I recently downloaded Blender because there is no way I could afford 3DMax . I also got a couple How to use Blender .PDFs and found them not useful. Also bought an expensive book which started out quite good but soon got poor. Then I found the Blender videos here
https://cgcookie.com/flows/ that are very helpful. I'm about 2/3 through the Introduction set. Blender is very different than any graphics program I've used in the past. I have used Sketchup for a few years to design and draw the hardwood furniture I build - Blender is an entirely different approach.