400. I always use a board if I'm studying from a book. I dont know why, I think because it feels traditionaI I read that 2d and 3d vision are different in terms of training pattern recognition. If this is true and you plan to play OTB in the future, then it's worth regularly studying on a board.
I don't have a lot of space at my place so I think I'll get a small one...
I liked this one 
https://www.novica.com/p/mini-onyx-and-marble-chess-set-in-grey/313266/
There is also a chess phone app called forward chess. There you can buy a book and follow each move on a virtual board as well while you keep on reading I think it's super useful & easy
@MTLanctot:
Small is good; tiny is bad. You have chosen tiny. The best that can be said about it is that it's cute. The pieces are too big for the squares which makes repositioning a pain. You also want a board with algebraic notation. From experience, anything less than a 12" board will be unsatisfactory. I use an earlier version of this magnetic set, taped permanently open so I can move it around with one hand. Blueemu is correct that 2 boards are even better if you have the room. Please don't make the mistake of buying a board that is too small...
@MTLanctot:
Small is good; tiny is bad. You have chosen tiny. The best that can be said about it is that it's cute. The pieces are too big for the squares which makes repositioning a pain. You also want a board with algebraic notation. From experience, anything less than a 12" board will be unsatisfactory. I use an earlier version of this magnetic set, taped permanently open so I can move it around with one hand. Blueemu is correct that 2 boards are even better if you have the room. Please don't make the mistake of buying a board that is too small...
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2K0QRRACZ5WMK/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1?_encoding=UTF8&type=wishlist
https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/Magnetic-Folding-Portable-Flannelette-Beginners/dp/B07PBH59C6/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_fr_CA=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dchild=1&keywords=portable+chess+set+12&qid=1599339072&sr=8-1
Or
https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/Peradix-Travel-Magnetic-Traditional-Children/dp/B07XM6KS9N/ref=sr_1_16?__mk_fr_CA=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dchild=1&keywords=portable+chess+set+12&qid=1599339072&sr=8-16
Sure...Either of those look fine. Sorry about the misdirect with my wish list. I deleted that, but you were too quick for me...
Enjoy your new board!
I use ChessBase to read my chess books. ChessBase allows you to create a text file that contains links to all the games in the database. I recently finished reading 300 Most Important Chess Positions by Thomas Engqvist. I generally tried to do a position a day. I entered each of the games into the database with all of the author’s analysis. In the text file I typed in all of content from each chapter in the book. I now have an interactive digital version of the book.
Using multiple physical boards takes up a lot of table space. It’s much easier to follow a game with multiple variations using a computer database than using multiple physical boards. I also think the process of typing all the text and annotations of the book into the database helps you absorb the material better. But the best part of the database approach is that when you have finished it, you have a digital version of the book that makes re-reading it easy.
So I got a book on PDF and I have to keep going back to the original back where the diagram is.... I feel like getting a real board would definitely ease things up and probably make the reading go faster.
Perhaps, this was the way to do it back in the days... with technology now is there a better way? I honestly don't mind getting one, just want to best way to read and study a book.
Thanks y'all!