The for dummies series is generally the worst out there. I havent read PHP for dummies but I have gone though about five others and they are all poorly written.
I learned from online tutorials (
http://tizag.com and
http://google.com) and
PHP in Easy Steps. PHP in Easy Steps and tizag are responsible for most of my initial learning, but overall stuff found on google is responsible for about 99% of what I know.
Dont expect to learn how to program straight from a book. Programming can only be learned though practice and trial. While books and guides are an essential part of that, don't get too hung up on the particular book you choose.
Lastly, I recommend you read my article on
asking effective questions, it will help a lot when you have trouble programming.