Reply #1: As for books and DVDs I don't have a clue

[Idylle Moon Dancer]

A good teacher is by far the best way to go, I think, but that can get expensive. Try to get someone who's played for at least a couple years help you pick out a guitar. You don't want to get discouraged by a shitty instrument right off the bat. My girlfriend's dad a few years ago thought he'd take up banjo, and he gave up on it mighty quickly; the action was ridiculous, I could barely play it and I've played guitar and bass for about 15 years. A bit of forewarning: playing guitar is physically painful until you've at least built up some callouses.