Reddit mentions of Getting Started with Arduino: The Open Source Electronics Prototyping Platform (Make)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Getting-Electronics-Prototyping-Platform/dp/1449363334/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?adgrpid=51261381497&hvadid=259130640673&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9046361&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15306860274718543165&hvtargid=aud-613527132211%3Akwd-296545681864&keywords=getting+started+with+arduino&qid=1554847362&s=gateway&sr=8-1

I used that book to get started. Gives a nice overview of Arduino, basic coding, and electronics. The final project is an automatic watering system I still use for my plants. Most of the projects are cheap and don’t require finding specific kits.

And heck! If you don't have an Arduino just yet, you can try one out virtually first! I like 123D Circuits by AutoDesk; however, there are many other simulators with Arduinos built in. Google them! :-)

Like it but don't like the $$$? You can make your own! There are many tutorials online for making a bare bones Arduino with cheap* electronics components.

I really like @schorhr book suggestions. To add on, the following books are great for Arduino beginners: Programming Arduino: Getting Started with Sketches & Make: Getting Started with Arduino. Also, great tutorials can be found here: tronixstuff Arduino Tutorials & Ladyada's Arduino Tutorials.

Good luck!

Given that this is my first foray into coding anything at all, ever, then some strange code is highly likely. Here's a snippet:

void confirmSetting(){
digitalWrite(greenLED, HIGH); // LEDs ON
digitalWrite(redLED, HIGH);
delay(250);
digitalWrite(greenLED, LOW); // LEDs OFF
digitalWrite(yellowLED, LOW);
digitalWrite(redLED, LOW);
delay(250);
}

I've heard that using delays is kinda sloppy... not sure how to improve that yet, mostly just learning by the examples from the Getting Started in Arduino book.