I think perhaps the ideal resource is hiding somewhere under crosh's beer supply.
I started out many years ago with crystal short wave radio but got diverted into philosophy and languages, you know how it goes. At that time we were just transitioning from valves (vacuum tubes) to transistors, and yes I know what a grid is in a tube context, but it's the modern bits that flummox me.
If you have a grasp on tube electronics (sadly, my course didn't touch any of this - so you have that up on me!), more modern components shouldn't be too difficult, I would think.
The book I mentioned (Grob's Basic Electronics) will cover everything you would need to know, and then some likely. It is a college-level textbook, so new editions will be pricey ($100-200.00 USD); look into getting a used older edition.
Another reference I reccommend would be Forrest Mims III's "Engineer's Mini Notebooks" - start here:
His mini-notebooks used to be sold at Radio Shack, but are no longer published by them. He has published new editions (or at least I've seen them sold on his website at one time - look around); the older versions can be found on Ebay and other places if you look hard enough.
These "notebooks" are easy to read little collections of circuits; building blocks and ideas for various items, including some notes on how various components and such works. For instance, one of the notebooks is on nothing but the 555 timer, another is on nothing but semiconductors. He also has a few other books available on learning electronics and other topics. Well worth checking into.
