Learning physics requires more than simply reading text books. A significant portion of actually understanding the concepts laid out in the book is performing demonstrations and experiments in the lab. In college, we had a 3 hour lab each week to go with 3 1-hour classes and each was critical to learning. I certainly admire anyone who wants to learn physics on their own, especially without already having a strong mathematical education, but to really grasp the meaning of the words in a book requires practical exposure in a lab.
Depends what you are trying to achieve. If you are trying to gain an appreciation for it (as a layperson) then I think you can forgo many of the complicated experiments. On the other hand, if you are trying to prime yourself for a career in it then you definitely must perform the experiments.
I don't disagree that a lab isn't necessary if all you want is a cursory overview of the various topics but I'm assuming that the person wanting to learn physics wants a deeper understanding of the concepts. Really know what those equations mean. That takes practical experiences in my opinion.
