I finally got around to prurchasing Starting Strength (and Practical Programming for Strength Training) by Rippetoe and Kilgore and i feel like a fool for not picking these up sooner.
I also wish that i had a book like this back in High School (26 yo currently) when i was “sort of” interested in training but did not really have the know-how, discipline or long term outlook to get myself on a healthy path that i could follow for life.
This website has been amazing for me and i am sure others with regards to the amount of info we have access too.
But now after reading these two books i realize, for the first time, that as a beginner/novice trainer most of this information-although useful and interesting- is WAAAAAAY more information than we need to know.; way, way, way more.
All these postings about reps and sets, how is my routine, what exercise is better than that one, my tummy is big i need bigger bicpe etc etc and so redundant and merely show how little progress people are actually making. i can see why so many members with solid training under the bar flip out on posters.
Seriously, it is all in these books. If you are a beginner and in this forum just stop posting now and get these these books as the start of your training library. Read them and go lift some weight! for the first time this training thing seems easy; and it should be for a “novice”.
While there are other title out there all the positve praise for these authors and their works are, imho, are right on the money.
I for one do not think i will be posting anymore questions on training (maybe injuries and posture stuff 
on this board…I will be lifting weights until i KNOW i am no longer a novice. These two books will educate you so you know when that is, how you get there and what to do after…Awesome stuff.
cs