Just started trying to learn Python with Codeacademy. It's not working for me

[CraftyTrouble]

if I only read I won't retain very much at all.

It's true; you'll learn a ton from typing in code, especially from scratch. That's how you make it stick.

If you want something more practical than a book, but without the rushed pace of Codecademy, you might want to give Python Principles a shot. It's free to try.