this is supposed to be a fantastic first programming book: http://www.amazon.com/Python-Programming-Introduction-Computer-Science/dp/1887902996/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UT

this is supposed to be a fantastic first programming book: http://www.amazon.com/Python-Programming-Introduction-Computer-Science/dp/1887902996/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256456055&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/Python-Programming-Introduction-Comput... and this looks promising (and the author posts here on HN) and should fit your "laidback" requirement: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1593272006/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1593272006/ref...