Books are good learning tools,but they can only take you so far, magazines are great for looking at beautiful trees to inspire you, but, If you can't swim, I could give you a book on how to swim, but if I took you out in the middle of a lake and threw you overboard, you would drown. Get involved with a club, or better yet attend some workshops, you cannot beat hands on experience with someone that knows what they are doing, it's the best money you will spend learning bonsai. If you can afford it, spending time in a one on one experience with a bonsai master is the best, period. Knowing what you are doing will keep you interested in the hobby a lot longer and make your experience way more pleasurable.
Harry
Harry