Coming from server-side and database programming, Javascript always seemed very confusing and non-intuitive to me. I cannot count the number of times I ended up just copying and pasting after googling. But this approach is pretty inefficient in the long run, since if you have no idea what the code is doing it is very difficult (if not impossible) to modify it to suit your specific needs. Enter "Javascript & jQuery: The Missing Manual". In less than two days I have been able to learn to create effects that would have taken weeks or months to learn using any of the other books I have tried. The key - as the author points out several times - is the awesome simplicity and straightforwardness of the jQuery library. In fact, writing jQuery barely even feels like writing Javascript at all! If you are familiar with CSS the book will be that much easier, since jQuery actually utilizes the same selectors as CSS to operate on elements. If not, a book like Learn CSS with w3Schools will quickly get you up to speed. Other than knowing some basic CSS you will need little else, since the author systematically avoids jargon (supplementing any he cannot avoid with down-to-earth explanations) as well as gives brief refreshers on HTML and Javascript prior to diving into jQuery. Basically all you need is a text editor and a web browser and you're good to go. I highly recommend you try this book! About 25% into it you'll be glad you did. ( )