Python is an excellent place to start. Avoid Perl at all costs. There is a new beginners book on Python that looks interesting. It is from WROX (the red cover folks) and called "Beginning Python". http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0764596543/qid=1125072498/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-4477837-1552864?v=glance&s=books