There is — in my opinion — a good “First Book” to buy, and that is on Amazon called “The Dummies Guide To Ham Radio.” One of those black & yellow books. Excellent.
Tells you a bit about The Whole Enchilada, and is a very, very good first briefing.
Ham clubs can be stuffy and clubby, but most are extremely welcoming to newbies. I’m a member of ours.
Don’t start your explorations with the ARRL License Manual. It’s dense and heavily detailed and a little boring. Start with the Dummies Guide. THEN get a license manual.
Take the test (given my ham clubs) before you think you’re really ready. You’ll find out what it looks and feels like, and there is no downside to not passing. You can take it again right away, or at the very next session, but having taken it, your nervous factor will be zeroed out.
AND! There’s an excellent chance you’ll pass.
You’ll learn mostly by, experience, by doing. You will never finish your studies — I’ve been at this since 1962, and I still have tons of mountains to climb.
Good luck, and “73.”
I am a VE and most of the time the test sessions are very relaxed, I like to get new Hams into the hobby.
73
KE4HTS