I learned the most by FTPing in and bashing the code about until I had mastered it. You can always just replace your code with the original if you "break" it.
Bare minimum plugins include...
Add-to-any
All in one
SEO pack
Cforms
Events Calendar
Exclude Pages
Google Sitemap Generator
Maintenance Mode
My Page Order
TinyMCE Advanced
E-Commerce
and...
WPDesigner So you want to create WordPress themes huh?
I'll scratch Maria Langer's back here because she scratched mine a few months ago:
Amazon.com: WordPress 2 (Visual QuickStart Guide): Maria Langer, Miraz Jordan: Books
(ignore those dreadful reviews. Maria and Miraz rock.)