I haven't read "First Fundamentals" but the Davies' Tesuji treatment is mostly just depth-first search of a finite graph. That's great when the problem is closed and simple enough for one's skill level, and no doubt it's a skill worth working on, but it doesn't characterize most game positions which are more open and evaluating common lines of play starts to be become useful.
I'd be interested in learning more about how reading relates to risk management, given the reality that our reading skills and available time in a game are both limited. For example, I have seen commentaries to the effect of "black might consider continuing here, but the position is complex and there is no way to know whether black can get out in sente, so black played over here instead."
Such a comment is really just a frank admission that the author's (and maybe also the players') reading is limited, but there is still a need to manage the position somehow.
Another example: when reading out a sequence in the mind's eye, there could be a path where at some point the opponent can cut---the shape makes it looks a bit unreasonable to do that, but due to limited skill and/or time it is hard to see what happens after that cut. Many players would just play it out and hope for the best.
For beginners, almost every position is like this and they have no choice. But once some reading skill is developed maybe some better options become available. Maybe there's a way to fuzzily consider: what's the worst that could happen if my opponent saves that cutting stone? and compare it to: what's the worst that could happen if reach that position and suddenly realize I have to defend that cut in gote? Or maybe: which extra moves could appear later that could make this sequence obviously good for me?So to me, both improving the raw skills and also being able to manage the position while acknowledging limited reading are important. I've read very little in English on either topic.
