My advice for you from this mom of three boys aged 12, 6, and almost 1, is to have your wife (or you) stay home with your baby full time. I believe that children need to be with one parent all the time for at least three years minimum. Everyone says they "can't" afford it but we are doing it in So CA with one middle class salary -- you do without a lot but you can't get that time back for your child, and you can enjoy luxuries long after he/she has left your home. Just my humble opinion.
The absolute best book to buy, an absolute necessity, for the intellectual and emotional growth of your baby, would be Burton White's "The First Three Years of Life." I think it may have been updated to The New First Three Years.." Other books might be more fun or might focus on Mommy's feelings or what other mothers go through, and get those too for fun, but you will certainly want Burton White's.
You think you have been in love? Let me tell you that it has all been dress rehearsal. You think you found anything important in life? You will see it pale. You think you could be vulnerable to pain and torture, just you, like from a prisoner camp or something? Well, nothing they could ever do to you would even come close to the pain you would feel if anyone ever hurt your CHILD.
Since you care about being a good father, that is the best head start you can have! You will be a great one! And there are no rewards in life like being with your children. Seeing them accomplish little and big things. Or just snuggling with them on the couch. It is all good.
I saved the good news for last: those people who complain about lack of sleep are doing it all wrong. There are ways to maximize your sleep even with a newborn. We all sleep really well here and we are all happy. It's unconventional for Western society but we love our sleep so pooh to convention! We have a queen sized mattress decorated nicely in the nursery. Mommy can sleep with Baby (and whoever else) in there. Babies sleep MUCH better next to Mommy. If they wake and need to be fed, it's much easier, too. Daddy, who needs his sleep to go out and work, is undisturbed. And he is in the Master bedroom where the rule is Adults Only!! Most people who do the family bed thing do not end up with an adult alternative location! We like our way very much. Be creative, and remember that you and your honey will have forever to sleep entwined. Baby won't be a baby forever.
We found the sleep difficulties were much reduced by breast-feeding. For the first six months, I kept my little one in a bassinet right by my side of the bed; when she fussed in the night, I would simply pick her up, nurse her on one side, change her diaper, nurse her on the other, and pop her back in the bassinet. I got so I could do this quite efficiently without really waking up.
Now, all you have to do is convince your bride that this is the way to go. (No sterilizing equipment, no mixing formula, no going out at 2 a.m. because you're out of formula, plus all the benefits of antibodies and perfect nutrition . . . you get the idea! :-D )