those learn in 24 hour books are actually ok , you don't learn it in 24 hours but it does give enough info to get started.
Visual basic is a great language to begin with I started that at first. Your best bet is online guides:
gaming VB tutorial:
Visual Basic Tutorial
beginner VB tutorial:
Visual Basic Tutorial
guides for beginners, intermediate and advanced:
http://www.garybeene.com/vb/tutor.htm
beginner:
Free Visual Basic 6.0 tutorial - Lesson 1
VB command descriptions:
Visual Basic Command Descriptions
vb beginners guide, variables commands and arrays:
Alpha - Beginners Guide to Visual Basic Visual Basic Tutorial - Variables Alpha - Visual Basic Tutorial - Basic Commands Alpha - Visual Basic Tutorial - Arrays
Good luck!