I've just begun to read Learning Perl and quite frankly I should have done that a while ago. Considering I've never programmed before and am determined to start with Perl, and also considering everything my boyfriend has tried showing me in an attempt to teach me Perl has failed, this book has become my bible for the moment. That is until I move onto Programming Perl. All in all Perl has gotten much more enjoyable, not to mention logical, since I've picked up the book. Thanks to all those monks out there who recommended it.