[wbhart]

When I did analysis at university, I read Rudin instead of the recommended text. When the exam came around, I tried to generalise all the problems on the exam and gave answers which did not impress the person marking it, as they looked nothing like the standard solutions. As a result, I very nearly failed analysis. I wasn't particularly upset, as I used to consider my exam grade as a reflection of how well the course was taught, rather than a grading of my own comprehension. This is not a level of arrogance I would recommend to students looking to pass their exams.