[plinkplonk]

"Finally, put down the math books. Put down the compiler books. Data structures and algorithms, sure, but those others. Bah!"

This is seriously bad advice. The converse is not necessarily good advice but when the OP explicitly wants to be good at CS, "put down the compiler books and read the GOF Design Patterns book" is terrible advice. The GOF DP book is barely one step above Cargo Cult sw,something the OP is trying to flee. There is a wide range of advice on this thread but this must be the worst(imo, ymmv etc).

[sunkan]

plinkplonk - I respect your opinion, so asking this question in earnest. Mind pointing to the best advice in the thread? I could look at the most up-voted answer, but group think is not always right.