I used Basics as a "getting feet wet" experience, and it was well worth the time and dollars. In fact, I'm thinking of going back and writing some tutorials for 3D novices encouraging that very approach to getting in. My experience has been that 3D modelling is a "paradigm shift" for people unfamiliar with the tools, and I haven't found a book or tutorial site that approaches that problem. It's a bit like riding a bicycle: Monstrous hard to get past the first stage, then suddenly, you are rolling.