Actually .. The best way to learn PHP is a trial/error method ! On-topic : Wrox tutorials are pretty good for beginners
PHP: A Beginner's Guide Product Description Essential Skills–Made Easy! Learn how to build dynamic, data-driven Web applications using PHP. Covering the latest release of this cross-platform, open-source scripting language, PHP: A Beginner’s Guide teaches you how to write basic PHP programs and enhance them with more advanced features such as MySQL and SQLite database integration, XML input, and third-party extensions. This fast-paced tutorial provides one-stop coverage of software installation, language syntax and data structures, flow control routines, built-in functions, and best practices. Designed for Easy Learning: * Key Skills & Concepts–Lists of specific skills covered in the chapter * Ask the Expert–Q&A sections filled with bonus information and helpful tips * Try This–Hands-on exercises that show how to apply your skills * Notes–Extra information related to the topic being covered * Tips–Helpful reminders or alternate ways of doing things * Cautions–Errors and pitfalls to avoid * Self-Tests–Chapter-ending quizzes to test your knowledge * Annotated Syntax–Example code with commentary that describes the programming techniques being illustrated About the Author Vikram Vaswani is the founder and CEO of Melonfire, a company specializing in software consultancy and content creation and syndication services. He is the author of PHP Programming Solutions, How to do Everything with PHP and MySQL, and MySQL: The Complete Reference. Vikram is the author of numerous well-received articles on open-source technologies (including Perl, Python, XML and the very popular PHP 101 series), all written with the goal of making complex technologies accessible and understandable to novice users. He has been developing software since 1995, was first introduced to PHP in 1998, and hasn’t looked back since. Vikram is regular columnist with Zend Technologies (creators of PHP), as well as with IBM DeveloperWorks, CNET Builder.com, DevX.com and other OSS sites. Download: http://www.file-base.net/5380261
You can try Learning PHP & MySQL by Michele E. Davis & Jon A. Phillips (oreilly.com). It proved to be very helpful for me when I was starting out.
Make sure the book you get specifies that it's using PHP5, ideally a newer version of PHP5.. otherwise you'll be learning about a version that's not only out of date, but at its end of life
I used Tizag to learn at first. They have a downloadable PDF that you can print out with a few hundred pages. It's really great for a beginner.
Free Google Search Tizag CtCoder Books Start with: PHP and MYSQL Web Development / ISBN 0-672-32672-8 This one is 892 pages After youre confortable: PHP 5 Advanced by Larry Ullman / ISBN 0-321-37601-3 Good Luck!
I think the best books for php are Sams Teach Yourself PHP in 24 Hours,Learn PHP / MySQL Training DVD and others found here http://www.my-php-scripts.net/index.php/basic-php-tutorials/best-book-for-php-beginners.html Best of luck for php